Deep Depression

[shootingstar]

Then, eventually, the same issues start popping up and they are in a place with no family or social support from friends. I am not speaking specifically to Vegan Bike Chic here, but more as a general thought, because I have seen this so many times, it really resonated with me. I've lived in 4 states and the differences in the "character" of each place are enormous. There are some places that I just could not live, even though the environment would be perfect for my outdoor pursuits.

Sometimes people do have the luxury of staying in the area where they love and others, like me, need a job. Which was why I accepted the job offer and relocated. I work for a good employer which at this stage in my career, is key since I have 11 more yrs. before 65. It gets harder and harder to get these types of on-target job opportunities as one gets older especially at mid-life, towards tail end of a career.

What has helped me enormously is my partner who lived here for 2 years who helped familiarize me with the quirky dynamics of this place (getting better, but to me, unbelievably slow to change). I relocated at a critical point in my life and very serious: my sister just unexpectedly died, my father is dying from cancer, I was moving from a city I loved (Vancouver's rain didn't pull me down in the dumps as much as others), and my partner wasn't going to be around all the time. There was a huge part of me that was in shock and grieving in multiple ways. I didn't want to socialize much with anyone new for quite awhile. I am grateful that I work for a good employer. I work for government which gives a person closer spectator/sideline knowledge of what is happening in the city, which engages a newcomer, like me, to the city more quickly.

I knew how different the province is where I am before I moved.

What has been interesting, Crankin, is the regional differences across large countries like Canada and the U.S. I agree that just moving somewhere far, does not solve underlying, long-standing problems.

I agree nuliajuk, that for some people doing regular activities that one loves outdoors and with one's hands, redirects oneself in a different direction and for me, therapeutic.