I guess I have accelerated my plans. I gave my landlord official notice that I am moving out last night and as opposed to the end of November, it will be the end of October or rather November 1 – the day that I return from my trip to Ontario.

My cleaning lady will be taking care of Hera and Twix in my house. You know, I have written Blondie as the “first” dog for so long, my fingers still do it – it was always Blondie, Hera and Twix – sorry, I digress, it’s my right. So, the dogs will be staying in the house and then CB (my cleaning lady) will bring them to the airport to pick me up and drop me off at my trailer in the late afternoon on November 1. I guess I won’t take any house keys with me, everything will be cleared out except for the last minute things – it will be a coordination effort, but since I am helping my landlord with pictures and posting the rental, he’s given me some leeway.

I am going to be staying in Balzac Alberta until at least the end of the year and I am guessing likely through winter at the very least since who really wants to pack stuff up and move during winter. I am really looking forward to it.

A number of people have asked me if I am serious. I guess they can’t wrap their heads around leaving a house and town that I’ve lived in and moving into a trailer that probably has 150 square feet to live in.

I lived at my Dad’s place until I finished university and I moved out when I was 24. Between 24 and 40, 16 years, I moved 17 times that I can remember. I think I have Gypsy blood in me, I was definitely nomadic. As I got older, I wanted to move less since moving is quite the pain in the ass. Once I arrived in Alberta, I moved slightly less. I’ve been here 11.5 years and have moved 6 times in total. I have been in this place for 4 years.

I do love the community that I live in, Coleman Alberta. It’s small, quiet and the people are generally friendly. There are many, many spots to take the dogs hiking and lakes galore to swim in, kayak in, walk around – we’ve had a lot of fun these last 5 years down here. I do love the area, and I love the 70s feel that this house provides, but I have an urge to move on. More than that, I have a stronger urge to “declutter” and live a minimalist type lifestyle. I don’t think I could accomplish that living here, because I would keep buying things.

So, I started selling all of my “big” stuff. I’ve gotten rid of the 65″ TV and stand that I had and a bunch of appliances that I won’t need. My loss is someone else’s gain. I still have more to sell and I may do a “yard sale” at some point in the next couple of weeks. Anything that doesn’t sell will be given away or thrown away, I am sure I will be making a couple of dump runs.

I am greatly looking forward to this new lifestyle I am choosing. People say “what if you don’t like it?” – well, I think I will and hey, I rented the worst possible place down here when I first arrived – I survived for a year there, I can survive anywhere. As long as my dogs are with me and I’ve got somewhere to work (to pay for it all), we are good to go.

Here’s to the adventure.