(Post #3) Commencement Date: January 2023 - From Condo Comfort to Polar Bear Plunges

It was New Year’s Day 2023, and while most people were nursing hangovers or vowing to hit the gym (again), I was having a full-on existential crisis. There I was, in the picturesque town of Sidney-by-the-Sea on Vancouver Island, enjoying my smoothie and wondering how I’d gone from carefree condo living to contemplating a life on the move.

Maybe it was the fresh start of a new year, or maybe it was just the fact that I’d turned 65 and was officially a “senior” (a title I wear about as comfortably as a wool sweater in July). Whatever the reason, that morning I felt an urge to do something completely out of character—like jumping into the icy waters of the Pacific Ocean with a bunch of strangers in swimsuits. Because nothing says "new beginnings" like hypothermia.

So, with my bathing suit on and a towel in hand, I joined the masses at Glass Beach for the annual Polar Bear Swim. As we all stood shivering on the shore, counting down the seconds to madness, I couldn’t help but wonder: What on earth am I doing here? But before I could back out, the countdown hit zero, and we all plunged into the freezing water like a herd of very confused seals.

Somehow, despite the bone-chilling cold, I felt invigorated. Maybe it was the adrenaline, or maybe it was the fact that I was too numb to feel anything else. Either way, I knew that this was the start of something big—something that would take me far beyond the comforts of my cozy condo.

As the months passed, I began to settle into my new surroundings, mingling with locals, exploring the island, and making a few friends along the way. But still, that restless feeling nagged at me. Sure, I was enjoying retirement, but I wanted more. More adventure, more freedom, more… well, whatever it was that people were finding at the bottom of their pickleball rackets.

Then one day, at my coffee meetup, someone mentioned a website called Workaway. The concept was simple: travel the world and live rent-free in exchange for helping out with odd jobs. Could this be the solution to my debt dilemma? A way to see the world without breaking the bank?

I wasted no time signing up and soon found an opportunity to manage a beach resort located on the east coast of Vancouver Island for six months (November 2023 to April 2024). No experience necessary—just a willingness to learn and, presumably, not burn the place down (more on that later). It was perfect.

Now, all I had to do was lease out my condo and figure out how to run a resort. But hey, how hard could it be?

Glass Beach (2 blocks from condo):

Next: Post 4  Starting the Journey: Learning the Ropes, and, getting accepted for the job