(Post 33) Warm Embraces, Fun in Niagara Falls, and Back on Track

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The drive from my cousin Chuck’s lakeside retreat in Huntsville to Hamilton, was a breeze. With my favorite playlist blasting and podcasts keeping me company, I was in the zone. Right on cue, Shelley and Carrie arrived, practically leaping out of the car to grab my bags. We didn’t skip a beat as the excited chatter filled the car on our way to Grimsby.

Carrie had set up an extra bed for me in her room, which felt like a throwback to childhood sleepovers—complete with giggles and late-night talks until we would finally drift off. Shelley was staying in the basement suite, where I had lived for a year, and Taylor, a wonderful young woman renting the upper bedroom, completed our generational crew. Picture it: me, the senior nomad; Carrie, fabulous in her 50s; Shelley, thriving in her 30s; and Taylor, rocking her 20s. We were a diverse, wine-loving quartet! With all our experiences, wisdom, and wine corks, we could probably open our own winery.

My house and pet-sitting escapades were, as always, a popular conversation starter, and I loved hearing how each of them thought this nomadic lifestyle could suit people of all ages. As for the inevitable question—"Where do you stay between gigs?"—I’m lucky enough to have built a network of wonderful house/pet-sitting hosts across Vancouver Island. Many have become friends, and their doors are always open to me for a night or two. I guess I’ve become the luckiest couch surfer, bouncing from one cozy spot to another, like a contented cat.

Our five days in Grimsby were packed with fun. We knew the essentials: good dinners, wine tastings, and, of course, a little casino action at Niagara Falls. The highlight? Carrie’s mom gifted us a free night in a deluxe room on the 29th floor of the Fallsview Hotel and Spa. We walked into that suite like royalty, our jaws dropping at the breathtaking view of the Falls. I won’t lie—there may have been some playful scuffling over who got first dibs on the spa tub! The room was pure luxury.

To top it all off, I spent a wonderful shopping day with my dear friend Julia, who drove to Grimsby for our pre-birthday celebration, since I we would not be enjoying ourselves in BC. It was the perfect wrap-up to an already love-filled trip. 

After Grimsby, Vania, ever the reliable friend, whisked me off to the train station for my journey back to Toronto International Airport. As I made my way to catch my flight, my mind turned toward BC and the month ahead—helping my daughter pack for her new adventure in Costa Rica and catching up with her plans. 

Soon, it’ll be back to my house/pet sitting schedule —mid-September to December 21st and savouring some quiet moments. Of course, knowing me, that "quiet" probably won’t last long, especially with a Christmas trip to Costa Rica on the horizon and wrapping up a fabulous 2024.

View from our Niagara Falls Hotel Window



Next: Post 34 A Little Dog and A Fireball in Brentwood Bay 





Location: Grimsby, ON, Canada

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