Thursday 1 July 2010

The One

I need your help with a Very Important Thing.

2010 is going to be the year I find The One. And you’re going to help me.

O good heavens no. I don’t mean that kind of The One. No calling up brothers and cousins to beg favours.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s been some...relocation, in my recent past. New Zealand. Australia. Saskatoon. I have learnt a lot, taught a little, and experienced and enjoyed many things I would not have done, had I stayed in one place.

But I am ready, now, to find my Place, and make it The One. I am ready to take all the things I have experienced and enjoyed and learnt, and put ‘em all together somewhere that I want to be long enough to make it worth buying Tupperware. Painting a wall. Making a home.

So this midwinter Canada Day, when I have officially less time left here in Australia than I have until I go home to Canada, I pass it over to you.

Where shall I go?

Within certain boundaries mostly dictated by my own caprice, I’m willing to give most places a shot.

I’d give you my list of capricious needs, but I’m at the romance stage at the moment. I just want to hear things about places and imagine finding my Place there. So long as there’s some music (yes, MY kind of music. You know) and some books, the remaining needs can wait until the plans get more concrete. When I pack my bags for home, where should home be (and why)?

Find me The One. I trust you. I know you can do it.

(p.s. 1. It doesn’t have to be where YOU live, though it can be. 2. You don’t have to be Canadian to suggest. Pick a place and send me there. 3. Look! Cake!!)

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Come home to Saskatoon because it's where people who miss you live:)

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Is actually "Chantalle" sorry!!

Amber said...

O, but you were so much more mysterious when you were Anonymous!

Leslie said...

Canada. Ca-na-da. Which means either Toronto for publishing jobs, B.C. or the Maritimes for easy ocean access, Montreal or Ottawa/Hull for bilingual living, or Saskatoon for the highest concentration of ready-made friends. And if you can't settle here in the Paris of the Prairies, then we will happily roll out the guest accomodations whenever you visit.

Karen said...

I agree with Chantalle and Leslie - here in Saskatoon is where the people who love you are. Although, I just got back here from what used to be my home town of Whitby Ontario - absolutely beautiful there. And we accidentally toured Thunder Bay on our way home.....I think I could spend a lifetime there too!

Jillian said...

Okay so I am going to list the obvious choice here: SASKAMATOON!!!!! AS has been mentioned, we love and miss you here.

On the other hand, I have two other suggestions for you, both Canadian cities which I loved when I visited them: Ottawa or Halifax. Halifax has a great feel to the city; I think you would enjoy the vibe there, plus it was really pretty :D Finally, if you are thinking of buying a place, prices are much more reasonable there than they are here. Ottawa on the other hand would allow you to put your French skills to good use, and it was also really lovely, plus there would always be lots to do.

Either way, if you don't pick Saskatoon because you want something a little bit different, I would come visit you lots in either Ottawa or Halifax :D

Good luck with the search!

Christina. said...

I vote for Saskatoon! Of course! Where else? We are just awesome. That's my vote. Christina.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, conundrum....

Will think...

But do know...

Don't go to China.

Guess who wrote this!

Amber said...

Ell Bee: Home to Canada is a given. I see you are well-versed in the skill of equivocation. Basically everywhere but Winnipeg, right?

Kar: How do you 'accidentally' go to Thunder Bay? Could you spend a 'lifetime' there simply because you couldn't find the way out?

Jill: A very considered and well-measured argument. You are clearly a student. Now, Ottawa would put me near our Lynette, so you could kill two birds with one large visiting stone that way...

Christina: You all are lovely. I am surprised by how many Saskatoon votes. I thought you'd all want to send me somewhere far away.

Anon: I cannot imagine. Sri Lanka is treating you okay, then...

Unknown said...

Am I going to be the only one not saying Canada? I would love to have you in the vicinity (please let me have used that word correctly...) so I say Sydney! Or Melbourne, I think that might suit you more... Come to Manly and see the beaches and pretty houses, or Glebe with all the books

Anonymous said...

Croxley.

Holly said...

Oh, it has to be in Canada. Gotcha.

Amber said...

Lynette: C’est vrai que j’ai un faible pour Montréal…peut-être que le moment est venu. Though I really get tangled up pronouncing librarie and paragraphe, which in my line of work has got to be a drawback.

DLP: I love that you need more information to give me your response. I expect it, when it comes, to have chapter headings and coloured dividers. When I decide, you will definitely be move-planner-in-chief. I should have had you on board ten years ago.

Claire: Vicinity, yes indeed. But one good reason it has to be Canada is that way in a couple years you can come and visit and we can scare your mum with irresponsible shenanigans.

Holly: You can just stick a pin in and make up a reason. Who’s to say they don’t have marzipan trees in New Brunswick? And I would totally go, for marzipan trees.

Oh, Anonymous. It would not be as magical and wondrous as it is to me, were I to live there. Also, I would be destitute.

Anonymous said...

Just go where you are at home and people love you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC9ZnSIg-jw

Anonymous said...

I agree with Anonymous above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAOsSzCecKQ

Corporal Monkey said...

I know you like to be near the water.

Anonymous said...

Forks! Move to Forks!!!!

Amber said...

Anon & Corporal M: Videos,eh? Sneaky. Clever.

Anon 2: Has someone been to see a MOVIE recently or something? Also, you must surely know all the best post-Professor Lupin werewolves live in Mercy Falls, Minnesota.

Anonymous said...

Videos can be a powerful tool. Plus I should mention I have a cup of tea, the best chocolate mousse, and an orange or two always here for you. *wink*
Love The Corporal.

Anonymous said...

When you step off a plane and feel that sense of homecoming... where have you landed? When things are a bit stressful, or when days are frustrating, where are you when you can put up with that because tomorrow is another day (you don't think, "crikey, get me outta here!"). That would be the place I would go for...

Dis any of that make sense?

Gx

Christine said...

I'm sorry Amber but your friends should know that your heart lies in the South Seas in a little place where it rains continuously, your house was damp and cold, you never had your own office until it was too late and your work collegue ate his lunch unceremoniously in the 'staffroom' Admit it you really miss us!

Amber said...

Ummm...sure. You're so right. Incidentally we're having a rainstorm here right now, so it's almost like being there.

Holly said...

oh, cool. i'm going to go with PEI then because, well, anne of green gables! so obvious. and that's where the marzipan trees are, actually. tch, new brunswick. so silly.

Amber said...

Oooh, PEI. I hadn't thought of that. I will need a skiff. For the marzipan harvest.