So... I should get over my blogger block shouldn't I? After initial reactions of my blog are settling, I feel a little better about continuing. I enjoy dirtyolive.net and I find it strange so many should have such an opinion on it.

Edmonton was such a wonderful visit. Franklin is getting better and better on the plane. He now understands what is going on and is facinated with the airport traffic and the process of taking off and landing. This is a good thing as the airline requires you to hold your "under 24 month old" child in "the burping position" for both procedures. Keeping Franklin anywhere he doesn't want to be requires a special form of wrestling that is hard to do when confined to the economy seats of a plane. Those people who chose to recline their seats during this time deserve the swift kick to the back that will eventually happen. There is only so much room!

It is a dangerous thing to visit Edmonton when it isn't minus 30 degrees outside. It was cold, at least colder than Victoria, but it would have been fine if we had come dressed appropriately. I love Edmonton and I miss the company of some pretty amazing people.
I got to sit and have coffee with a good friend while I was there. We closed down the coffee shop and continued to talk in her apartment. Phone, email and websites just aren't the same as face to face talking. We discussed the pros and cons of living in Edmonton. The conversation with her alone is enough for me to start packing right now.

Throughout the entire visit D and I would compare the situation we were in to Victoria. Would there be snow falling in May in Victoria? - probably not, but at least it's snow! I miss snow. I miss skiing. I miss toboggans and snowmen and face-washes.
Would we have such flexible jobs in Edmonton? - I don't know. We have such a good set-up here in so many ways. We work with some amazing people. I love working with books. Franklin is completely happy in daycare (more on that another day!) and it is so close to my workplace. However, what about the pay? I've noticed that there seems to be higher wages for comparable jobs in Edmonton - with a lower cost of living.

We could actually get ahead in Edmonton rather than making it month by month here in Victoria. We could purchase a home - and although we know owning a home isn't the end all be all of life, it is a start of something. Getting ahead could mean travel and more opportunities.

Another thing that I wonder about is the equality of living here. There seems to be such a large gap in-between the rich and the poor. It's not apparent when you walk down the street but when you look closely at our city it boggles my mind. There is such wealth and such poverty. The gap seems narrower in Edmonton and although the reasons are simple enough to realize, is it just one more motivating factor to raise a child there rather than here?

I love Victoria though - for completely emotional reasons, I love it here. I love sitting on the beach in the rain. I love the cherry blossoms that cover the streets like fake snow. I love how the smell of the coast rushes into my nostrils when I get off the plane. I am starting to replace the cozy feeling of being inside on a snowy winter afternoon with a rainy winter afternoon. I love the overcast days, one after another - the city looks so beautiful when everything is about to downpour. I love Tofino!

Family, friends, practical finances, travel potential, and jobs versus amazing little Victoria.

It's a harder decision than I thought it would be.