We arrived in New Brunswick the summer of 2019 - before the ominous “COVID” pandemic. We had plans at that time to come the next summer too, in 2020. That next visit didn’t happen, which forced our decision to find our new property online - sight unseen.
We parked the car on a side road and started walking a nearby trail. Strawberries were end of season, raspberries and blueberries were coming on. The soft breezes, the wild flowers, and nature's quiet filled our senses.
New Brunswick is our heritage province and though we have travelled far and lived in unusual places, we felt we wanted to go home, the place we were born, the place that gives us warm memories and a place to express all we’ve experienced.
In our meaderings, we checked out Green’s Point, which we found to be an incredibly beautiful penisula that provides photographers the opportunity to take photos of wild roses, the lighthouse, and vast ocean views. The transversing of the ferries from Deer Island to Letete added to the view.
Watching the waters move, the waves coming in from haphazard directions bewildered me as to their coming in or going out. I broke our reveree of silence for some answers.
“Is the tide coming in or going out?” I queried.
“Just look, see?” Brent directed.
Hmm. A few more “look, sees,” and I’m sure I’ll get it.
I grew up in central New Brunswick where the trees are never ending and ocean visits were for summer vacations. I knew my mom would welcome us back with open arms. My dad having passed away would love to know this day - our decision to move back to New Brunswick.
Brent’s family is from Campobello, New Brunswick. His love of the area is from his childhood and teenage memories of fishing, and lobster pounds and watching the tides (thus knowing when they’re coming in and going out.)
We spent our allotted days for the area and reluctantly drove back towards Fredericton and too soon, we were back home in Toronto. Once over our end of vacation grief, we started scouring the real estate sites for homes for sale.
We found a property as quick as that! We purchased our new home sight unseen - with the help of our committed realtor. The wheels were turning for the move! And before we knew it, it was time to sort out all the business for setting up residence in New Brunswick.
It was a new experience for everyone involved to set up house of new owners, who had never been to the property. Let's just say, it took good service and a great sense of humour, of which Maritimers have more than enough.
NBPower - check. Within 24 hrs they set themselves up to take our money on our closing date. House insurance. Check. This started the next sequential set of steps, which began with an electronic alarm system. Answers to questions determined the direction for each step.
We learned that a follow up call from the security company was needed, the conversation went like this:
Service Agent, “Did the installer leave your place neat and tidy?”
Me: “I have no idea.”
Service Agent: “Sooo, when will you be checking in to see?”
Me: “It’ll be a bit. We live in Toronto. And for obvious reasons we can't go there right now (due to covid restrictions).”
We continue with the survey of questions. The chuckles start to grow. Soon, full laughs were dominating the irrelevant questions.
We decided that the survey had come to an irreverent end. We did the best we could given that it was a Friday in a pandemic that belittled the importance of other things. I wish I knew who she was; I know she and I could have a blast on a warm Saturday afternoon chatting on our balcony overlooking the Bay.
Next the installer called.
Installer: “So you completed the survey call with the company?”
Me: “Yes.”
Installer: “Okay. Great. So does the snowplow in the driveway go with the house - like the washer/dryer?”
Me: “What snowplow?” (The former owners were yet to pick it up.)
Installer: “It’s nice; it looks brand new. You’ll also need a ride-on lawn mower for this lawn.”
Me: “Really?” He has our interest. “We’ve never been to the house, so we don’t know so much.”
Installer: “Oooh, you’ve not been to the house, yet.” In my minds eye, I could see his eyes rolling up in wonderment.
“No. We haven’t even been to Deer Island before."
Pause. Silence.
Installer: “Are you sure we’re at the right house? Is your house a peach colour?”
Pause.
Eruption of laughter. I did remember that the house we just purchased is green.
Wild with extraordinary beauty are characteristics that New Brunswick offers their returnees and newbies. We knew that this was just first steps in our newest life adventure.
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