by David Andrew Wiebe | May 26, 2023 | Inspiration
A change of environment does the soul some good.
I have only been in Penticton, BC since February, but I have traveled to the coast (Vancouver, BC) three or four times already (usually for a few days). In fact, I spent this week in Maple Ridge, BC.
Penticton has yet to grow stale for me, though it certainly isn’t a large city, and it doesn’t take too long to get acquainted with it. Even so, I’ve been finding value in getting away from the status quo.
A change of environment can:
- Give you a fresh perspective.
- Inspire new ideas.
- Offer a change of pace.
- Give you the opportunity to interact with different people or visit friends or family.
- Give you the opportunity to eat different food.
- Offer the chance to see new or different sights.
- Give you time to think and reflect.
- Offer you the chance to reset your habits.
If you’re not getting away at least once every three months, consider making changing your environment a part of your quarterly routine.
by David Andrew Wiebe | Feb 19, 2023 | Travel
I always saw it in the movies and thought to myself, “that can’t possibly be practical.”
My concept of hotels, motels, and inns in general has been that they’re just as expensive, if not more expensive, than Airbnbs. Which is a little ironic, because one of the selling propositions of Airbnbs used to be that they were cheaper than hotels. Check the prices now. At least in Canada, they’re practically the same if not pricier at times.
In my search for a temporary home, I stumbled across an extended stay rate at a motel in Penticton, BC, which I found to be just as reasonable – if not more reasonable – than renting an apartment. And, as of yesterday, this is where I now reside. Not for the long term, I don’t think, but at least for the next 30 to 70 days or so (at which point I might be looking for a similar arrangement in another city).
Motel living is not bad. It’s not perfect. There’s no workspace to speak of, they could have done a much better job of sound treating, and it’s obscenely bright in the morning (fortunately, I managed to hang a blackout curtain in front of the window by the bed without using any tools or nails). But I know you could do a lot worse. After all, the room has a couch, bed, fridge, stove, microwave, sink, bathroom, heating, and even an air conditioner. The fact that I’m not forced to eat out every day is a major plus.
At least temporarily, I’m also closer to a couple of friends I might not otherwise have the chance to visit.
Penticton isn’t much bigger than Okotoks, AB, but it appears to have some decent food options, and all the basic amenities one could ask for.
Although I don’t have much of a choice right now, I intend to keep embracing the spirit of adventure as I seek out a more permanent place to call home.
