Canada Day 2012

This time last year we had not taken possession of the townhouse where we now live. It was imminent but still four days off. We had just returned from 3 weeks in the Maritimes, and were feeling anxious about how to make the transition from big house to not too small condo. Jim was gearing up for the massive renovation and I was already tired thinking about getting us moved. We managed to squeeze in a final Canada Day party to say goodbye to the garden and then got down to serious work.

And now it is a year later and we had the first Canada Day party in the new space. And it worked pretty well. It was a windy evening and not very warm but with sunshine on the balcony and heaters in the patio we were comfortable. Set up for these 'first' events takes a little thought but we are getting the hang of it. We were 25 for this one. Cousin Barb has a folding table and extra chairs that we will probably uses as much as she does.
"Catered by Costco" is my new favourite way to entertain since there is no pretense that I went through days of preparation. 

We've had a lot of CD parties over the years. When we don't it's because we've gone downtown, are out of town, or are attending someone else's party. It just seems right to mark the day somehow. Sure, Canada isn't perfect. But aside from a tropical paradise with staff (and no humidity, bugs, snakes, or other critters; not too hot either) it's a good life. Really. Where would you live? Arizona in the summer? Florida in the summer? Europe in the summer or winter? Greece at any time?

Our politics are relatively transparent and honest, our banks are relatively stable, as a nation we are relatively tolerant and affluent. It's a Goldilocks kind of place: not too hot, not too cold, not too big, not too small. We live in a comfortable middle-of-the-road kind of place. Complacent and smug you could say. And for me, that's enough reason to celebrate.