Yesterday was a very significant day in my life. First, some context.
The year is 2004. I have just finished my undergraduate degree in Anthropology, with a minor in Environmental Studies. My university career ended differently than I expected, and it turned out to be a great time.
I did my first year at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I enrolled in a program called Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism. We were affectionately called "Reccers" and there was a traditional rivalry between us and the engineers. We had songs about how they did lots of homework, and we went camping. I was going to get a degree in playing in the outdoors! And get a job too! And those engineers, working much harder, for no real gain! We had songs we were made to sing during Frosh Week too:
"I'd rather be a Reccer than a f*ck*ng engineer, We never do our homework because we're always drinking beer. Our underwear is dirty and we don't care, *something about tent pegs in eyes, but I can't remember now*."
Halfway through the first semester though, I realized the program wasn't what I wanted to take and that Thunder Bay was not the city for me. During reading break, Dad and I met in BC and explored the big three schools here. First, we looked at Simon Fraser, but it didn't fit. Then, UBC. It was a whole city, and was too big. Dad suggested we go across the water and see UVic, and that's when I realized I had found my future school! The idea was to get a "real" degree, and still do the fun outdoors things I wanted in my spare time.
At UVic, I could bike all year long, run through the winter, and live by the ocean. I applied to transfer, and was happily accepted. I moved to Victoria with a hockey bag and a bike box, graduating three years later with an extra bike box, and a few more clothes.
When I graduated, I needed to find something to do. I was a bit tired of school, and decided to pursue my dream of opening a bike shop. I started this by working at a shop in Whistler, so I could ride all summer and break into the bike community there. I moved into a house with a tarp on the roof, and yoghurt containers on the floor to catch leaks. I paid $450/month.
Just look at that tarp, flapping away in the breeze.
Turns out I liked Whistler, but didn't make a career at the bike shop. I got lots of biking and snowboarding in, and enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle.
Helibike trip on Rainbow Mountain, across the valley from Whistler and Blackcomb.
A River Runs Through It, Whistler.
I put 66 days on the mountain that year, my highest total.
Erik and I at the top of Whistler.
I left Whistler after two years, finding myself in Winnipeg, Ontario, and China, and Bali, Indonesia.
A bright, sunny winter day in Ontario. I wish Vancouver had those.
The Settlers of Catan Canadian Championships. I made it to the final day!
Planting seeds with my Chinese kindergarten class. I wonder if they remember me. That's Lilly (I think!)
Me and Bruce in Hong Kong.
Carol waiting...
Carol preparing...
Carol running!
Suffocation seems imminent. Good thing they only let you be out there for a couple minutes.
My friends on the beach. I rented a surfboard from them every day, and shared their shade.
Best shape of my life.
I found myself in Whistler again, once I was back from China. Almost everything was the same; same people, same job, same expensive lift tickets. One thing was different though, and that was Carmella! We knew eachother the first time I lived in Whistler, but really started to enjoy our time together in 2009, and got engaged last October.
Carmella gets the radio controlled airplane stuck in her hair. This was our first real hangout time.
I'm still in my work uniform.
Stocking Stuffers!
We got engaged on the beach!
So, back to the significance of yesterday. There's one background activity that I've been begrudgingly doing during the time all these pictures were taken.
Since graduation in 2004, Whistler v1.0 until 2006, Ontario in 2007, Asia in 2008, Whistler v2.0 in 2009, and now in Vancouver in 2011, I've been paying off my bank student loan. Yesterday, I completed the last payment over the phone, and stopped the regular automatic payments.
It's been a tough slog in some places, but it's done!
It took 7 years. I remember thinking, in 2004, that I'd likely be 30 by the time I had it paid off. How futuristic! Now I'm 30, and I do have it paid off. When I started, the interest accounted for 1/3 of the payment. In the last few months, the interest totaled less than $10. Now, there is no interest, and no more payments to the bank. Celebration!
