Hmm. As I was saying...

The move to Toronto went about as smoothly as a move could ever go, in my experience. The only glitch was Uhaul; I booked it weeks in advance but they made me pick it up in Carleton Place. Carleton Place is not close, it's not convenient. Hell, it isn't even in Ottawa! I was pretty grumpy that we had to drive out of town to get the truck into town to then move out of town. Outrageous.

Apart from what a pain that was (and what a pain it was to move sick. Did I mention I had a cold?) once we got to Toronto things went better. I had helping hands waiting for me so we got my stuff in my apartment and had time to spare to use the truck to move my roommate in, too. It was scary to move into an apartment I'd never seen before but I LOVE IT. It's a very new townhouse complex. I haven't lived somewhere "new" in quite a while (all working fixtures, adequate amount of electrical sockets, laundry? DISHWASHER?? WHAT?!?) and there are security guards everywhere so I don't have to be nervous walking home in the Big Smoke. In addition, we have a terrace that we've recently furnished with an awesome patio set.

Being unemployed upon arrival gave me plenty of time to settle in, and as soon as I had my room set up I hit Queen St with a stack of resumes. Sure enough, 48 hours in the city and I had a bartending job. Nocturne, located at 555 Queen St W, is a very cool little joint. I was lucky to be resume-ing when I was, because the bar used to be called Savage Garden and had just been reopened under new management - a perfect time to come aboard. Nights were slow in the beginning but have picked up substantially in recent weeks. We have some really exciting shows coming up, including a Japanese pop night tonight and a burlesque show later this month!

Another spot I found to be lucrative is The Fashion District, located at 550 Queen St W (both Nocturne and TFD are about 5 minutes from my apartment, PS). Similar to The Workshop in Ottawa, The Fashion District is packed with handmade goodness from over 20 local designers. In addition, the store is a co-op, so every designers works a shift in the store to help promote one another. Most designers rent a gable or two but my stuff takes such little space so I'm just selling on consignment.

As happy as I am to be working at Nocturne a few nights a week and have stuff at The Fashion District, I obviously still need a full-time job. It took forever to get my internet set up at home (Thanks again Bell, for being sooo user-friendly) but now that I do, I'm hoping to find something full-time very soon. My consignment spot at TFD is good for boredom because it's something I can spend my free days working on, but it has stiff competition for my free time; free cable, a new vampire novel series, my friend Ian's Xbox 360.

Overall, I like Toronto if though I can't afford to go out and appreciate it as much as I'd like. Soon, though. Soon, I think I oculd be happy here.

Until I get the internet at home this Wednesday, here's a snap shot of what's up.

- I live in Toronto now
- I bartend at Nocturne, where Savage Garden used to be on Queen St W
- Undeadclothing items are available at The Fashion District, 555 Queen St W
- I have wonderful friends in Toronto who are making the adjustment that much easier
- I miss everyone in Ottawa, even the people who pissed me off on the regular.

Here goes

Where to begin

When moving to Toronto first crossed my mind, it was stored safely in the abstract possible future of "when I'm done school". Sure enough, I defended my masters thesis last October, and the question resurfaced. I confronted the question more seriously when two things happened: one, my roommate informed me that she would be moving in with her boyfriend in the spring and I would have to either find new roommates or relocate. Second, I began a serious relationship with a somewhat nomadic boy who yearned to live in a city where his education would finally be put to good use. Essentially, he wanted to move somewhere that he felt his life could really begin.

With these two factors to consider, I discovered that a good friend of mine in Toronto was dissatisfied with her living arrangements and would be willing to move in with me in the spring. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea so I committed to moving to Toronto in the spring of 2009.

I truly believe that I am making a good decision for a variety of reasons. Apart from the convenience of the factors listed above, I have never lived anywhere but Ottawa, and if there ever was a time to check somewhere else out, it's now; when I'm young and relatively unattached (no kids and school, that is. My attachment to my boyfriend is not an Ottawa-specific one!)

Now, in the spring of 2009, I'm confronted with the reality of my decision. I am hearing good friends tell me how much they will miss me. I am reading the list of shoes that will arrive at Top of the World in July and recognizing that I will no longer be here to sell them. I am taking the same OC Transpo buses that I take every day and realizing that I will have no idea how to get around in Toronto. The transition will be difficult, and I anticipate some pretty severe homesickness at first. Thankfully, I will have the support of some dear friends waiting for me in Toronto, some of whom I've known for many years. Who knows; maybe Toronto has what I don't even know I've been looking for.