The move, part four

This is the fourth and final post in a series about my move to Barrhaven. (After this, I’ll be blogging about my life at Barrhaven.)

My front door.

Making new friends.

I’ve hung up a bird feeder and made friends with a chipmunk and a couple of black squirrels. One of my neighbours has some similar interests as I do and we’ve been able to spend a little time in each other’s company, mostly talking while sitting out on the stoops. The air is sometimes safe enough to do so, and for me to take little walks in the side yard. She picks up my mail from the building it is delivered to, as the laundry product residues in the lobby were making me really sick, even if I went only twice a week. And she took me on my 1st trip to Ottawa the other day, to check out two farmers markets and an environmentally friendly products store (where I was hoping to be able to get some safe toilet paper from, but they were sold out). I was able to actually appreciate some of that trip, beyond merely surviving it, despite the pain from cell towers, traffic, and other exposures. I am not in a hurry to do it again, but know that I could manage a trip every now and again with someone else driving, and as long as I don’t go inside anywhere. Ottawa has some nice sights and places to see for better days ahead.

Close up of the sign on my door.

Passing storm out my window.

My health continues to improve here (it hit a wall at the cabin, despite the fresh outdoor air and good well water I got from my friends, all of which I do miss). I hope I can get another stage of water filtration installed, as what is here now isn’t enough for me to be able to drink it. The RO water I’m getting delivered is also not great, but better than the double filtered tap water. There is no spring water available in glass bottles around here, and it’s too far to drive to get filled myself.

The sun came out after the storm, just in time for sunset…

My remaining challenges her aren’t life threatening, (as long as the lack of some of my supplements and toilet paper doesn’t become so ;-p) and can be dealt with over time. I feel pretty good about being here (when I’m not missing the wilderness) and feel fairly confident that I can continue to improve my health and brain function. Some of my old self is returning, and most of my PTSD is gone! I have my collection of odd treasures around me, many which make me smile when I see them. I have my knife sharpener and pots and pans so I can cook well again. I have an oven again (which I got sick burning off fragrance residues from) so I can bake veggies and gluten free bread soon, I can hand feed a chipmunk, watch some flowers grow, and I have some nice neighbours. It’s feeling like a safe enough home. Life is good.