Dear Halifax

by Charmaine Dymond

Dear Halifax:

You know, I like you. I do. In fact, I *love* you. And honestly, this really is a love letter to you. But before I start getting all mushy and sentimental, I need to get a few things off my chest. Bear with me for a moment, OK?

Photo credit: nyxie from Flickr

I mean, really, is it impossible for people to walk on the grass in your Public Gardens without the world ending or something? Or for your population to support a wider variety of shopping options (and no, more Wal-Marts and Home Depots does not qualify)? Or for your bus system to actually serve more than, what, five communities outside the city centre? (While I am pleased as punch to live on the number 1 bus route, I also realize I am one of the privileged few in the HRM to have access to a decent bus service.) And, bloody hell, what is up with this weather anyhow?

Enough of that. I really do love this place. Even though I feel it has so much potential to be even better and it’s frustrating to think that may never happen. Whoops, sorry – love letter, moving on…

So what do I love about Halifax?

I suppose I could talk about all the awesome things there are to do as a family here, but you can just mosey on over to HRM Parent to see what I mean (yes, shameless plug!). I could talk about how I love that it means I’m closer to my family, how friendly people are (stereotype I know, but so true), how I love not having stupidly long commutes anymore (OK, at the moment my ‘office’ is my couch, but still), how it’s so quick and easy to get out of the city and into the countryside. I love that it’s busy enough to be interesting, but not so busy that I get those angry, violent feelings I did while living in London! I love that it’s a fairly seasonal city, but not as seasonal as places like PEI. (Sorry PEI.) I love that it’s got this thriving, independent, funky scene happening (that I admire from afar – I’m not particularly funky). I love that it has wonderful little places like the ‘cookie store’ (as it was named by a friend of my son’s, also known as Local Jo Cafe).

Photo credit: lumierefl from Flickr

I have made great friends here, and between them and the casual conversations I have with people at places like the bus stop, the playground and in stores, I feel like I live in a real, proper community. I get warm fuzzy feelings when I walk around the city (especially in the spring when the leaves have returned and in the fall when they are turning). I love listening to the fog horns at night and in the early morning. My son is having an awesome childhood growing up here. Though I still crave a home with a porch and wood siding, I’m just *so* happy to have a house bigger than 700 square feet, with a basement. And closets – oh bless the storage options!

But to be honest, it’s hard to put into words exactly why I love it here. The only way I can think to describe it is that it feels like home. I feel happy and content here. I can see us living here for quite a while. I guess this feeling is made up of a whole bunch of little reasons, none spectacular on their own, but put together means that Halifax is a pretty awesome place to call home.

None of my mushy ramblings means that I wouldn’t love it if we could pick Halifax (all of Nova Scotia, actually) up and drop it where, say, Italy is. Better weather, better travel options, better shopping options, but still Halifax. Or would it be, I wonder? Best not to mess with it, I suppose.

Not a Haligonian by birth, but now one by choice, Charmaine Dymond is ‘home’ in Halifax after living in London, England for 8 years. She runs the local parenting website, HRM Parent.