It’s kind of funny. When I tell people where I live, a lot of people are astonished. They can’t imagine even spending half a minute here.

For me, I can’t really imagine living anywhere south of the 60^thparallel these days. In recent months, I have come to realize that while I have been flipping back and forth between the NWT and Ottawa for 21 years – and I think the needle has finally moved to the point where I have spent more time living in the North than I have than living in Ottawa – and the lion’s share (now more than nine years) living in Inuvik.

It’s amazing. I can’t express in words that would make any kind of sense what that truly means to me. In a way, after moving around and finding myself starting over and over (and over again), I fully recognize that the North is my home. It is where I feel most myself. It is where I have been able to finally establish some sort of balance and focus.

Moving to the NWT all those years ago – to a place my mother couldn’t even locate on a map – was the best decision ever. And I’ll never be sorry. We are all travellers, all with a specific and extremely particular journey that we must take in order to find “our place”.

I know I have found mine…

Did I ever expect to be this far North? Of course not. But having opened myself up to the possibility, I was rewarded in ways I never expected. I know I have probably said this before (and if I’m repeating myself, I do apologize – but that takes nothing away from the sentiment) but I am more comfortable being in the middle of nowhere than I ever really was when I was living in Ottawa. Not that Ottawa isn’t a great city, a beautiful city, and one that many people love and have no intention of leaving…it just never felt like the final stop on my journey.

And if I’m being honest, even Inuvik may not be the final stop on my journey. For right now, the NWT is exactly where I need to be – and where I want to be in my live. I still consider myself very lucky to have been presented with the opportunity, and while some may think I am missing out for some reason, I do not agree.

Even when it’s dark and cold and snowing and I have to get up and put on countless layers of clothing just to walk the minutes it takes me to get to my office. Even when I am more likely to spray on some bug dope before leaving the house than I am to spray on some sunscreen, when I am scratching my zillionth mosquito bite (like the ones I currently have on my scalp), it’s still more than worth it.

Would I miss it if I left? Right now, yes.

Will I always feel this way? I’m not so sure…

Am I going to worry about it or over think it?

Nope. I’m just going to spray on some more bug dope, grab myself a beer, and sit on my deck and enjoy the sunshine and warm weather…