Squamish it's not you, it's me.
Did you ever notice that the minute you decide to leave somewhere, it gets a million times better?
It's happened to me over and over and over again, every time I leave a legitimately decent place behind like Mexico, France, Costa Rica or Greece.
But when the place you live is already a million times better than anywhere else on a regular basis, how can it get any better just because you're leaving?
Well, I suppose you could pack the Test of Metal, the Triathlon, the B.C. Bike Race and the slowpitch tournament all into one month but those all happen on a yearly basis anyway.
If you had asked me three years ago to describe Squamish, I would have given the quintessentialy ignorant response: "It's the McDonald's on the way to Whistler."
Let's just say that spending 18 months in Squamish has profoundly solidified my belief in the saying, "First impressions are not always correct."
While the view out my window in the morning and from anywhere in Squamish might be stunningly gorgeous, these panoramas pale in comparison to the devotion and passion of this community.
Whether a climber needs to be saved, someone who's down on his luck needs to be fed or a chemotherapy mixing hood needs to be replaced, Squamish residents will find a way to make it happen.
Whether transit opinions need to be documented, downtown needs some revitalization or a bridge needs to be rebuilt before the Test comes through town, the community will collaborate to make it happen.
This passion is infectious. As a relatively fit, unaware and unable-to-say-no newcomer to Squamish, it did not take long for me to become absorbed in as many events as possible.
Before I knew it, I was riding the celebrity race to raise money for medical bills, bailing out people I didn't even know at the Relay for Life and bidding on something I couldn't afford at an orphanage fundraiser.
Passion is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as emotion distinguished from reason. And coupled with determination, it's a lethal combination. This combination can be seen in almost every aspect of Squamish: its trail network, the number of fundraising events and the number of organizations devoted to improving and loving life.
The difficulty with passion is that just as every person is unique, so too is his or her passion and the reason behind it. And that's where the conflict arises - when people decide their passion trumps the passion of others.
But I have a secret to tell you, Squamish. In my experience talking to hundreds of community members from all backgrounds and walks of life you all want the same thing - a vibrant town where everyone can live, work and play.
In a town with so many diverse interests, it's important to remember to respect where others are coming from. Just because you're an environmentalist doesn't mean you should condemn forestry, and just because your livelihood depends on construction doesn't mean locals' treasured parks aren't important.
Everyone in Squamish has a voice, and he or she should never be afraid to make that voice heard and ideally, listened to. So go to council, attend open houses and actually read those detailed reports.
So I guess that's all folks I thought breaking up with a boyfriend was hard, but breaking up with a sensational community is much worse.
It's only a break, though. I quickly realized when I moved to Squamish that I'd shown up a bit too early because this town is where I want to (gulp) settle down, have kids and buy a house.
So hasta la vista, for now. I have a few more pins on my world map to hit before I come back to the place I do, and from now on always want to, call home.
