Personal Thoughts: The Start of 2026

I am writing this note from my new home in Kingston, Ontario where I have been now for six weeks. My move to Kingston is a culmination of years of dreaming about living in a more rural setting surrounded by nature and a peaceful, relaxed ambiance. I achieved my dream.

Throughout the last 20+ years, people questioned my desire for more country living. Where are you thinking of moving? What will you do in the country? Won’t you be bored? I didn’t know where I would be moving but I believed there was a place that would meet my needs and help me attain my goals. I was not concerned that I would be bored. I shared my father’s love for the country and had always enjoyed the country when we rented cottages and spent a week or a weekend. I believed that would indeed be my happy place. I was not wrong.

Fast forward to 2026.  We sold our Ottawa house of 26 years, purged accumulated belongings, and set out on what for me and my husband was an adventure. We fell in love with this Kingston house and its gorgeous property. It is close to family which really helped seal the deal on moving to Kingston. We have seen more of our family since our move in the last six weeks than we had seen over the last several years in Ottawa. We are happy. We are content. We know we did the right thing.

I might have waited too long to live my dream. But, the timing coincided with several family and personal issues coming together to make November 2025 the right time for us to move. If you have a dream or a goal, then work towards it. Take the necessary steps to get there. It might be anxiety provoking but life is about taking chances. We grow when we live outside our comfort zone so some anxiety can be a positive thing.

I am learning about septic tanks, pest control, and needing to plan my errands in advance since stores/services are no longer within a 10-minute drive. For me, these are aspects of a rural life which I am more than ready to embrace. Watching the sunrise out of one of our many windows reinforces that I am where I am meant to be. And, of course, in 2026 I am still able to work virtually and service clients.

Challenge yourself. Visualize your dreams. Take steps to get there even if it might take awhile.

Wishing you the best, Adeena!