Shannon and Phil Jackman

Orillia Ontario is known as the "Sunshine City. The site of an Ojibwa reserve from 1830 to 1838, Orillia subsequently prospered as an agricultural and lumbering community.

The city of Orillia is located on the shores of two connected lakes: Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. Both lakes are part of the Trent-Severn Waterway. The Trent–Severn Waterway is a Canadian Canal system formerly used for industrial and transportation purposes and now for recreational and tourism purposes. It connects Lake Ontario at Trenton to the Georgian Bay portion of Lake Huron at Port Severn. The total length of the waterway is 386 kilometres (240 mi), with roughly 32 kilometres (20 mi) of man-made channels. There are 45 locks, including 36 conventional locks, two sets of flight locks, hydraulic lift locks at Peterborough and Kirkfield, and a marine railroad at Big Chute which transports boats between the upper and lower sections of the Severn. The system also includes 39 swing bridges and 160 dams.

Stephen Leacock House

In Stephen Leacock's 1912 book Sunshire Sketches of a Little Town, Orillia was used as the basis for the fictional town known as "Mariposa" Many local businesses also use "Mariposa" in their names. The city council actively restricts the construction of large buildings downtown and seeks to maintain a certain "small town" look with regard to signs and decorations.

Orillia is the home town of Shannon and she and her husband Phil have recently moved there from The Beach area of Toronto. Shannon is a wallpaper designer who has worked with Joanne for many years. Her husband, Phil, has recently retired as an editor for the Toronto Globe & Mail although he still writes a Saturday column.

They have purchased a lovely new townhouse that is close to Lake Couchiching and an easy walk to the main street of Orillia.

We arrive at Shannon and Phil's home tired and exhausted. These poor friends were the first to put up with us in our panicked state. It takes a while to calm down after two weeks of going "full out". They were very sympathetic and wonderful hosts.

After a great night of conversation, drink and a good nights sleep we walked the walking trails, bike paths and parks all along the shore. It is a beautiful town! We have coffee at a cafe on the main street and lunch at Stephen Leacock House.

It is great to share their excitement for their new town.

I really hope that they come and visit us in Mexico.

Our Plan

We have a plan. We are driving to Zihuatanejo, Mexico where we will spend the winter, working on the design and plans for the homes to be built on our land near La Ropa Beach. Our decision on when to start building will be made based on the state of the economy, Mexican tourism and real estate. I am very pleased with how the plans are proceeding and we will have a website when the floor plan is completed.

Our lot left view

Our lot center view

Our lot right view

Last winter in Zihuatanejo we met and became friends with Connie and Hans. Connie and Hans have very kindly agreed to rent us their extra condo for the winter starting on October 1^st.

Hans and Connie

Our plan is to take a very indirect course to Mexico and visit Clayton and his girl friend Tiffany who are living and working in Wildwood NJ, as well as, several friends. During our lives we have made many good friends who have said “You must come and visit, we would love to see you”.

Well, we are going to visit!

Tired & Waiting

Monday, August 15, 2011 5:30 pm
We are sitting on the front steps and waiting for our tenants. Totally exhausted. Our bodies hurt. Our minds are numb. We are too tired to feel excitement or anything.
For the last 10 days we have been existing on 4 to 5 hours sleep and working, working, working on the endless list of things that must be completed for this moment now.
The endless 'to do' list is done or we are too tired to think of the things we have missed.
A very impressive shiny new BMW with New York plates arrives and our tenant gets out. He is well dressed, polite, seems very responsible but oh so young. Doubts fill the mind. Are we out of our minds to give him the keys to our most valuable possession, our home?
The other tenants arrive, the tour, this is here, that is there, do this, don't do that. Handshakes and keys are exchanged and we are out the door.
As we sit in our fully packed 2006 Pontiac Torrent (bought 2 days ago) we realize that this a watershed moment in our lives - our lives before now and our lives after now. There is no turning back and we are too exhausted to feel anything.

Friday August 5, 2011

Deal?
Deal.
Deal!
SHIT!
Be careful what you wish for it might come true.
We have a deal to rent our furnished home for 4 months. We wanted 6 to 10 months but we took what we could get. We hope to find another renter for the remaining time.
Our renters move in on August 15!
We have 10 days to;
Change our home to a rental property
empty all closets,
pack and store personal things and valuables,
rent storage,
empty fridges, freezer, pantry, cold cellar, bathroom cupboards, and garage,
clean everything
hire a cleaning person
new insurance
buy a new vehicle and get insurance
setup internet bills and bill payment
notify OHIP
and MORE
and MORE
and MORE!!!!!
The biggest problem still exists.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW THAT WE ARE HOMELESS!!!