A note to readers: This journal started in 2004 with the introduction below and has carried on with at least one entry per month since. The archive contains all of the past entries, and has been reorganized to make it easier to use. From now on I'll only keep the current quarter's postings on this page; all other postings will be found in the archive.
As of March 6, 2009 I plan to post a new entry each Friday (or Saturday if I'm running late). For those of you who might like to publicly comment on any of these musings, I'm also cross-posting at Slow Coast, a new regional blog.
If you want to communicate with me directly, just drop an email to ravenbaywoods@yahoo.ca
--Tom Read
March 6, 2009
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December 7, 2004
Introducing Tom’s Texada Journal
Rural communities can be a lot livelier than you might expect. Texada Island (population about 1,100), is both relaxed and busy; islanders live in a slow-moving timezone that locals call “Texada Time,” but many of us seem to immerse ourselves in all sorts of activities that make time evaporate. As a recent immigrant (from Los Angeles, California, USA, population around 4 million), I still see Texada through fresh eyes, with perhaps a bit too much of the newcomer’s fervent enthusiasm. I don’t want it to change. But I know that it is changing, for better or worse, no matter what I think.
This journal is intended to chronicle my experiences of island life, including my views on changes past and present, with some speculation about the future, too. I will mention real-estate-related topics, of course, because that’s a mainstay of my livelihood and it colours my perspective. But I want to use this space to share my honest sense of the place, not for sales pitches. Thus, I write from the heart about my new home on this island.
--Tom
