Well, this is a wee bit uncomfortable, but I suppose final entries often are.
A couple months ago, I wrote a satirical piece about moving from Garibaldi Estates to Valleycliffe, or as I put it, moving away from Squamish entirely. It was meant to point out the unique characteristics of our local neighbourhoods, and I was pleased when it prompted fellow Chief columnist and longtime Valleycliffe resident Paul Demers to "drop the gloves" and express his affection for his neighbourhood.
Sure enough, my wife and I quickly developed a similar affection for Valleycliffe in the short time we've lived here, and for all the reasons I anticipated: the nearby trails, looming rock slabs and tight-knit community feel.
It helped that, despite my earlier teasing about living in shadows, my front door was never egged despite my teasing jabs.
But we recently learned that it's already time to pack up once again, this time to the Island by mid-March, where my wife has accepted a job with Parks Canada.
Problem is, Squamish isn't a place you leave - not if you've got your head screwed on right. So the commitment papers have been filed.
But I already have the itinerary written up for the next trip back to the place that, I foresee, will always feel like home. Test of Metal, Elfin Lakes, the list of things to do and places to venture goes on, and there are countless backcountry gems that we've still yet to journey.
In fact, the one and only time we checked out our future home in Victoria we spent much of the day drawing connections and comparisons to Squamish. I already know exactly how long it will take to drive (yes drive, not pedal) to local mountain bike trails, while for longer excursions, I suppose Mount Washington is the new Whistler Bike Park.
And for Laura, I guess the concrete seawall is her new hundreds of kilometres of rocky, rooty, technical running trails just outside the front door.
I just hope the people in Victoria are as welcoming as Squamish locals were when we moved here nearly three years ago. Truck filled to the brim after a cross-country road trip, ready to start our new reporting jobs at The Chief the following day, we found a cozy place in a matter of hours and became quick friends with our landlords/neighbours.
Since then, reporting on the community has introduced me to so many interesting people with diverse talents, backgrounds, causes and visions for Squamish's future.
And as a sports reporter, I can't imagine a better way to finish off local athletic coverage than with Squamish's Olympians. Based at Cypress Mountain, I've been fortunate enough to witness Maëlle Ricker win Squamish's first ever gold medal after Rob Fagan won the snowboard cross small final for fifth.
I snapped shots as Justin Lamoureux earned Canada's best ever halfpipe result, and before Davey Barr got called up at the last minute to earn an impressive sixth place in ski cross.
Only in Squamish. And that's why we'll be back.
