Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore

I'm adjusting quite nicely to condo life so far :)

I'm pretty much fully settled in now, all that's left to buy are window coverings. But there really isn't a huge hurry for that as no one can see in my window. As mentioned I have a great view but everything in it is people-less.

As with anything in life, there are pluses and minuses to condo vs. house living, but so far the pros far outweigh the cons.

The obvious plus is no more snow shovelling or gardening !! I know many people that would disagree with my hatred of gardening, but as far as I'm concerned my life is complete if I never seen a lawnmower, weed wacker or garden spade ever again. Blech.

I mentioned the view already and I'm enjoying that thoroughly, and can't wait for the summertime so I can sit out on my balcony and enjoy it more ... even though I do have a slight fear of heights. I've been out there a few times already and the fear kicks in as I approach the railing, so we'll see how that goes, but I should be fine. Part of the view is Downsview Park and there are some concerts lined up there this summer. I'm anxious to find out if I'll be able to see the stage or hear the music. I should add a pair of binoculars to my wish list.

I've even placed my bed as close to the window as possible, and I sleep on the window side so I see the brilliant lights of the city and the picturesque Toronto skyline as I lay in bed and when I wake up ... until the summer smog sets in of course ;)

On my first day there I discovered another perk to my view ... directly below my balcony and quite literally the closest thing I can see is a giant obstacle course. My landlord tells me it's where the army dudes train - the park is a former Canadian Forces Base, but there are still some active army buildings on site. Oddly my first thought was not excitement over seeing fit unformed men sweating it out while displaying their toned physiques, but rather "how can I get in there and try it out myself?". I need to get my priorities straight.

Another huge perk is the condo gym. It's really a pretty decent gym, and having it just downstairs has proven to be a huge benefit. My workouts tend to be an hour and a half long, but when I had to drive to and from the gym beforehand, depending on the time or the weather, sometimes that was enough of a deterrent to skip my workouts knowing I'd need to sacrifice 2 or more hours of my time. Now it's just a quick elevator ride to and from the gym, so in other words, no excuses. I also plan on advertising my services as soon as I'm certified - there's a good base of regular gym goers there and essentially that would mean working from home and working for myself :) There's also a sister condo right next door (and 2 more being built), each with it's own gym.

And I took my first trip to the pool, whirlpool and sauna last night ... definitely another item to add to the plus side of things.

A last plus I never really considered was garbage and recycling. I'm doing much more recycling than ever, and simply because it's so convenient. My building is very green, so the garbage disposal on each floor offers systems for garbage, recyclables and organics. You simply push a button for your option and it directs your waste through a chute into the appropriate bins below. Even regular garbage is a breeze; no more collecting garbage out in the garage and then dragging it to the curb on garbage day.

The only minus for me so far is the parking. While I enjoy underground parking from a snow and cold standpoint, and have no concerns whatsoever regarding security, it has proven to be a bit of a nuisance having my car so far away. Lugging groceries across a parking lot and in and out of an elevator isn't the most blessed chore in the world, and if I ever have to "run out to the car", it's a pain to have to take the trip down 11 stories to get to it.

Some people might add the noise factor to their list of minuses, but that doesn't bother me. I can definitely hear the traffic on the road below, and since it's a major roadway sometimes its the sound of big trucks applying their brakes late at night. The airport isn't an issue as it's just some sort of testing facility, so actual flights are limited. Most planes I see simply taxi or sit on the tarmac and never go anywhere. Of course the road noise will get even more dramatic in the warmer weather when I have my windows open, but I'm still certain it won't phase me. I've lived directly in front of railway tracks twice and once backing on to a major roadway, and the noise never bothered me. Perhaps because I have such irregular sleep patterns, who knows. The family down the hall with the baby that howls almost constantly bugs me more than anything ;)

So thats it, so far so good. That's big task # 1 of my career transition to-do list under my belt. Big step # 2 of course is to finish my courses and get my certifications so I can start training and counselling. Quite surprisingly the studying has been moving along nicely even with all the hustle and bustle of the move. I changed plans a bit and decided to complete the Personal Trainer course first and then start on the Nutrition certification, on the advice of a few people in the biz. Getting a PT job (or doing it on my own as indicated above) will be a much easier task, then while doing that I can get the nutrition course added to my resume.

Onwards and upwards :)