Winter Preparation

The first day it snowed in our neck of the world and I am off to have dinner with a friend in Scarborough. Not only was I rerouted a few times because of weather related accidents but because of the four murder victims found in their home that same day. I am mentioning this because one of the victims actually lived in Whitby and happened to be visiting her parents before their trip to Mexico to see an ailing relative. Today it was reported in the news money problems may have contributed to the demise of these people. Currently our economy is going through a disastrous period and we need to take care it does not get the best of us. Our lives our worth more than currency and we should try to understand this. Worrying about money adds stress to our already stressful lives and if allowed to, can overwhelm us. We must learn to create a balance in order to stay safe and healthy. Disasters come in all forms.

Even though every year we know it will snow eventually many are not prepared for the inevitable. They drive as if the roads are clear pushing the cautious drivers, looking annoyed at those who want to drive slower and be more careful. Do you have your snow tires on your car? I do. Do you have your windshield wiper fluid topped up and spare fluid stored in your car? I do. Do you have an emergency roadside kit in your car with flares and emergency markers etc. at the ready? I do. Do you drive with weather appropriate clothing on in case you must leave your car? I must admit I do not always drive with coats and boots on but I should or at least have them in my car for just in case.

Is your house ready for winter? Do you have your windows caulked and sealed from the elements? Have you put away garden items which could either blow away or be damaged by the elements? Have you made sure your outside water taps are turned off? Have you purchased your salt for your walks and put your shovel at the ready to clear your walks and steps to prevent people from falling. In Toronto you are required by law to clear your front walk. In Whitby, in my area, our front walks are cleared for us. Lucky us. Are your clothes weather appropriate in your closets? If you have a wood fire, is your wood pile stocked? If you have a gas fire place is it clean and ready for use?

For part of this winter I plan on escaping the cold this year. As a retired person, I now have the flexibility to change my location when the mood hits. Well I am off to visit my daughter in Texas for the American Thanksgiving and to possibly catch one of the games my son in-law is playing in for the San Antonio Spurs.  I am traveling by bus as I would like to write about my experiences. I plan on traveling for 30 days throughout North America exclusively by bus. Now some of my family think I am nuts and skirting danger. Recent reports of the hazards of traveling by bus do not support my decision to travel by this mode of transport but I plan on showing everyone it can be a safe and economical way to travel. The recent beheading of a young man by another passenger also traveling by bus was on occurrence not likely to be repeated. Also the recent report of the TB outbreak on a bus is rare. Any type of communal travel involves certain risks of disease, since you are sharing the same air in a small space. At least with a bus trip there are frequent stops allowing fresh air to enter the bus each time. The same goes with train travel. By plane you do not have the same opportunities. I have traveled to the far east more than once staying on a plane for more than 18 hours breathing the same recycled air and I survived intact. I am sure I will arrive safely this time as well. In my daughter and son-in-law's defense they gave me last year for Christmas a plane ticket as a gift to travel down to see them, but I returned it asking for the money instead to travel by bus. I plan on making multiple stops, allowing me to visit as many family and friends I can fit in or will have me in the 30 days the ticket is good for.

Keep your fingers crossed I do not encounter one of the many disasters currently accosting the United States, such as the fires in California or the occasional tornadoes or hurricanes which hit many parts of the southern states at this time of the year. The hurricane season poses a threat until the end of November. The later months of the year are the most likely to have tornado warnings, with the beginning of the year seeing a lessoning of the threat. I am traveling in prime time. Wish me luck.

So far this year, we have pretty lucky regarding disasters hitting our area. Let us hope it will remain. With good planning, preparation for what might come we will be fine.

Until next time.