At 18 years old, I remember sitting on a beach on the coast of the North Sea outside of Amsterdam, staring in wonder at the ocean. It was the first one I had seen. I remember thinking even then: "I live in a country where we border three oceans, and I've never seen one of them."
It was wrong to me, and I told myself right then that by age 30, I would see every province in Canada.
I met that goal, and while doing so - I fell in love with Atlantic Canada. My first trip to the East Coast was in 2003, and in August 2009, I was set to return for my fifth time.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly why Atlantic Canada is so special. But many people, especially those from there, agree. It's mystical, charming, wild, friendly, warm, quaint, and one of the most soulful places I've ever been. I've had so many magical experiences there.
When I booked that trip for August 2009, my mind was made up: I wanted to move there. Every trip to the Atlantic provinces made it feel more and more like home, and I was convinced I wanted to make it official.
So, in months leading up to August 2009, while I was employed at the Government of Alberta, I sent resume after resume to nearly all government departments with the Province of Nova Scotia, not-for-profit agencies, and other organizations that I thought matched my skill set. My goal was to try to arrange job interviews for my next visit.
Two things happened, though, that stopped this plan from coming to fruition. 1) No one called for an interview, and 2) I met a farmer in the month leading up to my flight to Nova Scotia for that vacation.
I still went on that trip and had a fantastic time, like all the other times before it. But, for some reason, while I was there that August - I realized that I wanted to continue getting to know that farmer and the thought of moving 3,000 miles away from him felt like something I no longer wanted to do.
No interviews happened on that trip, and when I returned, the farmer and I continued getting to know each other. Things went quite well because we will be married 14 years next month.
My love affair with NS hasn't ended, but we are content to leave it long distance. After all, thanks to Westjet, my practice of being a savvy traveller, and the Canadian Farm Writers Federation claiming Halifax as their annual conference location, I'm returning for my 7th time next week.
(Read more about Billi's adventures in Atlantic Canada here).
Until next time.
xo,
Billi
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Billi J Miller is an author, photographer, speaker, and writer from east-central Alberta, Canada. Previously a city-living, 9-5 government worker, Billi moved to the country in 2010 to marry the man of her dreams, a fourth-generation Canadian farmer.
Harnessing her entrepreneurial spirit, she created a successful business as a photographer and writer, "telling stories from the heart and stories that matter." Since 2016, she authored and published four books celebrating Canadian farm life and the remarkable people who live there. She speaks to audiences about her books and has since been recognized on CBC, Global TV, and City TV, as well as countless newspapers and magazines both in Canada and in the US.