Another chapter in the Dell’Anno Family book has closed! Today our commercial trailer drove down the driveway, away from our newest home.

Three summers’ ago, we were thrown into chaos – yet again – when we were told we would need to vacate our home in Silver Creek (a rural part of Salmon Arm) so that the owner’s son could move in. I immediately set out to find a storage unit and there were NONE available. (Keep in mind, this was 2021, right at the tail of the first COVID lockdowns). Next idea…. a SeaCan container…. again, no luck!!! So, it was suggested to me that I purchase a commercial (transport truck) trailer. It is a lot EASIER to move than a SeaCan anyways.

So a trucker friend (thanks Robert) helped me find and purchase a 45’ truck. Little did I know at the time that our belongings would sit in it for two years before we could retrieve it. Thankfully, Julie and Robert also had a large farm yard where the truck was able to sit for those two years!!

Then in late August 2021, I was let go from my job, now also being without a home!! We were able to temporarily reside at the Sorrento Centre (where I had worked) until Christmas of 2021. In December we took the rest of our big items to the trailer, where they would sit for the next two years. We filled a small trailer and our van with the few critical items we still had with us and headed for Ontario to stay with my Mom in New Liskeard.

In late-March 2022, we packed everything back up and headed for Vancouver Island. I had secured an Interim Executive Director position at a camp about 1 hour north of Victoria, and we had a place to stay with friends in their home in Victoria (thanks Susan and Cheryl). Long story, but even after a year of looking, we were unable to secure adequate rental housing on the island.

Then in April 2023, I began a new job in Nelson, in the Kootenays of south-central, British Columbia. I went back and forth to Victoria – made about 6 trips – for several months until I was able to find our current home. We moved in July 1 and our truck load of belongings arrived mid-September 2023. Now, 9 months later, the truck is empty and rolling back down the driveway to be sold at auction; the end of another chapter.

I am so thankful for all of the friends who helped along the way…. April and Mark who made several trips with their horse trailer to get everything over to the truck; Robert and Julie for all their help with the truck and for storing it; Dianne for keeping all of my plants and ponds at her place until I was able to get back the following spring to retrieve everything; April for bringing a camper FULL of plants over to the island for me; Cheryl and Susan for providing temporary housing for us in Victoria; Tara for offering me a temporary place here in the Koots until I could find us more permanent housing. I am so grateful for each person along our journey who has helped us over the rough spots and so thankful to be settled yet again.

There are so many friendships built and left behind as we move from one place to the other. It is my hope to be able to reconnect with many of you through this process and keep you more up-to-date on our goings’ on.

Thanks for being part of our journey.