Posted by S. , Monday, September 20, 2010 10:22 PM

It's amazing how many things you realize are NOT necessities or things that you need when you are spending an extended period of time in a location where most things are simply not available, and those which are are triple their fair market price, at best.

I can live without a car, without fast food, without drive thrus and without Red Bull. As to whether this will stick when I get back down South, I have my doubts. Some changes that travel elicits are permanent, others are just a function of the environment.

When I say that a lot of "basics" are lacking in Waskaganish, I am not exaggerating. Actually, to-date, I think I've understated the remoteness and lack of .... stuff here. Fruit costs an astronomical amount, and very little is available, and is mostly already nearly rotten by the time it arrives. it takes 2+ weeks for mail to arrive and leave, as there are (count 'em!) 1 truck and 1 plane per week, that's it. Flintstone mail, to quote my dad. The main restaraunt tends to keep odd hours, and often is closed at 6. The dep has longer hours than the Northern, but they won't let you in, and the girls that work the window have a slim grasp of any items they need to go fetch for you that go beyond the realm of pop as its called here, gum, and chips. I could go on.

I have met a local who seems to enjoy offering me rides and then driving 3X the longer route home to show me random things, and places. Met some teachers, who seem game to get out of town on weekends, or to explore around. Saw a beluga today on the coast, am scheming to get out to Charlton Island in the Bay, which belongs to Nunavut. Am hoping some random weekend plans come up again, as I enjoyed my day out in the bush, in a teepee, and on a boat Saturday.

I am at the point where the new-ness and travel aspect have worn off, and this has become living. It's a frustrating, transition phase that I am hoping doesn't last too long. I'm forcing myself to be more sociable (shocker to anyone who knows me, but I've been maybe too solitary and introspective since the 65 hour work weeks began). There are so many things that I appreciate about the land and the culture, but some that are frustrating and maddening seem to take the forefront thanks to elevated stress levels.