The End of the Road…
Let me just say this; Whistler.Is.Awesome.
There’s no denying it, we all know it, and in fact, this blog is dedicated to it. Whether we lived the old ‘six-month-turned-six-years’ story; are a seasonal worker from overseas; or a weekend warrior from Vancouver, we all know what a special place Whistler is, and recognize how lucky we are to be able to enjoy such an incredible environment. However, as we also all know, you can’t have the good without the bad. This, in fact, is not such a terrible thing, as the sweetest things only taste as sweet, once sampled alongside something sour. Seriously, try it.
Whistler’s sour side may just be the transient lifestyle that we have established here in Gnarnia. When the snow has melted, or the bike park is being shut down, it’s back to reality for many. People come and go; friends, lovers and family, and your world may be turned upside-down from their transition onwards and upwards. Whistler attracts a vast array of workers and travelers, many on hiatus from real-life, who eventually realize that a) their money’s running out or b) work/school is calling them. Some manage to fight these obstacles and persist with life in the Whistler-lane, but for many, that’s just not feasible, and Australia/UK/Ontario drags them back kicking and screaming.
This is not only difficult for the person departing, but for the multitude of friends they’ve made along the way. Whistler is an extremely social town, pre-disposed to personal connections through the universal understanding that Whistler is in fact, Awesome. You’ve partied with them, skied with them, worked with them, cried with them, hiked with them, biked with them, maybe slept with them, and certainly drank with them, and then all of a sudden, they’re gone.
A gaping hole, that often grows larger at the end of each busy season, is left in your life; and not just because of the social aspect of the relationship(s). Close bonds are formed in this insular bubble we call Whistler, bonds that withstand time, distance, and age, mostly due to the extreme nature of the environment in which they were forged. This is the icing on the cake. That despite the many farewell parties you may have to attend in the next few weeks, rest assured you will have a couch to crash on and a smiling face to greet you when or if you decide to pack up and travel outside the bubble yourself.
So, you long-timers, don’t be scared to befriend seasonal workers for fear that a connection may occur and the all too sudden goodbyes must be made; cherish the time you spend with those who have come to experience, and eventually love your town also. As one person leaves, they leave behind memories that you will laugh, and cry over for years to come. We all make Whistler what it is, whether you’re here for six months, six years or a lifetime; meet as many people as you can, and be as open to friendships as possible, as richness can be measured by those you surround yourself with.
This post is dedicated to my best-friend, who, after four years, is leaving the bubble. A rockstar server at Sushi Village, and bona fide shenanigans starter, Savanna is a true Whistler legend, and we wish her all the luck and love in the world for her future endeavours. Go get em, tiger. xxx
