I guess we do have things to complain about. We are a large country, with a small population. Our temperatures are extreme. Life is hard for many people: the working poor, single mothers, those who cannot find or who have lost work, those who fight physical or mental illness.
But there is a lot to laud. Our standard of living, our universal health care system, housing, infrastructure that supports the poorest of the poor.
My Muskoka, cottage country to Toronto, is a great place for R & R, and many retirees, like ourselves. The summer population increases exponentially with tourists. They boost the economy and, while they forget their manners and rural & lake etiquette, many residents find a good living here in Central Ontario. The wildlife are entertaining. The bear challenging! Duck tales, fun. The bear tales a bit worrisome, but we dealt with them!
But if you visit a local store what do you hear? COMPLAINTS!
I love the talk in the grocery store lineups: complaints about raking leaves.
"I had to rake leaves all day!"
Maybe the Cottageocracy rant is true! Maybe you have too much property? The leaves are an integral part of fall and traditions and rituals.
Fer gawd's sake, plant clover or another ground cover, or leave it natural, hire a company, but for Pete's sake: stop complaining. Some were complaining about bringing in the boats (for many = plural, more than one boat), our not-so-gently used canoe is a piece of work.
Now, this is shaping up to be a rant, if not a complaint...but really. They complained when it was too cool for them in July. I thought it perfect: rain in the morning, clearing up for a lovely afternoon of sun and fun. But it wasn't warm enough...
When you have a beautiful property and manage to cottage in the land of lakes, water and sun. We live here. We do not complain! Even in February, we do not complain when these folks can afford to go south and we play with the cats on the ice!
Mind you, it doesn't beat the citiot who stood in the grocery lineup one fin e summer weekend day and complained loudly about how 'the locals' shouldn't be shopping on a w/e, as it made the lines to long and slow. Oh my. Cottaging is about slowing down or planning ahead!
Someone hauled off and decked him, the cashier told us! Rightly so,
although I am a non-violent person. Mostly.What is it like in your neck of the woods? Are we the only country that takes this for granted?
1 comment:
We don't have a transient population of tourists here, but the locals complain about snow, traffic, the losing football team, and politics. I have been guilty of complaining about the lack of good restaurants, having moved here from Philadelphia. Most of the people here were born and raised here so they don't know any difference.
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