2012 in Review

The first draft of this passage was extracted from a email to a friend at year end of 2012.

It has been a year of decisions and moves. When I moved out of the housing co-operative where I had lived for almost four years, the project I spearheaded was close to completion. Moreover, my physical and psychological health had deteriorated to the lowest point that I had ever experienced. Nothing seemed to help!

What good would low rent and a good location be if I was in constant misery and conflict with my neighbours? I evaluated the quality of my life and realized it was time to move. In April, I moved back to stay in a basement room in my parents’ house. I left the housing co-op a much better place than I found it. The residents in the century-old buildings would not have to deal with deplorable living conditions and structural issues anymore.



Vancouver was no longer the small city that I have loved all these years. It might still be one of the most livable places on earth listed by international human resources firms; it is analogous to a bright red apple with a worm inside. Since World Expo in 1986, Metro Vancouver has become a world class city that the municipal governments set out to create. In spite of the superficial green actions such as bike lanes, recycling programs, the city and its citizens are not particularly motivated in sustainable habits. With the tremendous infusion of foreign capital, much of it perceived as “dirty money”, Vancouver residents have become more and more impersonal, indifferent and materialistic. I decided to find my Shangri-la where I can lead a simpler and harmonious life.

During the past seventeen months, I have sold, given away or thrown out the majority of my possessions. It was hard in the beginning; however, my consumption pattern has altered to the point that I now only buy food and products that I need to survive. I have not bought any clothing or household item in the past eight months. This project has several desirable results:

  1. I do not have to pay for baggage over 20 kg which is the standard for air travel these days. It would make relocation or travelling much easier.

  2. I have become even more flexible, resourceful and can adapt to different environments.

  3. I can truly ``live in the moment``. I do not flip through old albums or hold onto an old item. My memories are imprinted in the cells of my body. I am more aware of the present.

For years I have been talking about the End of the World. Now that the world has survived another doomsday prophecy, I am itching to embark on a journey to Oceania. This trip will start on January 20, 2013 and doesn’t have an end date. I am hoping to find my Shangri-la while traversing the South Pacific. Australia is the only inhabited continent that I have not visited yet. Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef are the highlights of this trip. To be among kangaroos, koalas and other exotic animals would definitely be bonuses.

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