Coffee and Community
Like many people, I have a morning ritual that involves coffee.
The Bialetti is my tool of choice. I scoop the grinds into the filter methodically. I always use the same burner. I make myself a cup and later, I do it all again for C.
I have one cup. Just one…well, except for the other day, when a late night and an early morning made for one tired Hilary. So, I needed a second cup.
The problem was that I was also in a rush to get to work. I went through my routine. Scoop, scoop, level, turn on burner. But instead of unloading the dishwasher like I usually do while my coffee brews, I went upstairs, got busy, and totally forgot all about that second cup of coffee.
It was only when, after some time, I was about to get into the shower that I realized – THE COFFEE!
Well, the damage done to my little Bialetti. All I can say is “Rest in peace.”
Here in Beaver Creek, a replacement for my deceased Bialetti is impossible to come by. The nearest city that sells coffee making appliances is a good five-hour drive (one way!). Refusing to make the long trek into Whitehorse to satiate my coffee craving, I ordered a replacement online.
Some weeks after that fateful day, we went to Whitehorse for groceries. My list was long. Produce, fish, dairy, dry goods, canned goods, and even sausages to roast on the fire (it’s summer after all!). Also on the list: coffee. Naturally.
I pride myself on my list making abilities. I’m organized, prepared, and when the time comes, I’d like to think I execute the task (grocery shopping) with precision. Perhaps I should think again. The morning after our return, I realized we’d forgotten to purchase coffee. We had enough coffee at home for approximately two cups. To make matters worse, our Bialetti had not arrived either.
And just when I was prepared to switch my morning beverage to tea *gasp* for the foreseeable future, I received good news. Our friend and fellow Beaver Creek resident was in Whitehorse and graciously offered to pick up the coffee we needed.
Remote living is a little like that.
It’s learning, waiting, planning, preparing, sometimes making mistakes, and community.
Nothing is instant where we live. Learning how to deal with this takes time. I came here not knowing how to cook and it took a long time before I could confidently offer my food to people beyond C. Trips to the grocery store come once every two months. If we run out of something two weeks after we’ve gone to the store, there simply isn’t a grocery store around the corner. We’ve learned to embrace the wait between grocery trips, and to do without those things we’ve run out of. Even mail takes time. Amazon same day delivery just isn’t a thing here (and thank goodness for that – there’s something about Amazon’s super-fast shipping times that leaves me feeling uneasy). Packages, like my Bialetti, can take anywhere from one to four weeks to reach me. The wait means that when packages arrive, it’s all the more exciting.
There is something here though that’s better than instant: the community. The community is always here. The friendly waves from neighbours, the check-ins, the offers to pick up an item we’ve forgotten (like coffee), the knowledge that if ever something were to happen to any of us here, the community would provide support no matter what.
It’s comforting. Its presence is consistent and warm. It’s like a tight hug on a day you really need one.
So, back to the coffee. While the Bialetti still hasn’t arrived, we now have coffee thanks to that ever-present community force. Also, we have many coffee-makers (Aeropress, French press, pour over, you name it, we’ve got it. I like my coffee. Did I mention that?)