Have You Had Your Supper?

P.E.I Fish Chowder

Welcome to all of my IBCA  readers,

What does IBCA mean?

It means Islanders By Choice Alliance. ICBA is a group of people of which individuals could be from anywhere in the world including right here on my Hidden Island Paradise.

It means that in your heart you have connected with my island and you choose to spend time here, live here or long to spend time or live here at some point in your life.

Why does the ICBA exist?

Well, there is this stigma that has always (at least as long as I can remember) existed here about people that were not born on Prince Edward Island and they are commonly referred to as CFA's or "Come From Away's"  This circumstance unfortunately can present a negative side to what is otherwise one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Click here to listen to a CBC Radio podcast segment of Maritime Magazine and learn more about this interesting. part of my Hidden Island Paradise and what the IBCA is trying to do about it

Oh, by the way, have you had supper yet? We are only having some fish chowder with homemade bread and molasses but you are welcome to set in and have some. Just give us a minute to set an extra place. Would you like some fresh cow's milk for your tea?

I will post again soon.

People Dream Of Living On PEI

Welcome to all of my HIP readers,

All of a sudden the topic of moving to P.E.I. is HOT! Imagine, wanting to come and live right here on my very hidden island paradise. As you have come to know I was born here and I grew up here with all of the memories that go with it. I have worked here, raised a family here and now I am retired here.

I guess I have to feel fortunate to have come to spend my entire life as a part of my hidden island paradise. Big smile ;D

Now let's get back to why "come from away's", "islanders by blood" and "islanders by choice" are attracted here. Not to mention others that may have never been here or may have come once on a vacation.

Lets look at two or three blogs that post about this subject. (besides this one of course)

First: "PEIslander By Choice" This blog is an on going discussion about this subject.

Second: "Whimfield" This blog is maintained by my friend Laura Jane and also talks about what draws people to the Island. It als is a heart warming endearing diary of two young people who have actually moved from the other side of Canada and began to build a life here on my hidden island paradise.

Third: "Top Of The Meadow" This blog is maintained by another friend Kim who writes alsoabout the adventures of two young people who have traveled all the way across Canada to fpllow their dream and set up a small farm on P.E.I.

I am sure there are many more such stories and blogs residing on the world wide web so I invite you the reader to leave your comments below and include a link to any stories and or blogs that talk about yearning to or actually moving to my hidden island paradise.

Thanks for reading and if you're dreaming then I hope you will be coming. In my humble opinion Prince Edward Island is a hidden island paradise. It's my hidden island paradise, why not make it yours?

Third:

Through The Eyes Of A Mainlander...

Welcome to all of our HIP readers

It appears that there are lots of people finding out about my Hidden Island Paradise. In fact a new blog "PE Islander By Choice" has been created centered around the terms CFA (come from away) and IBC (islander by choice).

I mentioned my post here about my cousin Daphne's reference IBB (islander by blood) and the term was quickly added.

Now I want to relate another interesting piece of trivia that I happened upon over this past weekend. First our island is 120 miles long (you can convert to metric if you wish) and it has a population of approximately 140,000 people. now over the weekend four or five different groups traveled over to the mainland to participate in a weekend project. Then on Saturday afternoon as arrangements were being made for overnight accommodation one of the mainlanders mentioned people from two separate groups as if they were traveling together. I made a comment to highlight the fact that there were five separate groups that had come over from the island. To this the mainlander quickly responded. "Well, you are all from the island so you are all together". Apparently, even in the eyes of a mainlander islanders are looked upon as islanders, being in fact one distinct group of people. LOL

I had never actually looked at us as islanders through the eyes of a mainlander before. I was not offended but rather a little surprised to hear it actually verbalized in the manner that it was. Interesting!

So is it any wonder that Carol O'Hanley in her blog has posted a post to begin the conversation about developing a support group for people who move to our island to live. What do you think about a support group? Leave a comment here if you wish. Or, visit either of the other two blogs and leave a comment there.

I will post again soon,

Gary