Gonna check out the mill by the bay

I signed a contract to do my two-year Return of Service (ROS) in Mill Bay on Vancouver Island. As soon as the list of available communities was released, I was drawn immediately to the Island. It has always held a special place in my heart as I've retreated to Parksville/Nanoose Bay for months at a time in the past, and as you may recall, I did a rural rotation in Parksville earlier this year. I'm very happy and relieved. Amanda got the Richmond position and I'm very happy for her too. Half of our class has signed a contract. The other half are a mixed bunch who didn't interview as well or who are too picky. I applied relatively broadly (with the exception of the Lower Mainland sites) and did enough telephone interviews to have an idea of the different opportunities to know that some of our classmates aren't applying everywhere. One classmate made the complaint that if he'd known he'd be "pigeon holed" into a clinic for his ROS, he would have chosen to do his residency in another province. I told him if he applied to Terrace, he'd have the opportunity to set up his own clinic if he didn't like any of the clinics there. I essentially exposed his limited scope and he wasn't happy about it, but better he knows he's being too picky now than be a doc without a job at the end of residency. To clarify, international medical graduates (IMGs) have to do an ROS to the province before they can carry on practicing wherever they want in whatever capacity they want. It's exclusive to IMGs. Canadian medical graduates don't have to do an ROS. It's discriminatory for sure, and yes, legal action is being taken.

A lot of the remaining IMGs are saying they'll hold out on this year's remaining opportunities, will locum around the Lower Mainland until the next list of communities comes out. I don't see this working in their favour, not to mention it creates larger competition among our current R1s (who will be R2s next year) which I think is unfair. Others say they'll buy out their ROS contract which has a ~$250,000 price tag. That's certainly not something I can afford. I'm actually hoping that by the end of my ROS, I'll be back in black as I'm just under $250,000 in debt now. With loan forgiveness for working in a rural area, plus rural signing and retention bonuses, while making at least double what I'm earning now, I hope I can be rid of that debt while still maintaining my investments. I have no plan to increase my cost of living any time soon. Getting out of Vancouver will help with that. 

I'm proud of the way I've handled my finances thus far. To paint the picture, I was ~$280,000 in debt after med school. Residency pays $50,000/year gross. After taxes, malpractice and disability insurance, and other mandatory residency fees, I walk away with $39,000 net. Each month in addition to rent (+utilities), cell phone, I tithe 10%, donate $30 to UBC Science bursary fund, $50 to Power to Change, invest $300 into my TFSA, and pay off $500 in debt. I save by living below my means with regard to accommodations, transportation, groceries, and clothing. I sacrifice some privacy, convenience, and variety, but I can cope (and nobody cares that I rotate through the same 4 pairs of pants and assorted tops for work). I got a great tax return (thanks to tuition credits) and put that toward my debt. I am happy knowing that I'm paying off debt, investing, contributing to charitable causes, and living comfortably at the same time. 

I celebrated my 32nd birthday a few weeks ago. Another opportunity for inflection. I know how much I've accomplished and what I've sacrificed. I've worked hard to hold people with open hands, to love generously, but also, I've been purposeful about maintaining my own wellness. I've often opted for no pomp or ceremony for my birthday, or spent it with someone who has no idea it's my birthday. This time, I chose to spend it with someone who I believe God has chosen to show me purposeful kindness and love without me initiating anything. He has always been an absolute gentleman who loves adventures and being inclusive without a hint of selfishness. I've never felt like I owed him anything in return. After a day of work, we met up and took in a Vancouver Whitecaps game, then had dessert and drinks, and all of it was effortless. It was one of the best birthdays I've spent with someone and I feel absolutely no guilt about how I soaked in that day.

In continuing to make me a priority without shame, I decided I'll find a place just for myself in Mill Bay. A space where I can play my guitar and sing loudly without fear of disturbing others. That has to be one of the biggest downsides to living in an apartment. Don't get me wrong, music fills the apartment when I'm home, but it's from a sound system. There is a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual relief that comes from making a joyful noise with abandon and I only get to tap into that when I take my guitar with me to Whistler or the Island for personal retreats. The idea of being able to do this daily, whenever I need to or want to, brings tears to my eyes. The longing in my soul has had to be tempered with low-key church services and strung along since residency started and I so look forward to that day when it won't be the case anymore, when I can release that caged energy into my guitar and from the depths of my being whenever I'm inspired to do so. 

I look forward to finishing out my residency, to leaving the Lower Mainland, to practicing medicine on my own, and in the words of my good friend, Meg, "Mill-ing about the Bay".