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Anyone from Kingston? by Ransom
Just curious: Is anyone here from Kingston, Ontario? I'm not -- I live in Winnipeg -- but I got a temporary job offer in Kingston. I spent four months working there last year, and while it's a really nice city in summer, I found myself a bit bored and lonely during my downtime.
Regardless, I'll probably end up taking it, but I was just wondering who, if anyone, was around there.
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I'm as far from Canada as you can get without hitting the Gulf of Mexico.
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I used to go to college there (RMC). I actually rather miss it.
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Yeah, I saw a lot of cadets while I was there. Did you graduate and become an officer?
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Sadly, no.
Kind of a long story, but ultimately for my college year they changed the process so you didn't immediately get your trade once you joined. As a result, a lot of people got screwed over when the military tried to force a particular navy trade (Maritime Surface/Sub-Surface Officer, aka 'MARS') onto a lot of us as they were short around 180 2LTs or something like that for that year. It's a tough trade and not a lot of people pass it. It didn't go over too well with me in particular because aside from the fact I didn't want to be in the navy, I'm also claustrophobic of low ceilings. I've been on naval frigates lol so I know how cramped they are.
So, even if I did take the trade and serve out my 9 or so year contract with the military, the chances of me re-mustering my trade out of the navy would be very close to zero due to the shortage they were experiencing. I didn't want to be the miserable officer who hated their job (it's so easy to pick those out), especially if I was in charge of other people's lives... so I left. Figured I'd go RCMP instead... but as fate would have it, I met my husband at RMC while I was in the process of leaving, and now I'm stuck in Ontario anyways where there are very few RCMP detachments haha. My husband has an even longer story of getting screwed over by a particular officer at RMC, but he went through and graduated only to decline his commission and go NCM (and I daresay he's happier for it as he's not the 'sit at a desk and do paperwork' kind of person).
But yes, I miss both the military and Kingston a lot. That place has a lot of memories.
If you're interested at all, and you're back in Kingston for the early summer, you should go watch the Sunset Ceremony at RMC.
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That's a smart decision, not allowing yourself to be forced into a job that you hate. I've dealt with people whose competency and give-a-fuck levels were at the bare minimum, and it's extra not-fun when they're in a position of authority.
If it's hard to get into the RCMP, why not try the Ontario Provincial Police, or a municipal police force?
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I figure if I'm going to go through all that again and put the 'collar' back on (and arguably the police have a tighter leash than the military), I might as well go with the police force I originally intended. My dad is also an RCMP member so my affinity for the RCMP over other policing outfits is rather significant.
Besides, with my husband gone enough on exercises/courses and the like as it is, I like having time off when he has time off (benefits of being self employed lol). Hard to do that when we're both working demanding jobs.
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I live in Kingston. It's a nice city, if a little sleepy.
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I also moved from Winnipeg in 2012!
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The weather is certainly warmer, isn't it? I had a pretty good time there last year, for the most part, but never ventured too far from the downtown area. It'd be good to explore more.
What do you like to do in the city?
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Last year was a welcome aberration when it comes to the weather. It's been much colder this year. While you don't get the soul-killing -30's that you do in Winnipeg, it does get unpleasant.
Photography and walking around, mainly. There isn't a whole lot to do in Kingston that you can only do in Kingston.
If you'd like to meet up let me know when you're in town!
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Will do! I'll probably make it out there sometime in April.
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I live in Kingston upon Hull... a bit further then you'd like though
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Unfortunately, I'm talking about Kingston off of Hull!
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Link
Galuade
I haven't been there since the third grade :o