Pass Me

My mood is lower than usual, and I’m sleeping a lot and having a hard time staying vertical.  While not in the pit at this point, I am feeling a slow spiraling downward that disturbs me.

But I have a bit of determination somewhere in the far reaches of my being, so I’m trying to remain productive with daily goals, cooking/baking projects so I can keep up with ReTorte, which I’ve just started up again, and I’m trying to get out each day for a walk.  I am in the process – and it is a process – of getting services from the local mental health services.

I have been missing a regular exercise routine, so yesterday I ventured up to one of Surrey’s rec centres (they have quite a few, and three of them are within easy bus trips of me) that is closest to me to inquire about a pass.  I had actually called the day before to ask if they had cheaper passes for low income earners, and they did indeed.  I needed to take in a bunch of paperwork, which was easy enough to do since I’m pretty organized, and so I arrived at the reception desk of this fine facility ready to apply for a low income pass.

I was approved and the guy who was doing this for me took my picture for the pass and set me up.  He then told me the registration fee was $12.75.

With $40 left in my bank account and groceries to buy, I hesitated.

“What do you mean by registration fee?” I asked, thinking I might have to put this off.  “What do I get for that?”  It sounded like that was just the price to sign up and get the card and that perhaps to access the facility I’d have to pay more.

He said, “That’s your pass for the year.”

I nearly keeled over.  “For the year?” I said.  “$12.75 for the year?”

“Oh, yeah,” he replied.  “Pretty good deal, eh?”

No shit!  I got a low income pass in Maple Ridge and it was 75% off the regular price, which worked out to about $14 per month.  And I thought that was a great deal.  The regular price for a year-long pass to the Surrey facilities is $428.  I am still totally shocked.

I can use any of the Surrey facilities with this pass and I can go to any of the drop in programs any of the facilities have – and they vary by facility.  Also, I get 75% off registered programs, which is a huge boon.

The gym at the Guildford centre is really nice and large with lot of windows.  There is an indoor walking track, too.  And they have lots of classes to choose from, too.  The centres with the pools are easy enough for me to get to, so I can still do some lap swimming, which was something I really enjoyed doing in Maple Ridge.

Since the library is in the same building, I also signed up for a library card.

So, I think I will go to the gym today.  I am actually looking forward to it. 🙂