The unexpected benefits of blogging

Returning from our latest visit to Arizona this holiday, I discovered that my Permanent Resident card had expired last January. I am not altogether certain why the agent who admitted me last March didn't notice it, but be that as it may. I had a moment of excitement when I actually had to go to the Immigration area to be re-admitted to Canada, but no worries. However, I do have to renew the card now.

So, today I downloaded the application form to re-apply and discover that I have to account for my days absent from Canada. If I am gone for more than two years out of the five, I might lose my residency status. Now, I have not been gone for that much time, but accounting for all the holidays we have taken over the last 5 years is not an easy one.

Then I realized: I have documented nearly every vacation I have taken right here! No need to try and decipher passport stamps or guess at the days, the sum of my holidays is written for you all. Bonus.

An additional bonus: now that I have documented all the times I left Canada, I have no excuse not to apply for Canadian citizenship. Well, except for the whole bit about swearing allegiance to the Queen....