One of the things many of us do after relocating to a new community is ponder the one we just left.

What will we miss the most?

What won’t we miss?

After 16 years in Surrey, I’ve left a lot behind.

Like old Surrey jokes, thank gawd. I’m not sure what Surrey did to deserve those.

I also won’t miss all the gang shootings...

Wait a minute, Abbotsford has those, too. I guess I won’t be missing them after all. Just like home!

Does this mean there are going to be ‘Abbotsford jokes’ now?

Please, spare me. If I hear one more Surrey girl joke...

I will miss Surrey’s top girl though – Mayor Dianne Watts. She’s sharp, straight-forward, and gets stuff done without resorting to petty politics. She’s also a show-stopper in an evening gown. Just ask Burton Cummings, who played her fundraising ball a couple of years ago.

“I’ve never seen a mayor like her,” he quipped during songs.

But come to think of it, Abbotsford has a sharp, straight-forward mayor who gets stuff done without political pettiness. Now, the gown thing, not so much. Not that I’ve ever seen George in a fancy evening dress – or would want to – but if I did, I’d share the photos with you.

I won’t miss the chronic critics of Surrey’s civic government which, even if it did everything right, would still be doing everything wrong.

Sort of reminds me of the chronic critics of Abbotsford’s civic government. They’re hard to miss...

Anyways, I’ll also miss Surrey’s vibrant South Asian community, which has some of the very best East Indian restaurants in the Lower Mainland.

Wait, Abbotsford has a vibrant South Asian community, too. And I’m sure it has great ethnic eateries, as well. I look forward to searching them out.

I’m going to miss Surrey’s southern neighbour, White Rock, with its beaches and arts community and fierce insistent that it never be mistaken for Surrey.

No doubt White Rock is very jealous of Abbotsford’s artsy neighbour Mission, which conveniently arranged for the Fraser River to keep the City of Abbotsford at safe distance.

If White Rock could figure out a way to carve itself off as an island, with a deep ocean channel between it and Surrey, I’m sure it would be done.

Note to Dianne: Be diligent for surreptitious digging activity on the outskirts of the Peninsula.

Another thing I’ll miss about Surrey is the agricultural roots of the city, and the robust farming community that offers an escape from the downtown traffic and concrete, and reminds residents their food comes from the earth. However, I will definitely not miss the blueberry cannons!

Say, Abbotsford has deep agricultural roots, and a robust farming community, as well. And blueberry cannons, unfortunately. Air strikes should be called in on those things.

Most of all though, I’ll be deeply missing our former fine neighbours, who made us feel welcome when we moved in and treated us like family for the years following.

No matter where you go, it’s the people around you who make the place special. We’ve always tried to be that way for our neighbours.

Actually, we’re finding the folks in our new community to be friendly and welcoming.

I don’t think we’ll be missing much out here, at all.

Former Surrey Leader editor Andrew Holota is now editor of the Abbotsford News.