Scene one: you’re in a rut. Life has lost its shine. You tell yourself (and anyone else who will listen) that you’ve got to do something about it and soon.

Scene two: you go back to doing whatever it is that is boring you silly and forget about making that life-change because, after all, change is scary and “life really isn’t all that bad right here and now.”

A lot of us have been there at one time or another but Paul and Catherine Bezooyen aren’t cut from that cloth – You’ll see in a moment why that was a good turn of phrase.

Born and raised in Calgary, as their twenty fifth wedding anniversaries was approaching, they realized they were tired of the frantic pace in the rapidly growing city and although he was skilled at his work as an architectural technician and able to lead his team well, Paul says he had lost his passion for the job. That loss of passion he explained is simply not mentally or physically healthy.

So as a twenty fifth wedding anniversary present to each other, they decided to move to the Island. They had vacationed here many times but now they wanted to come and stay.

Within weeks, they had toured the Island, chose Nanaimo, bought a house, returned to Calgary, quit their jobs, sold there house and moved … and they had no idea what they were going to do when they got here.

They both agreed it was hard to give up the financial security of two full-time jobs but they knew they wanted to make a change and they simply decided to make the move and figure it out when they got here.

Paul’s passion is music. Before leaving Calgary he had started to play more with his dad. When he did, his tension level decreased and, as he says, he found his soul was being nourished. It was time, he realized, to take his music more seriously and Nanaimo’s open, collaborative arts scene was the place he wanted to be.

Now he’s a regular at the Song Writer’s Circle and the first Saturday of every month, he hosts an Open Mike Night at the Mermaid’s Mug. So music is becoming a much more important part of his life, when he’s not cutting cloth.

So why is he cutting cloth instead of playing music?

Last May Catherine had an idea as she was unpacking a puppet she bought 30 years ago. Even though she hadn’t sewn since Grade 8, she decided she was going to become a puppet maker.

Without a second thought, she bought a sewing machine the next day -- she had never owned one -- and went into business.

Their first day at the Nanaimo Farmer’s Market, she and Paul sold none of the three puppets they had sewn but the “had a blast!”. The next week they sold one. Now they are selling 15 to 20 a day at both the Nanaimo and Qualicum markets and the Christmas markets are just around the corner.

So in short, the puppet business is booming and now they have imported Catherine’s sister from Calgary and I bet she’ll soon have needle and thread in hand – After all Paul’s gotta have a little time for his music. He needs help in the puppet factory.

You’ll recognize the Bezooyen’s tent if you go to the market. It’s sure to be surrounded by people all having fun. They call their puppets Giggles and their motto is “Spreading joy around the world, one Giggle at a time.”

If you have been thinking of making a major life change, even though it’s always risky, Paul and Catherine’s advice would be to go for it, and do it today, not tomorrow. Grab your nose and jump in! The water’s fine.