This blog thing of mine has been compromised a bit. I've got a new computer, a new email address, and a different ISP connection every few days. It's daunting. But we struggle along.
We love talking to real estate guys.
And the guy yesterday was very perceptive.
He said "You know, if you guys like to golf a lot, you should concentrate on that when you're looking for a place."
He's right. We've been noticing that there isn't a lot of golf around here. Yes, there's an ocean view, a "laid back" environment, so on and so on. But, like the real estate guy said - FOCUS!
So, we're going to do that. We're looking more closely at what we're looking at. This is a good thing.
As far as the size, and the shape, and the color, and the newness - there's a lot of stuff out here. Greater Victoria - as it's called - really DID overbuild back in 2007.
So the roof over our heads won't be the problem. It's time to find out what to put down in the one, two, and three most important things categories.
He was a nice guy too - had some good properties - and all that. But he didn't try to sell us them. He gave us good advice and we thanked him for it.
Who would have thought?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Movin' On - Sidney
We like this town.
It's right along the ocean. It's not super busy. Yes, there's a lot of gray hair, but they're a lively bunch.
Right at the wharf, there's a little shop that sells fish. It's the busiest place in town.
Also facing the wharf is a huge, huge complex. "The Pier". Huge apartments/condos going up 10 floors. Huge hotel right beside it - also going pretty high. It's kind of ugly. We stayed in the hotel last year. Beautiful modern room. I think all of the inside of the place is much better than the outside of the place.
Last night when we checked into "Cedarwood" I had a chance to ask the girl at the desk about Sidney.
"Oh yes, it's a great town. 20 years ago is was a dump, and today - whew - it's just jumping. So much money around here!"
We asked her about "The Pier".
"There was lots of going on and on about it. Lots of people didn't want it to be built. But in the end, it was all about money, all about what it would do for the town. Yes, it's not the prettiest place in the world, but we've come to terms with it".
Now, in mid-summer, the motels and hotels in Sidney seem to have "no vacancy" signs quite often.
Our suite has glorious big windows - all facing the ocean. I have difficulty staying away from them. The walking of the dogs, the children playing in the garden outside, the big boats from across the water, the jets taking off every so often, the long long walk along the ocean - everyone seems to walk along the ocean.
We had fresh bacon fried just right and wonderful toast and fruit and good coffee. Sat outside for our second cup.
Time to start the rest of the day. No golf today. Time to get back to the business of finding a new home.
It's right along the ocean. It's not super busy. Yes, there's a lot of gray hair, but they're a lively bunch.
Right at the wharf, there's a little shop that sells fish. It's the busiest place in town.
Also facing the wharf is a huge, huge complex. "The Pier". Huge apartments/condos going up 10 floors. Huge hotel right beside it - also going pretty high. It's kind of ugly. We stayed in the hotel last year. Beautiful modern room. I think all of the inside of the place is much better than the outside of the place.
Last night when we checked into "Cedarwood" I had a chance to ask the girl at the desk about Sidney.
"Oh yes, it's a great town. 20 years ago is was a dump, and today - whew - it's just jumping. So much money around here!"
We asked her about "The Pier".
"There was lots of going on and on about it. Lots of people didn't want it to be built. But in the end, it was all about money, all about what it would do for the town. Yes, it's not the prettiest place in the world, but we've come to terms with it".
Now, in mid-summer, the motels and hotels in Sidney seem to have "no vacancy" signs quite often.
Our suite has glorious big windows - all facing the ocean. I have difficulty staying away from them. The walking of the dogs, the children playing in the garden outside, the big boats from across the water, the jets taking off every so often, the long long walk along the ocean - everyone seems to walk along the ocean.
We had fresh bacon fried just right and wonderful toast and fruit and good coffee. Sat outside for our second cup.
Time to start the rest of the day. No golf today. Time to get back to the business of finding a new home.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Movin' On - the real estate guy
We see this place we like. We call up the real estate guy whose name is on the sign.
Don King. "Don's not here right now. I'll have him call you right away".
We go to "The Breakfast Place" for food. They have 15 seats in the place, and there's a constant line-up. Bacon and toast and dark roast coffee. Pretty well perfect. The cook comes around to compliment Merv's golf cap - He's wearing one exactly the same.
Don calls. We meet him at this place where they are just finishing some great looking condos. We get the tour.
Don limps. He's on his third knee. At 14 years old it started - juvenile arthritis. His feet are half the normal size. Scars on his hands. We don't value our health the way we should. But he's very upbeat and a good salesman.
"But you called me about this other place. Come on, let's go look at it!"
Whew! Very fancy! Looking out to the sea. Owner is building 10,000 condos in Mexico right now. These condos are superb - and very expensive. Don emails us other stuff to ponder.
Victoria realtor calls us with an idea for temporary housing. We're tired of changing rooms every 2 nights. We drop in there and find a good space with a little kitchen.
Now we're here at our computers going over and over our choices.
We like this town. If we've accomplished nothing today, we've decided we will concentrate on this town, and see what we can find.
Another thing. Everything costs more in British Columbia. We complain constantly about the taxes. And guess what? The people here complain about this too!
Onward and upward.
Don King. "Don's not here right now. I'll have him call you right away".
We go to "The Breakfast Place" for food. They have 15 seats in the place, and there's a constant line-up. Bacon and toast and dark roast coffee. Pretty well perfect. The cook comes around to compliment Merv's golf cap - He's wearing one exactly the same.
Don calls. We meet him at this place where they are just finishing some great looking condos. We get the tour.
Don limps. He's on his third knee. At 14 years old it started - juvenile arthritis. His feet are half the normal size. Scars on his hands. We don't value our health the way we should. But he's very upbeat and a good salesman.
"But you called me about this other place. Come on, let's go look at it!"
Whew! Very fancy! Looking out to the sea. Owner is building 10,000 condos in Mexico right now. These condos are superb - and very expensive. Don emails us other stuff to ponder.
Victoria realtor calls us with an idea for temporary housing. We're tired of changing rooms every 2 nights. We drop in there and find a good space with a little kitchen.
Now we're here at our computers going over and over our choices.
We like this town. If we've accomplished nothing today, we've decided we will concentrate on this town, and see what we can find.
Another thing. Everything costs more in British Columbia. We complain constantly about the taxes. And guess what? The people here complain about this too!
Onward and upward.
Movin' On - computers
The Apple Store in the Mall is just humming - the salesmen all look kind of like the guy in the Apple commercials. They're chatting earnestly with wide-eyed buyers - male and female, backpacks and canes - heads bending down at every counter checking out the MacBook Pro.
"What can I help you with today?" He's tall and young and "in control". "You're interested in the MacBook Pro? Let me send someone over to help you".
Darryn appears forthwith and the conversation begins. After some time, we tell him we'll be in tomorrow to buy. It's July 1st tomorrow. Will you be open?
"Oh yes, the Mall is open from 11 to 6. And yes, I'll be here".
The next day at 11 sharp we arrive to find the store looking exactly the same. Lots of salespeople and lots of customers.
Darryn is not in till later, but another earnest young fellow is sent our way. He's a bit taken aback by out readiness to buy. We have a golf date. We pretty well know what we want and after choosing the golf cases, we want to be gone. He's convinced we should have this and that program, but we're not interested. He gets it added up, calls over his supervisor for the handshake, and we're out of there.
All smiles, we load our big white Mac Bags in the car and head for the golf course.
Three days later we finally have the chance to dig into these beauties. Let's face it. There's nothing like a brand new computer to get your head really working.
It's taken us a while to get to the Apple world. It will take us a while to feel that we really belong.
But we're movin' on - and the new Mac computer is movin' on with us.
"What can I help you with today?" He's tall and young and "in control". "You're interested in the MacBook Pro? Let me send someone over to help you".
Darryn appears forthwith and the conversation begins. After some time, we tell him we'll be in tomorrow to buy. It's July 1st tomorrow. Will you be open?
"Oh yes, the Mall is open from 11 to 6. And yes, I'll be here".
The next day at 11 sharp we arrive to find the store looking exactly the same. Lots of salespeople and lots of customers.
Darryn is not in till later, but another earnest young fellow is sent our way. He's a bit taken aback by out readiness to buy. We have a golf date. We pretty well know what we want and after choosing the golf cases, we want to be gone. He's convinced we should have this and that program, but we're not interested. He gets it added up, calls over his supervisor for the handshake, and we're out of there.
All smiles, we load our big white Mac Bags in the car and head for the golf course.
Three days later we finally have the chance to dig into these beauties. Let's face it. There's nothing like a brand new computer to get your head really working.
It's taken us a while to get to the Apple world. It will take us a while to feel that we really belong.
But we're movin' on - and the new Mac computer is movin' on with us.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Movin' On - New Life
She's only a couple of weeks old. So it was quite astonishing. She was laying on her father's outstretched arms. I came close and started talking to her. She turned her head ever so slightly, but enough to show that she heard me and was listening! And when I stroked her head she responded again.
The Mom sent a picture of her dad singing to her and it was obvious she was listening.
I've never put much stock into those stories about playing classical music or some such when the baby is still in the womb. But I'm starting to wonder. This baby had music played to it often. Could it be possible that they become better listeners somehow?
New life. The baby is starting her new life (and her Grandma and Grandpa heading out to try the same). Her Mom and Dad are starting late with this. They're far from their twenties certainly. But they're in complete control. At least as much in control as any brand new parents are. They are going to do just fine.
What a miracle is the birth of a baby. It's one of the greatest of miracles - even though it happens all the time. I could see that the mom and dad were still in that miracle glow.
And we felt it too. We felt the glow of the miracle.
The Mom sent a picture of her dad singing to her and it was obvious she was listening.
I've never put much stock into those stories about playing classical music or some such when the baby is still in the womb. But I'm starting to wonder. This baby had music played to it often. Could it be possible that they become better listeners somehow?
New life. The baby is starting her new life (and her Grandma and Grandpa heading out to try the same). Her Mom and Dad are starting late with this. They're far from their twenties certainly. But they're in complete control. At least as much in control as any brand new parents are. They are going to do just fine.
What a miracle is the birth of a baby. It's one of the greatest of miracles - even though it happens all the time. I could see that the mom and dad were still in that miracle glow.
And we felt it too. We felt the glow of the miracle.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Movin' On - Weather
When we went outside, things were very different. It was warm.
We noticed this immediately. It was easy. We hadn't felt "warm" for many months. So naturally we would look at each other and say "Wow, it's so warm!"
We go golfing. A favorite course we do every couple of years.
Merv's fairway shot goes in a fast moving creek. He starts running frantically along this creek following his bouncing white golf ball waving his 7 iron in the air, and lunging every so often to try and grab the ball. He's SO quick and SO dedicated and it's so much fun watching him. What a guy! He gets that ball back on the fairway and away we go.
And then the mosquitoes start biting, and the refreshing breeze stops blowing, and the guys ahead of us are golfing really slowly, and we drink the beer too fast, and we start snapping at each other. Welcome to summer, I'm thinking.
But here this morning, that summer air is coming through our open window and it's truly a miracle. Not being slightly cold all the time is a miracle.
Time to unpack that one pair of shorts I have, enjoy that new pair of sandals I bought and keep on heading for parts unknown.
We noticed this immediately. It was easy. We hadn't felt "warm" for many months. So naturally we would look at each other and say "Wow, it's so warm!"
We go golfing. A favorite course we do every couple of years.
Merv's fairway shot goes in a fast moving creek. He starts running frantically along this creek following his bouncing white golf ball waving his 7 iron in the air, and lunging every so often to try and grab the ball. He's SO quick and SO dedicated and it's so much fun watching him. What a guy! He gets that ball back on the fairway and away we go.
And then the mosquitoes start biting, and the refreshing breeze stops blowing, and the guys ahead of us are golfing really slowly, and we drink the beer too fast, and we start snapping at each other. Welcome to summer, I'm thinking.
But here this morning, that summer air is coming through our open window and it's truly a miracle. Not being slightly cold all the time is a miracle.
Time to unpack that one pair of shorts I have, enjoy that new pair of sandals I bought and keep on heading for parts unknown.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Movin' On -Home Town
We've lived in our home town for close to 40 years.
It was strange to say goodbye to it yesterday.
It's a good, strong town. A wealthy town these days. With road crews and house building crews, and maintenance crews everywhere.
"They just tore out those huge trees on Gaetz - I was shocked" says my hair stylist. "They tried to get a consensus on what to do - I filled out their form - and then nothing. So I thought the trees were saved. And now this".
Turns out that they couldn't get a consensus on the changes to the main street, so they went ahead and took down some of the trees.
The main corner looks so different, and the coffee shops are buzzing with heated discussion.
But this place is becoming a big, big, city. And that's what happens in big big cities.
Alberta is a great province. Filled with energy, and drive, and impatience. It's a province for the young, for people who want to get things done, keep things moving, take things to the next level.
It takes a lot of years to call a town your home.
I'm not sure if we'll manage that again.
But who knows. That's the great thing about life. Who knows?
It was strange to say goodbye to it yesterday.
It's a good, strong town. A wealthy town these days. With road crews and house building crews, and maintenance crews everywhere.
"They just tore out those huge trees on Gaetz - I was shocked" says my hair stylist. "They tried to get a consensus on what to do - I filled out their form - and then nothing. So I thought the trees were saved. And now this".
Turns out that they couldn't get a consensus on the changes to the main street, so they went ahead and took down some of the trees.
The main corner looks so different, and the coffee shops are buzzing with heated discussion.
But this place is becoming a big, big, city. And that's what happens in big big cities.
Alberta is a great province. Filled with energy, and drive, and impatience. It's a province for the young, for people who want to get things done, keep things moving, take things to the next level.
It takes a lot of years to call a town your home.
I'm not sure if we'll manage that again.
But who knows. That's the great thing about life. Who knows?
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