It was seven years ago this winter, that we first drove through the little humble town of Squamish, with its highway shoulders littered with fast food chain restaurants and nothing else to the observing passer-through. Jordan said excitedly that this was the new town we would likely move to since that was where the highway project was. I grimaced and didn't find, upon first glance, much to love about it. But in fact, I have come to find it is actually quite the opposite, with it's original little boutiques and shops. As well as a small-town community feel, it has the luxury of being between two other prime locations, both offering completely different amenities. Vancouver: large, bustling, hip, trendy. Whistler: skiing, luxury, quaint. In fact, I often refer, as least in my head, to our house as our "resort getaway." Get up mid-morning, hit the hills (30 minutes away), home for dinner, glass of wine and hot bath. Now, if only we had a hot tub! And despite having Vancouver so close, with all its shopping and shows, almost every purchase we make is in Squamish. In fact, almost all of my most recent wardrobe hails from a small eco-consumer-conscious boutique downtown, Agnes Jean.
So, as a sort of cathartic exercise, Jordan and I have begun a list, that will likely be added to once we leave, of things we will miss about Squamish while we are away. And for those of you who live in Squamish, or have been here for a visit, you will likely know or remember some of these things for yourself:
1) Lemonade on the front lawn. Under the shade of our big pine tree, sitting in our Adirondack chairs or on the patchwork blanket sipping blueberry infused lemonade with friends.
2) Walkabouts in the garden. Every time Jordan would come home after being at work for two weeks, we would take a "walkabout" the garden to admire the growth. He is always in constant amazement of ever enlarging grape vines.
3) Lattes at the Bean. Not so much the lattes themselves, but the ritual of the walk to the Bean. And
it's proximity to the house makes it a local haunt and place of gathering for coffee dates--with friends and colleagues.
4) Lattes at Galileo. No, actually the lattes, this time. They are the best lattes I have ever had. Ever.
5) The smell of the seaspray in the garden. Every morning and evening in the spring, the sweet fragrance of seaspray and lilacs is a signal of spring and the most powerful memory of our house.
6) Vegetable soup from Sunflower Bakery. Yes, I have even asked for their recipe, which they are unwilling to divulge. Apparently it's a secret. And it's a good one. Vegetable soup with warm bread and butter. Perfect before many rainy Saturday walks at Nexen Beach.
7) White tops of mountains against the azure sky. After weeks of clouds and rain, you can forget there are mountains behind those clouds. Then one glorious day, the clouds lift, revealing stunny white peeks against the crystal clear blue sky. It is a work of wonder.
8) The snow line. This is more of a heavy low-lying cloud that lifts and shows a clear line on the mountains where the snow started. So beautiful.
9) Huge gorgeous preggo bellies. Three hundred births in Squamish = many many babies and many preggo bellies. The promise of new life is a beautiful thing!
10) Fisherman's park. Early morning in the winter, you can see breathtaking sunrises which capture the light, creating hoarfrost. The sand at Fisherman's beach between our toes and all over our house. Sticks and rocks that, when thrown, reverberate on the frozen water. Hours of fun for Jordan and Abe.
11) Lilies on the trail by our house that cover the ground in a bubbly carpet.
12) Watching the salmon run. We have spent hours gazing down into the water, watching the many salmon, looking for the biggest one as they hover under water.
13) The eagles. Huge. Majestic. Thousands. The way they glide and hover on currents of air like kites.
14) Heron. When you startle one in the woods, their big long navy bodies swoop through the trees with their massive wings crashing through the branches over the water looking for an opening to the sky with Abe is fruitless pursuit.
15) Sideways rain at Nexen beach. Some days it felt like we were the only ones outside, bundled in our heavy wool coats and/or rain gear to brave the conditions. Even Abe would peer up at us like we were crazy to be out in this rain.
16) Lazy afternoons at Alice Lake, Brohm Lake and Lake Lucille.
17) Sun streaming through our windows. Our house is perfectly aligned with the sun. Sunlight pours in our windows in the morning to wake us, only through our south window in the heat of the day and then through the big western windows in the afternoon before disappearing over the mountains just before bed. Sometimes I can be inside all day and not even notice. Our windows are that big.
18) My favorite local haunts: Zephyr for its Thai peanut chicken quinoa, the Hive for its cards, Fetish which has amazingly cute and unique shoes, Agnes Jean one word: addiction. To stretch eco-organic cotton and adorable stylish clothing and one of kind jewelry. And the Watershed, until I got food-poisoning. Twice.
19) Dog and baby walks and hikes in the gorgeous trails and mountains. Around Brohm lake, the Bluffs, Four lakes, Golf Club trails.
20) Best neighbors! Sharing veggies, advice, watching over each others' house, babysitting, backyard BBQs, trading books.
21) Bachelor/Bachelorette nights with my girls. Cookies, tea and trashy TV. Sometimes you just need some mindless talk. I'm ok with that.
22) BBQs with friends. Will miss these guys!
23) Book club AKA "Wine and Whine." Where no one read the book and it was never talked about.
24) Mama dates dear friends and their children. Stroller walks in the sunshine, hanging out at each others' house, feeding the babes, naps, feeding ourselves, advice, sharing. Total mama community. What would I do without you!?
25) Drives along the Sea to Sky Highway. In particular the firey red bark of the Arbutus trees in the setting sun.
Squamish, we will miss you. When we leave, a little bit of our hearts will stay behind.
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