We wanted something different.... but a commune?

Kitsilano, Vancouver's own little corner of paradise, has been good to us. Back in the early 90's when both Mike and I arrived here from our respective corners of the globe (mine: the Vancouver suburb or Burnaby, his: Newcastle on the north east coast of England), it was a little sleepier, less well-endowed with coffee shops and much less expensive to rent a decent place to live.

Over the years, Kits has evolved as we have.  By the time we met, Capers had replaced the car dealership and Starbucks was making serious moves into the  neighbourhood.  Sophie's Cosmic Cafe had line-ups down the sidewalk every weekend morning and you could still walk down Fourth Avenue without getting caught up in a stroller jam.

Fast forward a couple of years.  We managed to snag a decent place to live before half a million bucks got you a shoe box in a basement and we are the ones trying to fit a double stroller through the front doors of Capers, past the ill-situated display of organic mangoes jammed between the cash desks and the magazine rack.  (Lesson learned: don't try to get into Capers with a side-by-side double stroller unless you want to be the proud owner of many bruised mangoes.)

But life is good in these few square blocks.  The beach, community centre and library, all services that are required by those with small children, are close by.  We've met a great group of supportive parents and kids.  We should be satisfied with life.  And we are.  For the most part.  Except when Mike has to get on a plane to travel for work.  Except when we can't make it through the front door for the strollers lined up in the entry hall. Except when the living room becomes a serious hazard zone for the toys strewn across the floor.  Except when Liam at the age of three is pretending to be Daddy, chatting on his cell phone (a toy car held to his ear), typing at his computer (a puzzle box) and towing his suitcase (his backpack) behind him as he heads off toward the front door, announcing "My taxi is here.  I'm going to New York."

We feel the urge for something different.  Something more connected to the natural world.  Something that will offer Liam and Kai, our newest addition, a different perspective on life.  Something that will show them that there is life beyond a job in an office, beyond devoting two hours a day to sitting in a car, beyond squeezing real living into a couple of spare hours on the weekend.

But commune living?!?!