Sometime in the morning of April 8, 2021 after a few weeks of negotiations we received a call from Caroline, our lawyer, to tell us that Tex and I, along with our partners Elizabeth May and John Kidder were the owners of the Saturna Lodge located on Saturna Island, one of the Southern Gulf Islands in the Salish Sea.
It was only a few weeks before, that the four of us had decided to look into purchasing a place together. None of us were sure what that would look like but once we visited the Lodge we knew that we had found our home. The news that our hastily made plans were now a reality felt like pure possibility. Suddenly there were five of us in the mix, two couples and a grand old lady perched on a gracefully tiered hillside overlooking the calm, sparkling Boot Cove.
First the house would become our home— Elizabeth and John wanted to live there full time; Tex and I, part time. Almost immediately we faced our first challenge. They moved in lock, stock and barrel out of their apartment in Sidney, but the previous owners had left everything from dish towels (some still dirty) and bedroom furniture to a loaded pantry with stuff like a dozen or so bottles of HP sauce, half eaten boxes of Stoned Wheat Thins and jars of peanut butter in the fridge. Our first tasks were to clean, expunge and make space.
Colin Kwok, an architect and friend from Vancouver, came with Joyce, his wife, to get to know our fifth partner and advise us on adaptations we can make so the five of us can live together peacefully.
Never before have I felt more reverence towards a house and a place. Never before have I had such an immediately wonderful relationship with a house and felt such a deep responsibility to enhance and protect her, knowing she will do the same for me.
It’s been only 3 months so we are still settling in to all these relationships. It’s been a long time since any of us have had roommates but we are excited about in our new experience of collaboration, sharing and adventure.
One thing all five of us agree on is that we want many of you to come and visit and share the peace and the beauty. It’ll take time but stay tuned.
You are perfect, as you introduced yourselves gently to this grand old lady. What a lovely abode, with wonderful folks.
That’s so awesome! Looks like a wonderful home! Positive vibes on a wonderful time ahead for all of you!
I am thrilled for all of you. What an adventure. Would love to visit you, maybe with Anne Marie when you are ready to have guests for a weekend. We bring what you wish for and already know….. that laughter, warmth, great stories and the gift of a shared memory will be happening.
What a nice idea this introduction is. Welcome! I hope you enjoy your new home. I look forward to meeting you all at island events.
So wonderful to have the four of you as neighbours
Enjoy your new home! Sounds wonderful!
A new journey! Bill Richarsons’ Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast pops into my mind!
My thought exactly! Bill Richardson was one of my favourites!
Good to hear ! I think we’re on Saturna in August so please save some of that HP sauce. I love that stuff….
Welcome … Now you know the Saturna we so love. Thanks for writing this.Lovely.
Wow, is it a bed and breakfast? Exciting
No. We don’t intend to operate it as a B&B. We are making plans for gatherings and to hold small events. For now we are doing work on the house to make it accommodating for our needs and the grounds to restore the wonderful landscape.
What a beautiful place to call home, and such exciting adventures ahead!! Congratulations to all of you! 🙂
Really lovely piece, Sylvia! The adventure begins…
Wow! Sounds like a cool adventure! I live the welcoming bench and the beautiful pillows!!!! ❤️
How wonderful! Congratulations to all of you! Please keep me on your mailing list for upcoming events! I’m in Saskatchewan now but, would love an opportunity to to come visit!
Good morning. So good to hear from you. So far we haven’t figured out what we will do with the lodge…we are still cleaning it up and doing the work that is needed. We’ll see what we do with her in the spring…sylvia
I grew up in Sidney and spent lots of time with my family as the then owners, Deb and Mike Graham, owned it then – some great memories and I would have liked to see it stay close to what it looked like then but, of course, time changes all things – some great stories for sure and when the lamb bake was wild and fun just like the sheep!