To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
Oct 5th 2015, 2:30 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 10
To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
Hello, I am originally from BC and now live in the UK. My English husband and I want to move to Canada in the near future. I've always wanted to return to BC and live near the coast; we visited the area last summer and loved it. We don't want to live in Vancouver but somewhere smaller. We do like Nelson in the Kootenays but it is too far from everything, from airports to visit family, from the ocean. My ideal would be to have Nelson by the coast, but we haven't found somewhere like that.
Places of interest are: Victoria and its surrounding communities, esp. Sooke, the Gulf islands esp. Salt Spring, and Bowen Island.
We are both in our 30s, child free and can work from home. We want to live somewhere near nature, with a couple acres, with a strong sense of community, which is within a few hours transport of somewhere bigger. We aren't hippies or new agey, though we don't mind living near such people, but we are environmentalists so would like to live somewhere there are plenty of people who care about sustainability and wouldn't fit in somewhere too redneck-y.
We've spent some time in Vic and SSI and liked both, but I doubt we could afford a place within Vic that has a big garden, which is a must. SSI on the other hand, we could afford, but it seemed to be mostly retirees, and though I have nothing against seniors, I am concerned that if I lived there I might get lonely as there aren't so many younger people there, who I would probably have more in common with. We haven't visited Sooke, Saanich or Bowen yet, but have been told they are also older communities, perhaps Sooke less so.
So I just want to hear from comparatively younger people in the coast area, how do you find it? Have you found many friends near your age? Is there much social stuff to do that isn't based around senior activities? I accept that SSI, Sooke, Bowen are all quiet places but is there enough fun people doing fun stuff to get involved in and meet cool people, or is there too much NIMBYism stopping it? Have you found somewhere with a good community spirit? Is there anywhere you would recommend that I might consider?
Thanks for any advice!
Places of interest are: Victoria and its surrounding communities, esp. Sooke, the Gulf islands esp. Salt Spring, and Bowen Island.
We are both in our 30s, child free and can work from home. We want to live somewhere near nature, with a couple acres, with a strong sense of community, which is within a few hours transport of somewhere bigger. We aren't hippies or new agey, though we don't mind living near such people, but we are environmentalists so would like to live somewhere there are plenty of people who care about sustainability and wouldn't fit in somewhere too redneck-y.
We've spent some time in Vic and SSI and liked both, but I doubt we could afford a place within Vic that has a big garden, which is a must. SSI on the other hand, we could afford, but it seemed to be mostly retirees, and though I have nothing against seniors, I am concerned that if I lived there I might get lonely as there aren't so many younger people there, who I would probably have more in common with. We haven't visited Sooke, Saanich or Bowen yet, but have been told they are also older communities, perhaps Sooke less so.
So I just want to hear from comparatively younger people in the coast area, how do you find it? Have you found many friends near your age? Is there much social stuff to do that isn't based around senior activities? I accept that SSI, Sooke, Bowen are all quiet places but is there enough fun people doing fun stuff to get involved in and meet cool people, or is there too much NIMBYism stopping it? Have you found somewhere with a good community spirit? Is there anywhere you would recommend that I might consider?
Thanks for any advice!
Oct 5th 2015, 3:33 pm
#2
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
Hello, I am originally from BC and now live in the UK. My English husband and I want to move to Canada in the near future. I've always wanted to return to BC and live near the coast; we visited the area last summer and loved it. We don't want to live in Vancouver but somewhere smaller. We do like Nelson in the Kootenays but it is too far from everything, from airports to visit family, from the ocean. My ideal would be to have Nelson by the coast, but we haven't found somewhere like that.
Places of interest are: Victoria and its surrounding communities, esp. Sooke, the Gulf islands esp. Salt Spring, and Bowen Island.
We are both in our 30s, child free and can work from home. We want to live somewhere near nature, with a couple acres, with a strong sense of community, which is within a few hours transport of somewhere bigger. We aren't hippies or new agey, though we don't mind living near such people, but we are environmentalists so would like to live somewhere there are plenty of people who care about sustainability and wouldn't fit in somewhere too redneck-y.
We've spent some time in Vic and SSI and liked both, but I doubt we could afford a place within Vic that has a big garden, which is a must. SSI on the other hand, we could afford, but it seemed to be mostly retirees, and though I have nothing against seniors, I am concerned that if I lived there I might get lonely as there aren't so many younger people there, who I would probably have more in common with. We haven't visited Sooke, Saanich or Bowen yet, but have been told they are also older communities, perhaps Sooke less so.
So I just want to hear from comparatively younger people in the coast area, how do you find it? Have you found many friends near your age? Is there much social stuff to do that isn't based around senior activities?!
Places of interest are: Victoria and its surrounding communities, esp. Sooke, the Gulf islands esp. Salt Spring, and Bowen Island.
We are both in our 30s, child free and can work from home. We want to live somewhere near nature, with a couple acres, with a strong sense of community, which is within a few hours transport of somewhere bigger. We aren't hippies or new agey, though we don't mind living near such people, but we are environmentalists so would like to live somewhere there are plenty of people who care about sustainability and wouldn't fit in somewhere too redneck-y.
We've spent some time in Vic and SSI and liked both, but I doubt we could afford a place within Vic that has a big garden, which is a must. SSI on the other hand, we could afford, but it seemed to be mostly retirees, and though I have nothing against seniors, I am concerned that if I lived there I might get lonely as there aren't so many younger people there, who I would probably have more in common with. We haven't visited Sooke, Saanich or Bowen yet, but have been told they are also older communities, perhaps Sooke less so.
So I just want to hear from comparatively younger people in the coast area, how do you find it? Have you found many friends near your age? Is there much social stuff to do that isn't based around senior activities?!
Oct 5th 2015, 4:22 pm
#3
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Location: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Posts: 3,232
Re: To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
Hello, I am originally from BC and now live in the UK. My English husband and I want to move to Canada in the near future. I've always wanted to return to BC and live near the coast; we visited the area last summer and loved it. We don't want to live in Vancouver but somewhere smaller. We do like Nelson in the Kootenays but it is too far from everything, from airports to visit family, from the ocean. My ideal would be to have Nelson by the coast, but we haven't found somewhere like that. Places of interest are: Victoria and its surrounding communities, esp. Sooke, the Gulf islands esp. Salt Spring, and Bowen Island. We are both in our 30s, child free and can work from home. We want to live somewhere near nature, with a couple acres, with a strong sense of community, which is within a few hours transport of somewhere bigger. We aren't hippies or new agey, though we don't mind living near such people, but we are environmentalists so would like to live somewhere there are plenty of people who care about sustainability and wouldn't fit in somewhere too redneck-y. We've spent some time in Vic and SSI and liked both, but I doubt we could afford a place within Vic that has a big garden, which is a must. SSI on the other hand, we could afford, but it seemed to be mostly retirees, and though I have nothing against seniors, I am concerned that if I lived there I might get lonely as there aren't so many younger people there, who I would probably have more in common with. We haven't visited Sooke, Saanich or Bowen yet, but have been told they are also older communities, perhaps Sooke less so. So I just want to hear from comparatively younger people in the coast area, how do you find it? Have you found many friends near your age? Is there much social stuff to do that isn't based around senior activities? I accept that SSI, Sooke, Bowen are all quiet places but is there enough fun people doing fun stuff to get involved in and meet cool people, or is there too much NIMBYism stopping it? Have you found somewhere with a good community spirit? Is there anywhere you would recommend that I might consider? Thanks for any advice!
I find Sooke nice, but on the fringes of Boonieland. Takes at least 25 minutes to get to a point at which you can start your proper journey. Salt Spring is, in my experience, a pretty hippy orientated place. If you like pottery and arty farty stuff then may well suit. You'd have to come out here and have a snoop around. Different things appeal to different people. Some people would say Vancouver Island as a whole is isolated. Others would disagree. One man's meat is another man's poison.
Oct 5th 2015, 4:32 pm
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 10
Re: To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
Hey sorry I didn't mean to imply everybody over 45 are seniors, I just wanted to hear from people within a decade or so of my age to see what their opinion is. Because most of the forum posts I've found online discussing moving to these places are almost entirely seniors or people who are retiring soon.
Oct 5th 2015, 4:55 pm
#5
Beep
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Here
Posts: 8,311
Re: To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
I would wager it's just as quick to travel to Nelson from the UK than those other places.
As for Salt Spring, Bowen, etc, a few of our neighbours have holiday homes there and they love it. They're all retired over 60's and quite wealthy.
We've been there a few times and they're lovely to visit for a day or so but to live there full time? You'd need a certain mindset for that. Nice ferry rides though.
I'm similar age to you by the way.
If you're into that type of place, look at the Sunshine Coast too. Also look at places like Kimberley nestled in the Rockies in BC. Close to an "international" airport, lots of nature, skiing, lakes, and a semi-swiss feel to the town centre.
As for Salt Spring, Bowen, etc, a few of our neighbours have holiday homes there and they love it. They're all retired over 60's and quite wealthy.
We've been there a few times and they're lovely to visit for a day or so but to live there full time? You'd need a certain mindset for that. Nice ferry rides though.
I'm similar age to you by the way.
If you're into that type of place, look at the Sunshine Coast too. Also look at places like Kimberley nestled in the Rockies in BC. Close to an "international" airport, lots of nature, skiing, lakes, and a semi-swiss feel to the town centre.
Oct 5th 2015, 5:02 pm
#6
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
If you want Nelson by the ocean, look at Prince Rupert or Port Hardy. Port Hardy has one of the best equipped airports for being in the back end of nowhere I have been to.
Port Hardy has an airport with connections to YYJ and YVR. Would be faster than ferrying from one of the islands to YVR. Prince Rupert is served by Air Canada.
Cranbrook has connections to YVR, YYJ, YYC and others.
It is more about where you want to live, the rest you can make happen.
Port Hardy has an airport with connections to YYJ and YVR. Would be faster than ferrying from one of the islands to YVR. Prince Rupert is served by Air Canada.
Cranbrook has connections to YVR, YYJ, YYC and others.
It is more about where you want to live, the rest you can make happen.
Oct 5th 2015, 5:15 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 3,263
Re: To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
I am probably not someone you want to hear from as I am not in your age range, but you mention Victoria. There are two universities nearby (UVic and Royal Roads) so lots of students, many of whom I'm sure will be of your generation or even younger.
One thing about age: it is a relation of difference quite unlike others (e.g. ethnicity, gender etc.) because older age is one we all grow into eventually.
S
One thing about age: it is a relation of difference quite unlike others (e.g. ethnicity, gender etc.) because older age is one we all grow into eventually.
S
Last edited by Snowy560; Oct 5th 2015 at 5:21 pm.
Oct 5th 2015, 5:36 pm
#8
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
I don't think it too helpful trying to plan in this much detail in advance. People will tell you this area and that but they do so from their perspective, which most likely will not be yours. I also found that what I thought I wanted before I moved turned out to be completely different to what I wanted (or more to the point, what my OH wanted) once we were here.
You say you both work from home so you are lucky. Pick a place, anywhere reasonably accessible to the rest of BC, and rent for a year. Have a great time exploring and then choose the best place you found.
You say you both work from home so you are lucky. Pick a place, anywhere reasonably accessible to the rest of BC, and rent for a year. Have a great time exploring and then choose the best place you found.
Oct 5th 2015, 11:36 pm
#9
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Location: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Posts: 3,232
Re: To people under 45 in the BC Gulf islands/Bowen/Sooke/Saanich…
Each to their own of course, but you might want to consider the Cowichan Valley area where we live. It's 45-60 mins to the north of downtown Victoria. There are lots of vineyards and farms around here. We're on the coast. The big box shops north of Duncan are good too. Quite a few hippyish arty types around here. Lots of "sustainable" bo**ocks here too if that's your bag. It really comes down to your idea of isolated. Some people would consider large areas of Canada to be isolated, simply because of the distance to the next place of significance.
