Then, as if by magic, out of the radio floated ads about a place in the Edmonton/Calgary corridor where one could own a resort property and live year round. Also, it was called Gleniffer Lake, and so one hoped (unlike places one sometimes finds on maps with fanciful names like Cedar Drive and Pine Meadows, where one ultimately finds neither one cedar nor one pine), there might actually also be a lake…

And so, escaping a quiet Thursday afternoon at work, a quick road trip adventure was organized by Hubby, and signs and instructions were followed to this Alberta campground/RV resort/retirement community/golf community…or whatever it would turn out to be.

At the last corner, a fairly gigantic sign was spotted, advertising the real estate skills of one D. Bender, and so the name and number were hastily scrawled on a Tim Horton’s napkin.

Imagine the surprise when the park actually came into view, and was subsequently scouted. It was clean, it was green, it was wide open space and had clear air, an interesting mix of houses and various recreational vehicles, a club house, a gym and, by golly, it even had a lake!.

Upon returning home, a full report was made to the real “Boss Of Operations” (“BOO”), and she expressed great interest in making a second excursion.

A phone call was made to the mysterious owner of the big real estate sign, and D. Bender indicated readiness to sashay through the listings on Saturday morning.

Imagine the second surprise, when BOO also immediately liked the look of the resort too!

While we intended to actually look at one very modestly priced lot which could hold a fifth wheel, as soon as D. Bender discovered that we actually hadn’t yet purchased a fifth wheel we were doomed and no match for her persuasive skills. By the time the next week was done, we owned a fully landscaped lot backing on the golf course upon which stood a park model home with attached 3 season room.

We started meekly, even (unnecessarily) turning off the water for the first winter and trekking it in for the first few times we went.

We have ended, after three years of regular attendance, meeting the fantastic fellow residents and attending all the events and campfires we can find (which are plenty), by selling our city home and moving in fulltime, with BOO in retirement, although still actively working on the web, and Hubby commuting to work.

No regrets, except perhaps that we didn’t find the place and the people (yes, even D. Bender) sooner in our lives!

And, if our dog could write, she would add a “paw-note” that driving in the golf cart to get ice cream, or the mail or to drop off recyclables in the park is the only dog-gone way to travel.