our moving castle: September 2014

"Without question it may be said of Vancouver that her position, geographically, is Imperial to a degree, that her possibilities are enormous, and that with but a feeble stretch of the imagination those possibilities might wisely be deemed certainties."

- A. N. Homer, The Imperial Highway

We are city dwelling in Vancouver, happy to have arrived at our first temp destination. Vancouver is colloquially known as 'van-city', and this is highly appropriate due to the sheer amount of camper vans here. Travelers and Vancouver natives alike live in vans. For travelers, the liberal socialist outlook of the city coupled with the amazing temperate weather makes Vancouver a haven with nature, culture, and opportunity abound. For Vancouver natives, the ever rising unaffordable housing bubble allows for 'normal' people to live and work in a place they can call their own. One residential street alone is home to four vans on average. Parks become small communities with 'take something leave something' shelves to help out other van people. Street parking regulations barely exist in the cool and relaxed East Vancouver neighborhood we have made our home. Gym/shower memberships at community centers are available for 3 dollars a year and our address cost us 1. We will work here for awhile before the PNW coast down south becomes a reality.

Vancouver is a botanical garden with streets. Blackberries and strawberries spill out onto the sidewalk from the front yard jungles of purple and teal houses. Free communal herb gardens in street roundabouts supplement the kitchens of the masses. In our neighborhood, its as if its a city of cottages, each one with its own fairytale story; a rope swing on the street for anyone to enjoy, a tiny wooden chair up in a tree, pungent smell of deep forest, returning to a summer home in real time; perpetual nostalgia. The cottage feeling, that once a year feeling, but every day. It's hard to explain but its real. We haven't before felt this happy.