The Retirement Villa
This posting is a long time coming but it has been a busy summer. After returning from Greece, we spent a weekend in the Okanagan Valley in the interior of BC. We made the mistake of being shown around be a realtor and now have bought a future move/retirement house in the Lower Mission district of Kelowna, location shown on this satellite image. The theory is that real estate prices in highly desirable areas like Kelowna are just going up, while my income, while adeequate, is not, and if we wait 10 years or so until retirement is imminent, we may not be able to afford what we like. As it is, it is about half the size of our Winnipeg house and worth 50% more! The location near beach and parcks will be ideal for grandchildren (number 1 expected any minute now!).
This is the view from the street. For the statistically minded, 1710 sq.ft, 2 bedrooms plus den/3rd bedroom, double garage, 2 full bathrooms, gas central heating and central airconditioning (Yes, it is still in Canada but 40 degrees is not that rare in inland BC).
All right, the back garden is a bit smaller. It is part of a strata development, so major yard work and exterior maintenance are managed by the strata corporation (for a monthly fee).
Breakfast bar and dining area (current owner's furniture).
Kitchen.
Living room.
The following pictures pretty much explain why we decided to do this. Part of the Kelowna waterfront.
View towards the floating bridge (the lake is too deep for a conventional bridge).
Lakeside walk.
Wood lake (small fishing lake between Kelowna and Vernon to the North).
The North basin of Lake Okanagan looking south towards Kelowna (the narrow point about 20 km to the south).
North basin again, but this time looking north towards Vernon.
Waterfall in Ferny Provincial Park about 30 minutes drive from Kelowna.
Vineyard overloking the South basin of Lake Okanagan. The warm dry climate makes this one of the few areas of Canada able to produce red wine, e.g. shiraz, that is similar in style to Australia reds.
Mission Hill winery, makers of the only decent shiraz from North America!
copyright 2006 Malcolm Ogborn
posted by Malcolm and Jane Ogborn @ 12:01 p.m.
3 comments
3 Comments:
Mission Hill winery you say? How does it stand up to Coonawarra reds? Sounds good, I think we're going to have to have a cross-hemisphere bottle swap at some point.
Sam.
Not quite there yet as far as Coonawarra reds are concerned, but way ahead of anything coming out of the Niagara region.
Rather than swap bottles, it seems lgions of Aussies come to taste ths stuff in person (the proximity to Big White ski area and assorted sites to do hair raising things on rck faces may have something to do with it as well).
You have a lovely looking house with easy access to water/boating activities, rock climbing and superior red wine? Ye gods I have to start planning a trip!
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