For as long as we can both remember, we’ve each dreamed—independently—of a quieter, simpler way of living. The kind of life where you grow your own food, hunt for meat, and feel deeply connected to the land. A slower pace. A country life.
The idea of leaving Vancouver for a more rural life didn’t happen all at once. It built quietly over time.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve been fortunate to travel and live in a few incredible places, mainly Ireland, Canada, and Australia, with a handful of others along the way. But no matter where I went, that vision of a more grounded, intentional life never really left.
After Andrea and I met, it didn’t take long for us to realize that our time in Vancouver had an expiry date. The city we once loved was starting to feel too busy, too loud—too far removed from the life we wanted to build.
A shift in perspective
In the summer of 2024, we set out on a two-week road trip through the Kootenays, hoping to find a place where we could truly see ourselves putting down roots.
It turned into two weeks of pure bliss.
We loved every minute of it—the pace, the scenery, the feeling of space. It confirmed what we already knew: we were ready for something different.
Then, not long after that summer, everything shifted in the best possible way.
In November, I found out I was about to take on the greatest role of my life—Dad.
That news moved the goalposts a little, but more than anything, it strengthened our desire for a quieter, more intentional life.
Finding our place
With that in mind, we began focusing our search closer to Andrea’s family in Calgary.
After months of watching listings, making a few offers, and waiting for the right opportunity, we found it—a beautiful 4-acre wooded property in Caroline.
It felt like everything we had been imagining.
A place where we could create something special: a small, peaceful retreat designed to help people disconnect from the noise and reconnect with nature, with family, and with themselves.
We envisioned luxury glamping, a Nordic spa, outdoor adventures, and a space filled with simple, meaningful moments.
We purchased the property and officially closed in September 2025.
Beginning to build
Shortly after, we made our first extended trip out to what we lovingly called “Sweet Caroline.”
We spent a month there getting our bearings, walking the land, and beginning the early stages of preparation. It was a month of dreaming, planning, and shaping the vision into something real.
Right now, Andrea is on maternity leave from the Burnaby Refinery, soaking up time with our son, Brooks. I’m working as a crane operator at Seaspan in North Vancouver, helping build ships for the Navy.
We both genuinely love our jobs—and leaving them won’t be easy.
But after more than a decade in Vancouver, we know it’s time.
Choosing something different
The city has changed. It feels more crowded, more rushed, and less aligned with the life we want moving forward.
It’s not where we picture raising our son or stepping into our next chapter.
We’re chasing something different.
A life where one income can support a family. Where one parent can be home. Where time feels a little slower, and the days feel a little fuller.
We know it won’t be easy. There will be long days, hard work, reality checks, and moments that test us.
But we also know—deep down—that it will be worth it.
The start of something slower
Because at the end of it all, we will be building something meaningful.
A life.
A home.
A retreat on the edge of Caroline, nestled in the Alberta foothills.
And the thought of Brooks growing up surrounded by nature, with the outdoors as his playground—
that’s everything to us.
-Laurence