The Contingency Plan

After a big night at a family friend's house, we're all a little tired and fragile today and still in our pyjamas, despite it being 2pm. Luc's brother has been staying with us so the house is full. It feels nice. And it's naturally still raining so we're confined to indoor activities like cooking, surfing the net, playing video games, watching movies and eating - perfect.

The next few days will be heavily significant for us. Luc and I have been looking at a variety of properties here in Vancouver (as the value for money is exceptional in comparison to Sydney) and have found one that we love. It's currently on hold as we explore financing options, which will hopefully be determined tomorrow.

It's a mansion compared to what we've used to - three bedrooms, three bathrooms a massive open-planned 'hub' space that includes a big kitchen, living room, family room and dining room, double garage, plus a basement that features another three large rooms and an extra bathroom. The house alone is over 3,500 square metres and the property in total is around 5,500. Enormous.

The area is a mountanous suburb of Vancouver, around 35 minutes away from downtown, around an hour from Whistler, surrounded by golf courses and forest. Luc's family are close by and I like how the landscape and air are so new to me. Luc and I prefer Vancouver's mountains to its downtown and habour areas, which although are pretty, don't really compare to Sydney. Our goal is to have a mountain home in Vancouver and a waterfront/city pad in Sydney. Hey, might as well think big! And although we make good money now, we simply can't afford to buy the type of home we want in Sydney. It'll have to come later.

We went to inspect the construction yesterday and the timing may be quite perfect as the home won't be completed until April next year. At this stage we can select the colour schemes, appliances and Luc can run whatever cables he likes and we'll have six months to sell up and vacate Sydney.

So many thoughts are ruling my mind, but on the whole I'm hopeful and terribly excited.

Wow! Sounds like a great plan. You'll have to let me know how it goes for you to apply for Canadian status. Whenever I look at it for us it seems so much more complicated then getting my Australian one.

Fabulous!

Oh thanks guys!

Bente: You're right, it's definitely harder than what we went through for Luc to stay here. Luckily Luc's Mom works for the Immigration Department in Vancouver so she really knows the system.

Kyra: You definitely should visit Vancouver! It's such a beautiful city.

And thanks Portuguesa Nova!