We moved on July 1. As a family of 3, we lived downtown Vancouver in the hustle and bustle. We loved all the city amenities, bars, boutique fitness, arts, and the ability to walk to everything. When everything closed, our 800sf condo made zero sense for the high rent and lack of stuff to do. When things started to reopen, every business was packed with long line ups. With everyone “trying” to social distance, we realized how dense and impractical it was to stay safe in the city. At the same time, I got a new job at a company that had been forced to make everyone work from home, so I asked them to make my role permanently remote and they did. We moved from a city of 700,000 to Victoria which has half the population, is less dense and has many of the amenities we like. It’s also on an Island. We upgraded from 800sq condo to a 1,400sq townhouse and actually save $1000/mo in rent. We met all our neighbours in the first 5 days of being here (which never happened in the 2 decades living in the city). Prediction: Windowed, soundproofed home offices with great lighting and wifi will be the hottest places to rent/buy anywhere. Developers take note.

Work has pension plan in Vic. Forestry sector is unstable.