Current Entries May 31, 2010. So important, right now, that we do not fall down the tunnel vision channel prepared by the reactive media. So important to remember to practice our periphery vision exercises. You remember how that works: step back and allow the 180 degree field of vision to spring into attention. What catches our eye, shimmering on the edge of our vision, is what we should truly be paying attention to. In this transition period, at the closing days of the segue between the pre and post internet worlds, we are now firmly in the digital model -- on/off, act/react -- it's the binary universe of the computer age. On/off means there is no transitory "grey territory". Yes, we are in Soren Kierkegard's world of "either/or". Either we do, think, "be" this...or, we do not. Either...Or. Hmmm...up to the individual, then, to decide. One thing we could do, in this ever increasing pace of change, as we slide into the "real" 21st Century, is to remember the power of the individual. (That means us!). Think of Ghandi...one person, practicing his credo of change through non-violence, ended by creating the country of India, and inspiring Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, among others. All of us can create change by paying attention to how we live, our ethical basis of action, our willingness to be fully involved and "authentic" in our own personal spheres. This is the Year of Biodiversity. That is a call to preservation of the natural world. Our world. So, do you recycle? Do you work towards diminishing your carbon footprint? Do you grow some of your own food? Do you support your local organic growers? Do you walk as much as possible, to help your vascular and respiratory physical body? Do you look to help others, both locally and internationally (it's truly a "global village", now)? Do you remember to feed your mind, as well as your body? Do you really understand that there is no "them", there's only us? It starts and ends with the individual response.... We are so lucky to be alive right now...a time of profound societal change. We all have a duty of care for each other, and we all have the platform, in the individually oriented communication methods (temporarily called Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) of the true post-internet era, to be the voice of discovery. In change lies opportunity. Let's all remember this,,,we are all responsible, we are all accountable, we are all able to introduce/effect change.... Let's go for it! May 30, 2010. Wow! Here is an exceptional oceanfront gem on very tranquil and "preferred" Thetis Island. A private point of land, with an exquisite home that offers all of the desired amenties of today's stellar home design, and the allure of rural charm, with a dock for your boat, and sunsets forever, awaits your pleasure! Privacy, excellent sun exposure, sandy cove (warm ocean swimming here), deep water dock for your boat, a wonderful ambiance of calm and natural beauty...it doesn't get any better! Call me for your viewing...this is paradise! May 29, 2010. This is the year of homage to "biodiversity". I was very lucky to be introduced to this powerful message by Robert Bateman, renowned Canadian painter and naturalist. A loved and respected resident on Salt Spring Island, Bateman's message, through his incredible renderings of the natural world in his extraordinary paintings, his speaking engagements, his challenges to youth to pay attention to the natural world, his mentoring of those who follow his example, is a testimonial to both the struggle to preserve the natural world and the charting of the historical preservation of same. Robert Bateman turned 80 on May 24th (yes, it's also Bob Dylan's birthday), and he continues to record the beauty of the earth in his evocative paintings and to remind us of the important message of husbandry. It is up to each one of us to practice the individual response to Nature, to "pay attention" to our role as overseers of the Earth. It is true that one picture equals 1000 words. Ponder a Bateman painting..... And you are doing what, to save the amazing diversity of what we call "home"?...and yes, I do mean the Earth. Take Robert Bateman as your guide...you are in good company! May 28, 2010. This week's issue of the local Driftwood newspaper showcases their "green edition". Check it out, and note the number of businesses and food growing enterprises there are on the Island! Impressive.... Bruce's Kitchen in Harbour Centre is one of these, and don't forget to enjoy one of his Friday night communal dinners (call for reservations: 250-931-3399). Don't forget that ArtSpring Treasure Fair is on July 15 to 17, this year. ArtSpring's major fundraiser -- gift some items for the silent and live auctions. Call Nighean Anderson at 250-931-0931. Tonight, at Moby's, it's live music with Son de Cuba. Tomorrow, catch The Sutcliffes, and Sunday it's Folk with Folkstar Vagabonds. Enjoy! Free recitals every Wednesday, through the summer, at All Saints by the Sea, at 12:10 p.m. Optional lunch later ($5.50) from the Anglican Caterers. Don't miss these weekly music presentations -- talent everywhere! Tourism Salt Spring has launched a new logo -- see it in this week's Driftwood! Check out www.hellosaltspring.com to keep up in changes. Thanks to Phillip Reece, of Salt Spring Air for his good work, here, in encouraging tourism during the "softer season". Tree House Cafe's 111 nights of live music began on the 24th -- tonight, enjoy Tommy Hooper, Saturday it's Lane 31 (love their name!!), and Sunday catch Alan Moberg. Music Under The Stars -- must be summer! Bach on the Rock presents Handel's Israel in Egypt at All Saints by the Sea, May 29th at 7 p.m., and May 30th at 2 p.m. Tickets from ArtSpring or at the door. Don't miss Viva Voce, with director Deb Toole and accompanist, Chris Kodaly. A River of Song is their theme, and it's at ArtSpring, June 5th at 8 p.m., and June 6th at 2 p.m. A very special treat! (Listen to the podcast from my Monday morning community radio show interview with the incredibly talented Deb Toole: www.liread.com/radio.htm). By the way, you can catch my "all things Salt Spring" morning radio show on Monday and on Wednesday (7 to 9 a.m., PT) -- thank you for listening! May 27, 2010. BBC news reports : Spanish politicians approve 15bn-euro austerity plan US economic growth revised down to 3% Japan exports soar 40% on car and semiconductor demand Apple passes Microsoft to be biggest tech company In graphics: Eurozone in crisis Europe's markets suffer new falls on debt worries Greece's international rescue deal takes shape Global recession timeline 'Top kill' method 'slows BP oil leak' in Gulf of Mexico May 26, 2010. "Do you know Where you are On your journey?" (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") May 25, 2010. The media will be reporting a lot in the next weeks and months, with material offered by the Real Estate Boards promotional/marketing wing, as to why a real estate agent is essential to a property transaction. I do believe that a real estate agent is vital to a successful property transaction between a seller and a buyer, but not for the reasons that were once the case. The entire world has changed, and all business models, including real estate sales, have correspondingly altered...and, "forever". Since 1995/6, I believe we've been in a transition mode and it has been due to the impact of the internet. Back in the 1970s, Marshall McLuhan wrote a book (The Gutenberg Galaxy), and reminded us of the huge shift, societally, with the invention of the printing press. Suddenly, the scribes were out of business, as the dissemination of information could be spread very easily. No more painstaking hand lettered and time-consuming one-off documents. Errors due to copying one document to create one other document were done away with. Thousands of books could be printed off, and suddenly any person able to read and write could partake of knowledge. The "expert" information was no longer under the protection and dissemination of one group or person. The result of this was the Renaissance and the birth of humanism, of individualism. Big stuff! Certainly, a profound societal, political, personal shift. Many ways of life tied to the old order/pre-printing press revolution did pass away. New things came into being. Always thus, then.... So, perhaps from 1996, let's say, to 2008, we've been in a transition phase after another life-altering archtypal "shift". Marshall McLuhan alerted us, back in the 70s, that "the medium is the message". We are shaped by our technology. It creates our culture. He also alerted us to the power of this new medium of information dissemination: it shrinks our physical world and creates a "global village". The internet has erased time, geography, gender, age, race...it is about intellect to intellect, thought to thought. The binary world is one that has erased our concept of a "grey territory". The binary rhythm is on/off, on/off. Action/reaction, action/reaction. Responses to events are instant. In the digital age, which is "always on", time being erased, we are awash in raw data, all seemingly evenly weighted. Personally, I think what needs to be exercised is our editing function. When we can discern what it is we need to know, and pay attention to it, verify it, critique it, we can turn it into information. There's the real role of a real estate agent, then. We are interpreters of data. In this age of "no time", I think people will need, more than ever, interpreters to process data and to bring forward information that can then be acted upon by the consumer. Everyone is way too busy (another offshoot of a timeless world?) to be wading through the pool of raw data, looking for what it is they "really" want. Oh yes...the consumer. The other profound thing the internet did was to break down that expert/follower model. We are all experts now. In real estate, we went from a company-centric model (50s, 60s), to an agent-centric business model (mid-70s to 1996), and we thought during the transition period of 1996 to 2008 that it was just more biz as usual, with a little tweaking here and there. Not! The internet revolution made the consumer the focus, and in a sales situation that means the realtor cannot "push" information at the consumer; the realtor needs to "pull" the consumer forward, before delivering the message. Technology is exploding so quickly, platforms to deliver information are constantly evolving, and pretty soon we will be able to "do it all" from the gizmo in our hand (I, for one, can't wait! Next year, maybe?). We are just emerging from the transition moment. Real estate as an industry is and will continue to be profoundly changed. Social media marketing is the powerhouse, right now, to allow the connection with a buyer or a seller. It will be something else, and soon, too, as it's a timeless/time absent world, remember. They are all just methods of information dissemination...books, kindles, i-pads, blackberrys, androids, i-phones...doesn't matter what the hardware is! It's just the vehicle that delivers the point of it all -- it's about the content that is carried on that technology. There we are, back at the beginning...a realtor is an interpreter, able to make sense of the content that a consumer is seeking. The rest is just smoke and mirrors, the buzz of the moment.... Wait, we didn't even get into virtual worlds, yet. Yes, you can buy property in a mythic universe! Aren't we lucky to be around right now? In change lies opportunity. And your thoughts are? Always welcome! May 24, 2010. Happy Victoria Day! Hope you're enjoying this holiday weekend -- it's the traditional beginning of the "summer season", across Canada. Something different in every community -- parades, maypoles, sailing races, car show and shines, you name it, it will be there. Whatever...enjoy! P.S. Hope you catch my weekly live radio show, too: "All Things Salt Spring". Every Monday, 7 to 9 a.m., PT, live, at 107.9 fm or at www.cfsi-fm.com (streaming audio). Thank you! May 23, 2010. Here is an exceptional investment offering on special Salt Spring Island! Walk to both villages (Seaside Ganges and Upper Ganges villages), and to new indoor pool, and to schools. Very central, and yet quiet ambiance! On community water system. Self-contained guest/inlaw suite (or, mortgage helper), and stylish "west coast/european" flair in main home. Fenced private garden -- perfect for sunny privacy, and also great for pets! Expansive decking for summer al fresco pleasures. This is a gem, and ready to just move into and to enjoy. Call me, for appointments to view. LiRead.com/1602.htm May 22, 2010. So many things happening on this Victoria Day holiday weekend, on special Salt Spring Island. Long considered the "opening" of the summer season, the main event on Salt Spring (along with all the arts and sports special openings/events), this weekend is also the annual Round Salt Spring Sailing Race. Over 100 boats take part, and it's often considered the "shakedown" race for skippers/crews before the famed Swiftsure Race (out of Victoria), held annually the weekend after Victoria Day holiday weekend (just happens to be the U.S. Memorial Day weekend holiday). Exciting race, and you can see those great boats at various points as they circle Salt Spring Island...the spinnaker run is a terrific sight! Enjoy! May 21, 2010. Take Five....as the great Dave Brubeck reminded us! What is it that gives us surcease, and the ability to "recharge", even for a brief moment, before re-entering the timeless world that the digital era has delivered to us? I think it's time to drop back into those poems we all studied in school, from the Romantic Age. You know, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, Shelley, and Byron...they were reminding us then that Nature was the path to self-discovery, and authentic experience, and they were reacting to the Industrial Revolution. The Information Age may not be as messy as the Industrial, or as soul-destroying visually, but in erasing time the internet world has delivered us the platform of "always". You know, always on, always available, no off switch at all, because somewhere in the world, someone is on. In the no time/always time world, the pressure is on to perform. The big message is to rediscover our editing function, so that we can make sense of the raw data floating in the information sea. One way to do this? Go outside, and "look" around you. If you're lucky enough to live on the ocean or beside a lake or a stream, then there is nothing so lovely as simply drifting in a boat, allowing wind and currents to remind us of a larger field of perception. A brief segue into the natural world, whether observing from a park bench, or enjoying a backyard garden or drifting at sea, will restore us so we are ready for the next "alwaysness" of our new paradigm. Your thoughts? Always welcome! May 20, 2010. The Canadian May holiday weekend (Victoria Day is on Monday, the 24th) is the signal for "summer"...there are parades and other community events, right across Canada. Lots happening on Salt Spring Island, too! Gallery 8's New 8 Exhibition runs from May 22 to June 12, in the Grace Point gallery space. Totally reconfigured and expanded, since the take-over of the J. Mitchell Gallery, this is a not to be missed event. Monday, May 24th, catch the homage to Bob Dylan (what?! he's turning 69 this year? He's archtypal, isn't he?) at the Treehouse. The musical birthday bash runs from 6 to 10 p.m., with a variety of Island musicians performing their interpretation of Dylan's songs. Enjoy! (Wave, if you see me). The Fulford Pub, now under new ownership/management, re-opens for the season on the holiday weekend, too. Live music, with Lane 21 performing tonight, the Paxton Bachman Trio playing on the 21 and 22, and the wonderful Barley Brothers on May 23. Live music starts at 8 p.m. Note: May 22, 23, 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., kids eat free (from the kids menu), and it's 10% off all grocery items. Check it out! The second annual bead show and sale takes place at the Harbour House Hotel, May 21, 22, 23, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Seasons of Light, beautiful interpretations of landscapes by painter, Nicola Wheston, opens at the Salt Spring Woodworks gallery (opening reception on May 23, 3 to 5 p.m., with the artist in attendance. The Salt Spring Woodoworks is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Sunday. Tonight, at Treehouse, it's Mike Alviano, and tomorrow catch the superb Planet Music, and Saturday it's Synergy. Sunday, enjoy Sara Brudner. Mark your calendars for Monday, the 24th, and enjoy the Bob Dylan presentation, organized by David Jacquest. Did you know that the Salt Spring Inn offers take out until 10 p.m.?? Buckets of Chicken, full crust pizza, thin crust pizza, gluten free pizza, souvlaki, burgers and more....picnic time! Check out the exceptional online arts magazine, created by Duart and Jill Louise Campbell, which showcases the arts community in a way never accomplished before. The Campbells are well known for their support of the arts on the Island, and Duart was instrumental in creating the Friday evening art gallery "tour", plus the Masters Weekend event. Check out this online presentation of the best of Salt Spring... www.artloversgetaway.com (email Duart and Jill for more information, at: artloversgetaway@gmail.com). Kudos to them, and to their generous sharing natures! Eclectic Visions photography show (first one, ever, by the Salt Spring Photography Club) show runs from May 21 to June 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the ArtSpring Gallery. While there, enjoy the Landscapes & Portraits in Oil, by R.M. Dupuy, until May 31st, in the ArtSpring lobby. Complimentary Wine and Food tastings at the Salt Spring Vineyard -- live music with SILK on Fridays...picnic in their backyard. Catch Judson Beaumont's (Vancouver designer) stellar work, at the Salt Spring Woodworks, corner of Upper Ganges and Churchill Roads, just above Hastings House. He's the showcase artist until Sunday's opening of Nicola Weston's work. Tonight, enjoy Bob Wiseman at the Duck Creek Gallery, at 8 p.m. The recipient of several Juno Awards, and an original member of Blue Rodeo, you don't want to miss this! Call re ticket info at: 250-538-1866. Did you know that Auntie Pesto's, in Grace Point Square, is now open for breakfast at 7 a.m., Monday through Saturday? Did you know that Bruce, of Bruce's Kitchen, has a radio show on the new community station (cfis-fm.comor 107.9 fm)? Listen in, and be inspired. Moby's 20th Anniversary celebration continues through to the 23rd...live music, every night. Tonight, it's Blues Night with Soul Shakedown, with Sarah Morris. Friday, it's Auntie Kate (be there!). Saturday, catch Kings Without. Sunday finds the Pat Coleman Quartet representing Jazz. Rain or shine, there's a lot going on....Saturday Market in the Park, too, remember! Enjoy it all..... May 19, 2010. "There are no ancients before me, No followers behind: Only the vastness of heaven and earth On this mountain terrace. Though heaven may know the ultimate, Joy or sorrow is our own will." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") May 18, 2010. Looking for an exceptional oceanfront retreat opportunity, on Southern Vancouver Island? Call me about this stellar offering, in the Yellowpoint area. Easy access to the ocean from each lot, a beach that invites you to swim, play, beachcomb, and the option of moorage for your boat, in a protected bay. In the very heart of the best protected boating waters in the world, these lots are gems. Mature forest, your own trails to amble, wildlife (eagles, seals, occasional whales) to entrance you, and a very temperate climate to enjoy. Panoramic ocean, islands, mountain vistas from all lots (six in total). Sunny, private, exceptionally peaceful...it doesn't get any better! Minutes by boat to several nearby Southern Gulf Islands, and to other Vancouver Island communities. Short scenic drive from Victoria and mere minutes, by car, from Nanaimo's services/amenities. Very rare to discover such natural land, awaiting your pleasure...bring your architect and walk these parcels, soon. Enjoy one, or get together with friends and family, and create your own private "compound". Lots of choices, here, including ownership of all six titles, and creation of your private estate. Look forward to your call, and to helping you to discover your special waterfront property in this rural and private locale. May 17, 2010. "Contemplate in the morning. Pull weeds in the afternoon. The joys and labor of a single day Are part of a whole journey." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") May 16, 2010. Be self-sufficient....a backyard garden will do! Lots of uncertainty out there, still. Some things to consider: it's possible to grow your own veggies and berries, in your own garden. Even a backyard, will do. Plant a fruit tree now, too, and enjoy those apples, cherries, and plums in a couple of years time. To be as self-sufficient as possible, in today's uncertain world, is a good plan. There could be any number of unexpected natural disasters, and if they're man-made, the peace of mind of "being prepared" can aid us in any recovery. Remember, too, to pay attention to the natural world, and to enjoy its splendour. No matter the time of year, there is always something to "see", and to be revived and encouraged by. At this time of year, in the lush beauty of mid-May, it's easy to be charmed by the world that surrounds us. Take time...cultivate your garden, both inner and outer, and remember that pause that grounds us. Those Romantic poets said it best....maybe read a little Wordsworth, and ponder. May 15, 2010. Feeling a little Spring Fever? Want to look at something completely different, and to recharge those fatigued "been there/done that" batteries? Right on our doorstep, on special Salt Spring Island, we have the "passport" to new adventures...and it's possible to do it as a daytrip, if that's all you've got at your leisure. Yes, I do mean catching a ferry...as a pleasure option, though, and not as the vehicle to take to do a chore, somewhere else. Pick another Southern Gulf Island, figure out the best ferry routes to be able to "do it in a day", and experience the adventure of the "new", right in your own back yard! We are lucky to live in the middle of the best protected boating waters in the world, with a ferry system that is like a sea cruise (so much beauty...sea, sky, islands...gliding by), and it just takes a day to capture the flavour of another Island. They are all so different! Saturna can best be reached by taking the 7:50 a.m. from Fulford to Swartz, and then catching the direct sailing to Saturna. Enjoy the islands as they slide by: Salt Spring's "south end", North Pender, Mayne, and Galiano in the distance. Just before Active Pass, the ferry goes down Navy Channel, with Mayne on portside and Pender at starboard. Lyall Harbour, Saturna's "terminal" is straight ahead. Perhaps the most rural and "apart" of the Southern Gulf Islands, Saturna boasts the first vineyard to appear on the islands: Saturna Vineyard, of course! The return trip to Swartz Bay terminal departs Saturna at 4:20, which leaves lots of time to get the 7 p.m. ferry back to Fulford Harbour, on Salt Spring. A late dinner at Rock Salt Cafe, and you've enjoyed a day trip with the flavour of a sea voyage. Saturna has an oceanside Pub, at Lyall Harbour (family side, too), plus coffee and goodies in the store above. There's also coffee and snacks at the Saturna store, at junction of Narvaez and East Bay Roads. Don't miss the vineyard, and wonderful oceanside Thomson Park. Don't miss Winter Cove's park/beach. Almost half the island is park reserve, and trails abound, many of them leading to beaches or extravagant views. Pick up a Parks map. Enjoy the trip home, past Hope Bay on Pender and Dinner Bay on Mayne. Some ferries are "direct", and others have a stop at Mayne's Village Bay (ferry transfer point -- smaller ferries connect there so passengers can transfer over to the big ferry, coming out of Long Harbour on Salt Spring, en route to Tsswassen, Vancouver's ferry terminal. What is the old adage? A change is as good as a rest? Go be smoothed out on truly tranquil Saturna Island. A great day trip! Enjoy.... May 14, 2010. Catch the Women in Business special section in this week's Driftwood newspaper (online version, too). A very vibrant business community on our Island, and a diverse one. The lead article showcased some of the women with shows on the new community radio station (www.cfsi-fm.com). I was out showing property, so missed the chance to present my Monday morning show (All Things Salt Spring), at the photo shoot/interview. Catch it, though, 7 to 9 a.m., PT, every Monday (interviews with islanders!). Moby's 20th Anniversary celebration starts on the 17th, with a wine tasting event (tickets required), plus lots of other special items, through to the 23rd. Tickets needed for all special events! Take part...where did the 20 years go?!? Tonight at Moby's it's Fish and Bird, starting at 8 p.m. Tomorrow, Saturday, catch The Broken Strings (8 p.m. start). Moby's is one of the key live music venues, on the Island. Hope you've caught R.M. Dupuy's paintings at ArtSpring's Lobby Gallery -- show runs till end of May. Evocative Salt Spring landscapes and Portraits, in oils. The Second Annual Bead Show and Sale is at Harbour House Hotel on May 21, 22, 23. 10 to 6. Presented by Universal Gems and Beads. Check out the artist transformations of a chair, and make sure you get tickets to the live auction at Mahon Hall ($25), for the fundraiser to aid Salt Spring Arts Council's efforts to establish a school for the arts on Salt Spring. 60 artists have been involved in this...such talent! (Tickets for the May 22nd auction at Salt Spring Books). If you missed it in March, you get a second chance: Howard and Mimi, a production of The Academy Presents group on Salt Spring, has an encore performance tonight and Saturday (8 p.m.) and Sunday (2:30 p.m.). Tickets through ArtSpring at 250-537-2102. Remember the 2010 Relay for Life, May 28-29, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., at portlock Park. Food, music, friends, fun -- a Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser. ArtSpring's 10th annual Treasure Fair is on July 15 - 17, this year. Mark your calendars! Silent and live auctions, cash and carry room. Donate! Be there! Tonight, at Treehouse Cafe, the original live music venue on Salt Spring, enjoy Daniel Howlett; Saturday catch Sharon Bailey. The 111 nights of live "music under the stars" starts May 18th. Must be almost summer, right? Calvin's Bistro is now open for dinner on Sunday, too. Enjoy Brigitte's incredible French bakery items at Rendezvous Cafe (across from Moby's), and also at Cafe Talia, on Hereford Avenue. Time for a gallery tour in Ganges? Pick up the pocket map at the Chamber or at Jill Louise Campbell Gallery (across from Treehouse) -- beautifully created by Duart Campbell. Check out the talent at Gallery 8, Steffich Fine Art Gallery, Starfish Gallery, Frankly Scarlett, Jill Louise Campbell Gallery, Pegasus Gallery, Salt Spring Fine Art Gallery, ArtSpring Gallery. Lucky us! It's Spring-into-Summer...enjoy! May 13, 2010. Beautiful 8 + acres, dramatic ocean/islands/mountain vistas, property remains in appealing "natural state", with fenced garden areas (room for flowers and for veggies, here!). Lovely pond feature! Appealing "west coast contemporary" architect-designed home, ready to just move into and to enjoy! Perfect for a professional couple, working from home, or as a stylish family opportunity. Sunny, quiet area of fine homes, close to park hiking/walking trails, and just minutes to all amenities/services offered by Salt Spring's enviable year round lifestyle...enjoy! May 12, 2010. Hmmm...a massive bailout by Europe to support the Euro "no matter what", according to one of the committee involved...prices seriously correcting in European countries most affected by the collapse of the property markets in late 2008...buyers who are carefully weighing the deflation vs inflation arguments...concern about potential erosion of currency valuation plus dramatically reduced prices, making some buyers (those in heavy cash positions?) decide on "low ball offers" (taking some cash off the table/getting back to hard assets?)...definitely all a very "mixed bag", indeed! Media reports of boom markets in Canada, from mid-2009 to early 2010, neglected to point out that the "hot market action" occurred in the primary residence/city marketplaces and did not carry over into any rural or secondary home/discretionary market. This may have been the case globally, in all discretionary marketplaces. The media also neglected to point out that the busiest segment in Canada's city markets was that entry level residential property category. Undeveloped land, commercial options, high end/luxury residential remained very slow/inactive. No one "has to" buy a second home and retirement options can be put on hold until better times. Job insecurity means later retirement, for many. Holding properties were not of interest, as the perception of deflation/depression as an ultimate scenario meant a desire to get out of debt/have enough cash to live through the downturn. With so much paper money being printed, globally, and government fear of severe social unrest (who were those rioters in Greece, who fire-bombed a bank, and killed those innocent bystanders inside?), there is a continuing decision from "the top" to keep the balls in the air, and to stave off global dissolution of the entire economic edifice. Economic collapse means social collapse and that means...well, pain and suffering, for sure, and potential for more riots. So...fear of paper money becoming ever more "worthless", if the inflationary scenario proves correct. Worry over social unrest in the wake of economic unraveling, if the deflation theory wins out. Worry and fear continue, then, no matter which version emerges...lots of stress about, that's for sure! A seeking of a safe haven: a place to be able to grow food (veggie garden/orchard), a stable government, a culture that is familiar and enriching, close enough to not be necessary to fly there, and yet enviably to be slightly "apart"... sounds like Salt Spring and the Southern Gulf Islands, right? In this continuing mixed moment of shift, without a crystal clear direction, the buyer is in control in any secondary home environment, no matter where it's located. That means the seller has to reduce to try to attract the buyer into activity. However, that takes some thought, as inaction isn't really about price. When a buyer says "I don't know, I'll think about it", they mean it. There is no propeller to action in a discretionary marketplace. The buyer creates a market, not a seller or a realtor. If the buyer says "not right now", then nothing happens. There does seem to be some flickers of action in process right now, and in the luxury segment. Buyers are making offers substantially lower than list (even though it's a reduced list). In some cases, they're successful. In others, seller is willing to wait out the inactive time, for a clearer market signal. Your thoughts? Always welcome! May 11, 2010. A unique and beautiful private island opportunity in the amazing Pacific Northwest Coast. Nestled in the Salish Sea (now known as Georgia Strait) North Trail Island offers a rural farm, on your own private island, with all the amenities of Sechelt (including a hospital) at your doorstep. Incredible viewscapes, ocean, islands, mountain vistas, this is a stellar opportunity to be an enjoyer of this delectable coast, and to secure an irreplaceable gem for your future -- a family holding, a hard asset investment to protect your capital, an immediate pleasure quotient of the best of the best? You decide! Call me for details, and for your particular viewing. It's "stellar"! liread33@gmail.com May 10, 2010. Change is the flavour of the times we currently inhabit, it seems, no matter what's involved. In Canada, we operate right now under a minority government, and now there's the same outcome in the recent U.K. election...they call their outcome a "hung election". In a parliamentary system, it might be that a minority government will be the most open and democratic, as all parties will have to listen to each other, and to work meaningfully with each other, item by item. All members elected will be needed. Maybe it's another example of the value of the individual voice, in the post-internet world? Certainly, there is change with this election's outcome and it will have an effect on European Union decisions, too. Debt, in all countries, is the big fear -- Greece may be the harbinger of what will occur in several other countries, both in Europe and elsewhere. No country is protected...we are that "global village", described by Marshall McLuhan, in the 1970s. We are all affected, though perhaps at different times in the cycle. The 21st Century is unfolding beneath our feet, and the schism between old forms (pre-1995,, say?) and the new formats is unbridgeable. We are all affected, no matter what we do or where we live. The transition time is almost over, it appears. The shift we are living through will be looked back at as one of those historic divides in civilizations processes. Writing on tablets obliterated oral cultures. Gutenberg's invention of the printing press disseminated learning to anyone who could read. The internet has erased time and geography and gender and race and age...it has spawned a further revolution with the social media communication channels. Social media allows individuals to express their opinion, and to further comment with groups of like-minded individuals, to create conversations around particular points, and to do so from anywhere in the world. The "ethernet" of the web world is an entity; the recent BBC News special on Super Power, which was highlighting the "clout" of the web world "citizens", was very interesting...try to catch it in replay! So, the only constant in life is change, warned Thales and Heraclitis, back in the days of Ancient Greece's heyday. Are you remembering to practice your peripheral vision? Tunnel vision focus just keeps us locked into the worry and drama of a specific issue. Backing up, allowing that wider 180 field of vision, allows us to notice what is fluttering there, just at the edge of our vision...that's where we can begin to use our creative power. All of us have the ability to invent the interpretation of the path...it's the 21st century! Lucky us! May 9, 2010. Happy Mother's Day to all of those very deserving moms...whether here in person or only in memory. "Worship by cultivating nine fields: Diet. Herbs. Clothing. Recitation. Movement. Meditation. Creativity. Teaching. And most important: Compassion." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations"). May 8, 2010. Have been enjoying presenting a live radio show, on the new community station (cfsi, at 107.9 fm). Initially called "Potpourri with Li", my program is now known as "All Things Salt Spring". The show was actually the first one on air, in early September, 2009. My first producer was Mark Voyce (co-owner of Bocado's Bistro) and when Mark returned to his film career, the producer seat was ably filled by Dave Gordon, in January 2010. The "theme" is music, musings, and lots of interviews with Salt Springers! I've been very lucky to have met so many interesting people, in my 20 years on Island, in real estate, and wanted to showcase them, and the great things they all do, to other Islanders, near and far. Check out the podcasts of just some of these interviews on my website: www.liread.com/radio.htm (also, podcast of one entire show). Catch it live, if you can't pick up the station's signal, at: www.cfsi-fm.com (every Monday, 7 to 9 a.m., PT). Some of the people who have agreed to appear, on a Monday morning, at 8 a.m. -- Tim Cahill (talked about emergency preparedness), Lisa Sliwowska (showcased her interior design flair), Garth Hendren (CRD director, who shared his expertise on textiles), West Edge Design, (along with her partner, who spoke about their "green" construction course for the trades), Jan Rabson (who, with his wife Cindy, had a voice over company in L.A., and who is an old radio fan -- 40s, especially), Steve Coopman (who talked about food and wine pairings), Bruno Gonzales (who presented the importance of "terroir" in French winemaking), Bruce Wood (of Bruce's Kitchen, who spoke about organic foods production available on Island), Celia Duthie-Hunt (who shared the creation of her Salt Spring Woodworkers studio, and husband Nick's sculpture enthusiasm), Mona Fertig (publisher and poet, who discussed her latest venture, a series on B.C.'s undiscovered artists), Anthony Matthews (who headed up the Salt Spring Arts Council, and now can be found at Pegasus Gallery -- he informed us about the 4th annual arts tour, held on Easter weekend, which showcased the exceptional work of renowned photographer, Eric Klemm), Connie Nichols-Ledger (who shared her interior design thoughts, particularly in the importance of colour in our lives), Grant Wickland (who is now creating formidably beautiful banjos), Brigitte Gonzales (who creates incredible French Pastries, and sells them at Rendezvous Cafe, across from Moby's), Rona Robbins (Upstairs Bears is her bear boutique, in Grace Point Square), Noel Ellson (a well known advertising "creative", and musician, who retired from Toronto to Salt Spring, and raises horses), Duart and Jill-Louise Campbell (who have an evocative art gallery on Island, and who are now in the midst of creating an online arts magazine/videography journal, showcasing all the artists/arts on Island), Ian Moore (who lived in Hong Kong at a pivotal time in its history), Razali (the owner of Gallery 8, formerly J. Mitchell Gallery, who has totally reconfigured that space), Murray Shoolbraid (who came in to discuss Robbie Burns Day lore) -- to all of them, thank you! Such a talented Island that we all enjoy...lucky us! Your suggestions for Islanders to speak with? Always welcome! Tune in....... May 7, 2010. Here's a gem, awaiting your discovery! Your own private island, one of the Sisters Islands grouping in Ganges Harbour -- Second Sister, 3 + acres, zoned for main home, guest cottage, studio, dock in place, and a "natural" ambiance, awaits your development ideas! Sunrises and sunsets, here, and amazing views of ocean, islands, mountain vistas. The plus? Close to all of Salt Spring's amenities/services (including a hospital), while offering the drama and allure of your own private island, it's the best of both worlds: private yet not isolated. Bring your architect, and let's view this together...summer is almost here! May 6, 2010. Mother's Day on Sunday! Looking for some suggestions, to spoil Mom? Check out "Bubbles in the Vineyard", at Salt Spring Vineyards, with live music by Silk, from 2 to 4 p.m. They offer a picnic space for your celebration, and a complimentary taste of their sparkling wine, Karma. Calvin's Bistro offers Brunch or Dinner for Mom's pleasure! Brunch at Hastings House, 3 courses, 11 to 1. Harbour House Hotel offers a Brunch Menu in honour of Mom (reservations encouraged). Auntie Pesto's, in Grace Point Square, offers a Brunch menu, too. Lots of choices...all stellar. Aren't we lucky to have such superb dining opportunities. Give Mom a hug, and go enjoy! Wow...for those of us who have been on the Island for a bit, it's a surprise to discover that Moby's is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Live music from May 18th to May 23rd. Sunyata, Hey boy Hey girl, Soul Shakedown, Auntie Kate and the uncles of funk, Kings Without, Pat Coleman Quartet. Mark your calendars. Enjoy! This Friday, May 7th, it's Alan Miceli, with the Harbour House Hotel's live music offering. Saturday, catch Sweetwater and Co., and Sunday enjoy Gene Grooms. Note; new menu coming on May 14th. Treehouse Cafe, the original live music venue, presents the Co-Op Pre School fundraiser with Brian "Buck" McDonald, tonight. Friday, it showcases Patrick Brealy, and Saturday, enjoy Owen Mathieson. Catch the ArtSpring Lobby show of Salt Spring Landscapes and Portraits: Oils by R.M. Dupuy. Show runs till May 31st. It's back -- the annual Phantom Ball Campaign, the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation's fundraiser. Watch for your invitation in the mail! Chairity -- a Salt Spring Arts Council initiative to raise funds for a School for the Arts. Live auction at Mahon Hall, Saturday, May 22nd. ($25 for tickets). 60 Salt Spring artists transform the naked chair -- catch a sneak preview of the chairs. Tickets at Salt Spring Books or Salt Spring Arts Council. Remember Kathy Page's book launch at ArtSpring, for her new novel, The Find. 7:30 p.m. at ArtSpring Gallery, May 10th, presented by Salt Spring Books. Boogie-woogie pianist tonight and again on the 13th, at Moby's Pub: extraordinary Alan Gerber. Enjoy! This Friday and Saturday, at Mahon Hall, catch the Salt Spring Potters Guild Annual Spring Show and Sale. Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. And Saturday, 10 to 4 p.m. Guest Artist: Byung Joo Suh. Lots to do and to see...get out there and be a part of "the scene"! May 5, 2010. Here is a wonderful example of Sirewall's rammed earth design and construction, described by the company president as "timeless distinction". This two bed/three bath home is a superb rendition of the "green"/soft footprint ethic. Check out the Sirewall Inc. & Terra Firma Builders Ltd. website for more information on this terrific building choice. The lovely home above was specifically created for the builder's mother, who retired from her waterfront home into this gem. Walking distance to both Ganges Seaside and Upper Villages, and close to all the amenities / services that make Salt Spring an enviable choice for a year round pleasing lifestyle, the location offers all of the convenience of a townhome without the strata council aspect or monthly fees. The best of both worlds, then -- comfortable convenience and style of a personal home. Main level offers formal entry/foyer, with attached double garage off (could bring this space into the home, if more space desired), plus guest bath, separate laundry/storage, open plan living/dining, with country kitchen off, plus master/ensuite, and large studio space (artist? home occupation? or, third bedroom?). Upper (storey and a half design) level offers sitting area, bedroom, bathroom, large storage area. The perfect guest/inlaw arrangement! This is a stellar home, and is ready to just move into and to enjoy. Call me for an appointment, and let's view today. May 4, 2010. Here's something to pay attention to: Woodland Telegraph and Happy Feet Howe, two music groups, will be serenading the Islands for a very good cause (land conservation in the Gulf Islands), throughout May and June. On May 12th, find them at the Treehouse (8 p.m.) in Ganges Village, A portion of all CDs sold during this performance will be donated to the Islands Trust Fund, a regional land trust working with island communities to protect fragile ecosystems in the Gulf Islands. (The music of Woodland Telegraph and Happy Feet Howe has been described as stomping Bluegrass West Coast G-Funk, with Canadiana Roots, and is guaranteed to get you shaking your body and stirring your soul). Check out their website, at: www.northernfolklore.com for more concert dates and venues (including Pender, Victoria, Powell River, Courtenay, Tofino, Saturna, Chemainus, Gibson's, Texada, Denman, Lasqueti, Galiano -- if you're on Salt Spring on the 12th, be sure and catch them!). Thinking about some "day trip" options?? Well, I know it's a long way off, but Father's Day, in June, always finds the Classic Car Show at Qualicum Beach. If you've never been before, you have a treat before you! Mark your calendars....later, there's always dinner with a seaside view at the Shady Rest, on the Old Island Highway. Mother's Day? Try their brunch at the Genoa Bay Cafe. A great chef, here, and worth the few minutes drive from Maple Bay to Genoa Bay, on Southern Vancouver Island. Right at seaside, with the docks and boats to entice you, this gem is open for lunch and dinner -- reservations recommended. It's now a "discovered secret". Enjoy! Vineyard tours are a treat in the Cowichan Valley...make sure you drive through the yesteryear pleasures of Cowichan Bay. Great organic bakery here, the Udder Guys ice-cream store, Hilary's Cheese shop, Rock Crab with the best fish n' chips on the Island (just ask all the people who drive up from Victoria, to sample same), plus the Masthead restaurant for those special occasions...a great day trip, here! June is the month of roses, and if you haven't been to Butchart's Gardens for awhile, make this the month you enjoy it. Missed the five ferry at Swartz, and looking for a dinner suggestion? It's right next door to Philbrook's marine outlet, in Tsehum Harbour, and mere minutes from the ferry terminal. You may remember this as the former Dock 503 location...well, it's a stellar choice for lunch or for dinner. Write this one in the "must try" book. More ideas for off island jaunts? Call me, and ask for "Li's List". Always a pleasure, though, to return home to very special Salt Spring Island..... May 3, 2010. Here is the very best oceanview opportunity on special Salt Spring Island! Exceptionally fine finishing, here, in this custom home on six plus sunny and very private acres. Sunrises and sunsets await your pleasure....plant a vineyard here, or consider an olive grove. The Mediterranean microclimate allows for this kind of landscaping development. The home enjoys cherry wood floors, plus concrete flooring with a copper sheen and copper accents, radiant infloor heating, dramatic feature stone fireplace in living, with a stone wall that carries through to the guest powder room. Custom windows that frame superlative views of ocean, islands, and coast mountains (including Mt. Baker's majesty!), and the window wall in the dining room opens completely to the dramatic deck and outdoor kitchen/al fresco dining option. A true cook's dream kitchen, spacious pantry and mudroom entry. Master sitting with walk in closet, incredible master ensuite, and easy access to hot tub with a view! Main level laundry and a formal entry foyer with water feature. A lovely blurring of inside/outside, here, in this rendition of the classic "west coast contemporary" design ethic. The reflecting ponds at the entrance are a part of this dramatic presentation. The lower garden level is totally "itself", with a guest suite, media / games room, storage for crrafts, plus office (custom murphy bed here, so could easily be a third guest bedroom opportunity). A gallery space could also be a yoga retreat. Easy access to all the "workings" of the home, for maintenance, and more storage, too. Patio areas invite that inner/outer blending, too, with the same stellar views from all principal rooms. This is a home to savour...zoned for separate guest cottage and separate studio, too. Continue the dream..... May 2, 2010. Lots of changes going on in the real estate industry itself, post-internet communication revolution. The travel industry, the car industry, and the stock market side of investment saw these changes early on, and none of these fields of business are the same, at all, after the impact of the internet made itself felt. The real estate industry was late to the table of change, particularly in resort based/secondary home, and thus smaller, venues. The internet created a consumer-centric business model, and this is profound, indeed. All marketing/sales businesses must change their way of encouraging the consumer to "act" (i.e. buy), or they will be out of business. Things that once worked no longer do; it is not enough to try to massage an older model of business onto a new playing field...that only works minimally in an early transition phase. The current changes to the mls in Canada took place several years ago in the U.S. The point of the Competition Bureau's recent ruling, in Canada, is that choice for the consumer is a necessity. The results of these changes in Canada are long overdue, as the medium of communication is now consumer-centric. Wondering what this means, exactly? Call me, for more information. Thus, the drive for a realtor to carry listings, so that they get that buyer "call". If you, as a potential seller, hear a realtor "bad mouth" another realtor (which is against the Code of Ethics), just know that it is about the realtor saying these things and not about the realtor being thus mentioned -- it's just about the core drive to get a listing, and some realtors choose less desireable ways to achieve the goal, including downgrading a competing realtor. Not "right", but it is a reality. A new real estate business model in the U.S. is Redfin. The company shares half of the gross commission it is paid, by the seller, with the buyer. Now there's a consumer oriented business model! They also offer a lot of information for a buyer, which was once the provenance of realtors. The internet is about data, and it turns into information when it is "considered"/interpreted by the consumer. Print media, long a staple of real estate advertising, if still "alive", is now promoting its web based opportunities. The mls, long in the control of the real estate industry, is on its way to becoming just one of many options for a consumer to search, for real estate data. It is noted that 98 percent of real estate searches begin on the internet, and consumers begin their search a good 8 months before "acting". They only call a realtor when they are about 5 to 6 weeks from viewing in person/ready to write an offer. There is no realtor loyalty, in the way that there used to be. It no longer matters about a company's recognition factor, nor does it matter about the knowledge/awards/expertise of the individual realtor. All that counts is the listing data. Board "private client services" only pass along data from that particular Board, and so listings through other Boards wouldn't be included -- only partial data, then, and the consumer using this service isn't loyal to the realtor providing it, and they are using all search opportunities to finetune what they're seeking. Franchise company models belong to a previous business rhythm, pre-internet, and although many of them have tried to play "catch up", just as the mls did, it doesn't work in the long run. Redfin, or its clones, may be the wave of the future, and not be an anomaly. Certainly, when the consumer is in charge, the reasons for contacting a particular realtor will be different than in the past. Lots of continuing shift, coming down the pipe. There are still two parties to every transaction, a seller and a buyer. The realtor is the middleman in this traditional sales equation. Post internet, the job description has dramatically changed. Looking to buy or to sell, on Salt Spring Island or on a Southern Gulf Island? I welcome your call, and for the opportunity to highlight what I do for you that is about successful 21st Century business. How may I help you to discover your Island dream? liread33@gmail.com May 1, 2010. "You may be capable of great things, But life consists of small things." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")

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