Dear Editor:
Four years ago, we decided to start looking for a retirement property in the Okanagan. Several summer vacations at various bed and breakfasts throughout the Okanagan made our choice of Summerland easy. What a gem.
The people of Summerland have been amazing. Although we still do not reside here full time, we feel so at home and welcomed into this community. We’d like to acknowledge the following businesses:
Firstly, Royal LePage. Upon contacting three real estate agencies, only they were willing to meet us and show us properties, even though we didn’t plan on purchasing in the near future.
The agent’s attitude was “It’s okay if you don’t buy now…..I’ll know you better in a few years and what you like.”
Well, we did buy — a Qualas Development new home. The real estate agent offered to check on our home regularly, Qualas Contracting and Development volunteered to deal with all the furniture deliveries that incessantly kept arriving at our home here (since we are from out of province) and the Summerland Review staff readily contacted the Welcome Lady who graciously showered us with coupons/gifts from local businesses.
Nesters Market welcomed us with a free pound of coffee while we were shopping there for the first time. All of our neighbours are amazing: cutting our lawn for us, shovelling the snow off the driveway before we arrive in winter and lending us their tools and lawn mowers. A very special thank you to all of our new friends in Summerland who volunteered to keep our grass green throughout the month of June when our irrigation system broke down.
Last March, Good Omens and The Beanery welcomed our son Ky, a professional singer/songwriter, arranging events in their establishments for him to perform at. Loyal patrons at Good Omens even invited Ky and the backup musician to their home for refreshments and snacks after the concert. Thornhaven Estates Winery plays his CD regularly on their patio.
The owners and staff at both Dirty Laundry and Silkscarf often treat us to special tastings to show us their appreciation for bringing all of our guests to their tasting rooms.
And, just recently, when we needed more wire hangers for our clothes, A Stitch in Tyme dry cleaners gave my husband hangers for free, even though he wanted to pay for them.
What a wonderful community. Nice to know we chose the second best place in B.C. to retire. We are proud to be residents of Summerland.
Sandy and Dwayne Babyn
Summerland
