When I retired last year, I immediately left the city and began looking into Sunbanks cabins. I moved to a cabin for several reasons. First and foremost, I wanted some contrast from the day job I had in the city. The hustle-and-bustle of urban areas starts to make my head spin after a while. Second, and perhaps most important, I love to explore nature and survey for interesting flora and fauna. There are wild plants and animals in abundance near my home, and lately I’ve reached out to a few of them.

Not long after I attached a wooden bird house to the tree outside my bedroom window, a cardinal started hanging around. His brilliant red feathers made him easy to identify, but his mate is a slightly darker shade to provide better camouflage. She took up residence in the house and I’ve been waiting for baby birds to appear. I can hardly wait to see what kind of bird will make its home in my bird house next year.

When people think of major bodies of water in the Pacific Northwest, they generally conjure up images of the mighty Columbia River or the sea ports on Puget Sound. Natives of the area, however, know of the myriad of other idyllic bodies of water that are riddled throughout the picturesque landscape. One of my favorite spots to visit in the inland northwest is Banks Lake.

Every spring my family and I take a Banks Lake vacation to enjoy the landscape and unparalleled fishing. My son and I always take a day to enjoy the bass fishing, while my wife and daughter relax at the spa in the resort. We also love going on short kayaking trips around the banks of the lake, exploring the various wildlife that is native to the area.