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Ol' Bob Dylan said it best ... "Oh, the times they are a changing!"

Back in 1991 my parents stumbled across the condo of their dreams, a home away from home that would bring them great joy and happiness over the 32'ish years that they have owned. They took a leap of faith at the behest of a old Barrie friend, made the trek to southwest Florida's Pelican Bay to see what it had to offer, and after looking at a two bedroom unit, they discovered their three bedroom Shangri-La was for sale, prompting a look. My dad fell for it immediately with its million dollar view, pristine surroundings, and world class amenities. The rest, as they say, was history. With dad passing in 2006, my mom has helmed the ship solo for 17 years and it's become an integral part of her life ... of OUR lives ... and she shared it so willingly with our family. Retirement's freedom, coupled with mom's generosity, has allowed Joyce and I to escape the cold for the past 3 winters. My kids + partners, brothers, nieces, and nephews have been able to experience the glorious southwest Florida offerings, drinking in its beauty, warmth, and serenity.

Sadly, everything good eventually comes to a conclusion, and the uncomfortable decision that maintaining two properties in two different countries was no longer a prudent choice, meant that Joyce and I came south with her this winter to clean, declutter, and arrange for the listing. We found a local realtor with loads of experience in the Pelican Bay area, signed on the dotted line, made a ton of trips to the local Goodwill, got the photos/video completed, and Bob's your Uncle, the listing is now live!

CLICK for the listing!

Let's call a spade a spade.

If you've got the ability to purchase in Pelican Bay, this may very well be the condo of your dreams! The proof, as it's said, is in the pudding, after the many wonderful memories this place spurred for my parents, and I'd have to admit that since spending the past three winters here, it is pretty darn nice! I've seen first hand how much good the condo does for my mom's outlook, obviously serving as a 30+ year respite from the Canadian winter, but everyone reaches a point in their life where simplification trumps comfort and familiarity. 

The process has certainly affected her.

The past 18 months have been a tough go for our family. Illness, tragedy, and now upheaval all shaking our foundations like a 7.0 quake, and I can see the emotion of it all leaking out of the corner of mom's eye every now and again. The condo is the last vestige of my dad, and that has meant some grief percolated to the surface, but Life goes on, and we have to embrace the change else it dampen our happiness. Anyone who has gone through something like this knows that a sizeable chunk of your identity goes with the ownership when it changes hands. As her oldest, and being present in the process, I feel deeply for the strength she's shown through the process.

For now, we wait to see if there's another family that's interested in making their own memories.