I have always enjoyed Lillooet as a youth and young adult. Now that I have a son of my own, the appreciation I have for this community has been magnified.

Imagine this: You wake up at 6 am, get ready for work, drive your kids to daycare/school, and make your 45 minute drive to work- no time to spare. Finally it is 5 pm so you dash to the grocery store, make your 45 minute drive home, and if you are lucky your kids are there waiting for you at 6:30 pm. You get dinner on the table by 7, eat, hit the dishes/homework, and it is time to get the kids to bed (8 pm)- you obviously can't wait for the weekend.

If you can't figure out what a small town has to offer, now imagine this: You roll out of bed at 7 am, have an hour to hang out with the kids (have a nice breakfast, play with toys, hey- maybe even a walk in morning light). Leave the house at 8:45 am and drop the kids at daycare/school on your way to work with a 9 am start time. During your lunch hour you can walk across the street and get the groceries, take them home and maybe even throw them in the crock pot. It's 5 pm, you are with your kids at 5:15 pm. Since you are calm, cool and collected after the peaceful drive home and the casual talk with the kids in the car, you do not have a list a mile long pounding in your mind about the following 'issues':
1) dinner on the table
2) helping with homework/house cleaning
3) organizing whatever (you could have done that at lunch)
4) tackling items on the easy-to-do but always-put-off list.

Here is the list pulsing in my mind on my way home from work:
1) Can we take dinner to the park/lake/river tonight?
2) What trail are we going to walk after dinner?
3) Can the dogs come with us?
4) Hmmm... are there peas in the garden yet?

Have you ever heard somebody in their 60's + ask 'What is wrong with kids today?' Have you ever sat and imagined family life in the early 1900's and the family life you have in your home now? I can see one huge difference- the time spent by parents with their own kids. Their Mom's probably ran the house full time, and their Dad's may have worked in their own yard! I always imagine them in a small town, it wasn't necessarily easy, but they were sure a tight family.

I did hear an older person say that 'The houses keep getting bigger and bigger- it is to the point where people can't find their kids in their own house!' Think about the average house in the early 1900's- I always imagine a three bedroom, maybe a basement for storage (*note- they may have had five kids!). They wanted the family to sit together in the evenings. They never imagined sending the kids to another room to play and I think it is because they looked forward to playing WITH their kids when the work was done.

I cannot imagine a Mom who would not want to spend time playing with her kids. I can however imagine a Mom who is so frazzled at the end of the day that all she can hope for is a few minutes where the kids entertain themselves so she can get 'things done.' All Mom's know what this means- setting their kids up to leave them for as long as the child will accomodate... it's OK once in awhile, we all do it (need to make a phone call?). What a shame if 5 days a week you have a selfish motive for playing with your kids- you don't want that, nobody does.

I have never experienced another community since having my son, but I will never take for granted the extra time I get to spend with him thanks to this great community. As a mother first and a Realtor second, I would like to invite you to explore the option of moving from a city to a small town. To me, the number one reason is obvious- quality time with your kids. Another reason is to save money, yes, you read that right. Average single family dwelling sale prices in Lillooet for 2007 were approximately $187,000- and you can almost scratch transportation costs right off the list if you don't mind walking!

I know, I know, I am a woman too. Eating out, dressing up, movie theatres and malls- they will be harder to come by in a small town. Here is what I always say to the ladies...

City scenario- NIGHT OUT AS A COUPLE: just expecting to go for Friday night wings and a few drinks because that is just 'what you do' (why won't HE live on the edge and try a new restaurant?) on Friday night.

Small town scenario- NIGHT OUT AS A COUPLE: You go for dinner now and then, cheat a bit on dinner time after time, but a hot date is in store. Next Saturday you and your husband are heading to the city for dinner, a movie, and yes- a hotel room! If you ask me, dating in a small town has more va-va-voom than in the city!!

City Scenario- BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING: Well, you actually have been picking things up for the kids steady, but you have to throw another buck out there and get them ready for school. They are not at all excited about going to the mall, they drag their feet around and finally you get the task done.

Small Town Scenario- BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING: What an opportunity for a road trip! Get up early, pack up the car (don't forget the swim suits because you are stopping by the waterslides). The kids are excited to be in the city and do some shopping, not to mention eat at different restaurants and the fun day you have in store for them.

There are lots of scenarios, send me a message if you are interested in my personal opinions!