I’m moving back to Calgary … or — more accurately — going on the road full-time. In fact, I’m en route to Indonesia today.

Rob & Yvonne sold the house in Parksville where my parents lived their last years.

It was a perfect retirement home for them.

I’d been spending a lot more time in Parksville over recent years helping out my folks.

But Dad died in March.

Mom died in May.

Dad originally wanted to move to the left coast for fishing.

Mom for the weather, gardening, and … bocce ball.

A few years after my parents, my brother Rob and his wife Yvonne decided to move to Parksville, as well. They bought a 2nd house. AND got married in that Parksville home.

Randy and Val made long trips from Calgary, especially enjoying the annual Sandcastle Building competition and LIVE music at the Park.

I was born and raised in Calgary, the high prairie. Ocean and rain forest were a big attraction for me.

Most mornings, I’d get up for dawn and take coffee down to Rathtrevor Beach.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Evenings, I’d often walk down to Parksville Beach at dusk.

Mom played a lot of tiles. And then cards, as her vision worsened over the years.

The most popular addition to town was Charlie during COVID.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Climate is mild in Parksville, year round. You can walk and cycle every day of the year.

Surprisingly, Dad wanted to get an electric trike in 2019. That was fun. Rob and Yvonne later got 2 electric motorcycles.

We did get a few days of snow each year.

I’ll definitely miss Parksville, B.C.

A great lifestyle.

The McCharles family first came here in the 1960s on family summer vacation. We’d park the homemade camper right on the beach.

I’d taken morning coffee at Rathtrevor beach over 2,000 days over the years. This was my last. Quite overcast after the first hard rain in weeks.