North by NW Looking Back At Vancouver Our stay in Vancouver started our sabbatical in the same way kindergarten starts school. We said our goodbyes and left home; we trundled off to a foreign land that was not all that foreign, and not that far away. Mostly we played with our friends, enjoyed the treats, and readied ourselves for the coming transformational experience. Like most kindergardeners we had a terrific time! Home Sweet Home We lived in faculty housing on the University of British Columbia campus. Living on campus let us experience the joys of a university -- a beautiful library, the Anthropology Museum, the rose garden -- without studying or taking exams. x x Our 2BR apartment's fourth floor corner location and west facing balcony contributed greatly to a relaxed summer lifestyle: Doors and windows wide open for the marine breeze; lunch and cocktails on the balcony; evening espresso as the sun set. And the campus is a lovely place to walk! xx Vancouver It's a beautiful city. We take it for granted, visiting as often as we do. But, living here gave us time to enjoy the many wonders of Vancouver that we love so much: Mountains ... In every direction! Trees ... in every direction The sea, the boats and the rugged coast. Our apartment is on the headland across the bay directly above the boat. Oh, yes, and there is Northwest Coast native art! xx Ultimate Recess Twenty countries came for the world Ultimate Frisbee championships at UBC this summer. For a week we were completely swept up in Ultimate. At the Opening Ceremonies the Columbian team raced in, full of spirit and ready to play! But it wasn't Ultimate all the time. Here's swap night, which also included a band and a climbing wall in case anyone hadn't had enough exercise. It was like being at the United Nations if diplomats dressed in tee shirts. We watched the US men and women play Australia for the silver medal. Australia has the frisbee in the lower left corner. Play Time The summer was a chance to entertain our Seattle and Vancouver friends, and what a lovely place to do it. Among the people and places: We went to the shore with Ken and Shelley Burr ... We watched the fireworks competition with Noelle Lamb ... And after a day of touring, we hung out at home with Melissa Rabelhofer and Brendan Healy. The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson