We’ve been here 5 months. We’ll be here at least 3 more. We visited Camano Island for the first time on a drizzly Saturday in 2016 and honestly, we weren’t terribly impressed. I mean, it was pretty, as almost all of the Pacific Northwest is, but it didn’t blow us away. But when hubby took a contract doing home health out of Everett, WA and we were faced with the choice of a little apartment on the water on Camano vs. a little, more expensive apartment in Everett, we decided to give it another shot.
And boy are we glad we did.
These past months have been filled with beach walks, whale sightings from our living room (!!!), watching for bald eagles and sea lions, glorious sunrises and sunsets, and more fresh crab than we’ve ever had in our lives. (thank you, kind & generous landlords!)
There has been so much to inspire me artistically that I can’t paint fast enough to get it all out.
Moving every few months is not without its hassles, but one of the advantages to our gypsy life has been the privilege of experiencing a variety of places and ways of living. From being Seattle urbanites, to Idaho lake bums, and California desert dwellers, each place has filled a longing within us and taught us lessons about ourselves, what we can and can’t live with and a great deal about what we can live without. Since ours is a fairly unique adventure few people experience, I thought you might enjoy a peek into our latest temporary home by giving you a little home tour of our Shelton bungalow!
One thing we’ve learned is that we don’t need a ton of inside space. This is our second studio apartment and it functions better than some of the houses we’ve rented. Storage and me space in studios can get a little tight.. good thing the vast majority of our worldly goods are packed away in a Seattle storage unit! Just a wee bit more space and we could call it good for keeps.
Our landlord is an interior designer and she outfitted this little bungalow to the max– textural finishes, reclaimed materials and lovely designer details make it a beautiful place to spend each day. That little table and chairs behind the sofa is my office, our dining table and the game room, all in one. The tall armoire houses the tv, a nice selection of dvds & books, as well as extra pillows and blankets. If you look closely, you’ll glimpse a peek at Mr. F’s latest batch of beer swathed in an old comforter, all nice and cozy.
The second thing we’ve learned is that we DO need a good bit of outdoor space. Access to an outdoor living space can make even the smallest or least desirable place feel like paradise. While living in Seattle, I knew I really wanted our next stop to be a more restful spot. Spending just three months living on a busy street corner made me crave peace and quiet. When looking for our rental in the Olympia area, we made appointments to see three rentals, all of which were outside of town and either near or on a body of water. This bungalow was the first place we saw and we took it immediately. It was budget friendly, a good central location for Mr. F’s home health position and well, this is our backyard–
Each day as I’m working at that little table, I can look up from the laptop to see the reflection of branches in the water and the soft cascade of the waterfall. We can sit under the Japanese Plum tree with a book and a glass of wine and just be.
This place has been the perfect antidote to the whirlwind of activity and decision making that overtook our summer in Seattle. We finally have time to rest and reflect, even while working hard and making plans. Sometimes, that extra space you’re craving is inside your own mind.
If you ever plan a trip to the Olympic Peninsula, you can rent this little Bungalow for yourself! ( Although not until at least mid-November, it’s ours until then! ). Check out the VRBO listing, if you’re interested, it comes highly recommended from this Artsy!
