By Marlene Robertson
As winter approaches, I stare out the window and ruminate about how I’ll fill my days since I can no longer lounge on the patio with a good book.
That was a great way to pass a sunny afternoon. Add a walk along Nanaimo’s wonderful harbour and it all adds up to perfect.
So what to do on those cold drizzly days? Bake some more cookies? Do the laundry? Clean the house? Get caught up with the backlog of e-mail?
Don’t get me wrong, I love retirement and have now been practising the craft for quite some time. But, I still need that carrot, or sometimes a stick, to motivate me.
At just the right time, ElderCollege came into my life and has never let me down. Not only have I learned a lot in the last year and a half, but have all kinds of perks that I never realized come with my $15 ElderCollege membership.
The one bonus I have really enjoyed is free admission to Milner Gardens. If you’ve never visited the gardens, you’re in for a huge treat. The main draw for me is the incredible old growth trees that still thrive on the acreage.
I absolutely love forests and this one is something to behold. With the deep silence only a forest can offer, I find it healing and spiritual, and have the feeling that these wonderful old trees are wrapping their arms around me.
I also love the ocean, and this property is in the enviable position of housing not only a forest but offering the endlessly changing vista of the sea. There’s a gift shop on the grounds, as well as a Tea Room in the original old house, and I can tell you from experience, the food is wonderful; the perfect place for a light lunch.
As if free entry into Milner Gardens isn’t enough, you can also use the Vancouver Island University library while taking courses. Talk about a whole new world opening up for you.
Call the number below for more information and to purchase your membership, and think about giving one to a friend for Christmas.
Be sure to attend the Saturday One-Stop Talks on Nov. 24, at the Parksville Campus, featuring author Lynne Bowen. She will be talking about her new book, A Dark History: Finding the Hidden Story of Italian Immigration to British Columbia. The presentation runs from 10 a.m. to noon and admission is $5 at the door. Mark it on your calendar now.
To find out more, please call toll free 1-866-734-6252 or e-mail us at pqcampus@viu.ca.
See you in the forest.