September 3, 2020. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Retirement Home.

When both Ken and Carol retired, they decided to live full time at the lake south of Owen Sound. But the cottage was too small so they concocted an ingeneous plan. First they took down the little cottage. Next they installed a small trailer at the back of the property almost in the woods. Then they came up with the plan for the house. It worked spectacularly well. They built a two story house with both floors having the same footpInrint. In other words, the kitchen was in the same position on both floors as were the bahrooms and bedrooms. The second floor was Ken and Carol's home, with wood cabinets, granite counters and hardwood floors. And a wood store. Right out the french doors was a deck. It had two bedrooms and one bathroom. There was a door at the top of the stairs. The place looked like a home with furnishings to match, definately not a cottage. The first floor looked like a cottage. Everything was in the same spot except for one bedroom, which was small for the furnace and hot water heatere. So the space and function was the same. Except it had formica cabinets and cxounters and industrial carpet on the floors. That space looked like a cottage. So their children and their grandchildren could come to the cottage and function without interfering with Carol and Ken. When Ken and Carol entertaimned large groups of people, which they did often, Carol worked and served out of the lower floor, so again their home upstairs did not get to be a mess. I had never heard of such a plan until I talked with Carol and I have no idea who came up with the idea but that retirement home worked well both for the hosts and the guests. I thought the concept splendid and still do.