It is hard for Canadians to imagine how mild it acutally is on Vancouver Island unless they have spent some time here during the Winter months. Just the other day during a sunburst, I noticed young children bouncing on their trampoline just a few doors away. Every day our feeder gets visited by hummingbirds that have obviously decided to winter here because they can. You can golf year round on the better courses in Victoria and major outdoor attractions like Butchart Gardens are open year round. We do get our share of rain during the winter months but I justify that by the fact that when it rains it warms up. I feel incredibly lucky when I see posted temperatures elsewhere in Canada nearing -30C. I paid my dues on the prairies so I know what cold really is. I am grateful for the option.