Vancouver is always ranked as one of the best places in the world to live. On any given day, you can go for a walk in the Pacific Spirit Park nearby, a large forest full of enormous trees. You can go to any one of the many beaches around the city, and rent a boat or kayak and head out on the water (there is even a nudist beach if that's your thing!). You can head up into the mountains that overlook the city and go skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer. You can drive up to Whistler for the day and see this world-class ski/mountain biking resort. You can go for a walk or cycle around the sea wall in Stanley Park. You can "shop until you drop" downtown Vancouver at Nordstroms, Holt Refrew, and all the popular stores. Or you can sit on the back deck and enjoy the temperate climate, breathe the clean air, watch the birds at the bird feeder, and enjoy the silence.