There, he studies the constellations and enjoys quiet dinners on a deck. The only impromptu visitor is a neighbor's dog. He and his partner sometimes invite friends to come by, and when they do, it's like a campout. And reaching the little eastern Washington hideaway in the winter requires snowshoes. Publisher Ed Marquand leaves the city behind and journeys to his eastern Washington wonderland with a pair of snowshoes.
Life is quiet, tranquil and always refreshing.
When I am there, it is like someone pulled the plug or stopped the adrenaline drip. Anyone who works long days looks forward to some reparation, and an exotic, often remote vacation home is a good way to go. And they want that 'cash' in the form of quality downtime. The scene on Decatur Island in the San Juans serves as a good example of the growing popularity of vacation homes. On the island, there are more part-time residents than permanent residents, says Bob Smith, general manager of Decatur Northwest, a community development on the small island.