Living in the heart of Silicon Valley in California year-round, Edgewater Bluff provided us the much needed escape from the noise, the crowds, the daily hustle-bustle and the start-up company stress. For years, we did not feel the need to own a TV or have internet service. Simply sitting in the living room and looking out the window, reading a book or napping was very satisfying. We noticed that the clouds, the water on the hood canal, the reflection of the sun on the snow-capped Olympic Mountains, the colors and patterns changed constantly. With continuously moving wildlife, various small birds, bald eagles, occasional dolphins and seals or the naval vessels (yes, even a submarine), crab fishermen, University of Washington research vessels sailing by, we felt that we owned world’s largest “flat-screen”. We enjoyed the garden and its hundreds of species of flowers and plants lovingly and painstakingly maintained for many years. We entertained friends on the deck, sipping wine and enjoying the sunset. We no longer woke up to the sound of traffic under our window, but by a bald eagle flying by or seagulls teasing a goose. We did not realize it was so late when the sun stayed up past 10 p.m. during summer. We felt like we were in a different, relaxing, carefree world.