The Wise Woman Project ~ April: Marney's Story, Heeding the Winds of Change

April 04, 2011

As I sit here getting ready to start my story, I am still perplexed as to why I have been asked to contribute to - and wonder how, I even come close to fitting in this category of “Wise Women”. Truthfully, I wonder how “wise” I am at times!

There have been many decisions made over the course of my life that I imagine had a few people shaking their heads – like the time my husband and I decided on a cold, windy and stormy Winnipeg, winter night, to quit our jobs, sell everything and move out west! We had taken a camping vacation to BC the previous June and even though it rained for 11 out of 14 days – and we camped in a two-man pup tent, it didn’t deter us from deciding BC would be our home! We had fallen in love with the mountains and trees and beautiful blue lakes and within 9 months (hmmm), a move, our new life and adventure – along with many ups and downs, began to take shape.

With a lot of excitement and a little bit of research, we jumped head first into buying a business in Nanaimo. Both my husband and I had experience in this particular field and for a few years, we did very well. Then the economy hit and as a result of a few not so great decisions, we crashed along with the economy – we pretty much lost it all. Many lean years of taking whatever jobs we could – and not being happy, had us once again searching for “that something” that we would both enjoy and be happy with – the reason we moved to BC in the first place.

Our searching took us on many a road trip! The weekends we had off together saw us hop in the car and drive until the gas tank went empty. We did almost every back road there was looking for the “right” place, but at the time, it just wasn’t there. On one of our road trips, we ended up in Tofino and the bright idea of building cabins for accommodation popped into my mind. I’m not so sure my husband was keen on the idea, but the idea just stuck with me and as a result, my “dream career” began to unfold.

We were still both working in Nanaimo when we decided to take a trip to The Kootenays to visit friends who had previously moved there. On a day trip, we drove to Nelson and immediately fell in love with the community! As the saying goes, sometimes things happen for a reason and because of a couple of circumstances – my boss decided to shut his business down and my husband injured himself at work, within a year, we were packing up and moving to “our cabin in the woods”. Once again the idea of building cabins resurfaced, so off we went, traveling the back roads.

Never having worked in the accommodation business, I managed to gain employment at a small motel, just to see how it would "fit". It was not easy switching from a desk job to a cleaning job, but within a few months, I knew I was doing exactly what I wanted to do. With 5 years under my belt, it was time to start looking for property once again. We had a list of requirements that we felt were essential to fulfilling “our dream”, but when we showed it to our real estate agent in Nelson, he immediately said “This property doesn’t exist”! I guess I didn’t hear him very well, because we just kept looking! The day that we headed towards Nakusp was one of those days that I had pretty much given up hope of ever finding that “perfect” place and I was sinking to an all time low – could the agent be right? We decided to call it a day and were heading back to Nelson when that “something” jumped off the page of the real estate flyer at us! We were already 20 minutes away when we turned the car around to check out a listing in Fauquier!

Talk about fate! The property, listed in the flyer, had no FOR SALE sign on the driveway and so we drove up and down the road a couple of times searching for it. Fortunately, there was a sign at the top of one driveway that said it was a B & B. Figuring the people there might be able to help (B&B people are always friendly!), we drove down to check it out. When we got to the bottom, a woman appeared from the house and after recognizing her home in the flyer, invited us in! Even though the house was what we affectionately called – “our funky hippie house”, it was love at first sight and I knew right there and then, this was the place I needed to be! That property “that didn’t exist” - really did!

A few months later, we purchased “our home”, sold our place in Nelson and started building our dream. It wasn’t easy and there was an endless amount of work, but at the end of the first year, our first cabin was built and An Inn for Two was born. At first, things were slow and we need to have outside jobs as well - just to pay the bills, but before long, the second cabin was under construction and our name started to become known. People from all around the world were discovering our little getaway and we were thrilled.

Life was good. No, it truly was wonderful and we were on our way to living our dream. Then, 7 years into our dream, my husband passed away. A new feeling of loss and emptiness, uncertainty and doubt emerged and I had to decide what I was to do. I faced a whole new challenge and I really didn’t know if I was up to it. But before he passed on, I remember my husband saying – “There is nothing here you can’t do”! With those words, I promised him – and myself, that I would not make any major decisions – particularly about moving, for a year. When I told a friend this, he said, “when that year is over, take 1 more” – so that is what I did. With the help of many wonderful neighbours and friends - as well as my own stubbornness and determination, 4 years later, I am still on this wonderful piece of land I call home.

There is now a new special someone in my life and I hear the winds calling my name again, but they are still in the distance and until they reach me once more, I will continue to live my dream and remain on the land that I love so much and which is such a part of me.


1. What are the three things you most cherish?
The years I had with my husband.
My family, friends and my new special someone!
Where I live, the beauty that surrounds me, and the time to enjoy it.

2, If you could give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be?
You don’t necessarily need to “do it all” – you just need to do what’s best for you, so listen to your heart, trust your instincts, follow your dreams and when you feel “right” about something – go for it!

3, What are you most proud of when it comes to your life?
An Inn for Two



Bio: Born and raise in Winnipeg, then a move to Vancouver Island, followed by a move to Nelson and then the little town of Fauquier.



To visit Marney’s romantic cabins in the woods check out her website: http://www.innfortwo.com/