12 • The Upper Columbia Pioneer
THE PIONEER IS AVAILABLE AT OVER 130 VALLEY LOCATIONS
July 22, 2005
Real Answers for Real Estate Questions (250) 341-1495 Mark Smedstad
Second Homes
Debbie Grasza, upper left, and her kids Savannah and Steele share an Invermere second home with Linda King and her boys Dustin and Landon. By Adrian Bergles Pioneer Staff For the Grasza and King families, this is a place to get together, enjoy their kids, and get away from city life. The two Calgary families share a vacation home in the Wilder subdivision of Invermere. Debbie and her husband Chad Grasza have been coming to the valley for years. Chad’s grandpa, Carl Skowronek, owned a house here which the couple used to visit. Last October the Graszas were in Invermere and decided to take a drive past the old place. While they were in the neighborhood, they noticed a for sale sign on another house, knocked on the door and toured the house. When they got home, Chad gave his friends Paul and Linda King a call to see if they were interested in splitting the cost on a vacation home. The couples were next-door neighbours in Calgary ten years ago. After they were no longer living side-by side the couples remained close friends. Currently Chad, 35, and Paul, 40,
work together in Calgary for Cardel Custom Homes. Last weekend Linda, 38, a parttime registered nurse, and Debbie, 33, a part-time prenatal instructor, were in Invermere with their children while the men were working in Calgary. The time in the valley is important for the young families. “It’s good because we’re totally immersed in the kids,” says Debbie. She and Chad have a girl, Savannah, 4, and a boy, Steele, 2. Linda and Paul have two boys, Landon, 8, and Dustin, 6. Together the families enjoy local activities like going to Kinsmen Beach and local hot springs. The situation is somewhat unusual, but it works. “They’re the only ones we’d share a place with,” says Debbie. When it was time to redecorate, the couples took each other into consideration. “We have very different tastes,” says Debbie, “so we settled on a neutral theme.” The women estimate they’ll spend a month here this year but are hoping to spend more time in future.
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