<>This was definitely NOT your local Motel 6. On a recent visit to
Tofino (on Vancouver Island), I spent 3 days at the local hostel, a beautiful guesthouse perched on a point overlooking the harbour. I was a bit worried before I arrived that I would be alone in a sea of 17-year-old surfers (it was spring break), but I was happily surprised to bump into travellers of all ages, from young parents with infants to grandparents on a photography excursion.

<>Instant friendships were formed in the large dining room, as several of us watched a river otter diving off a nearby dock, and laughed at two teenagers who insisted on diving into the freezing ocean on a bet.

The big kitchen encouraged conversations about sea kayaking and trip plans. And, despite my sore back from a slightly spongy bunk bed mattress, I loved being in the midst of all the activity (wetsuits sluiced off and hung to dry in the garage, pasta simmering on the stove, card games beside the fireplace).

So, I wonder: is privacy really as important to me as I used to believe? After evolving from the bustle of communal living to renting my own apartment and booking private hotel rooms on vacation, I’m starting to remember the hidden benefits of spending time with friendly strangers.

I guess the big challenge will come after spending more than a few days in shared living while on the road, when my grumpy factor starts to win out and I begin to growl when folks interrupt my nap time.