I remember the moment i fell in love with calgary. It started when we left Winnipeg on a particularly frosty day in December 1969. My Dad had been transferred to Calgary and we were about to drive through a number of blizzards in the new company vehicle, a 1970 Dodge Charger alligator top convertible. Nothing says safety and practicality in winter like the Dodge Charger. I was quite young and all I remember thinking was that I had the whole backseat to myself. It was just big enough to hold my borderless imagination. Ten minutes outside of Winnipeg, I had already begun to repeatedly ask if we were there yet. I filled the time by colouring, flipping through my Dr. Seuss book collection, counting cows and playing eye spy with my little eye (until I’m sure my parents wished I lost my voice or my little eye). Not once did I get sleepy.

Then, there it was, the sign my parents were yearning for, ‘Welcome to Calgary’. It was a balmy 9 C that day. The blue December sky seemed to stretch on forever. It didn’t snow that year until mid-January. We stayed temporarily at the Carriage House Inn where we were treated like royalty. I think, in part, it was because of my Mom’s strong English accent, calling everyone ‘love’ and actually meaning it. Who wouldn’t roll out the red carpet for that? My parents liked the area so much they eventually found a rent-to-own in the south east community of Acadia (they bought the house the next year for $22,900). I remember the first time I saw the house. I happily chose my room and pictured myself careening down the steep driveway on my red tricycle. That was the moment I knew I had come home. The beautiful little bungalow held our love for 30 years. When my mom passed away nine years ago, we sold the house. I still drive by it every once in a while. It’s always good to remember your first love.

According to the 2009 Mercer Quality of Life Survey (which evaluates based on 39 factors), Calgary ranks 26 out of 420 world cities surveyed. We’re also one of the most diverse and interesting cities in Canada. Calgary has more days of sunshine than any other city in Canada (we even beat out Yuma, Arizona). Forbes magazine ranked Calgary as one of the cleanest cities in the world. If you like hiking, camping or winter sports just travel 80 km west and you and your hiking boots, axe or snowboard can all commune with rocks and trees. If you like dining out, attending festivals, joining up with friends at a cool bar, going to the theatre or attending a sports event, this is the city for it.

Trust me, if you get bored on a weekend, it’s you, not Calgary. Bike, walk, run, mosey, there are enough pathways here that a person could actually go missing for a year.

I wonder if the reason why we love a city is simply because of all the perks it has to offer. Shakespeare once wrote, “What is this city but the people?”

Calgary is made up of more than a million people divided into 180 distinct neighborhoods. Is it the land, the neighbourhoods or the people that ultimately create our love for a city? I’ve lived in many neighborhoods in Calgary and I’ve loved them all.

But more than ever, it’s not just the magnificence of this western city that I love, it’s the many people within it. I have to say without ‘my people’ the tumbleweeds in my landscape would be out of control.

I watch enough Project Runway to know that with the right clothes a person can look taller, slimmer and younger. If the fit is correct, it can make a body look stunning. The same principle holds true in our everyday lives. Where we live is about finding the right fit. If we have a good social life, strong values, work at a job we enjoy, and live in a city that works for us, then we’ll feel good.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow aptly stated, “I have an affection for a great city. I feel safe in the neighbourhood of man, and enjoy the sweet security of the streets.”

I spy with my little eye something that is home.

Jacqui Williamson is a REALTOR® and Certified Condominium Specialist with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. Prior to real estate, her broad sales experience, along with unique marketing strategies, led her into executive management positions and motivational training. To contact her, please call 403.245.0773 or visit www.jacquiwilliamson.com.