Ever since I was a child, my parents vacationed at Birch Bay. When Patty and I were married, we continued that tradition with my parents. We would stay in the Edgewater cabins, and later, in travel trailers.

In 1989, we decided we loved the place so much, we ought to get a place there instead of renting a cabin or staying in a trailer.  We rode our bikes around all week looking at places for sale and were getting a bit depressed.  On the last day we were there, we rode down a street we had not tried before, Morgan Drive, and there was a place newly on the market. As soon as we saw it, we knew it was the place for us.

4919 Morgan Drive is a 1940s two story 700 square foot house on a 7,600 square foot lot overlooking Birch Bay. It has 400 square feet on the first floor and 300 square feet on the second floor. The house was moved to Birch Bay from Main Street in Lynden shortly before we bought it.

We originally called it The Last Resort, but it was named the Crab Palace by our friends Bill and El. You can probably guess what Patty has selected as the interior decorating motif!  Colorful wooden crabs from Costa Rica, crab knobs on all the drawers, stuffed animal crabs, a crab painting, you get the idea!

We used to spend a lot more time at Birch Bay before we discovered boating!  But we still spend a lot of time there, and it is our sanity. The sun feels warmer sitting on our deck enjoying the water view at Birch Bay. We have a great terracotta fire pot on the deck, and we love sitting around a fire in the evenings with a glass of wine.  We love digging clams at the State Park, and during the short season going out and chasing the elusive crab.

We plan to retire to Birch Bay, and probably add a small addition - we need a little more space, an updated bathroom, a laundry room and a den.  But it is good to know were we will be in our old age!