I hate the winters too but we are pretty awesome!!
We should have a Vancouver meet up! It's a great city to party in.
I love Vancouver Island too. We did a whale watching trip a few years ago up the coast out of Tofino and you hiked about a mile in the rain forest to come upon some naturally occurring hot springs. Got to sit there with a bunch of naked, European tourists overlooking the Pacific!
Woot....you ever surfed Long Beach??