Originally published Saturday, July 26, 1997

By CECELIA GOODNOW
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Folks generally come here to escape big-city trappings. Perhaps the most prized amenities are privacy and the freedom to pursue happiness, in whatever form.

For seven years, Lee Ann Hobble, 40, a former congressional aide, lived in a tiny waterfront cottage and biked to work at Wyatt's Corner, a small but critically acclaimed mix of offices and apartments designed by her father, architect Bob Hobble, who lives upstairs with his wife, Norma.

Lee Ann Hobble, an interior designer, was forced to move a few months ago when her cottage was torn down to make way for waterfront development. But she still enjoys the total immersion in island life that was out of reach when she ferried to Seattle.

"I actually loved that commute," she said, "but didn't feel very connected to where I live."

Stephanie Delaney, 31, moved to Eagle Harbor three years ago seeking cheap, salt-water moorage for her 42-foot classic wood yacht. She lives on board and bicycles to work three days a week at Boeing's Plant 2, near Boeing Field, where she works as an environmental lawyer. She's also a part-time youth minister at St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

"I know all my neighbors. Everybody's really nice," said Delaney, whose neighbors include couples and homeschooling families. "During the snow at Christmas, we all got together and had a potluck. Even though I am a single woman living alone, I never feel any danger. First of all, it's Bainbridge, so there isn't any crime," she added, with only slight exaggeration.

Still, she says Bainbridge Island is definitely geared to families.

"This is the worst place in the world to be a single person," she said. "It's made me think of moving, but I like it and I am in the city enough."

Janine and David Buxton, both in their late 30s, moved to the island two years ago from West Seattle -- drawn specifically to the communal lifestyle of Bainbridge Island Cohousing in Winslow.

The Buxtons, parents of 6-year-old Tim, own their own home but share amenities with 29 other families, whose members range in age from 8 months to 84 years. The homes are clustered multiplexes, and families jointly own five acres with woods and a garden. There also is a Common House with industrial-sized kitchen, dining room, library and guest room.

"When we lived in West Seattle," Buxton said, "anytime I wanted to meet with people I had to call them up and check our Daytimers. But here when I go out the door, there's usually someone there."

She walks everywhere -- to the post office, to plays at Bainbridge Performing Arts, up the hill to the multiage Family Classroom Project, where Tim will start first grade.

"We sold one of our cars," she said, "because we never used it."

The lifestyle is more of a hassle for David, who commutes by ferry and bus to the parking division of the University of Washington. He's gone 13 hours a day -- sometimes more. But he's not complaining.

"It's time-consuming, obviously," he said sanguinely, "but I enjoy it a lot better than driving out I-5."Ê