The early afternoon was sunny and warm as I arrived on Granville Island for a business meeting. The day stretched before me fertile with possibilities.

I thought back on my history of international travel and the spirit of adventure that had always accompanied me. I intentionally connected with the familiar sense of curiosity and wonder as I set out for an afternoon of exploration.
The walk along the water was magnificent and I could feel the excitement and anticipation building as I rounded a corner into a narrow roadway to find a shop full of imported treasures. The shop owner, a vibrant woman with a personality and sense of creativity that was as colourful as her exotic clothing, welcomed me.
We connected as I drank in the sensual delights of her shop – the rich colours, beautiful designs, exotic scents and the feel of the richly woven textiles. We were alone together as we travelled through the shop and casually shared our stories – her path from a high-powered professional to an importer designer, and mine through the joys and sorrows of the past year.
Our connection was full of life and there was a sense of time suspended as we shared these precious minutes together. I made a purchase of a gift for my daughter and she added a gift of her own to the small package. I said goodbye and wandered off down the street.
Hours later, the shadows were getting longer and my body reminded me that it was mealtime. As I explored the various establishments that I walked past, as options for dinner, I ended up back at the hotel and stood waiting to be seated.
Standing in front of me was the most-interesting shopkeeper from earlier in the day. I invited her to dinner and she responded by asking me to join her and her husband for dinner as he was about to arrive to meet her. I agreed, although my business colleagues had arrived and were assembled in the restaurant.
We sat, ordered wine and appetizers and continued our visit. She spoke of her travels, her grown children and we connected on common interests. Her vibrant husband arrived and bounded to the table, late for dinner and obviously relieved that his wife had found an entertaining diversion. He enthusiastically connected to us and began sharing the stories of his day.
As we proceeded through our wonderful meal and wide-ranging conversation, I revelled in their energy. A long-standing couple, they opened their arms to welcome the single newcomer.
Embraced by their feisty love, acceptance and sense of well-being, I was able to bring my whole self to the connection and perhaps add some new energy and excitement to their experience of each other.
Mine were new ears to bring to well-worn stories, and with fresh heart-led questions from me, they found stories and insights they had rarely shared with each other. The spark of new beginnings and inherent instability of “the threesome” kept the energy moving.
When I rejoined my business colleagues the next morning, they remarked on the laughter and connection they had observed at the table where I was having dinner with my “old friends” the evening prior.
I think of how much time we spend as two or four in our ever-so-compartmentalized society and how we close off wonderfully generative opportunities to share, learn and grow. I invite you to mix singles and couples, young and old in your social groups to experience the joy of diversity and lively encounters.
As we move from stranger to friend in newly found relationships, we experience the awe related to the “love of a stranger” based in our common humanity and a purely human curiosity about others sharing our planet and intersections in life.
I wish for you the golden wish of an everyday sense of adventure, openness to fabulous threesome experiences and many joyful hours of taking pleasure in a world of human connections with strangers who are not yet friends.

Gaye Hanson is president of Chrysalis Human Development. As an Aboriginal nurse, consultant and spirit-led helper, she supports people in finding peace and balance. She may be reached at 633-6753 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .