There's a good chance that my husband's company will transfer him to another city this summer. Even though nothing is confirmed yet, I've started an informal house hunt while he's out of town. If nothing else, it'll kill a few hours after the kid is in bed, and will help me help our real estate agent.

We'll be staying in Ontario, somewhere in the Canadian Shield between Kingston and the Quebec border, within an hour or so of the great lake. That's a bit of a snowbelt in the winter, with temps into the 30s in the summer. No tornadoes, but thunderstorms and icestorms for sure. Only tiny tremors once in a while and no more nuke plants immediately next door. There are some major chemical plants like Dupont though, and the major provincial highway and railways are in the neighbourhood. We'll go as far North from them as is reasonable.

I think I'm looking forward to it. I'm working on my wish list. Any suggestions? If you were going to uproot and replant your family, what would you be looking for?

Ideally, we'd prefer to be rural not urban. There are lots of great little communities and farm land in the area and we're going to concentrate on those. We've got property out there but are nowhere near ready to build yet.

I'd like some land for my son to roam and for a big garden, a large pantry and storm/root celler, and I think I'd prefer a well to city water. Hydro and natural gas are absolute musts. I'd rather not see my neighbours, (either via distance or trees, preferably both) and a stream, river or pond would be an added bonus.

EDIT: I also want to be able to have rain and burn barrels, compost and a firepit, things strictly outlawed where we live now.

My hubby wants a garage, the bigger the better, and needs a high-speed internet conection.

My son wants trees big enough for a tree house, and cable tv or a satellite. He'd love to be bussed and I'd like him to go to school between home and my hubby's job, no more than a 20 min drive away.

Our daughter wants to be close enough for college and far away enough so my in-laws aren't popping in every day, and high-speed internet is a must for her just like her dad.

What's on your personal housing wish list?