Vancouver resident Anne Bruinn found hers in a tiny “Hobbit Hole” her husband built in their backyard in their Dunbar neighborhood, complete with a grass roof and round door, and now she wants to share it. It opens the doors to the Hobbit hole for anyone who needs an hour or two to study, sleep, meditate or even cry. The bright yellow Hobbit hole, which Bruin also calls her “shed,” is eight feet by six feet with a comfortable chair, small fireplace heater, and porthole windows. There’s an extension cord for power and a plate of cookies Bruinn baked on the doorstep. Bruinn says she considers herself “the luckiest girl in the world”, happy with her family of two children and three dogs. But sometimes a little space is needed, even if it’s only about 50 square feet. “I just needed an hour to myself, whether I want to read or listen to music, just uninterrupted. An hour is all I need, but I had nowhere to go,” says Bruinn. So her husband spent two weeks building the Hobbit Hole. “In her shed, I like to play Scrabble on my phone. That makes me happy. I write books that no one reads,” Bruinn says with a laugh. But Bruinn doesn’t always need the space, so she welcomes anyone else who does, though only for a few hours at a time since there’s no restroom. The rules are simple – no smoking, vaping or drugs. Bookings can be made via the Hobbit Hole website, So what does Bruinn want from her guests in return? He says a “cool branch” may be enough. Or a flower. Or a painted rock. “Please show me a card trick or teach me some dance moves,” says Bruinn. “I’m open to anything. Give me something from your heart.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 3, 2022. This story was produced with financial assistance from Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.
