Victoria. I ride my bike with my fishing rod everywhere, especially like going the wrong way down Douglas and running red lights. Once my buddy Trudeau approves opioid vending machines en mass we will be rocking
In all seriousness, biking is super great in Victoria and getting a few people out of cars speeds up vehicle traffic, which has been way better since the vid and Mackenzie interchange is now working. It’s all relative, I remember getting half out of my Truck with road rage in Vancouver 20 years ago and realizing I better move and start listening to less rock and rap while driving. The traffic wasn’t the problem I was.
Finding nice homes, in good locations with good boat parking isn’t easy anywhere on the island, so I wouldn’t get too hung up on location, but pick a few and then look for the best house/neighbourhood where your kicker and downrigger or whole boat has less chance of being ripped off. It took me 6 months in Saanich and I have to park my camper off site or bastardize front lawn but 30 feet of Boat trailer Fits nicely. A member just had 100k offered to him after he had an accepted offer on a nice place. Crazy with 10% unemployment, but unless you want a reno project, not a lot of great places out there.
One that may not have been mentioned is Royston, not great for bottom fish? but good access to Nootka, Bamfield.
Don’t know what kinda 8’6 boat you are getting but if you can access the Gulf islands or Desolation for overnight and cruising may be a good backup activity during continued dfo closures. Gulf islands has good pubs and Restaurants to visit by boat.
Good shoes to be in cashing out of Van.