Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 13/00) - Holding down full-time jobs apparently isn't enough to keep Paul and Tanya Smith occupied.

So, when the house of their dreams went on the market in Iqaluit, they snatched it up and turned it into a profitable business venture.

Thus was born the Crazy Caribou, a bed and breakfast with a panoramic view of Frobisher Bay.

"This was a really great way to find out if we liked it, if we liked having people in our house, if we were suited to it or not. We find it's a lot of fun and we love it," said Tanya, who does the baking and decorated the four-bedroom facility.

Her spouse, business partner and breakfast cook, Paul, readily agreed.

"It's a dream come true," he said.

"And it also feeds into what we want to do in the future, have a bigger place with cabins and gardens."

That said, what exactly is it that the happy young couple likes so much about the B&B business?

Besides allowing them ample time to play at some of their favourite hobbies as a way of making a living, they said that since opening their B&B in February of 1998, they have had the opportunity to meet hordes of interesting people.

"That's probably the most fun part. Every week, we have no idea who's coming. Afterwards, we always say, 'Wow, was that ever fun,'" said Tanya.

"A lot of it is just visiting with people, making people feel welcome, talking to them about the area, answering a lot of questions. It's fun, but it does take time," she added.

As for the challenges the Smiths face in running the Crazy Caribou, the pair admit that juggling careers sometimes proves difficult.

"You want to give this everything you've got. It's a bit of a challenge to make everything work. That's the hardest part," said Tanya.

Remarking that the work was not an imposition, the pair said the nature of the business means that an empty house is just around the corner. That, they said, gives them the opportunity to enjoy their own space before turning it over to a new crew of visitors.

And moving in is exactly what the proprietors encourage.

Decorated in bright colours, with wood and plants aplenty, Paul and Tanya said their goal is to provide a service that welcomes guests and makes them want to spend time in front of the establishment's fireplace.

"We invite people to use the common area and anybody can come and read by the fireplace or watch TV. We've had people lie on the couch and read, and they take advantage of the jacuzzi and sauna," said Tanya.