Jules Europe

They certainly are routine things, but don`t you regard yourself as a European?

I might lag as well because I am about to start the second half against Germany on my XBOX.

montreal mike

chumley .. i am really curious as to why you 'absolutely loath the uk'.

dbd33

That's not a simple question to answer. In short, not any more. I suppose now I'm an almost American. My partner's American, though she'd like to be in Scotland. Two of my three children will eventually be Americans. One child will move "back" to Switzerland but not from choice, just because the healthcare is better there than here. I'd prefer to end my days within grasp of a pint of Young's, but we'll see where the force of history takes us.

Jules Europe

If your partner is American and you almost feel American, why don`t you move to America? Or have you got personal reasons for being in Canada such as work, lifestyle or other commitments that maybe stop you moving away?

lof

i hope you know what you are talking about... if health care (assuming you are talking about getting it and not working as a health care pro) is the only reason to move to switzerland (which canton?) i personally would think twice about it.

dbd33

Work.

BristolUK

This is true.
But sometimes a change of province is a good alternative. We can move from NB to NS and save 80% (currently $280 of $350 a month) of our prescriptions bill and we plan to do that next year.

Jules Europe

So work keeps you there in Canada. Out of interest if you were offered a similiar job in the USA would you take it? As I imagine in many respects the lifestyle and climate from the sun belt up to the Canadian border is probably not too different from the lifestyle that you have in Canada now. Also if healthcare is dodgy in Canada where do Canadian retirees like to go?

dbd33

Fribourg.

Is there some particular reason why you think an autistic person, given citizenship of both countries, would be better off in Ontario?

JonboyE

Maybe not a parallel universe, but Amersham is about as far as you can get from the social problems that beset many parts of England.

You are lucky to live in such a good place, but not many have that fortune. I am not for one moment saying that the idyllic life you describe is not real. I used to live over the hill in Berkhamsted so I know enough people in your position. However, the grim life of living amongst grinding poverty and social decay of some parts of the UK is equally real and it is understandable that many people who can escape that will want to do so.

My qualification for this comment is that I was born and brought up in a North Eastern pit village where the pit closed down. I've seen my fair share of social decay in the UK. Again, I am not saying that grinding poverty and social decay doesn't exist in Canada, because it does. But, the British immigrant is, almost by definition, going to be someone with readily employable skills so they are unlikely to see this side of Canada except through a car window.

dbd33 often says that one of the great advantages for Brits emigrating to Canada is the one off boost in wealth they get with the exchange rate. It means they can live in a much more prosperous area here than they would ever be able to afford back in the UK. There is a lot of truth in this.

dbd33

Typically Canadian retirees spend half of the year (less a day) in the US. They want warmth and to retain their state funded healthcare.

I don't see that there's any difference in ordinary life between the US and Canada so, sure, if all things were equal I'd be in Alabama.

Jules Europe

Think you will find most people coming from a European country who are home owners will get that one off boost when moving to North America. Only issue today though, seems to be the housing crisis in the UK and the gradual downward movement of the pound in relation to other currencies.

montreal mike

Many head south to florida for 4 months but at the first sign of trouble will hop on a jet and head home to use quebec medicare and / or their private health plans. Health care in the US can cripple one financially

Jules Europe

Alabama would certainly give you a warm climate. Noticed by chance not too long ago, that Alabama was being promoted as some kind of retirement haven for retirees etc with things like the building of golf courses etc and affordable property. Seems like they are trying to compete with both Florida and Texas to attract retirees.

Jules Europe

When I worked in South America it was full of American retirees who often told me, that they were there mostly for the private health care, as it was a fraction of the price that they had to pay in the USA. Also found out that nearly all the Doctors were US trained anyway. So same health
care at a fraction of the price.