Six years and done
Aug 5th 2017, 1:46 am
#61
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: Six years and done
Canada has so many toys.. we live in Cottage Country and it's pretty much the par here. I'm not sure it is a keeping up with the Jones thing though, it's just the variance of the landscape and weather which has generated it. As for how people finance it I have never asked so couldn't comment.
Aug 5th 2017, 1:56 am
#62
I need a walk
Joined: Mar 2014
Location: Okanagan
Posts: 4,899
Re: Six years and done
Judging by these latest comments then the OP may well have chosen badly province wise, he should have headed West to the promised land 
Aug 5th 2017, 1:59 am
#63
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 516
Re: Six years and done
I think that you will find that anywhere in the world- well, maybe not Ethiopia- just different toys depending where you live. Keeping up with the Jones is an expression derived from the UK which does imply that it does frequently happen in the Uk. Worse in Canada? I'm not so sure about that.
Aug 5th 2017, 2:02 am
#64
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 516
Re: Six years and done
Canada has so many toys.. we live in Cottage Country and it's pretty much the par here. I'm not sure it is a keeping up with the Jones thing though, it's just the variance of the landscape and weather which has generated it. As for how people finance it I have never asked so couldn't comment.
Aug 5th 2017, 2:10 am
#65
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Six years and done
Well, Southern Ontario is the armpit of Canada. Toronto is, effectively, a mid-size American rust belt city just with a more vibrant financial services sector and a bit more diversity. "Centre of the universe" it is not.
I would encourage you to give another region in Canada a look before going back to the UK. By that - I don't mean another suburb in Toronto or the Golden Horseshoe. Don't default into Vancouver just because so many English-speaking expats decide that Canada is Toronto, Vancouver or bust.
The prairies are underrated, as are places like Calgary and St John's. Montreal is one of the world's greatest cities - but unless you can speak French you will be unable to access that part of it. If your profession will allow it - look at even smaller towns than Winnipeg or Halifax.
Montreal and Vancouver are two of the world's great cities . . . Toronto is not. Canada is not a country for urban-philes. I would advise to look at places where you can have a lifestyle change to something more outdoorsy (this is why Canadians have all those "toys"), and perhaps you will have a different outcome.
But if it's really not working . . . go back to the UK.
I would encourage you to give another region in Canada a look before going back to the UK. By that - I don't mean another suburb in Toronto or the Golden Horseshoe. Don't default into Vancouver just because so many English-speaking expats decide that Canada is Toronto, Vancouver or bust.
The prairies are underrated, as are places like Calgary and St John's. Montreal is one of the world's greatest cities - but unless you can speak French you will be unable to access that part of it. If your profession will allow it - look at even smaller towns than Winnipeg or Halifax.
Montreal and Vancouver are two of the world's great cities . . . Toronto is not. Canada is not a country for urban-philes. I would advise to look at places where you can have a lifestyle change to something more outdoorsy (this is why Canadians have all those "toys"), and perhaps you will have a different outcome.
But if it's really not working . . . go back to the UK.
Aug 5th 2017, 5:36 am
#66
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: Six years and done
We moved to Canada 6 years ago. I have a very well paid job, we have a great home, and live in a nice area, but we are done with Canada...or more specifically Canadians. I've met people who moved here 30 years ago, raised a family etc and still struggle socially.
The nicest thing I can say about Canadians is that they are polite (until they get behind the wheel of their financed SUV).
I live for my long weekends back in the UK where you can have a real conversation. Canadians are dull as dishwater.
If you are thinking of coming, take it from someone who believed 100% that the grass was greener...it isn't. Family, friends and a country populated by people capable of intelligent conversation is worth more than a MacMansion and a shiny new SUV.
The nicest thing I can say about Canadians is that they are polite (until they get behind the wheel of their financed SUV).
I live for my long weekends back in the UK where you can have a real conversation. Canadians are dull as dishwater.
If you are thinking of coming, take it from someone who believed 100% that the grass was greener...it isn't. Family, friends and a country populated by people capable of intelligent conversation is worth more than a MacMansion and a shiny new SUV.
Last edited by Oink; Aug 5th 2017 at 6:10 am.
Aug 5th 2017, 6:50 am
#67
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Six years and done
Barrie has changed a fair bit since then. Population has quadrupled for starters! However, it is an odd mix of rednecks, breading commuter types and well-healed middle class. It will improve as the new express trainline is completed. Aesthetically speaking it is streets ahead of most dormitory towns, or places like Hamilton, but it is still lagging a bit in the stock of humans able to converse about topics beyond the borders of Simcoe county.
Aug 5th 2017, 2:51 pm
#68
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 516
Re: Six years and done
So true (although I never had a problem with Morrisons).
Aug 5th 2017, 3:11 pm
#69
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 3,263
Re: Six years and done
In Gibraltar there is only one supermarket: Morrisons.
Aug 5th 2017, 3:26 pm
#71
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2012
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 3,263
Re: Six years and done
Just spent a week there and loved every minute but I have relatives there and we went to Spain a few times. Sorry thread drift!
Aug 5th 2017, 7:15 pm
#72
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Six years and done
I've been through the prairies and frankly, I don't see what people see in that region. I just saw flat, boring landscape with not much visual appeal.
Calgary is okay, and I didn't mind Edmonton when I lived there, but for SK and MB, I don't think I could live in either, just not appealing at all. I would give Calgary a go again, but last I checked rents were still pretty high.
Calgary is okay, and I didn't mind Edmonton when I lived there, but for SK and MB, I don't think I could live in either, just not appealing at all. I would give Calgary a go again, but last I checked rents were still pretty high.
Well, Southern Ontario is the armpit of Canada. Toronto is, effectively, a mid-size American rust belt city just with a more vibrant financial services sector and a bit more diversity. "Centre of the universe" it is not.
I would encourage you to give another region in Canada a look before going back to the UK. By that - I don't mean another suburb in Toronto or the Golden Horseshoe. Don't default into Vancouver just because so many English-speaking expats decide that Canada is Toronto, Vancouver or bust.
The prairies are underrated, as are places like Calgary and St John's. Montreal is one of the world's greatest cities - but unless you can speak French you will be unable to access that part of it. If your profession will allow it - look at even smaller towns than Winnipeg or Halifax.
Montreal and Vancouver are two of the world's great cities . . . Toronto is not. Canada is not a country for urban-philes. I would advise to look at places where you can have a lifestyle change to something more outdoorsy (this is why Canadians have all those "toys"), and perhaps you will have a different outcome.
But if it's really not working . . . go back to the UK.
I would encourage you to give another region in Canada a look before going back to the UK. By that - I don't mean another suburb in Toronto or the Golden Horseshoe. Don't default into Vancouver just because so many English-speaking expats decide that Canada is Toronto, Vancouver or bust.
The prairies are underrated, as are places like Calgary and St John's. Montreal is one of the world's greatest cities - but unless you can speak French you will be unable to access that part of it. If your profession will allow it - look at even smaller towns than Winnipeg or Halifax.
Montreal and Vancouver are two of the world's great cities . . . Toronto is not. Canada is not a country for urban-philes. I would advise to look at places where you can have a lifestyle change to something more outdoorsy (this is why Canadians have all those "toys"), and perhaps you will have a different outcome.
But if it's really not working . . . go back to the UK.
Aug 5th 2017, 7:21 pm
#73
I need a walk
Joined: Mar 2014
Location: Okanagan
Posts: 4,899
Re: Six years and done
I've been through the prairies and frankly, I don't see what people see in that region. I just saw flat, boring landscape with not much visual appeal.
Calgary is okay, and I didn't mind Edmonton when I lived there, but for SK and MB, I don't think I could live in either, just not appealing at all. I would give Calgary a go again, but last I checked rents were still pretty high.
Calgary is okay, and I didn't mind Edmonton when I lived there, but for SK and MB, I don't think I could live in either, just not appealing at all. I would give Calgary a go again, but last I checked rents were still pretty high.
Aug 5th 2017, 10:39 pm
#74
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,851