Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

[QUOTE=SharonMcCormick]

2. The weather seems to be a factor in may peoples 'issues' with Canada

QUOTE]

Good clothes tend to sort out the problems with the weather. I've been commuting in -20 this week, and as I have a nice lovely down coat, the temperature hasn't been a problem, even when I've been standing at a bus stop waiting for a bus.

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

I think its a lot to do with reduced Stress too. Thats probably related to not living on top of your neighbours in some part, bit I think Canada is more laid back than the UK, with less of a rat race. Poeple are more polite and have time and inclination to talk to strangers. Could just be that I live semi rural though, as Im sure the rat race is there in the cities.

Weather is one thing you can get used to. Places like the Okanagan have "nice" weather, but without major industry i would be a bit stuck for reasonable paying work, and the real key to a nice life in Canada is having a job that pays reasonably well so you can enjoy it. I can live with the weather in Ontario, Coastal BC is too wet for me (too like the UK:)) Chinooks in Calgary would drive me insane fairly quickly. Praries are just too cold for too long, and the maritimes get too many heavy snow dumps for me.But thats only my personal preference, Your millage may vary!

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

[QUOTE=Sarah Farrand]
Me too, thing I can't understand is keeping the coat hat on once your on the bus. I take mine of just draped over shoulders for the door open blast.. But have something to do with it being an older bus and being first on get a back seat whih is heated. :D

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

lol

damn....these questions REALLY make me think!!!

Really bad to me means really restrictive....for example when it rains, I cant put the washing out to dry. When its snowing/icy, driving is difficult (hence higher insurance???)

At the end of the day, I dont want to spend most of my time wrapping up cause I LOVE the heat - but not enough to move somewhere where you need a siesta every afternoon cause the weather knocks you out.

I actually love the snow and know I'd have great fun - but too much of a good thing isnt good and Im a great believer of 'everything in moderation'. I think thats why us Brits have such a hang up over the weather - theres never much of anything is there??

Is that any more specific??? ;o)

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Well you dont hang out your laundry at minus 30 either - so does that count?
Its not a problem.

The higher insurance isnt because of the snow/ice (in my opinion) and driving isnt that hard in the snow/ice. The higher insurance is because so many people drive like morons. It was actually safer in the worst of our weather as everybody was very careful and very polite.

It seems the most common type of car accident here is driving into the back of the car in front - the cause of these - driving too close!

Mrs G

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Hmmm. Several weeks in a row of daily MAX temperatures below -15. Is that restrictive? Is it worth it for several months in a row of 25+ weather? Its generally pretty sunny here though (at least in SE Ontario)

Its easy to moan about a cold spell, but without it I wouldnt be able to skate in my back yard, which is kind of fun. Havent done it this week though cos by the time Im home from work its below -20, and no matter how you wrap up, more than 20 minutes out there and you know about it. Restrictive is a relative term I guess. Certainly not hanging washing out in this, you would have to chip the ice off.

Have you considered Australia? serioulsy, canada is a country of contrasting weather, you certainly get the full force of all 4 seasons here, and sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth.

The higher insurance may be partly to do with an increased chance of a "no fault" accident, but mainly is because of the legal and medical liability costs that can be incurred in an accident here. If you are unfortunate enough to maim a Lawyer here, you could easily be sued for $20M+ in lost earnings etc, and insurance companies are offseting those costs into the premiums.

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Ok, I asked for the washing on the line gag...! :rolleyes:

In respect of Australia - we have thought about that but to be completely honest - and Im slightly embarassed to admit it, but I couldnt bare the spiders..! My friends just emigrated there and I asked her to tell me all about them, and it cememted my decision.....its just not going to happen!

BTW, can you clarify just how long the seasons last...?

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

from april till october it is beautifull......july and august it gets a bit hot and humid but not like florida.......november and march and early december it is very cold..........jan and feb and early march are "FUGGIN BRUTAL COLD".......there has NEVER EVER been a day I could remember in the UK that comes close to being as cold as the winters here........now that is the East I am talking about but I have no idea about the west.....it's gonna be warm next week wher I am it may get to 0.......but do you know what "it's a dry cold"....lmfao......just like arizona at 115 degrees is a "dry heat" ......fuggin dry heat

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Yes, I noticed the large section in the rough guide on things that can kill you. In Canada its just Grizzly and Polar bears..but there is the odd blackwidow out West, and a rare and elusive Rattlesnake somewhere. Not worth worrying about though, you dont check your slippers before putting them on. Mossies can be annoying, but BC is free of them.

Seasons In Ontario...

Spring...about a month, 2 tops! March is still Winter, April is changable, May is a mixed bag..can have snow at the beginning, have had 30+C at the end

Summer. Sunny from late May on, Golf season starts. Nice in June, hot in July Aug. Lakes swimmable usually Mid July to Late August. September cooling down, but pleasant enough

Fall. Late Sept, October November. Cooler, nice, Trees reach peak colour around Thanksgiving (Mid Oct)

Winter
Cooler in Nov...can be freezing for Halloween, but variable. First real snow is in December, usually a white Xmas, but not always. Jan..been -20 a while now! Feb...cold, March...wet snow..no fun to shovel but the end is in sight!
April, like UK winter, cool and wet, but with the odd nice day to give you hope.

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

ok, I'm beginning to get the drift (no pun intended....honest!).

So East is TOO cold, West can be too wet, Ontario sounds 'safe' ground....yes?

In the big scheme of things, do you really think the weather is a 'deal breaker' or not? I mean, if Canada has what we want, but the downside is the extreme weather - is that enough of a reason not to want to come?

Have anyone ever heard of anyone go back to the UK just because of the weather?

Ice-skating in the back garden sounds like fun! :D

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

ontario is in the east.......I guess you have to ask youself "are you HAPPY".........if your not happy then why are you not happy.......and can Canada give you that happyness.........do you like bigger cars and houses and WIDE open spaces......Canada is very clean compared to the UK....but many places you just can't pop out for a walk to the shops or a pub......I would guess the standard of living is similar to the UK but in general house prices are cheaper....insurance is more......can you say to yourself I will leave my friends and family for ever......most Canadien people I have met are nice but they are NOT English people and before I get any flack for that I just mean the culture is different and the sense of humor is also........if you can stand the winters then I would imagine the rest of the weather you would like........just again I recon the questions you need to ask is "am I happy" if not "will Canada give me happyness".........EVERY HUMAN on the face of this earth wants "HAPPYNESS" over anything else........some say they want money but it is happyness that they feel money will give them........belive me MONEY does NOT bring you happyness.....it is the relationship will fellow human beings that brings happyness.....good luck

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

I'm sure there are many who dont like the weather once they experience it full time, but until you experience it there is no way to know if its a deal breaker. I bet those who return home cos of it never saw it as a deal breaker before it happened.

FWIW the East isnt too cold, if anything its warmer than ontario, but as its close to the atlantic it get more snow in big dumps. Weather isnt a deal breaker for me, I enjoy the contrasting seasons, but everyone is different.

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

Unless of course you live in BC. Dampness rules here! I like the rain (I didn't realise quite how much until I moved here - handy that! ;) ) but even this amount we've had this month is getting me a bit peeved - and there is NO SNOW left on the mountains :(

Clare

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

You really should try to visit and make your own conclusions.....it is cold in the winter and can be very hot in the summer and rainy in parts of BC and right now it is cold in Nova scotia but we know it won't last....just another day or so!

Re: How do you cope with the cold weather
 

CHEERS! At last someone who sees it like I do! I've lived in Canada for 43 years now and I personally cannot stand the cold. :mad: