Novocastrian

You meant days when it doesn't rain, surely?

Greenhill

I think he meant this:

Oink's % level of daily happiness = (50 - mm rain forecast) + (50 - |(25 - °C temperature forecast)| )

Simon Legree

Probably a lot to do with when he can and can't go fishing !

CanadaJimmy

My father-in-law actually plans to retire there, your dollar goes much further there than in other parts of the country, plus he has family there so that's a big part of it.

Howefamily

I love that Halifax is right up there!

ArthurBrit

There is a problem with this. Old people in Winnipeg become hermits.

It is not a reflection on old people, more just that it's too cold for 4 months so if you don't have some physical strength/confidence to deal with winters (I.E. go out/shovel/shopping) then what ends up happening is the older generation sit in their homes and slowly wilt away.

I know this is a depressing post but there is a lot of truth in it.

iaink

Are they not living there in order to save enough pennies to be able to bugger off South for 5 months, which is AFAIK the normal canadian working mans dream...

ArthurBrit

Only the affluent.

Not too many of these in Winnipeg.

iaink

Ive a buddy who is lucky to make $30k a year, and he gets back from Florida the end of this month... You dont necessarily have to be affluent. Flatulent perhaps, but not affluent:

ArthurBrit

I haven't seen too many, I've heard of them.

Most of the older generation I see live in some kind of retirement home with their peers so that they can at least get to bingo without slipping in the snow.

Co-incedently there have been the few that are still living in thier own house at ages 80-90 clearing their own snow and maintaining their yards in summer.

Either way I wouldn't want to retire to Winnipeg.

Former Lancastrian

Once you reach that magic age of 70 then insurance costs for travel become very expensive. Lots of snowbirds have stopped going south due to this.
Im pretty sure some just wing it and hope they dont fall ill or injure themselves.
For shits and giggles at work we sometimes have a pool to see who can guess the amount of wheelchairs needed for the Phoenix and Palm Springs flights.

iaink

Me neither. Makes no sense to me to retire to somewhere you dont know anyone and leave a lifetime of friends and acquantances behind.

My ex neighbour stayed in her own place until she was just shy of 100. She only gave it up once her sight didnt allow her to drive any more.

Shes now 104, and going strong, living in the village. Sadly though shes lost most of her sight and hearing now. A wonderful old lady though, a font of local history. One of the few that remembers WWI, having lost one brother in it, and the traction engine (now at the local museum) ploding its way up to the logging camps over three days back in the days before cars were common, and then back again in the summer to do the threshing.

Times have changed!

iaink

True enough, although provincial coverage covers some of the expenses if the worst happens.

Mind you, another buddy had a coronary down there and needed a quad bypass. Cost his insurance company $400k, after they negotiated it down some Some of that was the medivac back to Ontario.

Almost Canadian

That's some memory she has

lf1

Yes, there is a lot of truth in it. I had a relative who didn't drive and ended up spending most of her time in her house in Calgary. The winters can be very isolating depending on your ability/willingness to drive and get out and meet with others. Deep down I always knew that I did not want to be old in Calgary, but I am sure it works just fine for some.