cov-canuck

I was surprised by this list...it apparently takes into account costs including housing, food, clothing, transportation and entertainment.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/21/pf/c...ties/index.htm

So...where my husband and I currently live/work is number 47, and the place we're planning to go is 122...that could be interesting...

Souvenir

It doesn't surprise me that Ottawa is so far down the list. It's pretty small, so transportation costs are never going to be a major issue, and it's not exactly the entertainment capital of the world. If the north shore were to be included, Ottawa would drop off the list altogether.

cov-canuck

Probably very true. The size of Ottawa is one of its appeals to us (that and the IT industry, not to mention about 20 relatives).

nivlad

I love Ottawa, if you need a bit more excitement all you have to do is go over to Hull

Souvenir

Can you tell me where all this excitement is please? I have been living in north Gatineau since last September and I've yet to find anything even remotely exciting. I need to make some friends (in ten months, I haven't had a conversation with anyone other than family, people in shops and building contractors - sad innit?).

dbd33

I played in a pool tournament in Hull. The hall was next to a strip joint but then everything in Hull seemed to be. I was offered a sexual service if I made a particular shot which was something I found to be remotely exciting. It was, in fact, the highlight of my year in the NCR.

cov-canuck

The question remains...did you make the shot?

dbd33

Eight foot table. Eight ball, dead on rail at one end of table. Cue ball about where the D would be if there was a D on a pool table. I called it in, under my left elbow. Eight ball off rail like a rocket, dead centre of pocket, wham.

Would have been great if the cue ball hadn't then fallen in.

iaink

I can still sense your dissapointment. The passing of the years doesnt seem to have eased the pain in this case

Souvenir

I'm no novice on the pool table. Can you remember the name of the bar?

dbd33

Oh no. I used to play very often at the RA and one day I was recruited for a team. We played in all sorts of dives in Hull. More recently that Newfie woman won us some money in an upstairs bar in the Byward Market, it ought to be easy enough to find the bar with a table there.

nivlad

hi Souvenir, when I was last in Hull it seemed like a very party place, lots of bars, lots of people drinking and having fun (not fighting like back here). There was also a number of bands playing outside pubs.

By the way your aren't sad, I found it difficultish to make friends in Canada, it takes time.

ClareBC

I am really suprised that Toronto is more expensive than Vancouver! Vancouver has incredibly high housing costs, which I would have thought would have brought it higher up the list.

Clare

ksct97

we've been in montreal since last september, and making friends isn't easy. I have my work buddies who on the whole were like me and moved to montreal recently after a relocation, and my wife has made some friends via toddler classes and such. We've also met people in our building, and can consider one or two of them as real friends
only advice i can put forth is, put yourself forward and try out things... you have to go out and meet people, they won't be knocking on your door (unless it's the local JW group!)

Souvenir

I'd love to know where this fabled bar area of Hull is. I haven't stumbled across it yet.

I had no problems making friends when we lived Oakville. I was able to use my standard tactic of finding a local pub that I liked the look of, getting to know the bar staff and then letting things develop. Given my situation there (first unemployed, later working freelance, usually finishing for the day around lunchtime), I was largely able to stroll of to the pub whenever I felt like it. My friends were almost all self-employed or retired (through age or wealth) and there was always someone to talk to. I had more friends there than I think I've ever had.

Where I am now it's far more difficult. There are no "local" pubs, as far as I can see. People don't go in for that here. I no longer have time to go out during the day and, in any case, anywhere even remotely worth going to is out of range (I don't drive and public transport is pretty useless). Because of the hours my wife works, we don't go out in the evenings. Weekends are generally devoted to renovation and household chores. From what I have observed, my neighbours don't socialise with each other. The opportunities to meet people, let alone make friends, are few and far between.

Sorry if this sounds like a whinge. I know that the situation is at least partly our own fault. I just don't see it getting any better.