Where to move to in Canada

[Strickland]

First, B.C stands for "Bring Cash".
Everything is expensive out here.
The brilliant voters have just re-elected Gordon Campbell (Liberal) for his third term as leader of this fine province. Rural voters went more NDP. I agree neither choice was great, but Campbell is giving away our province and any hope for a good future.
All one has to do is Google "Gordon Campbell and healthcare" or any of the following...BC ferries, BC Rail, BC Hydro, Softwood Lumber etc....the list could go on.:-(
If one moves to the Island they have to be prepared to be held hostage by BC Ferries. We can only leave "The Rock" by their schedule and pay any price they demand. Residents do not get a cut rate.
Our last trip over to the Mainland (over a year ago) cost us $85.00 for a car and four people. Each way! I'm sure the price has gone up since then.
As for rain......I live on the Wet Coast of Vancouver Island. (not a typo...lol). True that this past winter saw less rain than ever before.(it was wonderful) We can only hope that is a trend to be repeated in years to come!!
Most winters on this side of the Island see rain most every day for 9 months. Sunshine appears rarely. Bring Vitamin D.

Rent is cheap though...as is buying a house. :lol:

 

[L Gilbert]

First, B.C stands for "Bring Cash".
Everything is expensive out here.
The brilliant voters have just re-elected Gordon Campbell (Liberal) for his third term as leader of this fine province. Rural voters went more NDP. I agree neither choice was great, but Campbell is giving away our province and any hope for a good future.
All one has to do is Google "Gordon Campbell and healthcare" or any of the following...BC ferries, BC Rail, BC Hydro, Softwood Lumber etc....the list could go on.

If one moves to the Island they have to be prepared to be held hostage by BC Ferries. We can only leave "The Rock" by their schedule and pay any price they demand. Residents do not get a cut rate.
Our last trip over to the Mainland (over a year ago) cost us $85.00 for a car and four people. Each way! I'm sure the price has gone up since then.
As for rain......I live on the Wet Coast of Vancouver Island. (not a typo...lol). True that this past winter saw less rain than ever before.(it was wonderful) We can only hope that is a trend to be repeated in years to come!!
Most winters on this side of the Island see rain most every day for 9 months. Sunshine appears rarely. Bring Vitamin D.

Rent is cheap though...as is buying a house.

And Dippers do their best to bankrupt BC. So six of one and a half dozen of the other. Re: ferries ... "fast cats". Re: lumber ... mills shutting down by the dozens during the last Dipper reign of terror. Any change from the 6/half-dozen status quo we might have had was squelched by the frightened ostriches that voted to keep FPTP.
Other than the politics, BC's awesome.

 

[VanIsle]

First, B.C stands for "Bring Cash".
Everything is expensive out here.
The brilliant voters have just re-elected Gordon Campbell (Liberal) for his third term as leader of this fine province. Rural voters went more NDP. I agree neither choice was great, but Campbell is giving away our province and any hope for a good future.
All one has to do is Google "Gordon Campbell and healthcare" or any of the following...BC ferries, BC Rail, BC Hydro, Softwood Lumber etc....the list could go on.:-(
If one moves to the Island they have to be prepared to be held hostage by BC Ferries. We can only leave "The Rock" by their schedule and pay any price they demand. Residents do not get a cut rate.
Our last trip over to the Mainland (over a year ago) cost us $85.00 for a car and four people. Each way! I'm sure the price has gone up since then.
As for rain......I live on the Wet Coast of Vancouver Island. (not a typo...lol). True that this past winter saw less rain than ever before.(it was wonderful) We can only hope that is a trend to be repeated in years to come!!
Most winters on this side of the Island see rain most every day for 9 months. Sunshine appears rarely. Bring Vitamin D.

Rent is cheap though...as is buying a house. :lol:

You make us sound like a horrible province. It's more expensive here then Ontario (or so some of the women shoppers yell at me) but my sister-in-law tells me our food is less than many items she buys in Calgary.
The ferry isn't cheap but you proved a point - you said how much it cost you over a year ago. Proving that there is rarely a need to leave. I believe it has gone up since then but again - we only spend that money once or twice a year or less. Sometimes we don't leave the Island for more than a year. We went over to a Neil Diamond concert. If our kids hadn't bought us tickets to that (a thank you for the babysitting we do) we wouldn't have gone over so it would be over a year now. Now if we go on the right day of the week my husband gets to ride free. Too bad they don't reduce the cost of the car on those days too. Better yet - reduce David Hahn's salary.
We get lot's of sunshine and there is no need for any vitamin D. I have lived on both sides of the Island. I've never seen anywhere near 9 months of rain on either side.

 

[L Gilbert]

Here's a wee bit of info from BC's bean counters

BC Check-Up

 

[JLM]

The big food stores definitely have better prices than the smaller local stores. What I hate about the really big superstores is that they are just too damn big. If you are not in the store that often, you'll have a hard time finding anything....I know I do. We do a good sized food shopping about every month and we do most of it at the Save on. Occasionally the Superstore has a give away price on something and if we want it that is all we buy from them.

Yeah, and what I find really annoying is in the superstores the staples like bread, butter, eggs and milk are at the very back of the store, so you have to walk 3 miles just to pick up a litre of frickin milk.

 

[L Gilbert]

lol My mother complains about that with pharmacies. Old people tend to need more drugs than young people, yet most pharmacies tend to have their drug counter at the back of the store so they have to hobble a half block to get their drugs.

 

[JLM]

lol My mother complains about that with pharmacies. Old people tend to need more drugs than young people, yet most pharmacies tend to have their drug counter at the back of the store so they have to hobble a half block to get their drugs.

Yeah, but there's a good reason for that, when the druggies come in to rob the pharmacy, having to traverse the whole store makes for a tougher getaway.

 

[L Gilbert]

Perhaps in Vancouver it makes sense. How many druggies have you in the Forks raiding your pharmacy, though? Or, Nelson, Creston, Nakusp, lol Kaslo?

 

[Strickland]

And Dippers do their best to bankrupt BC. So six of one and a half dozen of the other. Re: ferries ... "fast cats". Re: lumber ... mills shutting down by the dozens during the last Dipper reign of terror. Any change from the 6/half-dozen status quo we might have had was squelched by the frightened ostriches that voted to keep FPTP.
Other than the politics, BC's awesome.

Agreed about the Ostriches. With the STV we could have voted for who we want, rather than against who we don't want.
I would have loved to have had a third realistic choice. I also voted Liberal in 2001 because of all the NDP screw-ups. Mainly because Campbell said that he would ban raw logs exports.
Liar.
And he wouldn't privatize B.C Rail.
Liar.
No point in going on. I have had this argument about the Libs vs. NDP about a million times in the past few weeks. No point to it now. We are stuck with him for another 4 years wether I like it or not.
Just one last point. The Convention Center cost over runs make the Fast Cats seem like chump change.
At least that money is being wasted right here in B.C.

 

[Strickland]

You make us sound like a horrible province. It's more expensive here then Ontario (or so some of the women shoppers yell at me) but my sister-in-law tells me our food is less than many items she buys in Calgary.
The ferry isn't cheap but you proved a point - you said how much it cost you over a year ago. Proving that there is rarely a need to leave. I believe it has gone up since then but again - we only spend that money once or twice a year or less. Sometimes we don't leave the Island for more than a year. We went over to a Neil Diamond concert. If our kids hadn't bought us tickets to that (a thank you for the babysitting we do) we wouldn't have gone over so it would be over a year now. Now if we go on the right day of the week my husband gets to ride free. Too bad they don't reduce the cost of the car on those days too. Better yet - reduce David Hahn's salary.
We get lot's of sunshine and there is no need for any vitamin D. I have lived on both sides of the Island. I've never seen anywhere near 9 months of rain on either side.

Never seen 9 months of rain?
I have, and have gone weeks without seeing the sun (unless I drive higher than the clouds). The fog is thick and depression is common.

I only take the Ferry once a year because of the cost. I would go over more often if it was cheaper.
I price compare all the time with my mother in Alberta. Groceries are similarily priced. Our gas is ALWAYS more expensive. She is at 82.9, we are 99.9....just dropped from 101.9.

I wasn't born here so I seem to be more effected by the weather. The locals don't notice it nearly as much as I do.

 

[L Gilbert]

Agreed about the Ostriches. With the STV we could have voted for who we want, rather than against who we don't want.
I would have loved to have had a third realistic choice. I also voted Liberal in 2001 because of all the NDP screw-ups. Mainly because Campbell said that he would ban raw logs exports.
Liar.
And he wouldn't privatize B.C Rail.
Liar.
No point in going on. I have had this argument about the Libs vs. NDP about a million times in the past few weeks. No point to it now. We are stuck with him for another 4 years wether I like it or not.
Just one last point. The Convention Center cost over runs make the Fast Cats seem like chump change.
At least that money is being wasted right here in B.C.

Yeah. Lots of grumbles from the Dippers about what the Glibs are spending on the Olys that the Dippers bid on and won. lol
Weasel words from the Glibs about selling BC Rail, "it wasn't a sale. It was a long term lease" or some such BS. BC Rail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ooooops. Getting a wee bit off topic here.

 

[JLM]

Perhaps in Vancouver it makes sense. How many druggies have you in the Forks raiding your pharmacy, though? Or, Nelson, Creston, Nakusp, lol Kaslo?

Little tongue in cheek there........:lol:

 

[VanIsle]

Never seen 9 months of rain?
I have, and have gone weeks without seeing the sun (unless I drive higher than the clouds). The fog is thick and depression is common.
Well, I don't know where you live but it isn't here in Nanaimo. I've seen the fog you speak of but it's rare and I've never seen it in this city. Depression here is no more common than anywhere. I've lived on this Island on and off for 14 years now, with the last 7 being here and I've never seen any of the weather you describe. I lived in Surrey too and I saw that weather there.

I only take the Ferry once a year because of the cost. I would go over more often if it was cheaper. The point was not about whether you could or would go over more often but about whether or not you would need to. I hate Vancouver so I wouldn't go unless I needed to.
I price compare all the time with my mother in Alberta. Groceries are similarily priced. Our gas is ALWAYS more expensive. She is at 82.9, we are 99.9....just dropped from 101.9. We have gotten on a ferry here with little gas in our car assuming it would be cheaper in Vancouver only to find out we should have filled up at home. I do agree that ours is often more expensive but not enough to make a big difference between here and the mainland. Gas in cheaper in AB and cheaper still in Ontario. You never have to drive very far in Nanaimo.

I wasn't born here so I seem to be more effected by the weather. The locals don't notice it nearly as much as I do.

I was not born here either and my husband was born in Alberta. There are too many good things here to let the odd bad day get in the way. Freak storms happen all over Alberta and Ontario etc. Our weather is great by comparison. Remember - you don't shovel rain. I hope you enjoy the sunshine we are supposed to have all weekend.

 

[sensualspirit]

OMG, too much w/ this thread LOL

I didn't understand a lot of what was being said which had nothing to do with what I was looking for, but anyway.

So, to reacap:

1. I need a Costco for only a few things, plus I now use them for car insurance.
2. Wow, gas is expensive, it was 89 the last time I looked.
3. The 2 people arguing about the rain, were you both talking about Namino?
4. What would be the reason I would need to go on the ferry? It sounds like it has everything I need although now you have me worried about bringing the Uhaul across & how much that would be.
5. I haven't lived in an apt. since 1989. I prefer houses b/c I want my BBQ & just the peace & quiet.

I know I have a great deal here, but I'm getting a 3 bedroom raised ranch (modern) for $850/month.

If it weren't for the pollution & water, I would stay here until I could buy, but those 2 factors plus there is only one health food store in Windsor (30-60 minutes away) with food items makes me want to leave Ontario once & for all.

Thanks


Michelle

 

[sensualspirit]

Umm, someone just PMed me & I for the life of me, can't find the "reply" button.

I even added them as a friend & still nothing, it only has a "delete" button.

I've never seen a VBulletin configured this way, very strange.

Michelle

 

[sensualspirit]

I saw a gorgeous house online in Osoyoos Okanagan Valley, but I think it's a scam at the price that was posted.

Where is that?

Thanks


Michelle

 

[Nuggler]

Hi Sensual; welcome to CC


You live in WINDSOR.

No wonder you want to leave.

Eastern Ont. has warm summers and cold winters, fresh air, clean water, access to high speed internet, as reasonable house prices as you're going to get.

Why an entrepreneur like yourself could probably afford a month in Fla., or Az., or somewhere. Get out of these beastly winters, etc. Just set up your laptop on the beach or by the pool.

Anyway, like they said, BC = bring cash. Enjoy.

Don't let the door hit yer ass on the way out.

We'll miss ya.

8O

 

[shadowshiv]

Umm, someone just PMed me & I for the life of me, can't find the "reply" button.

I even added them as a friend & still nothing, it only has a "delete" button.

I've never seen a VBulletin configured this way, very strange.

Michelle

Hi Michelle.

Unfortunately you cannot send PMs until you reach more posts(I believe it is 25), but you can still receive them. I guess I should have mentioned that in the PM. Sorry about that.

As far as adding as a Friend, I will attempt to add you as soon as I am done with this post(I am not sure why it did not work for you). I will need confirmation from you(it will be available in the 'News' section at the top left of the screen) to make it official.
At least that is where it's at with the "new" version. Some people still use the "old" version and it may look a little different. You are able to choose which version you want to use, but I would recommend the "new" version. It looks a lot nicer for one thing.

 

[Strickland]

I was not born here either and my husband was born in Alberta. There are too many good things here to let the odd bad day get in the way. Freak storms happen all over Alberta and Ontario etc. Our weather is great by comparison. Remember - you don't shovel rain. I hope you enjoy the sunshine we are supposed to have all weekend.

I'm in Port Alberni. A valley with low housing costs and mountains all around that hold in the fog.
We have sooooo many issues out here that I could never recommend someone to come here.
Saturday and Sunday this past long weekend was beautiful! We spend both days at the mini world cup in Nanaimo! lol.
It was raining on the hump coming home.:-(
I rest my case.

Anyways. I have family in Alberta so I like to get off the Island when I can. The extra couple hundred $$$ has to be factored into the cost every time we leave the Island for the Ferry.
Nobody HAS to leave I suppose and in the event that a serious peak oil event happens, the island will be the safest place to be. *perk*

 

[Strickland]

OMG, too much w/ this thread LOL

I didn't understand a lot of what was being said which had nothing to do with what I was looking for, but anyway.

So, to reacap:

1. I need a Costco for only a few things, plus I now use them for car insurance.
2. Wow, gas is expensive, it was 89 the last time I looked.
3. The 2 people arguing about the rain, were you both talking about Namino?
4. What would be the reason I would need to go on the ferry? It sounds like it has everything I need although now you have me worried about bringing the Uhaul across & how much that would be.
5. I haven't lived in an apt. since 1989. I prefer houses b/c I want my BBQ & just the peace & quiet.

I know I have a great deal here, but I'm getting a 3 bedroom raised ranch (modern) for $850/month.

If it weren't for the pollution & water, I would stay here until I could buy, but those 2 factors plus there is only one health food store in Windsor (30-60 minutes away) with food items makes me want to leave Ontario once & for all.

Thanks


Michelle

1-Nanaimo has a Costco. A nice one too.
It is known as the Land of Many Malls. Excellent shopping and access to movie theaters.:smile:
2- Gas is very expensive.
3- I'm in the Valley of Port Alberni. Beautiful mountains, trees, water. Low housing costs, but high property taxes.
4-I guess one never needs to leave the Island. I only go to visit family, but if you ever want to see a pro hockey game, a great concert, or a big City.....
5-Rent I am unsure of, but it does sound like you are getting a great deal!

We are getting more 100 mile dietish out here. We have lots of small farms that we can buy meat, fruit and veggies from. A Farmers Market every Sat.