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As I’ve mentioned before, my retirement plan included leaving these islands for somewhere warmer, less crowded, preferably less regulated and, as my capacity for languages is on a par with my understanding of quantum physics, English speaking. The obvious answer, for many personal reasons, was to settle somewhere in the heart of the USA but just as retirement loomed George Bush happened. And then September 11th 2001 turned America into a Neo-Conservative Christian Fundamentalists wet dream and George Bush happened all over again. All of which means I am still stuck here, on the edge of the Fens, facing yet another grey, damp, cold winter surrounded by the flat bleakness that is the major attraction in these parts.
New Zealand – where I have been fortunate enough to live for a year – is actually my first choice but sadly it did not agree with the health of Mrs. Swordfish and she is, understandably, reluctant to return for anything longer than a short visit. Believe it or not, the Isle Of Man is even on the list and has some really great reasons to be there but while it is warmer than where I am now, if the Gulf Stream is really slowing down then it ain’t going to last! They might speak a lot of English in France but it’s still France. And even worse, it’s just as much in the EU as we are. All of which led me to look at Canada. I have a brother who has lived all of his adult life in Vancouver and it truly is a super place. But I have only ever been there in the summer so now I am monitoring it’s temperature and weather daily and sadly, it’s not looking good.
One place I can strike from the list without a visit is Edmonton. The other day, in a lovely piece well worth a read entitled ‘Canadian Understatement’, Little Man in a Toque told me everything I needed to know about an Englishman living in Alberta. And what could possibly make him stay there is totally beyond me!
So as another winter approaches I am still here wondering where the hell to move on to. All suggestions welcome.
Hey you can move to TEXAS. i have lived here since the 8th grade and I love it. The climate is good. The scenery is pretty and lots of great people who are kind and respectful. You would be welcome. And besides it is America. What could be better? Texas has a lot of great things to be proud of, an awesome football team (longhorns, not cowboys), the largest military base in the world, and George Bush.
Have fun be good and don’t forget to bundle up its cold out there, even colder when your liberal and jaded.
Josh
I think the secret is to hibernate like the bears do.
Well Hi Josh – thanks for dropping by. It’s always good to hear from the Redneck contingent who spout that ‘liberal’ crap liike it’s God’s own swearword. But hey – I forgive you. You come from Texas so I understand you can’t help it.
Hi revinkevin. Yes – sounds good to me. As to Gareth out there in his -15C you just have to ask why!
What Josh obviously failed to read was the part of your diatribe about why you won’t move to US – I think Georgie was one of the big reasons – and I completely agree!
What Little Man in a Toque failed to tell readers was that only 300 km south in the wonderful city of Calgary, they have what we call Chinooks – this is a wonderful event that happens all winter long where the temperature, a seeminly frigid minus something suddenly warms up and it is + 17 degrees in the middle of February and everyone starts wearing shorts! Can’t beat it!
Hi Canadian Living In Norway. Er… Calgary? Norway?
I rather think Josh read it all and understood. I get on very well with most Americans including die-hard Republicans but I rather suspect that Josh is one of those whose world borders stop at the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is something to do with the way they use the word ‘Liberal’. A bit like the way Joe McCarthy used the word ‘Communist’. They will never be happy so I just let them be.
I have passed through Calgary once many years ago and I like that position between the mountains and the plains. I’d love to experience this but the bit I am worried about is… “a seeminly frigid minus something suddenly warms up“. This implies it starts at that frigid minus something…
Hi, Andy. As one of those Josh-darned liberals, I’d love to have you here in America. One thing to keep in mind is that the USA is a big place, and parts of the country can be very different than Bush’s America. San Francisco is a great town, Boston is Anglophilic and lefty. I grew up just across Lake Ontario from Canada, and I can tell you that Toronto is a great burg to boot, although if you’re looking to get away from the cold it’s not going to be your cup of tea. San Francisco, on the other hand, is a nice warm 70 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time. Head inland and Sedona, AZ and Santa Fe, NM are accepting towns with strong new age contingents. There are a lot of great, tolerant, loving places in the U.S. that are hidden by the mask of hatred Bush puts up.
Josh would no doubt get apoplectic to hear me say this but I love San Fransico. Seems to me the city and the surrounding areas have just about everything except affordable housing and future-proofing from earthquakes!
I assure you that I do not judge your country from the zealous few – and there is light on the horizon I hope. I keep well abreast through Irregular Times, Crooks and Liars etc., and various friends in the US. I actually like the East Coast but fear to get warm enough I have to venture a little further South than might be good for me! I obviously need New England with a Georgia climate and a Californian mindset! And yes – I agree about Toronto also.
Perhaps I am just a jaded Canadian westerner who lived too close the border to understand the attraction. In particular in the Canadian Oil capital we are seeing an insurgence of US companies moving into the city and taking over our way of living and working – how can that be a good thing – work harder, you’re your commitment to the company?? Perhaps we all need to take a deep breath and say: STOP!
Consider this: Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world with only 1/10 of the population of the US – does that mean that amount of space allotted to each Canadian to live in makes us just a little more friendly?! And as for Toronto – We apologize.
Wow you got alot of comments. I think it is interesting to see how people much rather comment to something they disagree with than agree with. I really do not have anything against you guys. I just get tired of people who are not wearing jerzees complaiing about the football team. Apart from that I am not from Texas I am from Virginia a little city called Norfolk (faces the Atlantic) And I am not a die-hard texan or republican, I am a Christian and that worldview is what forces me to think the way I do. I am sure you guys will not agree with this. And that is ok. You are more than entitled to. I really am just say hi and peace. Don’t get mad at me. Just express your view and if you know me you can talk about me, if you dont for your own pride sake stop throwing sand and toys at the people in the sand box you don’t agree with. Have fun, be good and happy.