Moving to Canada? - Brunswick,GA

First I do not think you can just move there. Secondly think about the health
care there. Not a place I would want to be and have first hand experience
with a relative there. How about Colorado!!!!! Love it there. It is almost
the best of both worlds, some warmth, some snow, lots of beautiful
mountains etc.

If an international move doesn't pan out, consider some place like Spokane, Washington or Post Falls, Idaho. BEAUTIFUL places, and the weather and outdoor is pretty much what you are describing.

The last time we were looking into moving to Canada (I'm Canadian), my husband would have had to obtain a visa, and he was not allowed to work for the first 6, I believe it was, months of being there. That was the main thing that finally deterred us from moving there, because we can't go 6 months without an income, and I wasn't working at the time.

So yes, if you are American, you will have to obtain some sort of visa.

Also, we were looking at Vancouver, which is a beautiful city, but the housing is comparable to California, which is still expensive, and most goods cost more than in the U.S., so the cost of living was relatively higher, and my husband would have been making the same wage.

So, you can't just up and move to Canada on a whim. If you know someone there who can sponsor you, it will be a start. As far as where you might want to live, I only know Vancouver and Toronto, both big cities.

Patty - what about the health care there?? Canadian health care is affordable and good. I can't speak for Americans in Canada, but Canadians have it pretty good. For example, my family members were whining about the "expensive" cost of $50 A MONTH for healthcare, when I informed them that in the U.S. it usually costs people $###-###-#### a month. So "socialist" health care is a good thing.

We love visiting Vancouver, B.C. It is a beautiful city with lots of outdoorsy stuff to do but also has all the amenities and culture. Their weather is somewhat like Seattle's, rainy and grey in the winter but it hardly ever snows and summers and incredibly mild and beautiful! Don't know what it takes to move there but good luck!

We've only been to Vancouver - the city was too big for my liking but the outskirts/suburb areas are beautiful. I've also heard Kelowna, BC is gorgeous, just super expensive. My husband and I also considered moving there, it's a lot harder than just up and moving. Check out this website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/live/index.asp - if you are really serious you can get a visa if you can find a job there that's on their "list" - they will let you acquire a work visa for certain jobs. Otherwise you can "get in" if you have family there or you can also take a points-pased test and then apply. They really value speaking other languages and higher education - so if you have these under your belt you're good to go! They basically want citizens that have certain skills/qualities/attributes. good luck! (as someone posted earlier... yes CO is gorgeous and has all these things! I'm a native)

Not that I am against Canada but what about MInnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Vermont, New Hamshire, New York, Montana?
In MN, where my inlaws live, they don't even have air conditioning, neither do they in Upper Michigan, where we have a summer home. I have also seen it snow in May in MN.
That way you do not have to change citizensip, although I would think that moving to Canada would be pretty easy.

Wow sounds like Canada's borders are *tighter* than our U.S. borders. Maybe our government should look at how the Canadians do it.

Good luck with your endeavors.

Have you considered northern states that boarder Canada? I live in Wisconsin and have never gone any more north than Green Bay but what I've seen is very pretty. It gets hot here and crazy humid but it's not more than three months max.

Google Search: "Websites for people moving to Canada."
A lot of info/websites, will turn up.

Do you have family there?
Do you speak other languages?
They have in certain parts, a French culture as well.
Is your Husband a citizen there?
Do any of you have jobs there?
Are your ready for a cultural change? and ready to adapt?

Also, just look up Canada's website.
http://www.canada.gc.ca/home.html

What about Alaska...it's almost Cananda??

I agree that although a move to Canada isn't a bad idea, I'd look into moving within the US for a comprable climate. All the states that border Canada for example have similar weather. Many of the northern states like Minnesota and Wisconsin don't get as hot during the summer. There a lots of areas of Colorado that offer many of the things you described. Seattle is beautiful, has mountains, ocean, lakes, etc. and it doesn't get very hot there at all! It doesn't snow very much down in the city, but mountains and skiing are close by!

I think an international move would be a lot to take on, but I suppose if you're up for it, go for it!

Lord if the heat is bugging you there are places here in the US that has a nicer climate. If money is no object pack up and get yourself in Colorado :)
C.

The Adirondacks in northern NY are nice, and the winters are frigid and snowy.
I can imagine there are some nice places in Maine, Vermont, and Montana, too.

How about Northern California, Oregon or Washington just to name a few. Not humid beautiful mountains and very temperate weather.

I know finding a job will be difficult, since I've had a few friends who married Canadians and took that leap.

If you are looking for cooler weather, you can't go wrong with Northern California (Eureka, Arcata, Ferndale) all the way up the coast to Bellingham, WA (very close to the Canada coast, just south of Vancouver, BC). That way you could visit Canada any time you liked, but without the hassle. Plus, central Canada gets VERY cold. Snow, snow, snow in the winter. Seattle's a bit metropolitan, but there are TONS of smaller towns to live in along the coast, and hiking, camping and outdoor activities are huge. We are actually heading there this summer to visit family, and summers are blissful, with temps rarely going over 70-75 degrees F.

Funny, but my husband and I just moved to Georgia from Washington after living there for years--it was just too cold for us there. If you want more info, just write me back.

We recently moved from PA to Florida. The reason was the winters are so cold and the summer or outdoor time is so short. I hope you consider all of this before moving. We used to live in the Pocono Mountains. There is plenty to do outside, even in the winter. But, we got tired of driving in the snow and ice, minus temps with the wind, shoveling snow & ice from the driveway and sidewalk. For all the pluses to moving to the north there are minuses too. Also, depending on what part of the north you are in the summers can be very hot like the south.

I immediately thought of Colorado, upstate NY, Vermont or New Hampshire when I read your post, you don't necessarily need to leave the country:-). Although Canada is beautiful...

What about the mountains of North Carolina? That's nice and cool and not too far from where you already live. Asheville is supposed to be very nice.