Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - For those of you who eventally got out of Calgary, how did you do it?

JohnnyB · 08-28-2011, 06:39 AM

I understand the sentiment that "maybe it's not the city, maybe it's how you live your life there" but at the same time, most of us are very much affected by the environment in which we live. Reflect back upon the number of times people have written about how they just couldn't live in Vancouver because of the rain and consider the irony in this thread.

Different environments provide for different kinds of lives and experiences. The argument that you can find what you need in Calgary so long as you dig for it doesn't do anything to suggest that the city is actually a place that is well suited to the type of life you want. I would bet that most people who sit in the Boston Pizza's in their neighbourhoods complaining about the lack of a cultural scene would be doing less complaining and more enjoying of the cultural scene if that scene had a real presence in their neighborhood. Similarly, while I know that you can find skiing in Shanghai or join a hiking club or a mountain biking club, I would certainly understand someone passionate about those things wanting to leave the city and live in a place like Calgary or Vancouver instead. At the same time I am sure that I would not find in Calgary the things that I enjoy in Shanghai because it's just not a city that provides easily for many things I like, such as the intense hustle and bustle, the packed streets and being able to watch the city grow and develop practically day by day because it changes so quickly.

The main point of all this is that you really ought to take the chance to go find a place that not only stirs in you something that you love and enjoy but is also a place that really supports you living the type of life you want to lead. As your time of life changes the type of place that's right for you will likely change but, I say again, Calgary will always be there if you want to go back and you only have one life to live. There is no sense in compromising just because you happen to have been born there when the world is a very open place and you are a Canadian passport holder who can go practically anywhere to find a place that supports exactly the type of life that makes you feel stirred and passionate.

Most people never take the risk, but it's ultimately not that hard. In the long run you have nothing to lose. We don't all just happen to be born on that spot in the world that suits us best.

08-28-2011, 06:39 AM	#60
JohnnyB Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Shanghai Exp:	I understand the sentiment that "maybe it's not the city, maybe it's how you live your life there" but at the same time, most of us are very much affected by the environment in which we live. Reflect back upon the number of times people have written about how they just couldn't live in Vancouver because of the rain and consider the irony in this thread. Different environments provide for different kinds of lives and experiences. The argument that you can find what you need in Calgary so long as you dig for it doesn't do anything to suggest that the city is actually a place that is well suited to the type of life you want. I would bet that most people who sit in the Boston Pizza's in their neighbourhoods complaining about the lack of a cultural scene would be doing less complaining and more enjoying of the cultural scene if that scene had a real presence in their neighborhood. Similarly, while I know that you can find skiing in Shanghai or join a hiking club or a mountain biking club, I would certainly understand someone passionate about those things wanting to leave the city and live in a place like Calgary or Vancouver instead. At the same time I am sure that I would not find in Calgary the things that I enjoy in Shanghai because it's just not a city that provides easily for many things I like, such as the intense hustle and bustle, the packed streets and being able to watch the city grow and develop practically day by day because it changes so quickly. The main point of all this is that you really ought to take the chance to go find a place that not only stirs in you something that you love and enjoy but is also a place that really supports you living the type of life you want to lead. As your time of life changes the type of place that's right for you will likely change but, I say again, Calgary will always be there if you want to go back and you only have one life to live. There is no sense in compromising just because you happen to have been born there when the world is a very open place and you are a Canadian passport holder who can go practically anywhere to find a place that supports exactly the type of life that makes you feel stirred and passionate. Most people never take the risk, but it's ultimately not that hard. In the long run you have nothing to lose. We don't all just happen to be born on that spot in the world that suits us best. __________________ "If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" Last edited by JohnnyB; 08-28-2011 at 06:42 AM.