I got the best Christmas present ever this year.

[the_only_turek_fan]

10 day holiday back here in Calgary.

You guys don't realize you live in the best city in this country and one of the best in the world.

I love this place.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Seriously? Wow, there are days I can't wait to leave it.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Best Christmas present ever?
I don't know man, I got a snuggie.

[pylon]

As a lifer, who has seen this city go from being a great blossoming young city, to the constant traffic jam, wanna be cosmopolitan, easterner infested piece of poo it is now, I couldn't disagree more. Since the about he mid-late 90's Calgary has been a shrivelled husk of its former glory. The only thing that keeps me here is family, and my job.

[nickerjones]

Grass is always greener eh? I was in SportChek last night and saw a guy with a OKC Thunder ( NBA TEAM) jacket on. I stopped and asked if he was an Oklahoman , like myself. He said He was from here but loved visiting OKC. He talked about all the stuff he liked that I took for granted because I lived there. I then talked about all the stuff I loved here that he took for granted living here.

Every place has it's awesome-ness its just realizing what you have . I love Calgary and would love to be here more often. However If I lived here I would miss Oklahoma dearly.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by pylon

As a lifer, who has seen this city go from being a great blossoming young city, to the constant traffic jam, wanna be cosmopolitan, easterner infested piece of poo it is now, I couldn't disagree more. Since the about he mid-late 90's Calgary has been a shrivelled husk of its former glory. The only thing that keeps me here is family, and my job.

Pretty much summarizes why I have the answer I did. Lots of good memories here but not the city I remember fondly.

[Ducay]

You'll find the same feelings with everyone. People soon forget the things that make their city special; things just become routine.

Living in Australia, I gained a newfound appreciation for the Rockies and the fact they were just "there". Living here my whole life, you soon forget how amazing and unique they are to our city. Aussies were amazed that I didn't really think that having them right at my doorstep was anything special, as they had always "just been there".

[habernac]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Seriously? Wow, there are days I can't wait to leave it.

Is it busier now? Yep. But having spent 15 years in Fort McMurray, I gotta say it's pretty much Heaven living here.

[Sylvanfan]

For most there are things about where you consider home that you miss and love. I know people from Prince George who left and want to go back even though it's regarded by many of the masses as one of the worst cities in the country.

I like Kamloops where I'm from, but I bet 90% of Canada would vote it as a horrible city.

What piques my interest here is that the first few posts are Calgarians who dislike their own city now.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by pylon

As a lifer, who has seen this city go from being a great blossoming young city, to the constant traffic jam, wanna be cosmopolitan, easterner infested piece of poo it is now, I couldn't disagree more. Since the about he mid-late 90's Calgary has been a shrivelled husk of its former glory. The only thing that keeps me here is family, and my job.

Obviously you've never been to Toronto.

[Jake]

I live in Vancouver now, a city many people regard as one of Canada's nicest cities, but I'd rather live in Calgary. Vancouver drives me nuts some times. Everything is expensive there, no out door rinks, terrible traffic, not many highways ... I could go on for a while. Don't take Calgary for granted, it's a good city and I am really happy I got to come home for Christmas.

[Rerun]

I grew up in a small town (Belleville) 2hrs east of Toronto. Hated it. Nothing interesting to do there (except perhaps sail and fish).

Moved to Calgary in my early 20's (pop. 650,000) and been here ever since. Love it here. The only move I've made since has been to Okotoks. Small town feel but all the advantages of being 10 miles south of cowtown.

Believe me, there are plenty of places way worse than Calgary.... for all its faults and problems. I can't think of anywhere else I'd prefer to live... at least in Canada.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Well it certainly is nice to hear people from other cities have a positive outlook on Calgary. I guess living here my whole life I take it for granted. I've always wanted to pull up roots and go live in another city, even for a few years, but at this point in the game it would be financial suicide.

I'll make my fortune in Calgar but retire elsewhere.

[drewboy12]

Only thing about Calgary I like is the Flames....Id much rather be somewhere +35 with a beach... Or Vancouver.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Well it certainly is nice to hear people from other cities have a positive outlook on Calgary. I guess living here my whole life I take it for granted. I've always wanted to pull up roots and go live in another city, even for a few years, but at this point in the game it would be financial suicide.

I'll make my fortune in Calgar but retire elsewhere.

Do it. You'll gain a whole new appreciation for the city when you come back. Go live in Toronto. You'll want to come back within the year.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by drewboy12

Only thing about Calgary I like is the Flames....Id much rather be somewhere +35 with a beach... Or Vancouver.

It rains too much in Vancouver, the traffic sucks, housing is over priced, crime is rampant, and the ocean stinks.

The only good thing is that you can play golf almost 12 months a year and they have a great chinatown.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by drewboy12

Only thing about Calgary I like is the Flames....Id much rather be somewhere +35 with a beach... Or Vancouver.

LOL, thats funny. Of the ties I listed to Calgary, family, and job, the other thing I fear if I left, is losing the Flames. I worry, would I still be the same hockey fan, not living here, and having the same access to the only team I have ever truly been passionate about?

Never, in a million bajillion years could I be a Canucks, Leafs, or Oilers fan. I could be a Habs fan, as they are the eastern team I cheer for, and the Sens are just kinda meh, in my eyes. I have no love nor hate for them, so I suppose I could go either way on that one.

[Bill Bumface]

I was always certain I'd get out of Calgary when I was done school. The fact the city got bigger is what kept me here. Lots of the "big city" things I was lacking started to pop up. The transformation of downtown and the belt line/17th in the last 10 years is amazing. You actually see some people on the streets on evenings and weekends now. Everytime a new tower goes up (or another awesome pedestrian bridge ) I get more solidly planted here.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Jake

I live in Vancouver now, a city many people regard as one of Canada's nicest cities, but I'd rather live in Calgary. Vancouver drives me nuts some times. Everything is expensive there, no out door rinks, terrible traffic, not many highways ... I could go on for a while. Don't take Calgary for granted, it's a good city and I am really happy I got to come home for Christmas.

I once lived there for 9 months, what a fricken hellhole. Rain,traffic and the freezing cold ocean was a shock to my senses. I really don't know how this place ever grew so big or why people regard it as one of Canada's finest.

If I want to move to a city by the sea it would be Halifax.

[Ozy_Flame]

Lifelong Calgarian, but have lived elsewhere before. It's a great city, but there are definitely more interesting places in this world. The economy is actually pretty good here through most recessions compared to the rest, so that's always a plus. I'd rather live more West Coast though, or in the Asia Pacific. Weather has alot to do with it for me.