Murray Edwards Changes Residency from Calgary to London

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Agreed, Colorado has pedestrian ski hills.

Not liking Whistler is on you. Everything about it is epic. Don't like it on the busy weekends? State out of the alpine and get downlow in the trees.

The culture is an amplified Banff, there's people of all types. Pricey? You bet. But there's ways around it.

I lived in Whistler for months at a time in school and have hundreds of days on hill there. It's a fantastic ski resort, and an absolutely abysmal place to live if you're older than 25. Your perspective on Whistler is basically like saying you'd want to live in Disneyland. Trust me, if you're there for a week, yeah, you get to have a bunch of fun riding all the rides, but after a month, it is like a black hole of fake touristy culture. It's not even a ski town, it's like a bad TV drama's idea of a ski town.

You could pay me to live in Whistler. But I'd spend most of my downtime somewhere else.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Pretty sure more jet-setting elites have vacation properties in Vail than in Canmore.

You're probably right, but Vail still absolutely sucks. I suspect it just managed to cement itself as "rich people's ski town" a long time ago and has been riding that since.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by heep223

Family, friends, community. If your entire network is in Calgary, including your kids, grand kids etc., and you can travel anywhere in the world whenever you want, I could see wanting to stay no matter how wealthy.

I call the above - one's roots. For the past 25 years this was the response I'd usually give to those bashing Calgary for still being a cowtown despite the big population. And for the first time in 25 years I am thinking that it is possible that Calgary may not be that place for me, eventually. What happens to Alberta if the O&G industry cannot support it anymore? If higher taxes are not equalized by higher incomes and good economy, quality of life diminishes visibly and quickly. And if that's the case, living in a nicer climate with more entertainment options becomes a lot more attractive and plausible scenario.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by heep223

Family, friends, community. If your entire network is in Calgary, including your kids, grand kids etc., and you can travel anywhere in the world whenever you want, I could see wanting to stay no matter how wealthy.

I suspect that Mr Edwards kids have grown up and left for uni, probably are making a living in Toronto, NY or, God forbid, London! his parents have probably passed away, ironically once you get into your mid fifties the ties that hold you to a place start to disappear. I'm going through this myself, I'm thinking about retiring to Halifax as my daughters moved there and I get to be instantly wealthy on the back of my vancouver house.

In Mr Edwards case being a billionaire in Calgary makes you instantly recognizable, the first person that's expected to turn up for fundraisers, comments on the economy etc, in London he gets to be utterly anonymous and enjoy his money without any of the strings that life here brings.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Are you telling me you can't afford to live in London but can afford to live in Vancouver? You don't need $2 billion to live anywhere you want. If you want to live in UK and assuming you can travel back then do it...

I own a house outright in Vancouver and no, I can't afford to live in London.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

You own a house in Vancouver? Why not sell the house and buy a yacht, and use the leftover money to fund your lavish lifestyle as you sail from port to tropical port?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

You own a house in Vancouver? Why not sell the house and buy a yacht, and use the leftover money to fund your lavish lifestyle as you sail from port to tropical port?

Boats sink and tropical ports tend to be violent pestilential crapholes, other than that top idea.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I lived in Whistler for months at a time in school and have hundreds of days on hill there. It's a fantastic ski resort, and an absolutely abysmal place to live if you're older than 25. Your perspective on Whistler is basically like saying you'd want to live in Disneyland. Trust me, if you're there for a week, yeah, you get to have a bunch of fun riding all the rides, but after a month, it is like a black hole of fake touristy culture. It's not even a ski town, it's like a bad TV drama's idea of a ski town.

You could pay me to live in Whistler. But I'd spend most of my downtime somewhere else.


You're probably right, but Vail still absolutely sucks. I suspect it just managed to cement itself as "rich people's ski town" a long time ago and has been riding that since.

While not hundreds of days I have dozens. Both when producing "in the scene", and in my more mature years. Conversely I have hundreds in Banff. Lifelong friends fostered in both towns. Firmly believe it's what you choose to see, and then dwell upon. Sorry you're so jaded.

Saying it's not one of, if not the leading snow destination in NA is utter nonse.
And that's what the original post was about.

If I'm a billionaire? Skip the resorts and head to Chatter, or Wiegeles. Or I don't change much and sled Brohm or Boulder or Quartz.

[afc wimbledon]

The current plan is work for another ten years then move to Halifax, bank the difference in house prices between here and there and use that money to not have to be in Halifax during the winter.

Travel the east coast in a small van learning Piedmont blues from old black guys that exist all over the Carolinas in my imagination. Girlfriends not so sure!!

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I own a house outright in Vancouver and no, I can't afford to live in London.

Wow really? You own a house in one of the most expensive places in Canada and you can't afford to live in London? What's your house worth in Vancouver? $800,000 minimum? I think you can afford to live in London but not the same lifestyle you have in Vancouver. if London was as great as you say it is you'd sell everything and move. Instead you #### all over the place you live and work.

[jayswin]

As a proud Canadian AFC wimbledon's comments as an immigrant were extremely grating and struck a nerve, as it clearly did many on here, but to be fair to his point, he was speaking to what he would do if he had billions of dollars, and suggested the most expensive of the exclusive rich lifestyles are in a league of their own in a place like London, and that's what would draw him back.

He stated in his own gloomy English way (ha!) that Canada suits him the best for what he's worth and that's why he's here.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by jayswin

As a proud Canadian AFC wimbledon's comments as an immigrant were extremely grating and struck a nerve, as it clearly did many on here, but to be fair to his point, he was speaking to what he would do if he had billions of dollars, and suggested the most expensive of the exclusive rich lifestyles are in a league of their own in a place like London, and that's what would draw him back.

He stated in his own gloomy English way (ha!) that Canada suits him the best for what he's worth and that's why he's here.

I just don't understand how having billions of dollars changes things in terms of where you live. Is London that great if you could only enjoy it and experience culture and arts if you're a billionaire?. If I had billions of dollars I'd stay where most of my friends/family are but would travel a lot more. Move if you want but don't pretend you can't afford to move right now.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I just don't understand how having billions of dollars changes things in terms of where you live. Is London that great if you could only enjoy it and experience culture and arts if you're a billionaire?. If I had billions of dollars I'd stay where most of my friends/family are but would travel a lot more. Move if you want but don't pretend you can't afford to move right now.

Yes, and that was his and others point I believe, that these places are amazing for the super rich/elite, and as evidenced by other posters - not that amazing and actually quite crowded/expensive/annoying for the average income resident.

To me, it's not exactly a glowing review of a city when the rich love it and the average citizen doesn't. I'm much more proud to be from a country where the biggest cities are nice in their own ways for people from all walks of life.

Also, to get stereotypical I've known lots of Brits and work with some now. They seem to always come off much more cynical and depressive about everything than Canadians do, so his point may just be coming off in a stereotypical British way, only in text. After speaking with Brits for any length of time you typically have to go watch a comedy to bring your mood back up.

[Thor]

I don't get why its grating, I know people get very defensive about their own countries but what other people feel whether they are immigrants or locals, who cares, its what you feel about your own home that matters.

I lived most of my life in Calgary and spent a lot of time in Vancouver as well. Had I to move to Canada again it wouldn't be Calgary, perhaps Vancouver, Halifax has popped into my mind considering how close it is to Iceland.

Retirement is a far off thing for me, so I find Iceland ideal because of its great location to travel all around EU and places I had not been to in a long time, while in Calgary I did lots of travelling in the US, Mexico, Caribbean and now I want to explore more in other parts of the world.

As for great places to live, there are so many incredible places to live, sure Calgary is a great city but it has lots of drawbacks, crappy downtown city life, culture isn't that great, and the massive urban sprawl is annoying. That being said I still miss it and will always love Calgary, but with all my family pretty much out of Canada minus one sister in Vancouver it will just be a place I visit every few years, there are too many other great options for me now to travel and live.

[Jason14h]

Is London that great if you could only enjoy it and experience culture and arts if you're a billionaire?.

No. You can enjoy if you are a multi millionaire to some extent!

[FireGilbert]

Some posters should know better than to criticise Calgary no matter how true their statements are. The CP patriots are numerous and will crush you.

That said I don't see what the big deal is. London > Calgary and Less tax > More tax.

[OMG!WTF!]

There is just something so lame about saying big city X, normally a European city where you finally get to wear the scarf you've been seeing on CNN foreign correspondent lately, is soooo great for art and culture. And we're soooo stuck in the stix out here in small city Y. Like if you really need to be spoon fed culture and art by moving right next to other people's ideal of it, maybe you've missed the point and more than likely have a lousy eye for it anyway. End rant with apologies.

In ways other than economic, I couldn't be happier seeing way fewer people around than last year.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Wow really? You own a house in one of the most expensive places in Canada and you can't afford to live in London? What's your house worth in Vancouver? $800,000 minimum? I think you can afford to live in London but not the same lifestyle you have in Vancouver. if London was as great as you say it is you'd sell everything and move. Instead you #### all over the place you live and work.

Two points, first I haven't shat all over the place I have lived in for over 30 years, I've just pointed out if you're filthy rich there are some places that offer a bit more than western Canada.

Second point, no, if I took my 1.5 million Canadian to London I couldn't afford to live there, that would just about afford buy a garage, not an apartment, rent I hear you say, well renting in London starts at a thousand a week for a few hundred square feet.
Realistically I could make my million last about a decade there, as I don't plan on dieing at 65 it's not a possibility.

I always laugh when people complain about the price of Vancouver, they don't know what expensive is.

[darklord700]

It's funny when people say they would move from Calgary to Hawaii if they won the lottery, and that's OK. But moving from Calgary to London/Paris is frown upon, why?

[Jason14h]

But moving from Calgary to London/Paris is frown upon, why?

Dirty Europeans. Duh

[sun]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

Two points, first I haven't shat all over the place I have lived in for over 30 years, I've just pointed out if you're filthy rich there are some places that offer a bit more than western Canada.

Second point, no, if I took my 1.5 million Canadian to London I couldn't afford to live there, that would just about afford buy a garage, not an apartment, rent I hear you say, well renting in London starts at a thousand a week for a few hundred square feet.
Realistically I could make my million last about a decade there, as I don't plan on dieing at 65 it's not a possibility.

I always laugh when people complain about the price of Vancouver, they don't know what expensive is.

People complain about the price of Vancouver... compared to the price of Vancouver. Detached house prices have risen, what, 40% in the past five years? 20% in the past year?

I would hope I would have the self awareness not to laugh at anyone complaining about the price of Vancouver if I bought my east van house 30 years ago for pennies and it's now worth $1.5M. Just because London is even more expensive? No one is allowed to complain about housing prices in their city unless they live in a top five expensive city on the planet? Makes about zero sense.