For All Calgarians- What keeps you here?

[Bill Bumface]

There are lots of great places to live in the world, but obviously about a million of us decided we'd spend our days here. I've often thought about moving away, and still plan to, but I think I'll return here or stay here no matter what happens.

For me, family and friends are big things keeping me here.
So is the weather.

-I love the sunshine we get
-I love snow, and I love the "breaks" we get from winter when the chinooks roll though
-I also love the standard of living and the lifestyle, and the fact I can be in the mountains in 30 minutes
-I also am quite fond of the long summer nights
-I feel a little silly admitting it, but the Flames play a huge part in keeping me here. That would be 41+ nights a year of live entertainment that I'd be missing.

If our inversions continue to get worse though, I could be out of here. They already inspired me to live in the far west.

[shane_c]

Nothing. I hope to leave soon.

[Bill Bumface]

Rough start to this thread

[JiriHrdina]

Family is probably the number one factor now, though I do really like the city.

But dear lord I do not like the winters.

[albertGQ]

Family and friends

It starts and ends there

[Bunk]

I love witnessing a city literally re-invent itself. We are watching this city change and become a real city right in front of our eyes. Way more development and activity than pretty much any other city our size in North America. Some great, great things are happening.

I also like the city's culture that is inherently welcoming to outsiders. People of all backgrounds can come make something of themselves, take iniative in pretty much any area and become really successful and make a difference. It is a city where anything is possible and it has everything going for it.

Also the mountains are a nice bonus.

[moon]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

-I feel a little silly admitting it, but the Flames play a huge part in keeping me here. That would be 41+ nights a year of live entertainment that I'd be missing.

No need to feel silly. I wanted to move back to Calgary for the past 2-3 years and recently when I really thought about I realised the main reason was for the Flames and Stampeders. I really miss having season tickets to those teams and that would be a major factor in me moving back to Calgary.

Of course my wife loves it down here so there is no way we are leaving.

[photon]

Real estate market.

Family, it's in Canada (not many other Cdn cities I'd want to move to).

All my stuff is here....

[Daradon]

My new business will probably keep me here for years and years to come, though I have always wanted to live in Europe for some time.

I love watching the city re-invent itself too. While some people don't like all the traffic and people and bustle, I'm very much a city and people person and love going downtown and soaking it all in as Calgary becomes a true metropolitan city.

Having the mountains so close is one of my favorite things about Calgary and keeps me here as well.

[looooob]

Family, job is ok, and the Flames yes

it's not the city I remember growing up, but there is still a potential here. I believe there will be good opportunity for my kids as well

[arsenal]

Right now, my job. But if I got offered a job elsewhere in the world, and it fit in with what I wanted to accomplish, I would take it in a heartbeat, depending on where that place is.

I like Calgary, but if I had the chance to move to Japan, Europe or the States, I would go with out a second thought.

[Cal-Gal]

I moved here 5 years ago from the People's Republic of Saskatchewan - my sister is my only family member within 400 miles, but I absolutely adore Calgary.

I've been to every major city in the country, and aesthetically, I think Calgary takes the cake. Whenever I come back from visiting Sask., and I drive into Calgary on the #1 from the East.... as soon as I see the city's sky-line and the mountains in the background I just feel so darned good (corny, I know).

I originally came here for University....thinking I'd leave as soon as I finished my degree. I suppose its easy to say my work keeps me here,

but there's an intangible about this city that makes me want to stay.

[Engine09]

Dirtbiking & Streetbiking in the mountains
Hockey
Not too far from my folks
Far enough South to drive to California
The Bow River
The Calgary Flames
The West > the East
In my case - the fact that I can jog home from work

[FireFly]

This is where my heart is. I just love this city. It feels like home no matter where I am, but especially when I'm downtown.

[Pagal4321]

I enjoy the consistant sunny days, the chinooks, not a HUGE fan of the winters. I also like the size of the city, it takes between 20-30 minutes to get ANYWHERE in the city....love that.
Got all my friends and some family here, so just feels like home.

[photon]

And the winters could be a LOT worse.. I'd rather have cold-warm-cold-melt-cold-chinook than cold-cold-reallycold-cold-1degree

[J pold]

The Flames!

And family, I have a stupid amount of family in southern Alberta

I haven’t lived anywhere else so its hard to compare to other places

And the women of course !

[Jiggy_12]

Friends, family, and familiarity.

The familiarity factor is a big one for me. Knowing exactly how to get everywhere in the city and what the fastest ways are is something that takes a while to learn.

[if.away]

Studies are keeping me here. As soon as I get my degree I'm planning to take off and start somewhere else. Although it's easy to get a good job, the housing prices are insane.

[ricoFlame]

yeah, once school's done, me and the wife are outta here...but we'll definitely be within driving distance.