I just moved to Ottawa to start school, and let me tell, while it's not a bad town, it doesn't seem to hold a candle to Calgary. The weather stinks back home, but Calgary is a great little city. Lots of life, and the potential for so much fun.
Speaking of taking off, I leave for San Fran on the 1st, I figured if I didn't do it now I wouldn't do it. The year away from the gf will be tough, but we will survive
just got home after spending 3 weeks with the wife in the Mediterranean... Italy, France, Spain, Croatia... fantastic vacation and beautiful cities/countries, but trips like that always remind me why I love Calgary so much- maybe I'm crazy, but I'll never move away from Canada (or Calgary for that matter)
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Speaking of taking off, I leave for San Fran on the 1st, I figured if I didn't do it now I wouldn't do it. The year away from the gf will be tough, but we will survive
What for? I might be moving down there in January... and c'est le vie to my gf if that's the case. Hahaha.
What for? I might be moving down there in January... and c'est le vie to my gf if that's the case. Hahaha.
I am doing a master's in international business. I will let you know how I like it if yah want. That was the original plan as well, but we want to make it work. although being single would be fun if that is what yah want
Calgary will always be my hometown, but I do not regret leaving for Costa Rica. The wife and I were getting so sick of the rat-race of work work work, and then having very little time on the weekends for R&R. There was always competition between us and our friends for having the best house, car and 'toys'. After visiting friends who already moved to Costa Rica, and seeing the local people and their relaxed attitude towards life, it really struck a chord with us.
Currently I'm back in Calgary working for 3 months. For the last year we have been living off savings, but have a few ideas for some small businesses. Foriengers can own corporations and collect money from said corporations, you just can't do the physical work. For example you can own and manage a restaurant, but can't wait tables, cook food or clean tables.
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Originally Posted by 4X4
Did you apply for citizenship or do they even care?
Currently you can be there as a tourist having to leave the country every 3 months. For the last while we could go to Panama just for the day, but they have clamped down on that, making you stay in Panama for 3 days. Residency is possible, it involves transferring a set amount of money every month for 3-4 years to a Costa Rican bank account. Then you become a resident, having the same rights as a citizen. The easiest way is to have a child there and the parents become automatic residents.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunk
Sounds like you just had some crappy friends.
Actually they are awesome and very supportive. Even some of them joined us for the last year. Everyone, whether they realize it or not, is keeping up with the Jones'. Sounds like you're jealous.
Last edited by normtwofinger; 08-27-2011 at 08:25 PM.
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Looks like I'll be in Toronto or Ottawa after I wrap up my Masters in a few months. Not really much of a call for public sector consulting in Calgary. That's ok though, time for a change. I think I've had enough of close to 30 years of dry air. I love Ontario humidity, even if it sucks in the winter.
What for? I might be moving down there in January... and c'est le vie to my gf if that's the case. Hahaha.
Hit me up if you find your way down here. I don't know many Flames fans here to go to games with. (I live in Santa Clara, to be more precise; a suburb of SF/SJ.)
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"With a coach and a player, sometimes there's just so much respect there that it's boils over"
-Taylor Hall
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.
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Last edited by JohnnyB; 08-28-2011 at 06:42 AM.
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