6 years ago today, I arrived in Montreal to live permanently. I was 35 and we arrived with 2 boxes, 2 suitcases, 1 computer and our dog. It hasn't taken long to fill every nook and cranny in the house with crap, you would never believe we "started" accumulating just 6 years ago. And while I miss the proximity of family and good friends enormously, Skype and frequent visits to California have lessened the pain somewhat. I can't imagine wanting to live anywhere else than here, so I must be in the right place. If only there was no February on the calendar.......
10. No car! A car is more of an impediment here than anything. No tickets, registration, insurance, horns, accidents. Letting other people drive is really the way to go. Luckily, with public transportation so efficient, one doesn't need to be wealthy enough for a private chauffeur.
9. All the terrible "fried and fatty" foods that we learn to shun in California are staples here. No more guilt over french fries. (In fact, we build whole MEALS around them.)
8. Dedicated bike paths. The city is riddled with them. I've timed it, and I can beat the bus on my bike.
7. The question is not "if " you give to beggars, it's "how".
6. Going to the doctor costs nothing.
5. I speak two languages, as do most denizens of the city. I can't explain exactly how that translates to tolerance, but it does.
4. The city takes pride in and supports its gay population and activities.
3. Summer in Montreal is a two month party. Seriously. (and yes, summer lasts two months here)
2. Smoking might be harmful to your health, but it doesn't make you low class. (yet)
1. You can still rent a one bedroom apartment for yourself for under $500. Electricity included. (If we go broke on real estate, we can always rent a cheap apartment!)
29 comments:
The Mrs and I have always wanted to go to Montreal. Is that fireworks festival an annual occurance? If it is, that'd be a good time for us to go up there, I love fireworks.
sounds better than here! where were you before? California, where?
Happy Anniversary! I'm glad you picked our humble nation to call home!
I agree with you on all of this!?
But you forgot one!?
# 0.5: Because you're here!?
I was born and raised here. I guess after a while you start to take things for granted.
You openned my eyes that day on our ride.
I thank you!?
Since then I "see" better!?
I "see" more!?
I "see"!?
Have fun!?
J
Happy anniversary Torn!
Congrats on finding a place to call "home."
Never been to Montreal, but been to Toronto many times and I think most of those things hold true there as well.
Maybe it's cause Canada better than the USA in so many ways...
I need to move... :(
Happy Anniversary!
You've done well in six years.
Jane
Sounds great!
I miss not needing a car.
:)
That sounds heavenly. Happy Anniversary.
I've been to Montreal twice, unfortunately I didn't get to see so much of the city. Wow $500 a month w/electric is a great deal!
:)
If I spoke even a little bit of French, I would so want to find a job in Montreal.
Any city that has #7 as an option is my kinda city! Have never been but hear it as totally beautiful!
French fries and no car?
Canada rocks.
Glad you have found happiness there...I think I could too if French Fries are a staple!
Holy frijoles. Sounds 75% like San Francisco.
If I were to move to any city in North America, Montreal would be on my short list. It's one of the few remaining civilized places on the continent.
I was not overly impressed until #1. I'm packing my bags tomorrow.
It sounds lovely, but I would miss the California weather. And having no car truly is bliss, no? And I love the european attitude towards smoking because it lets people do as they choose and people consider it rude to go around telling everyone what to do.
Are you including poutine in #9 or should that become #11?
I love Montreal and just this past week I told co-workers that I was quitting my job and moving to Montreal to dead head flower at the bontaical garden. Oh if that was only true!
That does it. I'm moving.
Home is the place worth living in. I'm glad you found a fabulous place to call one.
J'adore Montréal... and I'm glad you've made it your own. It's beautiful!
Happy Anniversary :)
I'm glad for you, but still miss you terribly.
I hate that you're so far away.
Not that I sit around and mope about it, but every once in a while I wonder what would have happened, and how my life would be different now if you were still in Long Beach.
I'm just sad tonight. Caught me at a bad time.
10 perfect reasons!
It makes me want to move... anywhere :)
loving where you live is huge. i'm glad you do.
sadly, i understand the two-month summer comment.
And you are away from Bush too. What a plus.
Number 0: There is cool peoples like _Psycho ;)
hehe
Happy Anniversary! I love Montreal, and it is one of the top five choices for our new city. We've been there three times already.
Hi I live in Montreal, and it sucks shit. You Americans who want to move here are stupid. Firstly, get your facts straight, the French here are so racist to any ethnic group, and I belong to an ethnic minority. 99% are dirt poor driving 1989 Toyota Tercels and old civics and cavaliers. 600 000 Anglophones left Montreal in the 1980's and 1990's to go live in a better place like Calgray, Toronto, Europe and the USA. We have 140 billion dollars in debt, the highest taxes, the most people on welfare, the worst waiting times in the hospitals, the highest suicide rate, the most terrorists living on our streets, a growing Muslim population, and psycho killers that walk into schools like Dawson and murder people. Quebec is going straight to hell in a hand basket. And oh by the way, the Anglos used to control Montreal when it was prosperous; lets just say downtown Montreal is equivalent to bombed out Iraq. If your a left wing communist loser that loves to rape children up there ass because your gay, than Montreal is the place for you. I suggest living in NC or New York where at least people have money and taste, not crappy racist Quebec that thinks they rule the world. I love the US and I'm Canadian; go figure. By the way we drive the crappiest cars, have floods almost every summer on our autoroutes, and we have a gazillion potholes, I could go on and on, but I must say Quebec women are sluts, putes, all have AIDS, ugly, disgusting, they look like men with lipstick, and we are a disgusting melting pot, and this is coming from Leb ya'll. stay home please, we don't need more welfare recipients in our city.
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