How much did you bring with you?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Your new home sounds lovely, Ant. It does indeed sound like you have been adopted into the landscape:-). I love being surrounded by nature and wildlife and I feel so fortunate that my new home is like this. While we live in 'suburbia' in a small town about 22 miles south of Atlanta, the area was undeveloped wilderness until about 4 years ago. Our home is one of the oldest in the community. The land, in fact, used to be an African Lion Safari park (or something like that) until it closed 25 years ago so even then it was relatively 'wild'. We see deer footprints when we go walking on the nature trails around here and our back yard is regularly visited by all sorts of birds and wild life. I have seen fox, geese, ducks and wild turkeys on my walks as well. My husband had two bird feeders erected when I arrived and we have since expanded it to 8 bird feeding stations in the yard along with several butterfly bushes and plants that are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Our cats have always been indoor cats as well, and while we talked about building them an outdoor enclosure that they could enter through a window, weather practicalities and health concerns have made that unrealistic. The back of the house has a lot of windows, though, so I have placed several cat trees in the two rooms at the back and the cats spend a lot of hours watching 'cat tv' - the bird feeders and gardens behind the house. We do have to deal with neighbouring visiting outdoor cats but, except for one, they are all non-issues. The problem one is quite nasty and actually tries to attack our cats through the windows which has caused problems inside here so I have had to erect barriers around the windows to keep that cat away. (We have talked to her owners who are irresponsible and don't care, unfortunately). I have even become a bird watcher since coming here and participated last year in the Great Backyard Bird Count:-). I have identified 48 different variety of birds at the feeders or in the back yard including 2 different types of hawks. There is a little bit of wildness at the back of our property that we haven't changed just because it does provide shelter for the wildlife.

This is one thing that surprised me moving to Georgia - the abundance of wildlife and greenery - there are forests everywhere (along with kudzu in the summer, hehehe) - and the state is breathtakingly beautiful with all of its hills and valleys. The weather is for the most part extremely liveable; even though it gets very hot and humid during the summer the night times almost always cool off unlike back home where if it was 90 during the day it stayed in the 90s overnight as well. I have got used to temperature fluctuations of 25 to 40 degrees in a day as being natural: warm/hot days and cool/warm nights depending on the season. I have not had to wear a coat - just a fall jacket - even in the depth of winter. Spring and Fall are not quick and done with in 2 weeks - they both stretch on for 2 whole months or more starting the end of February for Spring and not ending until the end of November in the Fall. All that, plus I get to live with my much loved husband, too! Life is good:-).

Edited January 27, 2007 by Kathryn41

[vanee 13]

My eldest was nearly 16 at the time and the stress of the move proved to be very difficult for her. She never really recovered from the trip down. She developed a urinary tract infection from the stress, then stopped eating and in spite of force feeding her, she passed away 6 weeks after our arrival. She is buried on the top of the hill behind the house with a small garden over top of her. The others are hale and hearty.

Sorry to read about the loss of your oldest. But it's good to know that the others are doing well.

(just kidding, as there was a limit on how much food one can bring over the border)

That's news to me. I was planning on stocking up on some things that aren't available in the US. Besides not bringing produce or meat, what are the limits on bringing food across the border?

Thanks.

[Reba 2]

I wonder if I can bring over more than one thanksgiving turkey if I said it was a pet (just kidding, as there was a limit on how much food one can bring over the border).

actually, bringing food is not allowed at all AFAIK. You might be able to get in some pre-packaged snacks, but that's about it. And if you have a moving company taking your things, they won't allow food in the container. You can't bring the contents of your pantry, that's for sure, even if you move yourself. No meats, no fruits, no vegetables, and a whole lot of other stuff they won't allow. Unless the rules have changed again recently.

Consolation is that there is www.canadianfavourites.com and other websites, plus World Market in a lot of cities where you can buy Canadian and other foods we'd be more familiar with than you can get in mainstream stores in non-multicultural areas of the US.

Plus, I go home at least once per year to stock up on a few necessities, like tea, Gravol, Smarties etc etc. My Mum once brought me a bottle of ketchup and a bottle of Guk. When asked at by the CBP "any food to declare?" she said "just emergency rations of ketchup and Guk!" The guy had no clue what Guk was, she had to describe it. He'd never been to Lick's Burgers.

Although I am finding lately that more and more familiar foods are slowley getting into stores here. I even found crumpets at the local Ingles, which was strange, and pretty much every store in town now has Voortman and Dare cookies.

Still noone has Shreddies though, so I order that from Canadian Favourites. And Bits & Bites for hubby.

[no one 0]

Hi Kathryn,

Wow, I can't believe that you brought all of your cats over from Canada! Was it hard to do? In answer to your question, I couldn't bring over my cat because my former family (ex-so-called-family who pretty much disowned me now) took my cat, since the cat lived with them for awhile and had joint custody of the cat. I admit, I am quite concerned for my cat, and have even offered to find the cat another better home in Canada if it was too much trouble to take care of her or to transport her to the USA. Believe me, if there was such a thing as having legal custody over cats, I think I would have filed the paperwork by now to bring her here. I felt so sad when I saw her last time, knowing that I might never see her again....

Meanwhile, maybe I'll find another cat to add to my family here in the US? Sigh, it won't be the same though....

Ant

Aww... I was wondering about Patchie! (Patches? Sorry... it's been years since we last saw each other!). If you're ever in the SF Bay Area, you must visit us You'll love our kitty Neechee. Oh, and puppy Bella (though she belongs to my mother-in-law and sis-in-law, technically).

[no one 0]

2 checked luggage, 2 carry-on bags

When my family came for my wedding, they brought a few more bags of my stuff with them -- mostly photo albums, CDs, and winter clothes (I'd arrived in the fall and didn't need too much warm clothes then).

I used to teach high school, so when I get to visit Canada again, I'll probably be lugging my teaching resources and books with me. They were too heavy to bring with me, and I'm not going to pay to have them shipped here when I can't even work for pay!

In a way, I'm lucky because I don't have many possessions as a recent university grad.

OMG!

I'm new to VJ and just read where you two are from! I live in toronto and my fiance is in Petaluma! It's a small small world! I am flying into San Fran in two weeks with our 8 mos old daughter to visit Scott for a month! Usually I am very excited because regardless of the time of year I can pull out my sandles! I hear this year it ain't gonna happen! Petaluma weather not too far off what Toronto had over Christmas! Ah well--we'll have to spend more time INDOORS!

Best of luck you tow--2700-ish miles apart sucks!

Angel (Toronto) and Scott(Petaluma)

It is a small world! Petaluma's a lot different from Toronto, but I'm getting used to living here. It's January and I still wear my sandals outdoors most of the time Right now, it's a bit chilly with the rain, but I'm hoping we can head up to the mountains next month to try snowboarding (I miss the snow!!!).

How long will you be visiting here? I've been wondering if there are other VJers who live nearby... we should meet up someday!

[antda 13]

Hi Em!

Yes, I was referring to Patchie. I guess you remember her too? I agree, it's been years since we last saw each other (note to other VJers: Em and I knew each other from Toronto before, small world, isn't it?). Not sure if I'll be travelling to California anytime soon, but if I do, I'll come by and visit. Same to you too, if you are ever on your way back to Toronto, and pass by New York State (near Buffalo), you can come visit us out here in the countryside too.

By the way, isn't Petaluma a small city, not a small town? What is it like living there in comparison to Toronto? Just curious.

Awww..that's nice about Neechee and Bella . You're lucky to have such pets in your family.

Ant

Aww... I was wondering about Patchie! (Patches? Sorry... it's been years since we last saw each other!). If you're ever in the SF Bay Area, you must visit us You'll love our kitty Neechee. Oh, and puppy Bella (though she belongs to my mother-in-law and sis-in-law, technically).

[no one 0]

Hi Em!

Yes, I was referring to Patchie. I guess you remember her too? I agree, it's been years since we last saw each other (note to other VJers: Em and I knew each other from Toronto before, small world, isn't it?). Not sure if I'll be travelling to California anytime soon, but if I do, I'll come by and visit. Same to you too, if you are ever on your way back to Toronto, and pass by New York State (near Buffalo), you can come visit us out here in the countryside too.

By the way, isn't Petaluma a small city, not a small town? What is it like living there in comparison to Toronto? Just curious.

Awww..that's nice about Neechee and Bella . You're lucky to have such pets in your family.

Ant

Hahaha, to me, Petaluma's a small town :-P I'd say its population size can be comparable to Windsor, Ontario. Petaluma's also struggling to keep its "small town" feel by not allowing any huge malls or highrises to be built here.

Living in Petaluma is a lot different from living in Toronto. The public transit system here sucks in comparison to the TTC (I know everyone complains about the TTC, but I actually liked it). To get to anywhere of interest, you need to bike or drive... not much within walking distance unless you live smack in the middle of the downtown area. An odd point, but I like the traffic lights system here -- the lights sense cars and so will change accordingly.

I also wear sandals out-of-doors in the wintertime, here. Strange, huh?

We're around a 45 min's drive from the ocean, and 2.5 hrs from the mountains... well, and 50 min to the city of SF. Lots of hills and vineyards all around.

[antda 13]

Hi Em!

Yes, I was referring to Patchie. I guess you remember her too? I agree, it's been years since we last saw each other (note to other VJers: Em and I knew each other from Toronto before, small world, isn't it?). Not sure if I'll be travelling to California anytime soon, but if I do, I'll come by and visit. Same to you too, if you are ever on your way back to Toronto, and pass by New York State (near Buffalo), you can come visit us out here in the countryside too.

By the way, isn't Petaluma a small city, not a small town? What is it like living there in comparison to Toronto? Just curious.

Awww..that's nice about Neechee and Bella . You're lucky to have such pets in your family.

Ant

Hahaha, to me, Petaluma's a small town :-P I'd say its population size can be comparable to Windsor, Ontario. Petaluma's also struggling to keep its "small town" feel by not allowing any huge malls or highrises to be built here.

Living in Petaluma is a lot different from living in Toronto. The public transit system here sucks in comparison to the TTC (I know everyone complains about the TTC, but I actually liked it). To get to anywhere of interest, you need to bike or drive... not much within walking distance unless you live smack in the middle of the downtown area. An odd point, but I like the traffic lights system here -- the lights sense cars and so will change accordingly.

I also wear sandals out-of-doors in the wintertime, here. Strange, huh?

We're around a 45 min's drive from the ocean, and 2.5 hrs from the mountains... well, and 50 min to the city of SF. Lots of hills and vineyards all around.

[antda 13]

Hi Em,

Sorry....I got disconected while typing, so it looks like I have to respond all over again...grrr....Now, if only I can remember what I just wrote.....(still thinking about it...)

Ant

Hahaha, to me, Petaluma's a small town :-P I'd say its population size can be comparable to Windsor, Ontario. Petaluma's also struggling to keep its "small town" feel by not allowing any huge malls or highrises to be built here.

Living in Petaluma is a lot different from living in Toronto. The public transit system here sucks in comparison to the TTC (I know everyone complains about the TTC, but I actually liked it). To get to anywhere of interest, you need to bike or drive... not much within walking distance unless you live smack in the middle of the downtown area. An odd point, but I like the traffic lights system here -- the lights sense cars and so will change accordingly.

I also wear sandals out-of-doors in the wintertime, here. Strange, huh?

We're around a 45 min's drive from the ocean, and 2.5 hrs from the mountains... well, and 50 min to the city of SF. Lots of hills and vineyards all around.

[antda 13]

Hi Em,

Ok, here I go, trying to remember what I typed before I got disconnected (and hopefully won’t get disconnected again):

In comparison to Toronto (with the population of a couple of million people), I guess Petaluma is a small town (with a population of 200,000 people I guess, based on your comparison to Windsor, Ontario). From what you described, Petaluma sounds like a nice place. You’re lucky that you are close to the ocean and the mountains too.

However in my opinion, Petaluma seems like a big city to me, as the town that I live in only has a population of 1000-3000 people, (which is about the population of our old high school, believe it or not). Heck, the town is so small that they don't even mention it on the TV when they announce the weather forecast! The closest “Petaluma-sized population” where I am is Buffalo, NY, which is about 2 hours away from me. We don’t have any small malls (or any malls, for that matter, as there is only one convenience store in town, and the closest grocery stores and the local Wal Mart are 20 mins away by car), no highrises (just country houses and farms and barns here), no public transit system (only the big yellow school bus for the kids before and after school), and no traffic lights (only a few stop signs and railway crossing signals in my town). To get around town one has to walk, ride a bicycle, or ride a snowmobile, (or better yet, do like the Amish/Mennonite people around the area further south do, take a horse and buggy). And yeah, it snows a lot around here (even more than Toronto, due to lake effect snow, but I like winter and snow, so it doesn’t matter to me), so I can forget about the sandals until the summertime (but then again, walking around in sandals on gravel roads is not a good idea). Meanwhile, I’ll just enjoy the beauty of my hometown here (where everybody seems to know my name), and the State Park nearby….

So, my question is, “If Petaluma is a small town, then how would you describe the size of the town that I am living in now?”

Yes, I felt the “culture shock” from going to a big city of a few million people to a really really small town of a few thousand people. I’m sure this would give anyone a "culture shock", indeed! Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way! No way would I ever move back to the big city (or any city for that matter). I love my countryside hometown!

Ant

Hahaha, to me, Petaluma's a small town :-P I'd say its population size can be comparable to Windsor, Ontario. Petaluma's also struggling to keep its "small town" feel by not allowing any huge malls or highrises to be built here.

Living in Petaluma is a lot different from living in Toronto. The public transit system here sucks in comparison to the TTC (I know everyone complains about the TTC, but I actually liked it). To get to anywhere of interest, you need to bike or drive... not much within walking distance unless you live smack in the middle of the downtown area. An odd point, but I like the traffic lights system here -- the lights sense cars and so will change accordingly.

I also wear sandals out-of-doors in the wintertime, here. Strange, huh?

We're around a 45 min's drive from the ocean, and 2.5 hrs from the mountains... well, and 50 min to the city of SF. Lots of hills and vineyards all around.

[no one 0]

Hi Em,

Ok, here I go, trying to remember what I typed before I got disconnected (and hopefully won’t get disconnected again):

In comparison to Toronto (with the population of a couple of million people), I guess Petaluma is a small town (with a population of 200,000 people I guess, based on your comparison to Windsor, Ontario). From what you described, Petaluma sounds like a nice place. You’re lucky that you are close to the ocean and the mountains too.

However in my opinion, Petaluma seems like a big city to me, as the town that I live in only has a population of 1000-3000 people, (which is about the population of our old high school, believe it or not). Heck, the town is so small that they don't even mention it on the TV when they announce the weather forecast! The closest “Petaluma-sized population” where I am is Buffalo, NY, which is about 2 hours away from me. We don’t have any small malls (or any malls, for that matter, as there is only one convenience store in town, and the closest grocery stores and the local Wal Mart are 20 mins away by car), no highrises (just country houses and farms and barns here), no public transit system (only the big yellow school bus for the kids before and after school), and no traffic lights (only a few stop signs and railway crossing signals in my town). To get around town one has to walk, ride a bicycle, or ride a snowmobile, (or better yet, do like the Amish/Mennonite people around the area further south do, take a horse and buggy). And yeah, it snows a lot around here (even more than Toronto, due to lake effect snow, but I like winter and snow, so it doesn’t matter to me), so I can forget about the sandals until the summertime (but then again, walking around in sandals on gravel roads is not a good idea). Meanwhile, I’ll just enjoy the beauty of my hometown here (where everybody seems to know my name), and the State Park nearby….

So, my question is, “If Petaluma is a small town, then how would you describe the size of the town that I am living in now?”

Yes, I felt the “culture shock” from going to a big city of a few million people to a really really small town of a few thousand people. I’m sure this would give anyone a "culture shock", indeed! Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way! No way would I ever move back to the big city (or any city for that matter). I love my countryside hometown!

Ant

So do you get around by horse and buggy sometimes? That would be cool. I guess I'd call your town a very, VERY small town! WalMart's banned from this town I like a huge variety of food, so not having easy access to "ethnic" groceries would kill me.

Actually, last school year, I taught high school in Port Perry, Ontario, and that experience's prepared me for this, somewhat. Port Perry's a bit over an hour's drive from Scarborough (crazy commute) and I can't remember what the population is, but around 5000 - 10 000? The surrounding little towns have around 1000-2000 people. There are some towns around here with a population of 20 people! I think this little piece of suburbia is okay for me... I'm at heart a city girl, but I also like my wildlife / natural scenery

[antda 13]

Hi Em!

Lol....From my personal experience, no I haven't gotten around in horse and buggy. However, I have seen the Ammish/Mennonite people that do get around around in horse and buggy in areas that are a bit further south in NYS (about an hour or so away, closer to the NYS/PA border). Maybe I'll hitch a ride with them sometime? Yes, this is a very, very, very, small town where I am. Actually, it's so small that the sign says "Welcome to the Village of.....", instead of "the town of". Ant=The Rural Village Person?

So how come WalMarts are banned in Petaluma? What department stores, or other stores do you have there instead? Glad you like "ethnic" foods and that you have the variety of food to choose from where you are. Lol....and the only "ethnic" thing around here is me (but then again, "the Canadian with the funny looking eyes and hair" does not really count as ethnic, does it?"). Meanwhile, the "American non-ethnic" diet is good enough for me (lol..."ethnic food" makes my stomach sick anyways).

Port Perry sounds like a nice place to work and live in. I'm glad you liked teaching there. Did you ever think about renting a place there while you taught, so that you didn't have to bother with the 1 hr commute? Oh well, you don't have to worry that anymore!

As for where one lives: As long as they are happy living where they are, I'm happy for it. And by the looks of it, it seems as though everyone else enjoys living in the suburbs (which is ok too, as it has a bit of both the city and country worlds)...hmmmmm....

Ant

So do you get around by horse and buggy sometimes? That would be cool. I guess I'd call your town a very, VERY small town! WalMart's banned from this town I like a huge variety of food, so not having easy access to "ethnic" groceries would kill me.

Actually, last school year, I taught high school in Port Perry, Ontario, and that experience's prepared me for this, somewhat. Port Perry's a bit over an hour's drive from Scarborough (crazy commute) and I can't remember what the population is, but around 5000 - 10 000? The surrounding little towns have around 1000-2000 people. There are some towns around here with a population of 20 people! I think this little piece of suburbia is okay for me... I'm at heart a city girl, but I also like my wildlife / natural scenery

[Knobby_Wheezer 0]

actually, bringing food is not allowed at all AFAIK. You might be able to get in some pre-packaged snacks, but that's about it. And if you have a moving company taking your things, they won't allow food in the container. You can't bring the contents of your pantry, that's for sure, even if you move yourself. No meats, no fruits, no vegetables, and a whole lot of other stuff they won't allow. Unless the rules have changed again recently.

Where does one find this information? I have jars and jars of dried beans and rice that I would loathe having to buy all over again.

I know about Canadian Favourites, but the stuff sold there isn't dried beans---OMG! I just finally got my 2lb of dulse from New Brunswick! You mean I'll have to leave it here and buy it again when I get there? Seems retarded to me (or promotionally "buy American").

Where does one find the information about the "paperwork?"

And, I would like to know if the border crossing is as aynul about reusing boxes as the US Post Office is about mailing stuff in reused boxes. Mailing in used boxes requires the blacking out, completely covering up or taking the box apart, turning it inside-out and hot-glue-gunning it back together so that none of the markings about the original use of the box can be seen. Anyone know?

[Flames9_RN 358]

http://www.cbp.gov/ Should have info on what u can bring/not bring. I dont know why the border guys would care on what boxes u use. I have never had a problem with mailing used boxes with US postal either, of course one has to take the old marking off, as one wants to ensure it gets to the correct address.Best of luck

[Reba 2]

There's info gallore at the Customs & Border Patrol website that flames just gave you. Do a search for "household goods" or "personal goods" er summat. And then do a search for "bringing food". THEN ask the moving company you're using. They can't take food. If you're driving all your stuff over, You Might be able to ge across with it, but maybe not.