Missing Canada

[Justdazed 1]

So after completely forgetting my password & username for this website I finally recovered it (my duh moment of the day) and things have changed for sure.

I'm not sure if I'm in just a mood or what but I have been missing my home more than usual lately (in Victoria, BC) and if I could pick up my family and move back I would in a heartbeat. While I love living in Seattle things haven't been what I expected. My husband and I made the choice to move the states because financially it made sense, of course it didn't help that three months after me immigrating he was laid off unexpectedly (then had surgery two days later, great timing). I think what is bugging me the most is that we would have moved to Canada hands-down if we would known my husband was going to lose his job. It was a hard step for us to decide where build our life - in Canada or the US and unfortunately the only valid reason is not quite so valid anymore. I miss my family and I'm craving structure right now. While I love my husband’s family they don't have the best track record for supporting him (parents divorced, mother remarried had more children - father is not the most reliable person in the world), there is his mother's family, his dad's family... and him. I keep telling myself if I move back that I need to be coming from a strong point: bills paid, immigration finalized, career solidified but living in the US right now just doesn't feel 'right' and to be honest it never really did.

I'm looking into my options, neutralization for me then moving back to Canada possibly (legally I will need to confirm it). I've also entertained the idea to just THROW everything out the window and move - my future and happiness is more important than money spent.

I think a fair question to ask in addition to my nice rant is - Do you miss Canada? Would you move back if you could? What do you enjoy about living in the States?

Edited July 11, 2007 by Megz

[Emancipation 2]

I think a fair question to ask in addition to my nice rant is - Do you miss Canada? Would you move back if you could? What do you enjoy about living in the States?

Oh for sure, every day.. from when I go to the coffee shop in the morning (no Timmy's), to the conversations that happen at work (pro war/ pro bush), to just the general weirdness that I feel around here being such "the hippy" as my husband says. I miss my family BIG TIME, and I miss having real "old" relationships - people who know my history and i'm 100% comfortable with. Right now most of our friends are PHD's and Medical Dr's, etc. and it's very hard for me to find common ground and/or not be intimidated by them. Where I work 80% are x-military (as well as hubby) and that feels strange to me as well (i'm the outsider not being a USC and never known what it's like to be in the military).

Would I move back? Hopefully someday, but we need to be here right now for hubby's children. He needs to work his job to make money to take care of them, and we don't want to move any geographically further away from them than we already are.

What do I enjoy.. hmmmmm.. I do enjoy the "newness" of it. the change and the adventure of going out and seeing new things. believe it or not I am enjoying hearing the different perspectives (as much as they annoy me sometimes), and I do enjoy the variety of things to do and see (esp in my area being close to NYC, Boston & DC). I love my hubby!! And he made the promise to me that he would make what I was coming to better than what I was leaving behind, and he has done that AND more..

I do feel for you.. esp. since you are just a ferry ride away from home it must be so tough!

[Cassie 8]

I think a fair question to ask in addition to my nice rant is - Do you miss Canada? Would you move back if you could? What do you enjoy about living in the States?

yes, very much, especially the ocean, and being away from my family.

yes, and we're hoping to figure out a way to make it happen.

road trips with the hubby

[KarenCee 3]

Hands down yes...we want to move back. Well, it will be home for my husband. For me, a new life. Other than my husband and our daughter, there is nothing in the States for me. Yeah, I do have friends...friends that I've made here too. We still want to move to Canada (Nova Scotia for us). I have no family here...his family and friends are all back home in NS. Healthcare is way better there (that's another topic on here as well) and quite frankly, I'm more comfortable there than here. He moved here because I couldn't move there. *sigh* Some day though...

[Justdazed 1]

I do feel for you.. esp. since you are just a ferry ride away from home it must be so tough!

YEP!

Its been hard to completely separate myself from my 'old' home and my 'new' home and my feelings lately haven't helped.

I can relate when you say that you feel intimidated and it's hard to find common ground in social situations. My husband, poor guy, is not a socially includined person so meeting new people has been hard.

As long as I'm with him though it's ok

[Justdazed 1]

Hands down yes...we want to move back. Well, it will be home for my husband. For me, a new life. Other than my husband and our daughter, there is nothing in the States for me. Yeah, I do have friends...friends that I've made here too. We still want to move to Canada (Nova Scotia for us). I have no family here...his family and friends are all back home in NS. Healthcare is way better there (that's another topic on here as well) and quite frankly, I'm more comfortable there than here. He moved here because I couldn't move there. *sigh* Some day though...

Yeah the Healthcare in Canada is for sure a big one. I know that my husband loves Victoria and is just as comfortable there as I am, it really is a no-brainer for us. We just need to work everything out.

[warlord 73]

Hell no. Well someone had to say that ha ha. Definatly not though. I visit once every year or so and that's good enough to visit for a few days. Moving back? Never would want to. My wife on the other hand wouldn't have an issue, but being that I spent my life dreaming of leaving I would cringe at the thought.

Sure my family and I do have a lot of friends there, but we visit, in fact my parents are comming out here for a vacation soon. There's really nothing I miss from Canada at all either, other then little things like Olives with the pits in them, and Harvey's hamburgers etc. Nothing really important.

Since you're in Washington and your family is just north, you seem to be pretty close to your home anyways. Isn't it possible to just travel there for the weekends or something every month? Not sure the exact distance, but seems that you could easily visit a lot if you wanted to...

[misa 2]

Yes, I'd move back. Definitely. We've talked about sometime in the future settling in B.C. (I'm from Toronto).

So far the only thing I really like here is my husband, the rent (way cheaper than what I used to pay, but that's only because of this city) and the postal system. Oh and ordering stuff online without it getting stopped by customs at the border and dinged for duty charges.

Warlord, your case is a little different than ours though since you actively sought to move and didn't move for a fiance/spouse.

[Tinker 0]

Misa, I'm glad you like your hubby!!

[misa 2]

Heh, it would kind of be a problem if I didn't!

[Justdazed 1]

Hell no. Well someone had to say that ha ha. Definatly not though. I visit once every year or so and that's good enough to visit for a few days. Moving back? Never would want to. My wife on the other hand wouldn't have an issue, but being that I spent my life dreaming of leaving I would cringe at the thought.

Sure my family and I do have a lot of friends there, but we visit, in fact my parents are comming out here for a vacation soon. There's really nothing I miss from Canada at all either, other then little things like Olives with the pits in them, and Harvey's hamburgers etc. Nothing really important.

Since you're in Washington and your family is just north, you seem to be pretty close to your home anyways. Isn't it possible to just travel there for the weekends or something every month? Not sure the exact distance, but seems that you could easily visit a lot if you wanted to...

To be honest with you at first I was like YES, I'M FREE but now I know it was superficial - it's cliche but I never knew how good I had it until I left. I'm pretty sure this post is stemming from my feeling of being isolated right now for a lot of reasons. I would love for my future children to grow up where I did and have their grandparents play an active role in their life.

As it stands right now I live an hour and half away from Canada and my family, my parents in particular are just a ferry boat away - It's close but still inconvenient.

[Justdazed 1]

Yes, I'd move back. Definitely. We've talked about sometime in the future settling in B.C. (I'm from Toronto).

So far the only thing I really like here is my husband, the rent (way cheaper than what I used to pay, but that's only because of this city) and the postal system. Oh and ordering stuff online without it getting stopped by customs at the border and dinged for duty charges.

Warlord, your case is a little different than ours though since you actively sought to move and didn't move for a fiance/spouse.

Your post made me giggle - my husband is a online-shopaholic and has made it clear that he has never been impressed with "online shopping system" in Canada.

I'm glad you like your husband too!

[raymaga 25]

I would move back in a heartbeat, but my husband has a great government job with an excellent pension, etc., so we won't be moving back until we retire (in about 10 years).

I miss my two adult sons (24 and 26) that still live in Canada soooooooooooo much, and I am missing them more every single day that I am here. Thankfully, my daughter (19) lives here with us and is attending college.

The thought of missing out on being part of my grandchildren's lives (when the time comes) makes me want to cry. I have not made really close friendships since I came here and I miss my friends back in Canada terribly.

We're about 3 1/2 hours (by car) from my boys and my friends, and we visit as often as we can, but it's not the same as actually living there and having them over for dinner whenever I want.

I just dread the thought of doing the immigration process for my husband to move to Canada when the time comes!!!! Anybody know if it's really complicated????

Edited July 11, 2007 by raymaga

[Justdazed 1]

I just dread the thought of doing the immigration process for my husband to move to Canada when the time comes!!!! Anybody know if it's really complicated????

It's a little different then immigrating down to the states, you will have to "sponsor" your husband for him to be a permanent resident. When you sponsor a spouse, to become permanent residents of Canada you must be able to support them financially. Therefore, a big part of the application is that you have to meet certain income requirements. I know there is an additional step if you are a Canadian citizen living in another country but all and all it seems to be a one step process.

[Autumnchik 6]

Wow, of all the days for me to come back to VJ (have been playing hooky lately) and to read your post. I am so glad I saw this!!! Nice to know we're not alone. I am the USC, but am really wishing right now that I was the one to make the move to Canada. Who knows what we will do in the future. Hubby wants to stay in the States for a few years at least since we have done all this immigration stuff. We live in NH and am relatively close to my family in CT, which is a plus. After adding hubby to my healthcare and having to pay an extra $433/month, am REALLY wishing we were in Canada.