Sometimes we live in the sameplace where we were born and remain there all of our lives.
Sometimes we move away and never come back because of jobs, marriage, circumstances of all kinds.
Sometimes we choose where we will live and we have definite reasons for staying there even though we might be far from family.
1. Are you far from family and if so why? Would you like to have them closer and have you discussed that with them?
When you say 'family' I assume you mean immediate family. I have some of my immediate family near me and some far away. I haven't discussed being closer with the far away family members. They have their reasons for living where they live and I have mine. In fact they have their own family members too and are rooted in their various locations.
2. How did you come to live in the state you are in? How about the city/town.
I was born in the Province of British Columbia (BC). A province is similar to a state. My birthplace is and where I grew up is about 1200 km north of Vancouver, BC which is where I live now. I first moved here for university and then work. I have lived and worked in other parts of Canada but have been in Vancouver the longest of any other place I've lived so it is my home.
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| Signage at Mile "0" of the Alaska Highway |
3. What good things keep you living where you are?
What's good about your state and town?
Now that I am retired I remain in my city because it provides the best access to health care and there are many things one can do here to stay active and entertained. I consider myself fortunate in that I've had no issues accessing the health services of a family doctor or various specialists. This is a major problem for so many others, especially those that live outside of the Greater Vancouver area. Sometimes I've considered moving to a quieter city which is marginally less expensive to live in. It's the place where several of my immediate family members grew up and where several of my loved ones are laid to rest. The key impediment is lack of access to a family doctor. In fact, the issue was highlighted on the news just the other day.
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| A walk in Stanley Park |
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| False Creek view to downtown |
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| Granville Island |
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| Granville Island Aqua Bus |
So I stay put to access health services and all the other wonderful things in my city. It's a terribly expensive city but it is in a very beautiful, scenic setting. There are so many cultural activities, festivals and concerts to take in. If you are a sporty person there are also a plethora of sporting activities to enjoy such as running, hiking, walking, skiing and other sports. Vancouver is a very walkable city and has a variety of malls and neighbourhood shops where one can enjoy a variety of foods and shopping. One of my favourite activities when I have a bit more time is to take a walk in a particular neighbourhood, have coffee or lunch and take photos whether it's raining or sunny.
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| View to downtown Vancouver from Spanish Banks |
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| Trout Lake for the Aboriginal Day festival |
I also love the province because by and large, the scenery is spectacular wherever you travel througout the province.
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| Going north on the Coquihalla Highway |
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| Kits flying in Steveston's Garry Point Park |
4. What things might convince you to move to another state or just another town?
Better access to health services.
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| Downtown Hospital, a new one is being built |
Right now the provincial government is streamlining the process for health workers in USA who want to move to Canada and, in particular, to the province of British Columbia (BC). The government and relevant authorities have dramatically reduced the wait times for credentialing and the requirements for credentialing to help expedite the process for those who want to move to BC and work here. It's likely this will improve health care staffing across the entire province including smaller towns and villages.
Since March 2025, over 1200 doctors, nurses and health professionals have expressed an interest in moving to BC. The government says that number includes 573 physicians, 413 nurses 133 nurse practitioners and 39 allied health professionals. Since April 177 nurses have applied to work in BC and 113 have already been registered with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives though it isn't clear how many have actually been hired.
The government and health authorities have tried a variety of things to increase the number of doctors in particular including opening new medical school. However these initiatives take a lot of time to increase the number of health care professionals. Hiring people from other countries would increase the numbers more quickly assuming the province will have the flexibility to hire immigrants. I believe that these numbers were recently reduced by the federal immigration minister before our last election (pre-April 28, 2025). The federal government has been trying to reduce the immigration numbers overall due to the housing crisis. I sense that things are on the right track to improve both housing and health care.
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| Drive to Kamloops, BC |
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| Near Seton Lake, BC |
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| Kamloops, BC to the North Shore & Bachelor Heights |
So so beautiful. I would love to visit and have wanted to for so long. I've only been to Prince Edward Island and Niagara and Toronto but I loved it all. I have to say I believe medical care should be every nation's easist thing to access. Seems easier said than done though.
ReplyDeleteThank you Annie. I've travelled much of Canada but never quite made it to PEI (only across the bridge). I hope you get to see more of Canada one day.
DeleteI finally got to choose where I live in the winter and moved to Naples, Florida. Now, I want to choose a summer place, instead of my default in Minneapolis. Happy spring!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful news Sharon. I hope you find a perfect summer place too.
DeleteIt certainly looks like a beautiful area where you live. Apart from the expense issue, it sounds ideal. And yes, as we age, we need access to good health care facilities and doctors where there isn't a long waiting list. That's one thing I like where we live. Yesterday when my hubby needed to see the doctor we were told to come right in and they'd work him in, and we were in and out of there in an hour, and then were able to get other tests (CT Scan, etc.) that afternoon at another facility. You can't do that in most big cities where there is a long wait. So those are good things to consider when moving. Beautfiul photos!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's very beautiful where we live. I'm glad to hear your husband was able to get to see the doctor and get all of his tests so quickly.
DeleteAt times like this I wish I was a health care worker so I could move to Canada! That's very interesting and I had no idea of that.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment if one is a health care worker it is so much easier to get here. Otherwise it can be so very hard for many people to move to Canada though it seems to be much harder if you originate from certain countries (I hate to say it but it's true).
DeleteVancouver is a lovely city and I understand why you wouldn't move. Health care is the major thing to consider when moving. Your problems are identical to ours: not enough doctors and not enough housing.
ReplyDeleteYes it's hard to move due to the problems I indicated. But I've also lived here for more years than anywhere else and it is truly my home. I think it would be hard to enjoy living somewhere else.
DeleteYou have such a beautiful skyline!! I think about moving from S CA, especially now that we are retired. We live in one of the most expensive areas in the country. Housing, gas, taxes... everything is more expensive here, but it feels like home and we've been here a very long time, so I doubt we will move.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the skyline. I think CA large cities and Vancouver are similarly over priced though some people just don't get that. I understand what you mean about doubting a move. I feel the same.
DeleteMy hubby and I got engaged in Stanley park! Last year we went to Vancouver Island and enjoyed that very mush. I'd like to go back up to Canada again. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. If ever you get to Vancouver again you will have happy memories.
DeleteI have always wanted to visit Canada such beautiful scenery enjoyed your answers. Thank you for stopping by
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to visit Canada again, especially in late Spring, early summer or early Fall.
DeleteI have never been to Canada. Your area is lovely. I think everywhere is expensive and the cost of things has been increasing too. I have good health care but it is expensive. We live near two excellent hospitals and I had a surgery in March and although the hospital was farther away the care I received was first rate. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm blessed to live in a wonderful part of the country. Thankfully we have excellent hospitals here too and it is free (paid by taxes). I'm very grateful too for free doctor visits and medical tests since I need them on a frequent basis. Vancouver was very expensive long before the global inflation issues.
DeleteWonderful photos. It's good to be able to access good healthcare, especially as we get older. The cost of living is skyrocketing here as well, I think it must be a global trend :(
ReplyDeleteYes unfortunately growing older generally comes with increasing need for health services. Global inflation is definitely a thing but Vancouver has always been too expensive especially for housing. It does its own thing it seems compared to the rest of Canada. Though right now it's a buyers market due to a glut of condos on the market. The prices are still way too high for many.
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