motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Second Choice ....
It's a long trip down to Baja from Canada....and I love going south more than returning north at the end of a Baja trip.....
Last week a friend who lives in Thailand and who I hear from once every two years wrote and asked, "Are you in Canada or Mexico"....I replied, "I am
in Canada wishing I was in Mexico..."
But.....when not enjoying Baja, Canada (BC especially  ) is a good place to
hang out....
https://media.beam.usnews.com/ce/e7/fdca61cb496da027ab53bef37a24/171110-best-countries-overall-rankings-2018.pdf
Don't believe everything you think....
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BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
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Mood: 
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A bit subjective of a ranking, some would say...
There is also a big difference between places within a country. Personally, I cannot imagine living in a lot of places in the U.S., some that are
just an hour from where I live.
[Edit] Agreed that BC is a nice place. [Edit]
[Edited on 1-23-2018 by BigBearRider]
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1722
Registered: 2-2-2010
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That list seems it should be the WORST .
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Chippy, I am not sure what that means?
Don't believe everything you think....
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1722
Registered: 2-2-2010
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1 thru 10 with the exception of OZ (well oz on the expensive side) are over priced over governed cold pos to live. Been to all of them many times and
wouldn´t even cosider living there . Nice places to visit though.
[Edited on 1-24-2018 by chippy]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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The devil is in the details. I believe most countries have their good and bad options and everything in between. In the U.S. there are places that are
much easier to start and run a business than other places. CA is one of the worst. NV and TX among the best.
Just as an example: years ago the owner of Miramar Cycles in Mira Mesa (city of San Diego) told me he had to have 15 different permits. Two for his
sign because it was two pieces, Miramar Cycles. Also the county wanted him to pay for a county sales license because he conducted business in the
county, people in the county went to his business for service and parts.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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If Canada is such a great country, why are so many Canadians trying their darndest to be gone for as much as six months? Wouldn't you want to remain
as long as possible in the second greatest country?
And if provincial regulations let them be gone longer than six months to retain their health care "place in line", they would be gone more.
I know of more than a few Canadians that have said "damn the free health care, I am not going back".
Somehow, I think the "quality of life" category doesn't include climate, and certainly not "number of days of sunshine".
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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Hook,
Canadian health care isn't free.....
And winters south are better than staying home if only for warmer weather....pretty much same reason Yanks go south....
And where do you get this sunshine stat?
Have you ever been to Canada? You might like it and form your own opinion...
Don't believe everything you think....
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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No, it certainly isnt free. Canadians are reminded of that with every purchase they make up there. BC has TWO types of sales tax on goods, don't they?
Highest in the nation? Or close to Ottawa?
What are you paying now, about 90.00/month for health care? That's the figure I recall the Canadians I know, quoting me within the last two years.
That's very reasonable, compared to the States.
My wife and I are paying about 1400.00/month on a COBRA plan through her part-time work with a Federal agency. I will drop off in August when I hit
Medicare age.
Paying on the open market would be about the same, but with a deductible of around 5000.00.
I have been to Canada probably a dozen times. Always in the summer or fall. Exclusively BC and Alberta. Beautiful country. I fished out of Port Hardy
for 10 days last summer. Early August. I think I saw the sun a couple times. Not representative of all of Canada, of course.
Never been to Canada later than the first week in September. I remember temps in Rocky Mountain House already being in the mid 20s F at night around
Labor Day. Wow!
Been to Vancouver about five times. I'd say it has rained about 60% of the time I have been there. I tend to go during the "dry season".
For me, climate is an extremely important component of "quality of life". Apparently for a lot of Canadians, too. But not, apparently, for this
rating.
I have many Canadian friends down here in Mexico. Almost all from BC. The main reason they come down, according to them, is not just the weather but
the high cost of living in Canada. Higher even than the US. The cost of alcohol may figure prominently in that. Unbelievable prices, really. Can't say
I blame them.
The cost of living must not be a very large component in the "quality of life" category in this rating.
And certainly the long waits for health care deemed non-life threatening are minimized in this rating. I've known a few Canadians living with pretty
severe pain or life threatening heart conditions that have waited for months for treatment. Some have just thrown in the towel and paid for treatment
in Mexico.
The waits can be long. Canadians joke that the long waits are a way of intentionally reducing case loads, as old people die off. Just cynicism on
their part.........I would hope.
That's the opinion I have formed, based on the Canadians I know who come down for six months or more EVERY YEAR, and the trips I have taken. I
probably know close to a hundred down here, now. I don't know ANY full-time Canadians. But that is a function of meeting them down here first. There
must be SOME, right?
How far off am I?
I am not dismissing Canada as something other than a great country with great people. It is. Just pointing out that this rating's "greatness" quotient
is askew if there are factors that cause so many Canadians to be gone from this "greatness" for so long, each year.
In many ex-pat communities in Mexico, they are becoming THE majority foreigner; replacing Americans. I think that might be the case even where I
live, so close to the border, based on license plate count. From Mazatlan south, it is definitely the case. I am astounded at the number of RV parks
from PV south that are filled with Canadians from Quebec (although many of my Western Canadian friends would argue those aren't REALLY Canadians ). Man, that's a long way to drive an RV!
I wonder how many would if fuel prices were the same in the US as they are in Canada.........
Baja, I would assume, is still predominately Americans.
[Edited on 1-24-2018 by Hook]
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Hook,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply/comments. I can't disagree with your observations....close enough to the mark 
I am a desert nut, so anytime I can be in such environments I jump at the chance....and Baja is perfect for those inclinations....worth the 3-day
drive....
Yes, cost of living is high....living inexpensively draws a lot of folks away south in winter months....Canucks and Yanks.
I pay $75 monthly for provincial health care coverage (single male 66 yrs)....my federal and provincial taxes also contribute to health care.....my
Blue Cross "extended" health plan costs about $75 a month and is a fairly sh#tty plan....as are most of such secondary health cost insurance plans.
Climate is important for me as well....I much prefer sun and heat to snow/rain/cold....
Sounds like you have had some good Canadian trip experiences and am glad for that....BC coastal areas are....well.... rainforests...and the wet comes
with the territory
The point of my post originally was to bask in the warmth (short-lived as it might be) of the "validation" of my personal preference to enjoy my two
BC's....
Good luck with your next fishing trip (Port Hardy)....Kamloops and area is known for its trout....and some steelhead nearby (Spences Bridge). 
Don't believe everything you think....
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Salt Spring island was my favourite, but Baja won out for the winters
Quote: Originally posted by motoged  | Hook,
Canadian health care isn't free.....
And winters south are better than staying home if only for warmer weather....pretty much same reason Yanks go south....
And where do you get this sunshine stat?
Have you ever been to Canada? You might like it and form your own opinion...
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Sounds like a sensible plan.....the Islands have a certain cachet...no doubt about that
Kamloops is at the northern-most tip of Sonoran desert (some say it stops at Osoyoos)....high desert features ....great for 8 months of the years...
Don't believe everything you think....
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Baja_Traveler
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 6-7-2013
Location: San Diego, Ca
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I visit Canada once a year - to a town called Puerto Morelos. It's about a half hour drive south of Cancun and has a population that's 50% Canadian
and growing as more and more visit and stay...
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6027
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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So Ged....you are saying that Canada is a great place to be from?
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Sort of.... I grew up in Winnipeg....a good city to be from.....45
years ago....BC is a good place to live ....and to go to Baja from ....
Say hola to Bailey for me
Don't believe everything you think....
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Timo1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 11-2-2007
Location: Homeless
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Mood: Lovin every minute of it
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We live in BC not too far from Ged.
We also live in Bahia Asuncion in winter.
I was watching the BC news the other night and saw what the price
of gasoline is now. UGLY
$1.28/liter
As a recent recipient of emergency health care in BC, I sure can't
complain about the service.It's been a couple years of many visits to the doctor and specialist with MANY tests.
Everything has been done on schedual with no delays.
That being said. I'm finding it VERY difficult to be looking forward to returning
to the frozen world there.
Summers are warm and wonderful in BC and there is lots of work for us.
But I'de rather be in Baja
sold out and got out !!!
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Franco
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
Registered: 6-12-2017
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Price of gas in Van is $1.44 and the bargain price of $1.28 is available in a few locations.
Discussing hydro carbon exploitation/exploration is irksome. The USA will become the major provider and due to poster boy, aka Trudeau, Canada's
potential will remain stagnant with the flow of market funds invested in the USA.
To maintain the healthcare system, where an exorbitant amount of funds are wasted every year, be prepared to pay more for the fuel required to live
the dream.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Gas is $1.14 / ltr in Kamloops today....and it is snowing....temps are around 0'C....but a balmy 6'C predicted for Monday....so I hope the snow in the
box of the truck melts by then so I can take the moto to the shop for new suspenders....
As Timo says....BC norte is great for spring/summer/fall....BC Sur best for cold times...
Back to your regular programming....
Don't believe everything you think....
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