Linving in Snow And/or Toronto

Toronto is a gorgeous, friendly, liveable city. If I had to leave New Mexico, I would move there in a heartbeat. I think the city gets about 4 feet of snow a year, and since they get so much, there is decent snow removal. The only thing I don't love about Toronto is that it's pretty grey due to cloudcover. But if you can deal with that... Go for it!

I'm in NJ. Snow is beautiful when you are inside with a cup of hot cocoa and looking at it from your window. When you have to shovel, dig out, sprinkle salt and other stuff down for the ice, it's a lot less romantic. We have had a very mild winter so far and I am extremely grateful.

Snow is the least of your worries. The bitter cold would be my main concern and learning how to drive in the snow which is very different than driving in the rain.

Toronto is not bad, they get snow, but its not like some parts of Canada or for the Midwest for that matter. They do get some bitter cold spells. IMO that is that hardest for people from temperate climates to face. NOT the snow part. The snow is just an annoyance. It's wet and its white. That is about it. Its the cold wind chills and bitter temp plunges thats the hardest to get through, also the length of the season itself. For you guys its a month or two of inclement weather. For northern folks it can be 4 to 5 months. I do like it. Snowy weather is great for me, I like hiking, sliding, playing and walking in snow. I HATE the bitter cold, and ice. That I do not like at all. If I am feeling cabin crazy I try to schedule warm weather vacations for this time. I know my husband HATES our winters. He is from the eastern coastal area in India where average temps are humid and 100's. Winter for them is one month of 50ish weather with a week maybe reaching 40's and rainy. He goes stir crazy, ends up going home for a few weeks during this time. It helps some. I don't live in Canada, but I have many friends and family members in Canada, Mostly in British Columbia and Toronto. The lifestyle is not much different than here, only a few things will be different, and brushing up on some French - Canadian will help you in Toronto. I do however know much about winter, I lived in Minnesota all my life, I did some exchange programs to the North part of Sweden where its continuous winter, and I kinda liked it. My husband affectionately calls me his Neadrathal snow monster (not that I like it much)
Jo good point, yes taxes are a bit tricky, I believe if you do not become a citizen you have to pay both countries taxes or maybe thats something different?

Hi Michele, I hope you forgive me for looking at your previous posts. I see that you have only just moved last year? And that you have considerable marital issues? I just want to say, I hope you'll remember this: No matter, WHERE you go, THERE you are.

To answer your question. I have lived in upstate NY my entire life. We average about 60-70 inches of snow a year. We have stretches of subzero temps.

However we have gorgeous falls and springs and real summer, too.

The older I get, the more the winter gets to me. In fact, a few more northeast winters and I might admit I actually have a diagnosable condition.

If I could take everyone and everything I know and love, I would move to a warmer (preferrably tropical) climate in a heart beat.

Best to you!

:)

It will definitely be a change from CA. But Toronto is a really nice city, with a lot going on. I don't remember it being very cold, but it was a long time ago, and I was young, so maybe the cold just didn't bother me. I don't think it gets a lot of snow, but not sure. The main thing I remember is people complaining about the humidity in the summer.

If you can afford it and it's convenient, check out the Beaches as a location to live.

It has been so long since I have seen snow......

I love having seasons, not sure if I would like it as far North as you are talking.

Sans this year we have real summers and real winters I just feel like the further North you go you get into wonderful winters for nine months of the year and then three months of spring/fall.

Just remember when you move to Canada it makes your taxes a little more complicated.

I lived in a cold, icy, windy, snowy, miserable place. Shout out to the Texas Panhandle!
The winter weather was as oppressive as the extreme summer heat. I truly hated it. However, it never accumulated enough to have winter sports. There was no skating, skiing, snowboarding, etc. So, it was just bad roads and everybody stuck inside for 4 months.

I think it would be differant if you could enjoy it. Toronto is set up to enjoy cold weather sports.

I've lived in the Bay Area all my life, and love it. My husband is Canadian and moved to get OUT of the snow (and he's not from Toronto and says it's the ugliest city, mind you he was born in the middle of no where). I wouldn't mind moving back but he does not want to move back to the snow. That being said, everyone I've met there is incredibly kind and easy going. Good luck!

Oh to move back to So. Cal.

We I moved up to Tahoe when I was a kid which means LOTS of snow and mostly good summers. As a kid, AWESOME. Snow days, sledding, skiing in the winter, swimming in the summer fun right? Not for my parents. Stuck in the house at least half of the year, not to mention the heating and cooling costs, blah.

We moved back to Cali (ahhh) and then my wonderful husband moved me to CT, where it's stinking cold and snowy about 7 months out of the year and then baking hot 2-3 months of the year. So we have 2 weeks in May and June that are nice and most of September. I HATE IT!

My oldest likes the snow (read above why it's fun for kids) and my youngest likes the hotter months. I'm dying to move to some place like South or North. Carolina. From what I’ve experienced think mid-Cali weather with a slower pace of life. LOVE IT. But alas, we have good jobs and a house that's about $50k underwater so here we stay.

I would write more but we're having a snow storm and I have to make sure to get my car out of the snow to get to daycare and school before the roads get too bad. :-)