Boomer Moved to Canada for Love; Bought a Good Retirement, Good Climate

• Linda Ofshe, a lifelong Texan, grew weary of the state’s warmth, gun insurance policies, and divisive politics.
• Ofshe, 71, moved to Washington state in 2019, hoping to reside in a extra progressive setting.
• After falling in love, she moved throughout the border to Canada the place she feels happier and safer.

This as-told-to essay is predicated on a dialog with Linda Ofshe, a 71-year-old retired technical author who left the US and moved to Victoria, Canada — straight throughout the border from Port Angeles, Washington — in 2022. The essay has been edited for size and readability.

I lived my greatest years in Austin.

I moved there in 1970 to attend the College of Texas and lived there for all however 10 years — I spent 5 years in New York and 5 years in Houston — till shifting to Port Angeles, Washington, in 2019.

I left Austin as a result of it was getting too darn scorching, and the political local weather grew to become insufferable. I am an outdated hippie — it was simply an excessive amount of for me.

After assembly my husband on a courting web site in 2020, I left the US in 2022. I am now a everlasting resident of Victoria, Canada.

At this level in my life, it is 99.9% higher for me than the US.

The climate and politics in Texas grew to become insufferable

Rising up in Texas, the climate was tolerable. Nonetheless, it was not that method by the point I left.

Within the final 5 years, the summers in Austin grew to become extraordinarily scorching. It appeared like three weeks out of every month temperatures reached over 100 levels. I needed to curtail all of my out of doors actions, even strolling my canines.

I moved from Austin to New York Metropolis in 1985, after which to Houston in 1990. Once I arrived in Houston, Ann Richards was the governor of Texas, and town had a feminine mayor and police chief.

In 1995, I left Houston and moved again to Austin. By the point I left town in 2019, there have been just a few feminine leaders in Texas. At that time, it appeared just like the liberal advances ladies had made within the state had been actually constricting. Insurance policies made on gender and minority rights, in addition to the proliferation of weapons, had been additionally regarding to me.

I assumed Washington state could be a greater place for me

In 2019, I moved to Washington as a result of it was extra liberal politically, and, just like Texas, there isn’t any state revenue tax.

At that time, I had been single for a few years, so I made the journey all on my own. I loaded all my furnishings into an enormous U-Haul truck and hooked up my automobile to a trailer within the again. My two canines joined me within the cab of the truck, and we took a five-day journey from Austin to Port Angeles.

In 2020, COVID struck, so I could not exit and meet new individuals. As an alternative, I joined a courting web site and set a 60-mile radius for potential matches. I met a Canadian and we began a phone and Zoom relationship. We later fell in love.

In March 2021, we met for the primary time at Peace Arch Park in Washington. After the go to, we went again to our respective international locations and continued to get to know one another. When the borders opened, we bought married that yr.

I moved to Canada, and I am not trying again

My husband and I moved to British Columbia two years in the past. He sponsored me in getting my everlasting residency, which I acquired final August. It was a fairly fast course of that took solely about 10 months.

We reside in Victoria, which is a small metropolis that’s proper throughout the strait of Juan de Fuca from Port Angeles. Flowers bloom all yr spherical right here, and the world has a sub-Mediterranean local weather. I can see the Olympic Mountains from my front room — it is simply completely stunning.

I reside in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom duplex that we lease for $3,000 Canadian {dollars} (about $2,235) every month. Rents are costly right here — however rents are additionally costly in Washington state.

I nonetheless personal a duplex in Austin, and for retirement revenue, I lease out either side for about $1,700 every month.

Fuel could be very costly in Canada; they promote it by the liter. So, if it says $1.53, that is like $5 and a few change per gallon. Coming from Texas, which has actually low gasoline costs, it is quite a bit.

Aside from low cost gasoline, I miss the HEB grocery retailer chain. I am sorry to say that’s the one factor I miss greater than my mates.

I find it irresistible right here — however Canada is not excellent

It seems Canada is a bit higher than the US on local weather, security, and politics.

There are some excessive politics right here, too, however they have not taken over like they did within the States. The local weather here’s a lot cooler, in fact, and security is best as a result of they do not enable everybody to hold a gun.

Nonetheless, healthcare is a nationwide concern right here.

Once I was residing in Texas, I did not know a lot about Canada, besides that they’d common healthcare, and I assumed, ‘Wow, that is nice.’ However as soon as I bought right here, as an older individual counting on healthcare, I do have considerations about it.

I discovered there is a scarcity of household docs — what People would name major care physicians. So, you may get an appointment at a clinic, however you might not get the identical physician subsequent time you go to. I’ve additionally learn articles about there being horrible waits on the emergency room.

Regardless of my medical considerations, I am happier in Canada than I used to be in the US.

After being single for many years, I am married to a beautiful man who loves me very a lot. And since I am retired, we go tenting and see probably the most stunning locations that I by no means knew existed.

The meals right here is simply pretty much as good because it was in New York Metropolis and Houston, that are thought of among the many greatest cities for nice eating places. The individuals listed here are additionally fantastic, heat, and open.

My life has enormously improved leaving the States, and I do not intend to ever reside in Texas once more.