I sold my business in Toronto and moved to San Juan Capistrano, CA with my American wife. Everywhere I turn I find fellow Canadians. In fact, when I applied for my drivers license the guy testing me was from my old neighborhood in Toronto. We drove around talking hockey, not paying any attention to my driving. Of course I got a perfect score (we think).

If I could take the weather back to Toronto I'd be back there now, but I can't, so I'll just continue loving to live where the swallows return each March. It really is paradise.

Are you like me, constantly defending and explaining Canada, its polices and people to Americans?

Peter W., San Juan Capistrano CA, Ontario
March 30, 2006
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I moved to the U.S. in 1952 to work for Trans Canada Airlines in Manhattan. I became an Elementary School teacher in the Bronx and Hackensack, NJ. I later moved to Miami where I had a favorite job as Greenhouse Manager at Fairchild Tropical Garden. From there I moved to Geneva, FL once more into an Elementary School. From there I worked at the Ponce de Leon Hotel as a swimming instructor, then on to become an artist in St. Augustine, FL. A couple of years ago I moved to Vero Beach, just in time to experience three hurricanes in two years. I sit here wondering where to go next!

Charmian B., vero beach FL, Ontario
March 30, 2006
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I moved To Florida 23 years ago from Montreal, Quebec with my husband. Living in Florida is nice and I have gotten used to living the American Way. I sure do miss a lot of things from Montreal - friends, family, Montreal Bagel, Chinese food, smokemeat sandwiches, and other things I use to do. So when I go back to visit I have to go to places that I went to when I lived there. When my friends come down to Florida to visit I make sure they bring me Montreal Bagel, VH Sauce and Canadian tea which is much better then American tea. Canadian tea is much stronger, and other goodies like chocolate bars that we cannot get in Florida.

When my kids were small I would go every summer back to Montreal to visit my parents. Since dad died in 1988 and mom in 1992 I have not been back that much. Hopefully one day I will get back to vist again. Montreal is a beautiful city with good restaurants, things to see and do. I also miss the change of seasons and my favorite one is Fall, with the changing of the leaves. When people hear that I am Montreal born and brought up there the first thing they say is that Montreal is a beautiful city, and I say sure thing it is.

Andrea F., Pompano Beach FL, Quebec
March 30, 2006
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Hi! I moved to the US in 1994 to teach French in Crowley, LA. Stayed for 2.5 years until the numerous pollen seasons eventually tortured my health and I was advised to move North where there were less and shorter pollen seasons. My (back then) boyfriend from Maine found a job in Massachussets and so we moved north to New England. We have been married for 7 years and now live in NH. I'm a stay-at-home mom, taking care of our two wonderful kids (2 & 4) and are in the process of adopting more from the US (a sibling group). It's not the fun social life of the South in New England; very conservative, but it's perfect for family life here and the people are friendly. The mentality is different from what I'm used to in Canada, but I do love this country.

Sonia P., Nashua NH, New Brunswick
March 30, 2006
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I moved from Ontario to the US in 1998 - my husband was in the US Air Force. I lived in Arkansas, California and now Arizona. After working 30 years as RN, Paramedic, Driving Instructor, Teacher I have retired to become a full-time Realtor. I enjoy representing Canadians and their interests in the Greater Phoenix area. As a military bride I quickly learned all about the US. I have great experience and lots of Canadian energy that I put towards connecting people with the perfect home or investment property.

Angela Z., Surprise AZ, Ontario
March 30, 2006
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My husband and I left Ottawa on Labour Day weekend 1994 so he could take a new job as a software developer in Gainesville, Florida. I knew nothing about the town but over the years it has really grown on us. I knew nothing about college basketball or football, and I hated the color orange, but now have a closet full of orange and blue and am a die-hard Gator fan. The people here are extraordinarily nice. People are very curious about Canada, Canadians, how they think and what they think about Americans...and many are quite knowledgeable about Canada. I guess that comes with living in a university town.

There are many things I miss but many things I love about living here too, although I could live without the hurricanes. We have both taken American citizenship and voted in our first elections and I can't ever see us moving back to Canada permanently, although in my heart Canada will always be home. Go Gators! Go Senators!

Christine G., Gainesville FL, Ontario
March 30, 2006
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I moved to Minnesota in August '05 to be closer to my boyfriend, whom I met through my sister that also lives in Minnesota since May '03. We both went to school in South Dakota so I already had some experience in living in the US, although after school I returned to Manitoba to work at CancerCare MB. I work here on a Trade NAFTA visa as a computer systems analyst specifically in the business intelligence area. I go back to Manitoba once every few months to visit my family, although they are also very good about visiting down here as well. I would like to continue building my network of contacts in the MN community as I enjoy having some Canadian contact in the US.

Karen H., Bloomington MN, Manitoba
March 30, 2006
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I moved to the Washington DC area from Vancouver in 1998 when I accepted a transferred to a new position at my company's headquarters in Bethesda. With some trepidation, I boarded my flight at YVR wondering if I made the right choice and thinking I was stupid for not visiting the area first to see if I would like it.

I didn't realize how lucky I was to have a window seat on the right side of the plane until we approached National Airport on a sunny spring day and began to see the Watergate complex, Kennedy Center, the White House, Capitol building and all the monuments. A staunch Canadian, I was surprised at the excitement I felt looking out the little window. I picked up my rental car, began to drive down the GW Parkway to Bethesda, and was so relieved to see that they had trees and rivers just like us :) rather than the urban wasteland I had envisioned.

Over the years I have made this my home and have come to appreciate everything living here has provided. Before moving to DC I would have had a hard defining what makes us Canadian and separates us from Americans but now I relish what distinguishes us and embrace our similarities.

I enjoy the friendly and mutual teasing with my friends and colleagues and occasionally throw in a "eh" to give them a cheap thrill. Of course I have my spell check set to the Canadian dictionary and get a kick out of correcting their spelling when I reply to their emails and actually have a few of them saying Zed rather than Z.

There is always a buzz in the office when I come back from Canada to see what kind of strange Canadian foods I have brought back with me. Shreddies, mint Aero bars, Old Dutch Ketchup potato chips top the list of the office favourites.

I was born in Edmonton and have lived there twice once as a child and once as an adult. From childhood until I moved here I have also live in Calgary, Saskatoon, Halifax, Montreal, Winnipeg, Kenora, Vancouver and a little town called in Plato (Pop. 73) in Saskatchewan.

My position with Marriott International has allowed me to travel internationally and domestically. Our expansion within Canada allows me to get back to Canada several times a year. However, I am really looking forward to crossing the last 12 states off my list of 'US States I haven't visited yet' - 38 down and only 12 to go!

Anthony M., Germantown MD
March 22, 2006
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Its been 13 years since my wife, 2 kids and I left Canada for Florida. I guess the cold weather for so long had something to do with it. We love it here but still refer to Canada as home.

The first couple of years here were, well, tough...I mean, we packed all our belongings and left family and friends to do this. Nuts? Maybe, but where else can you buy toys (boat,motorcycle ect) and use it practically year round. Guess it's a man thing? Anyway, I get back to Newmarket evey year to see my Dad. Lost Mom 10 years ago so I don't want to lose time with Dad.

Some of the things I miss: Harveys, Swiss Chalet, Mr Sub and of course, the plaza fish and chip shop! Thats one thing that really suprises me, being in Florida you would think fish and chips would be popular? Wrong! It's hard to find a fish and chip shop, go figure? Love being a member of this web site, just wish I found it sooner. Seems to get me a tad closer to home every time I log on. As we say in Florida, I'm fixin to get off line, so ya'll keep up the good work...

Al A., Ocala FL, Ontario
March 22, 2006
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I'm from the area around Kingston, Ontario (lived in Seeley's Bay, Lansdowne, etc). I moved to the States in 1999 to live with my then-girlfriend who is now my spouse, riding the tech wave south. I'm a once-programmer, now IT Manager. I only planned to stay a year or two and now it has been six!

Minneapolis is a great city, especially for Canadians, as there are similar values here and a large group of Canadians who hold events. Not to mention that the accents combine very well -- I now speak Canuck-Minnesoootan, eh, yah, you betcha.

We enjoy it here, and plan to stay.

Tyler v., Minneapolis MN, Ontario
March 22, 2006
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