Moving BACK to Nanaimo
Place where I was born. Packing up the trailer with all goods and sundry and leaving the mid-south of the USA after 15 years in Nashville.
Just got to finish renovating one place and sell that place plus the business and the other place.
Thats all. But it is all going to happen and I will be so happy to see the water every day again.
Well Lensone,, you will love Nanaimo,, welcome when you arrive!! To the land of so much opportunity and more!!
15 years!
If you haven't been here since, you will notice lots of changes.
The old vacant Malaspina is now an almost completed building.
The old Harewood Mall is now University Village, which is named after the new Vancouver Island University, formerly known as Malaspina College.
There are many other changes awaiting your arrival.
Have you been back to Nanaimo or Canada at all during your US years? If you haven't, as Smokey said, you'll notice a lot of changes. But if there are some personal care products, cosmetics, etc., that you just can't do without, stock up or arrange now for a Nashville friend to send you things you might not find here. Examples: when the US/Canada exchange was waay in favour of the US dollar, the teen daughter of a friend in Seattle (where I was basically living at the time) was all pumped up about coming to Canada because she could stock up on MUDD jeans, a big item at the time, at a cheaper price because of the exchange rate, and then phoned from Vancouver to Seattle to tell her Mom that MUDD jeans weren't available in Canada. And I know there are other lines of clothing that you won't find here, but will find in the States.Originally Posted by Lensone
Some US companies will let you online order and ship into Canada; others won't. Another thing I've noticed is that some cosmetics available in the States aren't available here, even 'tho other products made by the company are. When I've gone to the Sephora Canada site to order, that's when I've discovered it. Without telling you, they flip you to the Sephora US site, you order it, and then they tell you they can't ship to Canada. I'm sure there are "guy type" things where the same thing happens, in all product areas.
However, there are some things here that aren't available in the States--at least they weren't when I was spending a lot of time there just a few years ago. Cheezies, for example, those fairly hard, twisted up chunks of fake cheese heaven and calories. Never found those in the US, and found only one American who'd even heard of them. Had to shoot him. Matter of Canadian national security.
If you develop a thirst while scarfing down Cheezies--don't forget, our beer's often stronger. Another
And then there's Steve Nash. Sometimes I think we see more of him here than US fans do, just simply walking down the street, or playing soccer with a team he's either bought or started with his brother, in Victoria.
Remember Don Cherry? Love him or hate him, he's still here. And his clothes, if anything, are worse than ever.
And where else but Ladysmith would you see Pamela Anderson walking down the street in a baggy T-shirt with jeans cut off at her knees with ratty flip flops, accompanied by Kid Rock, with no one makin' no never mind 'bout it?
The Clippers are still here, but little Billy Bestwick is all grown up now, morphed into "Bill" Bestwick, the Clippers' coach, and a city councillor.
And we have our very own semi-pro football team in Nanaimo, and they're pretty good, for Canadian football--the Raiders. Think there's still the difference between three and four downs in football, 'tho.
Warning: No good BBQ in Nanaimo, either Texas/western style or low-country Carolinas style.
Expect to pay a lot more in taxes of every kind. And far fewer tax write-offs (now called "credits" here) than in the US. It's not "British Columbia" any more--it's "Bring Cash." But on balance, it probably evens out, because what you lose on the extra taxes and fewer write-offs, you probably gain on the teeny, tiny amount you pay for medical coverage, compared with the States. The cost of power/electricity (now called "hydro" here) is about a fifth of the cost of power in the US, at least in Washington state.
Try to remember not to put your right hand on your left chest when they play the national anthem. Dead give-away that you're either an American or you've lived there for some time. I used to do it at what used to be Safeco Field (? Have they changed the name?) so that I'd blend in, and it seemed disrespectful not to, especially after 9/11.
Welcome back! Wonderful country! Wonderful city! And a country lucky enough to have probably the best southern (and northern, not to forget Alaska) neighbours in the world. Sure, we sometimes have our beefs, but what other country would be a better neighbour to us?
To answer your last question...none. I am going to be so happy when I no longer have to deal with the cultural issues that America cannot seem to get past. I've lived 18 of my 49 years in the US. I'm a dual citizen. Thanks so much to you and Smokey and to all ages music concerts for being so welcoming.Have you been back to Nanaimo or Canada at all during your US years? If you haven't, as Smokey said, you'll notice a lot of changes. But if there are some personal care products, cosmetics, etc., that you just can't do without, stock up or arrange now for a Nashville friend to send you things you might not find here. Examples: when the US/Canada exchange was waay in favour of the US dollar, the teen daughter of a friend in Seattle (where I was basically living at the time) was all pumped up about coming to Canada because she could stock up on MUDD jeans, a big item at the time, at a cheaper price because of the exchange rate, and then phoned from Vancouver to Seattle to tell her Mom that MUDD jeans weren't available in Canada. And I know there are other lines of clothing that you won't find here, but will find in the States.
Some US companies will let you online order and ship into Canada; others won't. Another thing I've noticed is that some cosmetics available in the States aren't available here, even 'tho other products made by the company are. When I've gone to the Sephora Canada site to order, that's when I've discovered it. Without telling you, they flip you to the Sephora US site, you order it, and then they tell you they can't ship to Canada. I'm sure there are "guy type" things where the same thing happens, in all product areas.
However, there are some things here that aren't available in the States--at least they weren't when I was spending a lot of time there just a few years ago. Cheezies, for example, those fairly hard, twisted up chunks of fake cheese heaven and calories. Never found those in the US, and found only one American who'd even heard of them. Had to shoot him. Matter of Canadian national security.
If you develop a thirst while scarfing down Cheezies--don't forget, our beer's often stronger. Another
And then there's Steve Nash. Sometimes I think we see more of him here than US fans do, just simply walking down the street, or playing soccer with a team he's either bought or started with his brother, in Victoria.
Remember Don Cherry? Love him or hate him, he's still here. And his clothes, if anything, are worse than ever.
And where else but Ladysmith would you see Pamela Anderson walking down the street in a baggy T-shirt with jeans cut off at her knees with ratty flip flops, accompanied by Kid Rock, with no one makin' no never mind 'bout it?
The Clippers are still here, but little Billy Bestwick is all grown up now, morphed into "Bill" Bestwick, the Clippers' coach, and a city councillor.
And we have our very own semi-pro football team in Nanaimo, and they're pretty good, for Canadian football--the Raiders. Think there's still the difference between three and four downs in football, 'tho.
Warning: No good BBQ in Nanaimo, either Texas/western style or low-country Carolinas style.
Expect to pay a lot more in taxes of every kind. And far fewer tax write-offs (now called "credits" here) than in the US. It's not "British Columbia" any more--it's "Bring Cash." But on balance, it probably evens out, because what you lose on the extra taxes and fewer write-offs, you probably gain on the teeny, tiny amount you pay for medical coverage, compared with the States. The cost of power/electricity (now called "hydro" here) is about a fifth of the cost of power in the US, at least in Washington state.
Try to remember not to put your right hand on your left chest when they play the national anthem. Dead give-away that you're either an American or you've lived there for some time. I used to do it at what used to be Safeco Field (? Have they changed the name?) so that I'd blend in, and it seemed disrespectful not to, especially after 9/11.
Welcome back! Wonderful country! Wonderful city! And a country lucky enough to have probably the best southern (and northern, not to forget Alaska) neighbours in the world. Sure, we sometimes have our beefs, but what other country would be a better neighbour to us?
We probably will not get there till late spring of next year..if not summer.
I'm selling my business and property here and reconstituting a newer, hopefully better version of my business there (not going to be in competition with the new owner here at all).
We're packing up our worldly possessions and our three dogs and a cat and aiming for Nanaimo. I have family there, hubby has family in Coquitlam.
I'm familiar with the shipping thing. I've encountered that plenty of times. I am the conduit for my nieces Harry Potter obsession. (Amazon will not ship to Canada).
Hardie's cheezies. Love 'm. I have to tell you though...Cheetoes stole the recipe. They are not exactly the same, but they are really good.
The taxes can't be more than what we pay for health insurance and medications each month. As small business owners with no employer to pay...take a guess. Guess higher. Nope. Higher.
All in all I am so excited about the prospects for breathing air dusted by sea salt, and only sometimes by Harmac, orienting myself by the North Shore or Mt. Benson, and seeing the ocean each and every day.
You know I thought they would never fix up the Malaspina. What is it going to be?
Malaspina
http://i27.tinypic.com/jqm1w0.jpg
Do a search in this forum for Malaspina. Lots of photos and info.
So it is condos then. With retail on the main floor? Will do a search later.
Welcome to Nanaimo Lensone.
Thanks Geoff. Welcome BACK...you mean! I'm not back yet...just in the planning stages, renovating and selling the house, selling the business. You know. The fun stuff.
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