We are a couple of 60 yos, moved to Calgary from Ontario in July 2022.

Before COVID we used to travel at least once or twice a year. We’ve been to Costa Rica a few years in a row, Europe and US many times, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, but with pandemic restrictions here and there we could not even visit our family in Germany. As we could not go abroad, we visited two best places which were available to Canadians at that point: Banff and Jasper. During the pandemic we’ve been there twice, and, generally overpriced, hotels and tourist attractions were more or less affordable back then. Last time in October 2021 we liked it so much that were like Hmm, why we visit this beauties like tourists, why don’t we just move here? And guess what? Said and done: now we are enjoying our new life in three-dimensional world of Canadian Rockies!

We both are in IT and work from home, and still have some time to earn a few monies for fair retirement. Benefits of living in Alberta vs Ontario are coming from all possible angles:

• • Lower than in Ontario income tax
  • GST 5% instead of Ontario HST 13%
  • No land transfer tax
  • No need of expensive getaway vacations anymore – we are already here!
  • But if we want, best US National Parks are in a day or two driving distance, just head to the South!
  • No one is forcing us to buy EV because in Alberta it would be just ridiculous
  • Alberta is Drama Teacher’s pain in the butt, and we very much appreciate it

And most importantly, about 40 years together, I and my wife share our passion for pure mountain air, crystal clear glacier water, sunny summer, snowy winter, and off course, built upon all of that, active lifestyle, which we finally can afford. Look at my weight chart for the year after the moving: that is with no suffering and wasting time in gym, just regular weekend hikes with tons of fun! Quick getting into shape confirmed by winter months when hiking is a tricky business, so after a lot of considerations we’ve decided to (re)learn cross country skiing (this time skate style, because it’s so cool!), – and it was the 1st winter we did it, a bit shy and very careful, so not much of fitness there yet, but now we are looking forward for the next XC season with all equipment well taken care of and basic skills developed.

We used to live in three different countries and two different provinces of Canada, and so far this 1st year in Alberta seems like a happiest period in our life.