I'm also in the early stages of thinking about a move from west Toronto. The house has too many stairs, too few garage spots and the city, too many rectums. We do have good immediate neighbours, priceless.
We were in Bracebridge a week or two ago, just for the drive. Muskoka Beach Road was nice. Nice lunch at the Main Street Diner. Some nice waterfalls etc.
However something my late brother did years ago comes to mind. He and his wife got a free weekend at Lagoon City and really enjoyed it. When they packed to leave they both had the same thought in mind. If they stayed longer what would they do that they hadn't already done.
Some people can do the same thing every day and never tire of it. Some need variety. Your call.
Muskoka is beautiful but IMO the people can be incredibly rude. Status, AKA pecking order, is based on how many generations ago your grandpappy was a lumberjack there. Money buys attention, not respect.
A friend has a cottage near Parry Sound (Horseshoe Lake) and is due for retirement. His wife is from PS and I asked if he'd move there. It was like I offered him a stale warm beer.
I like Orillia but it can have a really nice house next to a dump. Growth is phenomenal with condos coming up like mushrooms. Quaint downtown but stores open and close. Like every other town in the country drugs and homelessness are issues. It has big box stores, a hospital, nice parks and beaches, good harbours and decent riding roads. It's a Sportster tank of gas from Toronto but makes me think of a Brit bike, what's going to go wrong?
I think Barrie is a good city but too many people talk about it as if the whole place is on the wrong side of the tracks. It has a lot going for it. Retirees don't think about job markets but a healthy growing city economy keeps the place from rotting away. Point for Barrie.
Medical attention is a common problem everywhere in Canada as retirees flee the big cities. Ontario has a better overall record for wait times (PEI is the worst).
When you uproot several things change, especially in later years. Old friends might not want the drive to visit so you make all new friends.
Substance abuse and homeless issues are mobile and everywhere. Don't expect an improvement.
I figure I'm good for another five years where I am but I'm looking now because all it would take is one seemingly small medical incident to change everything. Without some planning a fire sale move could create a disaster.
We were in Bracebridge a week or two ago, just for the drive. Muskoka Beach Road was nice. Nice lunch at the Main Street Diner. Some nice waterfalls etc.
However something my late brother did years ago comes to mind. He and his wife got a free weekend at Lagoon City and really enjoyed it. When they packed to leave they both had the same thought in mind. If they stayed longer what would they do that they hadn't already done.
Some people can do the same thing every day and never tire of it. Some need variety. Your call.
Muskoka is beautiful but IMO the people can be incredibly rude. Status, AKA pecking order, is based on how many generations ago your grandpappy was a lumberjack there. Money buys attention, not respect.
A friend has a cottage near Parry Sound (Horseshoe Lake) and is due for retirement. His wife is from PS and I asked if he'd move there. It was like I offered him a stale warm beer.
I like Orillia but it can have a really nice house next to a dump. Growth is phenomenal with condos coming up like mushrooms. Quaint downtown but stores open and close. Like every other town in the country drugs and homelessness are issues. It has big box stores, a hospital, nice parks and beaches, good harbours and decent riding roads. It's a Sportster tank of gas from Toronto but makes me think of a Brit bike, what's going to go wrong?
I think Barrie is a good city but too many people talk about it as if the whole place is on the wrong side of the tracks. It has a lot going for it. Retirees don't think about job markets but a healthy growing city economy keeps the place from rotting away. Point for Barrie.
Medical attention is a common problem everywhere in Canada as retirees flee the big cities. Ontario has a better overall record for wait times (PEI is the worst).
When you uproot several things change, especially in later years. Old friends might not want the drive to visit so you make all new friends.
Substance abuse and homeless issues are mobile and everywhere. Don't expect an improvement.
I figure I'm good for another five years where I am but I'm looking now because all it would take is one seemingly small medical incident to change everything. Without some planning a fire sale move could create a disaster.
