Credit: City of Edmonton
Have you ever considered why you live where you live? Do you even know why you live there? Is it because you have always lived there & never even considered moving anywhere else? Or have you lived in a lot of different places – if so, which was your favorite?
I have followers from all over the world – Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, India, Brazil, Portugal, Canada & the US. Hello, Hola, G’Day, Bonjour, Namaste, हेल्लो, Olá – I hope I hit them all for greetings.
Credit: City of Edmonton
I live in the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta, in the country of Canada. I have lived here since 2007. I know why I live in Edmonton – hubby & I came here looking for work after we lost our store. In 2007 there were a lot of jobs available in Alberta because of boom a few years before & there were not enough people to fill all the jobs. Hubby & I were both older, we had been out of the job market for many years running our own business, so we needed to be where employees were in big demand. We arrived in Alberta with a job interview for me & a couple of prospects for hubby. I got the job, so we found a place to live nearby & went from there. After my job interview here, we drove to Calgary & stayed with cousins for the Canada Day long weekend while we tried to line up job interviews for us in the area. If one of us had gotten a job in Calgary first, we very well could be living in Calgary right now.
The City of Edmonton has a population of approximately 1.2 million people in the metro area & is found just north of central Alberta. The city has 4 seasons every year & boasts both a professional football team (Edmonton Eskimos) & a professional hockey team (Edmonton Oilers). Edmonton is also home to the Gold Medal Olympians in Men’s Curling (the Kevin Martin team) for 2010. The city is ahead of its time in the area of waste & water management & is working diligently on upgrading the LRT (light rail transit) system. Approximately 1.5 hours west & north of the city will find you in Jasper in the Rocky Mountains, where you can ski or nature hike to your heart’s content.
Credit: Travel Alberta (Marmot Basin, Jasper)
So now I challenge you – tell me why you live where you live. Whether it’s Alabama or Brazil, Portugal, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas or Nebraska, New Zealand, Hamilton, Vancouver, London or anywhere else. Give me the “dets” in my comments or write a post of your own & link back to me. I’m really interested. So explain yourself . . .
benzeknees 
May 29, 2013 @ 02:56:25
Hi BenzeKnees .. well that’s a good reason to settle in Edmonton .. and I hope work as sorted itself out for you both ..
When I came back from South Africa – it was Cornwall near my mother, or here south of London on the coast near the rest of my family .. subsequently Eastbourne was probably the best choice. Though I’d love to live in Cornwall … can visit though!
Cheers Hilary
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:38:15
Thanks for responding Hilary. My grandparent’s families were originally from St. Catherines (Katherines?) which is somewhere south of London. Have you ever heard of it?
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May 29, 2013 @ 05:08:43
I live in a little town called Dundalk which is about 1 1/2 hours NW of Toronto. I grew up in Toronto and then moved north because that’s where Mike was living when I met him and we started dating. We eventually bought a house in Dundalk and have raised two kids here. Toronto is not the safe place that it was when I was growing up, so it’s been great to bring up kids outside of the city but still be close enough to visit the city whenever we want. We live in town but our house backs onto a field, so it’s kind of like living out in the country – the best of both worlds. The peace and quiet is awesome!!
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:40:28
I’ve seen your back yard from some of your pics & it looks wonderful! You don’t commute all the way to TO for work, do you? Is there another center closer to you where you work? Keep up the beautiful pics & loved your story of how you came to be where you are – what we do for love.
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May 29, 2013 @ 15:45:19
Our backyard is actually quite small, but with the field behind us it makes it feel like our backyard goes on forever :). I love to sit out on the deck and read and listen to all the sounds of nature that I never would have heard in the city. And no, I don’t commute to Toronto thank goodness. It’s funny you know, when I lived in Toronto (in the suburbs) it took me an hour to get to work by public transportation. Now I work in the next town south of Dundalk, and it only takes me 15 minutes to get to work with little or no traffic. Now, granted, the job opportunities in small communities are limited, which is why I have been at the same job for 25 years even though I would love a change, but I’m still glad I live here and not in the city.
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May 29, 2013 @ 18:49:14
Sorry to jump in here, but I had a very dear friend that lives in Dundalk (I’m Originally from Ont.) Wondering if there’s an off Chance you might know them. They are farmers there The Lyons?
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May 29, 2013 @ 19:01:51
I don’t personally know any Lyons in Dundalk, but it is a fairly common name in this area, especially in Shelburne which is the next town south. The funny thing is that I tend to know more people in Shelburne because that’s where I work. What are their first names?
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May 29, 2013 @ 21:35:50
The one I know is Todd Lyon, I can’t remember his parents first names…small world eh?
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May 30, 2013 @ 04:46:48
It certainly is :). Don’t think I know him though.
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May 30, 2013 @ 10:24:55
Ha that’s okay, it was just a shot in the dark 🙂
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May 29, 2013 @ 23:12:42
Hello from a Southampton native. I’ll see your Dundalk, and raise you a custom knifemaker who moved from the too crowded/dangerous Kitchener, to Mildmay, which you can see from your kitchen window. 😀
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May 30, 2013 @ 00:25:07
So you’re neighbors! Were you born there or did you migrate? If so, why? C’mon spilll!
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May 30, 2013 @ 04:49:16
Hey neighbour!! Nice to meet you :). My son just finished his first year of college at Conestoga College in Kitchener, which he now refers to as “the city”. Although he loves home, I think he is missing how close by and convenient everything was because as you know around here we have to drive close to an hour to get to any “real” stores LOL!!
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Jun 01, 2013 @ 20:06:50
*waves hello* I know Dundalk, I have a friend who lives between there and Proton Station. Haven’t been up to see the clan in a few years, but talk to her regularly online.
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Jun 02, 2013 @ 00:00:50
Since so many of you all live in the same area, I guess if we ever have a get together it will have to be near there.
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Jun 02, 2013 @ 05:37:01
Hello right back at ya :). Wow, not many people have heard of Dundalk, and Proton Station is just a hop, skip and a jump from here. It’s sure a small world isn’t it?
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Jun 02, 2013 @ 05:37:45
Party in Dundalk benzeknees????
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Jun 02, 2013 @ 16:05:12
Is your guest room available? Sorry, for the direct reply but there are so many replies I didn’t know how to get the reply to match the question.
Benze (Lynda)
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Jun 02, 2013 @ 18:21:11
Lynda, there are so many replies to this post that I was starting to get confused LOL!! No guest room, but there is the guest basement which my parents have fondly named the Taylor Motel. They claim the service is excellent :).
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Jun 02, 2013 @ 20:05:09
It has gotten quite wordy hasn’t it? Since I did the A to Z Challenge my followers have increased & some topics tend to get a lot of replies. I enjoy the banter but it’s hard to talk to so many people all at the same time. Thanks for sticking with me, I appreciate your encouragement. I’m sure the service at the Taylor Motel would be excellent, I just don’t travel well these days. Maybe Skype?
Lynda
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Jun 03, 2013 @ 04:56:58
That would be fun 🙂
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May 29, 2013 @ 05:53:50
I am actually close to where I grew up. I moved away for college, stayed gone for about 7 years while we worked, and then we had our first daughter.
Husband applied to grad school at the university close to my hometown. We liked being close to family, but I didn’t think we’d stay forever. Then I discovered the zoo.
I started volunteering there 12 years ago, and have been working and volunteering ever since. I cannot leave my zoo!
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:41:42
It sounds like you are being mysterious about where you live, can you give us a hint? State? Country?
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May 29, 2013 @ 09:43:57
I think I’ve talked about *why* I live in Portland, but I do have an idea for a post that would answer any lingering questions. Check back in a day or two for an update, and thanks for the idea! 🙂
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:43:33
When I get an idea, I like to encourage others to use it as a prompt if they like. It’s really kind of selfish on my part because then I get to know more about the people I follow & who follow me (not in a stalkery way). Not that I’m nosy, heaven forbid!
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May 29, 2013 @ 10:03:33
I just got stuck here… I miss the Bay Area… sob…
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:44:59
You’re in California, aren’t you Art? So bay area? Does this mean you used to live in San Francisco? And now you live where? Sorry, you’ve probably said but my brains are consistently leaking out of my left ear.
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May 29, 2013 @ 14:58:53
Born and raised in the Bay Area, living in San Diego now.
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May 29, 2013 @ 16:01:29
Don’t you have some kind of kick ass zoo there?
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May 29, 2013 @ 16:31:14
World famous… you have to say it like that or they get snippy… the ‘world famous’ San Diego zoo.
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May 29, 2013 @ 16:37:47
Have you ever been to your “world famous” zoo?
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May 29, 2013 @ 17:57:35
Many times.
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May 29, 2013 @ 10:30:44
I live in Spain because life brought me here.
I came for a 3 month break and now it’s been almost 5 years, I got married here, got a job and a dog, never pictured living in Spain, but it happened too fast for me to realize what I as doing.
No regrets.
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:46:40
Isn’t that lovely! Were you originally from Europe before you moved? My ex hubby’s family were from Spain & had to flee during the war.
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:49:31
I was born in NYC, but grew up between Rio de Janeiro, NYC and Honduras, because of my father’s job we were constantly moving. I guess that made it easier for just to settle here.
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:52:49
Wow, you’ve really seen the world! Sounds like such an interesting life, but I bet it was hard on friendships, having to move a lot. Thank you for sharing a bit of your fascinating life.
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May 29, 2013 @ 11:55:50
Still is hard for me to call a place home, my reference is always NYC. As for friends, I’ve managed to make a few, most of them have in common with me the “I’m here but I don’t belong here” thing.
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May 29, 2013 @ 14:22:42
I haven’t been able to convince my girl to run away with me yet, so we both live near where we grew up.
But I’m working on it…
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May 29, 2013 @ 16:03:00
Where would you run to Guaps? I ran away with my guy 7 months after we started dating – must be my Sagittarius side!
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May 29, 2013 @ 19:33:46
I’d probably spend a week in the car just staring at maps.
Too much to see!
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May 29, 2013 @ 18:46:26
I think you know why we are where we are…it was work related to. We’ve moved a lot in the last 3-4 years and right now aside from liking our home, I hate where we live.
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May 30, 2013 @ 00:27:25
I know you’re north of me, but not really where. I have my ideas, but I don’t want to say them in public in case you’re trying to keep it a secret. If you’re in FM, then I don’t blame you!
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May 30, 2013 @ 10:32:32
Thank you! I’m in NA
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May 29, 2013 @ 20:55:29
Ha, you’re right, we did have the same thoughts today, didn’t we! Well, you already know about my reasons… as painful and shameful as they are. I didn’t know you were in Alberta, for some reason I thought you were in Ontario. You’re the first Edmonton blogger I’ve met then! I know bloggers from Winnipeg, Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Regina, but none from Edmonton until now. My blogger map of Canada is almost complete!
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May 30, 2013 @ 00:31:43
I was born & raised in Winnipeg, then moved to northwestern Ontario for 10 years before moving to Alberta. I’ve never been to NYC, but it’s on my bucket list! Since I’d be so close if I ever do get down there I might have to swing by Hobboken. I’m guessing you didn’t get too badly damaged by Sandy or we could meet at Wendy’s?
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May 29, 2013 @ 23:16:42
My answer was going to be, “Inertia”, but I just can’t get around to posting it. 😆
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May 30, 2013 @ 00:32:49
Then you must write a post about it in your own time, enquiring minds want to know!
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May 30, 2013 @ 16:01:53
Long story short – my headaches cost me my job, which cost us our house in the ‘burbs of Chicago. We had friends who lived down here in Ohio, and since we were flat broke, we moved in with them. When they moved to Alaska 8 years ago, we moved into whatever we could afford that was nearby – first the trailer (which later collapsed of its’ own will – AFTER we moved out), then this house, the best of 3 side-by-side-by-side houses for sale in a dying town called Fresno.
And the rest, as they say, was hysterical … er … history. 😀
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May 30, 2013 @ 17:04:54
I’m sorry you lost your job & your house & everything over headaches. Cluster headaches, isn’t that what you called them? I think I wrote you about the migraine I had for months & months & months, so I can certainly sympathize. Knowing your gregarious personality, I’m sure you’ve made friends where you are now – but I can also relate to living in a dying town from when we lived in NW Ont. Is there anything to recommend Fresno, like a nearby lake or something?
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May 30, 2013 @ 19:29:14
I’ve been around. I grew up in Connecticut, moved to Boston, and then to DC with a boyfriend whom I ditched. Got interested in politics and government. Stayed until my husband got a job in Connecticut — way different part from where I came from. Then Back to DC — and then 5 wonderful years in Switzerland. Then back to DC (well, Northern Virginia, actually, but same idea).
I would love to live in the house I grew up in, though. That will always be home to me.
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May 30, 2013 @ 23:26:02
You have moved around quite a bit & all the way to Switzerland! You have certainly seen some sites & different lifestyles. I’ve always wondered – is DC as rough as they say?
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Jun 04, 2013 @ 15:29:36
I live in the third circle of hell, but it is quite a long story. I think I will post it. 😉 I know tons of people who move for work and stay. xxx
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Jun 04, 2013 @ 17:42:55
Looking forward to the post! Thanks Red!
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Jun 06, 2013 @ 14:53:11
I live in Portland, OR by choice. I grew up in CA, went to college in WA, and am now here. I love the nature here, I love the lower cost of living, I love how weird it is here, I love the friendliness of the people. It’s the best smallest big city in the US.
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Jun 06, 2013 @ 15:41:17
Sounds lovely! Do you get a lot of rain like Seattle?
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Jun 06, 2013 @ 15:56:18
The weather is cooler most of the year, but it doesn’t rain as much.
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Why I’m Here (Not Philosophically Speaking) | Mark My Words...
Jun 17, 2013 @ 11:34:39