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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be seriously considering moving to Canada during this pandemic?

37 replies

HensTeef · 08/02/2021 07:35

We have been given the opportunity to move to Canada with DH's work. I know there are lots of pros and cons to emigrating, but I'm specifically asking if I'm being unreasonable to consider it during a global pandemic. He works remotely so we don't need to live in or near a big city.

Canada's deaths per population is much lower than here in UK so it seems they are dealing with it a lot better than us. We are looking at relocating to an area with good access to nature, hikes and trails etc, so would be hopeful that we would get a more outdoorsy and better quality of life even if some restrictions persisted.

On the other hand we would be moving away form family during a pandemic. Our parents are between the ages of 56 and 65, none have underlying health conditions. We have been abiding by the rules and so haven't been seeing much of them at all anyway, but if something went badly wrong for either us or them it would be quick and easy to offer whatever support is allowed at that time.

So
YABU - now is a terrible time to move
Or
YANBU - I would jump at the chance.

OP posts:
AStudyinPink · 08/02/2021 07:37

You get one life. If this is what you truly want to do with it, do it. You’ll regret it otherwise.

DinosaurDiana · 08/02/2021 07:37

I don’t see your problem. Both of your parents are of working age so don’t need your care. Hope they will have another 20 years of life yet, and you weren’t born to be their carer.
Go and enjoy your life, the life you choose.

Normaigai · 08/02/2021 07:39

I'm an expat, although not in Canada. Be aware that you'd be putting yourself in a position where you possibly can't get back in time (or at all) if a relative gets seriously ill. That's always a risk but particularly an issue with Covid because of reduced flights and the need to get testing before travelling.

I am not saying don't do it, but be aware it's no longer a case of simply booking a flight.

ItsJackieWeaverBitch · 08/02/2021 07:40

Go for it. I wouldn’t be moving due to the pandemic or at least not only the pandemic. The country is a shit heap even without it. Aside from all that though, you’ve been given a great opportunity and there’s nothing stopping you by the sound of it.

Tamingofthehamster · 08/02/2021 07:40

It would be easier to go now while they are still relatively young and well, than when they are older. Do you have kids? If not it would definitely be easier moving before they come along, rather than when grandparents have got used to seeing them every week or however much.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 08/02/2021 07:41

@Normaigai

I'm an expat, although not in Canada. Be aware that you'd be putting yourself in a position where you possibly can't get back in time (or at all) if a relative gets seriously ill. That's always a risk but particularly an issue with Covid because of reduced flights and the need to get testing before travelling.

I am not saying don't do it, but be aware it's no longer a case of simply booking a flight.

This. I’m also an expat. I’d probably still go for it but more caution than pre-pandemic.
JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 08/02/2021 07:42

YABU to move for that reason alone. Numbers will be lower here one day once more people have had the vaccine

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 08/02/2021 07:44

This is your third thread on moving to Canada.

Original poster
HensTeef · 08/02/2021 07:59

Okay...this is the first time I'm asking about how people would feel about moving to a different country during a pandemic.

You don't have to answer.

OP posts:
MySocalledLoaf · 08/02/2021 08:03

My friend in Canada is pretty sick of how things are being handled there. They have a better health system and lower population density, which probably helps. You might want to look for some kind of online expat group to get opinions.
I have lived in several different countries, and I personally wouldn’t make a bit decision until this is over. I wouldn’t know whether it was a permanent or temporary state of mind driving it.

MySocalledLoaf · 08/02/2021 08:03

A big decision...

PermanentTemporary · 08/02/2021 08:07

Hmm. I have a job here and a much more elderly mother so it's harder to see beyond that. The fact is that the pandemic will end; they do. Your parents are pretty young. If it's something you want to do then I wouldn't let current conditions stop you. I'd try and negotiate or keep a bigger financial reserve now I think.

FeelTheRush · 08/02/2021 08:08

Also an expat but in HK. I think you need to base your decisions around things other than COVID - you may end up being in Canada for 10+ years (as has happened to me in HK). If you wouldn’t go pre-COVID, I would suggest taking some time to think about why you want to go now and why your view has changed.

Isadora2007 · 08/02/2021 08:11

Consider healthcare- would it be covered by your husbands work package? What about kids- do you have or plan any?

GalesThisMorning · 08/02/2021 08:11

I'm an immigrant (or am I an expat Hmm) in the UK. I've never felt as nervous about being on the other side of the world from my family as I do now. I've lived in the UK for 20 years so it's been worth it, but the emotional conflict is not insignificant. I do get upset when I hear people complaining that they haven't seen their parents for 6 weeks and will give it until March but after that, screw it, they are hugging their mum. I can't do that, obviously.

If you need your family around you you shouldn't do it.

Mara2021 · 08/02/2021 08:14

I'm not sure we'd move now as I don't think there are that many places that would let us in, but we're definitely looking at where we can move to once this insanity is over and the rest of the world will accept escapees from Plague Island (I've lived and worked abroad before and the other half wasn't born in this country and is in a shortage healthcare related profession).

There are now so many reasons we don't want to be stuck in Britain any longer than necessary, the handling of COVID-19, the crony government, the lopsided mass media coverage of the world, and Brexit are just the icing on the cake. We've been drawing up a shortlist for a while now. We no longer have family members of an age here that would affect our decision.

We wouldn't move to anywhere we didn't know, though; and the post-C19 world (when it finally happens) will be very different from the one we left behind. And just because a country has done a good job so far of keeping C19 under control doesn't mean there aren't other viruses and severe shocks on the horizon.

Original poster
HensTeef · 08/02/2021 08:17

Thanks for your replies and opinions.

Move isn't inspired by covid, but I was wondering if we were crazy to up and leave our family supports at a time when everything's gone a bit haywire.

We have 4 kids aged 1-12. Because of the age of the eldest DC we feel that if this is something we are going to do we need to get the ball rolling pretty quickly.
We have talked about moving a lot in the past but his age has really prompted us to make a decision on it soon.

OP posts:
larrythelizard · 08/02/2021 08:21

My parents live overseas. They moved countries in November. My mum is finding it very difficult to make friends as their new country is quite locked down so she's pretty lonely whilst Dad works. They're both finding it hard that they don't know when they'll get back to see us (mainly toddler DS tbh!)

I don't think they regret it but life is much less fun than they hoped.

PinkyParrot · 08/02/2021 08:25

Do you like very cold weather, are the schools any good, can you live not seeing DGPs in the flesh regularly?

If yes then go. It's Canada not Mars.

PinkyParrot · 08/02/2021 08:26

in Britain any longer than necessary, the handling of COVID-19, the crony government, the lopsided mass media coverage of the world, and Brexit are just the icing on the cake

Thankfully everywhere else runs perfectly Grin

MordredsOrrery · 08/02/2021 08:31

I know a family who emigrated to Canada last July. It worked for them. If you think it can work for you, too, then do it.

StellaDendrite · 08/02/2021 08:37

Canada has done incredibly badly at getting people vaccinated.

LunarSea · 08/02/2021 09:01

It's a big country, with corresponding different climate zones, and even languages. Where abouts in Canada would you be?

Original poster
HensTeef · 08/02/2021 09:05

Initially we were looking at New Brunswick, but now we are thinking Okanagan Valley.

OP posts:
OuiOuiKitty · 08/02/2021 09:09

I wouldn't make any long term plans based on the pandemic. This could all be over in a years time. I wouldn't factor the pandemic into my plans at all, it would be based on if I really wanted to go/would it benefit us as a family to go.