American looking to move to remote Canadian wilderness

On a serious note, why not just move to part of the boonies in Ontario, why the extreme. My trading buddy lives in Westport and he said you get a little outside and its wide open, bush country as you Canadians call it. I have watched Ice Road Truckers on History Channel, no thanks.

I got the impression from talking to him quite a bit that you could be in rural Ontario and still be only an hour away from medical and groceries.
 
Quote from fatrat:

I've been entertaining some thoughts about moving into the boonies of Canada. If not permanently, then just by buying land in some place like the Northwest Territories and living in a cabin and fishing.

So I did my research, started looking at real estate, and I find that I can buy land on the cheap. In those cases, they aren't always connected to the power grid. When I find that there is power and water, the amount of land available drops.

So now, I'm looking at this place that's about 30 grand, totally out there in the boonies, has a fishing stream, a well, some electricity. Has a telephone line hook-up, and I could probably run a satellite internet hook-up. If I take a mortgage out on the place, I shell out $350/month, and can do this while I live in New York city.

If the US collapses or the dollar goes to crap, I figure I can go live in the boonies off of fish.

How insane am I, and how realistic is this plan? Canadians, please chime in. Your country is beautiful, your land is cheap, and you don't have idiots wrecking your currency as bad as our government is wrecking ours. Why should I not be in Canada?
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You do realize now with the problems with the U.S. Dollar that your dollar (assuming your funds are in U.S. Dollar) doesn't carry as much weight up here in Canada as the past.

My point, if the U.S. Dollar continues to lose value in relationship to the Canaddian dollar...

You need to think twice about moving to Canada if your money (income) is based in the U.S. Dollar.

Simply, imagine your costs of living in Canada had you made your move back in 2001 - 2002 in comparison to today assuming your income is U.S. Dollar based.

Also, do your research very carefully concerning the Sateliite thing especially if you plan on trading.

In addition, when you arrive, buy yourself a very good snow blower or a wheeler that you can mount a snow blade on especially living out in the boonies.

Thus, take winters up here very seriously and you'll be able to have just as much fun in the winter as you do in the summer.

Last of all, I highly recommend you take some extensive first aid classes or survival class prior to moving to the wilderness knowing that the nearest medical facility may be hours away especially in the middle of winter.

Thus, if your not properly prepared, getting seriously injured in the wilderness can be more dangerous than getting seriously injured in NYC (help is nearby).

Mark
 
I lived in Yellowknife, NWT for 8 years and I currently live in Saskatchewan, so I'm the guy to talk to about living in remote areas of Canada!

Going from NYC to a squatter's cabin in the arctic wilderness would be sure death for you. Unless you previously spent time doing arctic wilderness survival training as a member of the special forces. Even then I'd bet against you. Don't get me wrong, there are people who do it. They are along a road though and have a vehicle to drive somewhere for groceries. Some generate their own power and heat with only firewood. Hunting for your meat is pretty common, even among city folk.

If you know how to dress and take care of yourself when things go bad, you can survive. But you are just making too big of a jump. If you're sold on the far north, go to Yellowknife and rent an apartment, buy a cheap snowmobile and a boat and do some exploring. Learn what you're in for at least, but don't go in with both feet. The cold will kill you when you're out in the bush if you don't know what you're doing. In the summer the bugs will make you want to kill yourself to escape them. Yellowknife's a great city though, an adventurer like you would fit in and you'd make friends. Laid back lifestyle, that's for sure. Not cheap though, 3-500k for a modest place. 1500+ a month to rent an apartment.

In Saskatchewan you can find a small house for 10-20 grand in many many small villages that time has forgotten and only be 60-90 minutes from a city. Dial up internet and you'd have a few dozen neighbors to have coffee with in the morning. Probably a small grocery store too. The winters get cold snaps, but it's not nearly as severe as the far north. Still, be prepared for 0-10 F regularly from december to march. You hit high 20's on a good day. Summers are great.

Atlantic Canada is relatively cheap too, especially Newfoundland, and the hunting/fishing there is abundant as well.

Overall, I'd say go for it, but do some exploring first.
 
Quote from acerbits:

Um, I think ur in dreamland man. there are barely any people in those provinces, 30,000 people in each? the high wind wont work for power generation because your generators will be frozen solid and will crack to pieces if they are spinning. if you want a more reasonable place in canada, check out canmore, Alberta, beautiful mountain backdrop, good for skiing/snowboarding, and close to 2 major canadian cities (Edmonton, Calgary) no provincial income taxes and a very healthy oil economy.
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I lived in Canmore for quite a few years. Very, very nice place. Quiet, great people in the town and the wilderness is only minutes away.

Although you won't find a decent home for less then $500K.
 
The OP's thought on the US being a suck-ass place because of our government as of late is exactly the reason I am planning my move to Switzerland.
 
Quote from Ivanovich:

The OP's thought on the US being a suck-ass place because of our government as of late is exactly the reason I am planning my move to Switzerland.
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Sooner the better. Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out.

Someone had to say it. :)
 
Quote from lescor:

... Learn what you're in for at least, but don't go in with both feet. The cold will kill you when you're out in the bush if you don't know what you're doing. In the summer the bugs will make you want to kill yourself to escape them...

Overall, I'd say go for it, but do some exploring first.
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Agree.

He should at least go on a vacation of a few weeks in the middle of the winter and do the same during the middle of the summer at some remote cabin in a nearby area where he plans to purchase his property...

Many people rent their place out because its just second home to them.

Thus, he'll get a "peek" into what's it like and that's the best type of research he can do.

Mark
 
You're an irrational looney....

There are tons of nice places to live where you don't have to be a hermit. Don't just jump from one extreme (NYC) to another (Rural Canada).... theres a nice inbetween.
 
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