Your environment....your health....your opinion please

S

shamnas

Cathlete
Hi all,

I try to be as healthy as possible due to our family genetics. My loving father passed away at the young age of 54 due to a heart attack. My aunt who is 55 was recently diagnosed with cancer, she has had a hysterectomoy and we are hopeful the results will show the cancer has not spread. She also tries to be a very healthy individual. She ended up having her surgery in Sarnia, Ontario because the wait for an operation in Toronto is just too long, even for cancer. She is now considering living in Sarnia because the air quality is better, and it is not as congested as Toronto. She feels that pollution among other things may have been a contributing factor.

I too have been giving some thought to my environment lately after a roadtrip last weekend to a small town, Kincardine, on the outskirts of Toronto. The air was fresh and it was so calm.
I currently live in Toronto downtown, where there are lots of cars, pollution, smog, etc....
My question is how do you like your environment? would you want to live anywhere else? was it a factor in determining where you wanted to live?

Thanks for any opinions,
Take care,
Sham
 
Sham - I live in Hamilton, just down the QEW from you:) However, I live on the mountain, and all the crap from Stelco and Dofasco gets blown the other way. I would NEVER live in a big city again (I've lived in London, England and Milan, Italy). I love the fact that it's so quiet, that the Bruce trail is a 3 minute walk from my front door, that we have so MUCH green space.

My sister moved from North York to the country outside Paris, Ontario last year. I could see the difference in her in less than a month. She is so much more relaxed and happy.
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

My question is how do you like your environment? would you want to live anywhere else? was it a factor in determining where you wanted to live?

Thanks for any opinions,
Take care,
Sham



Hi Sham,

My environment was the reason for moving to a mountain wilderness almost 4 years ago and my family and I haven't ever looked back. We often vactioned in the N. GA mountains and fell in love with the peaceful quiet surroundings, green living plants and critters all around, clean clear rivers and streams, and slower-paced earthy kind helpful people...so we moved.

I have 3 young DS still at home (1 grown DS), and we moved from a large GA city which is home of river and air pollution and a nearby nuclear plant, air pollution from factories and tons of traffic congestion/pollution, noise to drive you crazy, etc. I can now let my children outside and not worry a stranger will step off the sidewalk in front of my house and snatch them and they can breath. Plus with a child with asthma and allergies, the blooming plants are much less irritating to his system than the city pollution. The relaxation quality of the peaceful surroundings alone is enough to keep me here. I do have to drive a bit to get to any shopping and any activities the kids may join in, but I really don't mind dealing with it.

I once thought I was a city-girl, but have in the last few years realized that I am still a tomboy outdoor woodsy girl at heart.

Now don't you city-people be offended at my references to city-living, everyone has their place on this earth. And my goodness, without the city, where would I shop and dine.:)

"Bloom where you're planted" or "re-pot yourself":)
 
I spent the first 30 years of my life in Los Angeles. Although I'm so glad I grew up there and wouldn't change it for the world, I love being in Wyoming. There is no smog. It's so dang windy here all winter that smog couldn't stick around if it wanted to! Summers are beautiful with gorgeous blue skies and perfect temperatures. And it's quiet. I love it. I do miss a lot of things about LA, but we are at around 75,000 population now and we have some good restaurants and shopping. We are also only 45 miles from Ft. Collins, CO which is huge and has awesome shopping and restaurants and there are gobbs and gobbs of factory stores just south of that. I also miss the job opportunities that big cities offer, but I am thankful to have the good job I have here and I know it's a trade-off.

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

I grew up in the country. My DH and I ended up where we are because of his job. When we moved to North Central Pa, which is relatively rural, we looked for propery out of town. We were sold on our current location because it is near a state game lands and when we looked at the lot the first time, a marsh hawk was flying over it. I didn't really think much about environment when we moved here or looked for a home, but it is an added bonus to living in the sticks. I like to visit cities and experience what they have to offer, but I hope to never have to live in one.
 
Hi Sham,

I live on the Olympic Peninsula. It has a mild climate yearly. What is most fun about living here, is, you are about 2-3 hours away from a lot of sporting activities. Desert, ocean, rain forest, mountains.

My husband and I are young retirees, with 5 acres. We have 2 greenhouses, and 4 huge beds to plant in. Just planted 59 asparagus roots yesterday. Previous years we've planted strawberries, raspberries, fruit trees etc. We live off our land, and since the gas situation is going up, we do enjoy staying home.

We have a tree growing business all around us, so we hike into the wood hours at a time. No pollution, but, we do have to watch out for dogs that are not on a leash, and be careful when out alone to be weary of strangers and wild animals.

This is our heaven away from heaven. We would not live anywhere else on earth, it's healthy and happy.

I even collected a wild yeast and made a starter for sourdough bread here, and called it Olympic Peninsula Starter. If any one wants a starter, recipe and instructions, to bake this bread, I'll be happy to give it to you. Send me a message and I'll send you my address. Mail a sase to me. Guaranteed to make an awsome bread!

Take care,
Janie
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

The only way for me to get away from the cr@ppy environment is to move out of Jersey and I just don't think I'm willing to do that...my whole life is here...it's all I know...everyone I know and love is here...I'm not leaving. :)
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Hey, GREAT question! My response is long, sorry!

I live in the town where I was born and raised...Nazareth PA (small, compared to LA or NYC). Small town, but getting larger and larger as the New Jersey and New York families move here to live. Growing up, Nazareth was small, where everybody knew everybody else. Doors were left unlocked, keys in the car's ignition (things I still do, shame, shame! LOL). BUT, all the development going in is crowding our streets, taking up all of our farm land and causing traffic everywhere you go. Nazareth is the home of cement plants, quarries and stone factories. I have NO allergies, asthma or any other upper respiratory conditions associtated with ANYTHING AT ALL! I am fortunate to say that my boys are the same way, thank heavens!

HOWEVER!!!

All my friends who have moved here within the last 5-10 years all have children with sever asthma, allergies (some food but most environmental), etc. They ALWAYS blame the quarries, but it's such a falsehood. Everything coming out of the quarries is naturl ingredients. We have more risk of side effects from the hormone in our steaks than they do from the quarry dust.

I never would have considered moving out of this town. It's eveyrthing I know, and everything my dad knows and now everything my boys know.

BUT..........I'm now engaged and weighing the options of moving to DF's place on the mountainside. I like the area, the township, everythign, except the fact that he's not in a neighborhood like I am now. Right now, my boys can go outside and find someone within 2 seconds of our house to play with. Last minute plans can be made simply by waling outside or just down the road. We wouldn't have that at DF's house. But there's more open space, less traffic, less population, etc. I'm considering!

Sorry if I'm getting off topic. But by "environment", I'm thinking 2 ways.

It's nice to read everybody else's input on this!

Gayle
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Hi Gayle.

I can understand your dilemma. The country or country like areas are beautiful and certainly have their up sides but it often means giving up the "conveniences" of suburb or city living.

I am a suburb girl and although I LOVE the country, I don't think I could live there. Too far removed from everything for me.

On the other side of the coin, can't live in the city either...all of that rush rush, noise, using mass-transit cause it doesn't pay to have a car, etc is just not me either.

Good luck with your decision! How far from your place does your DF actually live?
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Hey Sham:) I lived in Brampton for 9 years, when we first moved we were in an 18th floor apt. facing south on Steeles Ave. On too many summer days we could look out and see a shroud of brown over Toronto, like a streamy swath of grime floating under the clouds. We weren't naive enough to think that we were unaffected by this but it really got us thinking about where we were living. We rented a house in Cheltenham near Caledon for a while but moved back to Brampton when we bought. My DH worked as an electrician constructing and maintaining traffic lights, (he wired the Compass sign catwalks at the top of TO on the 401 that tell you if traffic is moving through the next interchanges) anyway, he spent way too much time inhaling traffic fumes at close proximity. He was diagnosed with cancer at 31 and I really believe environmental factors tipped the scales against him, there must have been some predisposition in him before his cells went haywire but I am conviced that the years of exposure to pollution skewed his chances. I don't want my Kid's chances skewed as they share half of his genes so environment is one of the few things I can use to tip the balance more in their favour.

Years later I moved to Peterborough and was very conscious of the fact that the sky looked different, then I hear a news report saying that evidence showed that the crap floating in the air from the golden horseshoe making it's way north was worse because it had all that time to 'cook' as it made it's way to cottage country. D@amned if you do d@mned if you don'tx(

I like living in Kingston now, lake to the south, Canadian Sheild to the north, not a very industrial town and what is referred to as 'traffic' here makes me chuckle compared to what we had experienced driving in Brampton and Toronto. Environmental factors did play into my decision to move here, I considered Ottawa as well but it didn't feel right for me and my family.

Take Care
Laurie:)
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Wendy-the trip is exactly 18 minutes from my front door to his front door. It's a tough decision. I LOVE the convenience of everythign right where we are. We're healthy so we don't have any environmental concerns to consider. The other thing, as well (not to get off topic) is that DF and I are used to our own lifestyles. I like being surrounded by friends and family. He does also, but he's used to what he's used to. He's laid back and more relaxed, usually late for something because he can't get his butt moving (LOL). I, on the other hand, HATE being late...I'm always early. I'm very motivated and when I start a project, I see it thru to the end QUICKLY. He procrastinates; I do not. Add ALL THIS to the fact that I'm not sure I can ask my children to give up everything, especially considering they lost their daddy and that was traumatic enough. If we move, I'm changing EVEYR SINGLE THING they are used to. It's tough!

This is why I'm seeing the word "environment" in different ways!

(SO SORRY for getting off topic here )

Gayle
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Gayle,

Just wanted to give you a {{{{HUG}}}} while you're in the midst of a difficult decision. With children involved there are even so many more things to consider, especially knowing what your sons have been through recently. But remember, children are very resilient and adaptable - they are the easiest to bloom where they are planted (or repotted) as long as they are planted with love. So give your feelings and those of your fiance equal weight in the decision.

Bless you.:)
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Gayle-I was going to post and say that I wouldn't be so fond of moving if I were you but then I read Melody's post and she is right...they are young yet and will adapt quickly. If you want to make the move, GO FOR IT! :)
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Melody & Wendy-Thanks so much for your kind words. It's IS very true that kids adapt better. I worried till I was sick to my stomach about how the boys would react after DH's death, but in fact, they are the true inspiration. Took it in stride, talk about it openly, cry when they want! They were better off than all the adults. Zach was just 3 when DH passed and he was practically sitting on daddy's lap in the casket at the viewing. Just as if nothing was out of the ordinary. AMAZING KIDS!

Again, sorry for hijacking this thread...now back to our regularly-scheduled program! LOL

Gayle

p.s. I LOVE THESE BOARDS FOR THIS EXACT REASON!!!!!!!!!!
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Gayle, no apologies necessary for getting off topic, it all ties in together actually :)!!! Fear of change is one reason I am so hesitant. I agree with the others that kids do adapt better and sometimes changes is a good thing. Your boys sounds wonderful and I know you have their best interests at heart.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

I live right downtown and really believe that living in the suburbs would be so much better for my health. My SO would like to move to Ottawa, but it would be hard to leave family and friends, that's where the fear comes in. But I've also seen so many of the people I am close to move on that I need to do what I feel is best for me. I too have gotten used to certain conveniences...15 minute walk to work (so spoiled am I), there is a farmer's market every week, etc. But on the con side, the streets are so dirty, and there is constant smog and fumes. My SO loves biking and this year he has bought a mask. IN fact, there are a lot more people wearing them..that's gotta tell me something.

Shelley, I can't believe you used to live in London and Italy. That must've been an experience. Being so close to the Bruce Trail must be great, I love hiking!!!!

Again, thanks for sharing.

Sham
 
RE: Your environment....your health....your opinion ple...

Wow Gayle...What you said about your 3 yr old at his daddy's wake was heart-warming. Sounds like you have a couple of amazing boys there! Good job! :)

I know you'll make the best decision for all of you in regards to moving...in the end you'll all be very happy. I just know it!:+
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top