Note: This diary contains Canadian spellings.
First of all, I would like to apologise to my neighbours for all that is happening to the south of your border. I was a Kamala Harris supporter, and I will continue to vote blue for the rest of my life. Three months ago, I voted to strengthen our ties and relations with Canada along with the rest of our allies around the world. I know that as a Harris voter, an apology on my behalf is probably not necessary, but still, I cannot help but to say that I am sorry. I never thought that something like this could be even remotely possible. Not once did I think that 75+ million idiotic souls in this once-great country would be so moronic to elect a con artist, rapist, and 34-time convicted felon to the highest office in our land just because they were dissatisfied with the price of eggs and milk. But, it happened, and here we are.
You are getting a new friend. In the next couple of months, I am going to be applying for a passport so that I can start traveling up to Canada to give them more of my dollars. I am grateful to live in Michigan and for my house to be within 100 kilometres of the U.S.-Canada border. (I know that I do not need a passport to enter Canada, but I still have to apply for one because I am eyeing my college's annual "Discover Europe" trip to celebrate my upcoming 40th birthday. I will be required to obtain a passport to enter any part of Europe anyway.) I can cross the Bluewater Bridge over to Sarnia or the Ambassador Bridge to Windsor to shop, eat, and explore, and if I am really up to it, I can drive the extra kilometres to London, Hamilton, or even Toronto. If I happen to be in the Upper Peninsula, I can cross the International Bridge over to the Ontario side of Sault Ste. Marie if I need to. I do know of a lot of stores to check out while up in Canada, like Winners, HomeSense, Dollarama, Canadian Tire, Giant Tiger, The Brick, and Toys "R" Us (hello Geoffrey! 🦒). Plus a lot of new restaurants to try, such as Montana's, Swiss Chalet, Milestones, Beavertails, Harvey's, California Sandwiches, and New York Fries. And, I sure do love a coffee or a pack of Timbits from Tim Hortons! At least I will not have to worry about finding a Tims up in Canada, as they seem to exist on almost every corner in every town and city. (We have Tim Hortons in Michigan, but our selection down here is much more limited.)
I have a nephew and niece who reside in Maine, so I can cross through Canada as a shortcut if I want to drive over and vacation with them. This way, I can bypass Ohio and Pennsylvania and reenter the United States at New York.
Unfortunately, while I believe that I would make a quality Canadian citizen, I most likely will not be able to get dual citizenship with Canada. Doing so will mean that I will have to commit to paying my taxes in two countries, which can get very expensive. I am in my late 30's, so I may be a bit too old now. Additionally, I do not know how far my degree is going to get me up there. It is a Master of Arts (Arts, not Sciences) in Mathematics. An Arts degree in the United States is usually geared towards people who have a desire to teach for a school or college, so career opportunities in Canada may be much more limited. I probably do not have what it takes to contribute to Canada's economy and workforce. Plus, like most other countries, Canada tends to be quite picky about who they allow into their borders as a citizen; the process is not as easy as it might sound. So, I may be out of luck. However, I do have an alternative: take advantage of my passport as often and as much as possible. I know that I can stay in Canada for up to 180 days visa-free. I am bound to make a lot of new friends in the process, and, who knows...if any political or civil turmoil breaks out in America, maybe there will be a caring friend or circle of friends up there who will be kind enough to let me stay with them for a few months, and will let me come back and stay for as long as I want and whenever I want. (Of course, it will just be a matter of convincing customs agents at the border that I will have sufficient funds.)
I am aware of the fact that Canada has universal healthcare, and that I cannot qualify for it as an American citizen. If I need medical attention and have to visit a doctor or hospital up there, I will have to pay out-of-pocket for it. Nevertheless, I would like to think that my bill would be significantly cheaper when compared to the United States. Perhaps it would be no more than what healthcare would cost a Canadian citizen annually through his/her/their taxes. (This is just speculation, though.)
So, in summary…
I feel lucky to have a second nation apart from America and right next door to enjoy and explore. I have heard good things about Canada. It sounds like it will be an ideal place to escape to for a short while and find my peace of mind. I believe I will need it for the next few years (at least). Oh, and as a bonus, I will not ever have to worry about getting shot in Canada! How cool is that?
In defence of my neighbour to the north, I support keeping Canada apart from the United States. I would much rather have a second alternative nearby that I know I will feel much more safe in. Sorry, Mango Mussolini.
To any Daily Kos members who reside in Canada: I welcome your thoughts, comments, and suggestions in the comments below. Thank you in advance!
FYI: I do not own guns, nor do I have any desire to own them. I am fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with two primary shots and two boosters. I am not religious, and I am not one for hatred or intolerance. I value each and every individual regardless of their physical characteristics, who they are, who they represent, and the decisions that they make. Canada is one of those countries that values common sense, and I respect them for that.