So the decision to stay home this winter has several parts. One is certainly financial but that is not the most important factor. We could easily afford it if we dipped into the "Fund" for a few thousand. And yes, I agree that we are not getting any younger and should travel while we can.
The second reason is that we have not really been home for a winter or perhaps even more important, for a Christmas since 2002 when Norma retired. It is time to get together with family for the holidays.
Number three is our pending trip to Dublin, Ireland in July for our great nieces wedding. This has two parts. One is obviously financial as it only makes sense to stay in Europe for a while before or after the wedding and that will add to the bill. Maybe we will fly to one of the Greek Islands or to Malta and relax in the Mediterranean sun for a few weeks. Norma's dad is from the Isle Of Man which is just a ferry trip from Dublin so we will visit there as well. The other reason is Canada's rules about only being allowed to be away for seven months out of any twelve month period. If we are away longer than seven months we would lose our government subsidized health insurance.
Reason number four is TRUMP. I simply do not want to spend any money in the USA right now. I so disagree with everything this asshole does that I will not encourage him by adding to the US economy. US citizens, come to your senses!
So, there you have it. We will shiver in the cold this winter while giving Trump "the finger" from afar!
Can't say I'd disagree with any of your logic, especially with the trip to Ireland on the horizon. It's been so long since you've wintered at home, hopefully you won't go stir crazy being cooped up in the house. And, good call on our moron-in-chief.
ReplyDeleteThe other reason is Canada's rules about only being allowed to be away for seven months out of any twelve month period.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to be a little more specific about this. Canada has no rule about how long you can be out of the country. I think what you are talking about is the provincial health care stipulations, which are different in every province. The British Columbia rules are here... http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/managing-your-msp-account/leaving-bc-temporarily
Sorry, Kevin is correct. We can legally be away longer but we would lose our government subsidized health care coverage. We could also apply for a once in five years extension to the time allowed away.
DeleteCroft, at least you have govt health care,these aholes are coming after our Medicare and Social Security..... enough is enough can't wait till the Moron is gone, Mexico for six months coming up.
Deletethat is what I did and it took just one phone call now I left in May 2017 and am covered till May 2019, really easy....cheers les
ReplyDeleteLes, that sounds pretty good, applying for a once in five-year extension. Does your gov. health care coverage extend outside the borders of Canada or your province while you are away? I notice others (except Kevin and Ruth) buying travel health insurance. As a US citizen and passed the age of 65, we now have to purchase travel health insurance as Medicare will not cover us at all outside US borders; before, our Tricare military retirement insurance covered us anywhere in the world.
DeleteYes Dee, our medical coverage is good anywhere but with an important caveat. It will only pay what the same treatment would cost in Canada. So for example, if you had a triple bypass in the USA and the bill was $500K, you would only be covered for maybe $15K (the est. cost in Canada) and even then I believe we would have to pay the bill up front and then apply for reimbursement. In some countries this would work out fine as their costs might be the same or even less than in Canada. Mexico is a good example of this, many only buy a week or two of additional insurance to get them through the US and then rely on their Canadian coverage or simply paying cash for treatment in Mexico. Norma once had a bad ear infection in Oaxaca and the total bill including doctor and drugs was under $20 US. We did not bother claiming.
DeleteI should add that we always carried additional medical insurance in Mexico as it covered our transportation home (even by private air ambulance) if necessary. It was one of Norma's :conditions for travel". :)
DeleteAgree with Norma on the private air ambulance! When Beach had an ear blockage while we were on a cruise ship and we were outside US territorial waters, I sent him to the clinic on board for treatment--cost $270US. Neither Medicare nor Tricare would reimburse me (that's when I started buying travel health insurance which costs us $80US for both of us for 30 days from a USAA Insurance Co. subsidiary). If we had waited 10 hours until the ship reached St. Thomas (a US territory), Medicare would have paid for it, but Beach has a low pain threshold.
DeleteThe difference in costs for medical care is astounding. Even among non-USA countries.
DeleteI wonder if Mr. Trump will notice your finger or just think there is another Canuck in his mitts giving me a high five.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you and I understand John! I doubt if my $17K or so would even be a blip on his radar.
DeleteOf course the US economy is booming since Trump took office. That's got to be an inconvenient truth for you libs.
ReplyDeleteFake news. The truth is the economy was booming under Obama when Trump took office. He has done nothing of consequence on that front.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have said it better!
DeleteWell, no, it's a fact. There is a difference you know Mike. Fake news is that stuff CNN spouts. Facts are things that are true. Like the economy is doing better since Trump took office. Fact. The "recovery" under Obama was the poorest since the turn of the last century. Fact.
DeleteThere are 57 states. False, but that's what Obama said.
Don, either you or Wandering Mike has done the actual research on the beginning of the upswing in the market and the economy; sorry, Don, I think that Wandering Mike is the one who did the actual research.
DeleteHowever, once in a while you have to go with your gut, which is why I'm slowly selling shares the closer Special Counsel Mueller gets to the conclusion of the Russian investigation. God help us if he finds we have a Russian agent in the White House! In the early 1950s, history has shown we executed a couple for passing on state secrets.
Everyone has to make their own choice, will will keep going south as long as we can afford it, but not paying for camping very often and some time in Mexico, will work for us. Keep warm at home.
ReplyDeleteWow. Well you have thought it out and what it right for you.
ReplyDeleteNote to self, now that we are adding European travel to our time in Mexico I better start counting how long we will be away.
And we were going to offer to house sit :)
ReplyDelete