Cities by Numbers
Posted by: Lydia in Choosing our new home, tags: Brussels, Montreal, new homeIt’s coming down to the line, and we still haven’t decided on our new home. One major mark against Belgium is its weather. If we look month by month, and compare the average temperature highs, lows, as well as the days with less than 0.1 mm rain, and the blue sky index (sunny=100, overcast =0), Montreal wins on most counts, apart from the appalling lows during winter:
It is amusing to think that for most of my life I have lived in Canberra, which according to Australian consensus, has terrible weather, and the “harsh climate” is often given as a reason for moving up north. Yet compared to Montreal, it is a paradise of sun and warmth (Canberra data shifted 6 months for comparison):
As a scientist, I make most of my judgements with numbers. I do experiments, collate the data, and conduct statistical analyses – t-tests, ANOVA, regressions – I can do them all. If it can be quantified, I will try to summarise it, graph it, compare it. If only the Euclidian distance of Brussels and Montreal could be calculated, and a definite number could be calculated.
Instead, we are left with pros and cons. Is it better to have sunny freezing days or warmer gloomy days? Lower wages in the center of Europe or higher wages on the other side of the Atlantic? English as an official language that seems unwanted or as an unofficial language that seems embraced? A costly plain apartment that is one hour from Paris, or a beautiful Victorian stone townhouse that we could pay off in five years? Living next to Brussels Central Station but working a long train ride away, or living in the tranquility of Plateau and working a short bicycle ride away? Superb education and cheap childcare in a bilingual city, or very good education and costly childcare in the capital of the European Commission? Biodome or Atomium?
How are we supposed to answer these questions?
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“How are we supposed to answer these questions?”
a) Sunny and freezing; b) if you think Brussels is worth an extra $20,000 a year (e.g., wages + living expenses) for its location then it sounds like your decision has already been made; c) unless they’re attacking English speakers in the streets then the official language wins it; d) see b); e) sounds like a no-brainer to me, but maybe you’d enjoy using your long and draining commute to read for three hours a day; f) sounds like b) again: do you love Europe enough to pay so much for it?; g) Biodome.
Respons numero deux,
Choosing the American continent for its beauty to begin a new life, weddings etc,
At any time in your long term future together a trip to Europe will be a cultural interlude the duration of which will be determined by need and be very affordable. Not vice versa.
International markets at the moment should enable the purchase of suitable digs at the right price & location. evaluate carefully before buying.
Au revoir mon cherie
Thanks for writing this.