This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maureen McMahon, in her 70s and living in Edmonton, Alberta. It has been edited for length and clarity. For years, people would ask me, "Which do you like better, Canada or the US? " I would tell them, "It's not that simple." I moved from Canada to the US for a relationship when I was 40. In 2024, about 30 years and several states later, I moved back to Canada for retirement . What I have discovered, to my amazement, is the absolute