Change of seasons? Reading choices

[Helene2013]

I'm more a "cold" weather person so I am out more, I move more, I am more alive. Summer and the heat just kills me. Only thing I like about hot weather is that you just grab your sandals and you're out the door. hihi

I tend to read "light" thinking books (love thrillers, suspense, mysteries, medical "drama" and a bit of romance! Some times I will go through bios like Steve Jobs. I get most of my e-books free from Amazon and places that allow free e-books. I can read 2 weekly, mostly at bedtime or during my lunch hour. I also have a membership with Next issue so I can read so many magazines. It's like an orgy of reading. I do like paper books but since I have my Notes 10.1 tablet I barely open a real book. But my favorite type of books ever are medical thrillers. Then I wonder why I'm afraid to go to the hospital. haha

But fall season for me is time to de-clutter my home, paint, "invent" projects that hubby wants me not to think about. I also do so much more exercise. In the summer, the heat gets to me and I just squash my butt in the air conditionning somewhere. In the cold season, I can be in my gym (at home) almost every night after work (like now) or outside with snoeshoes and my dogs. If it is snowing, I can be in my yard even at 11pm making trails for the pups. Life is soooooo grand then! Wish husband would love to move to Alaska when we retire. But he's thinking more Florida. hahahaha So we'll have to find an in-between to please each one of us. And I can't become American (too complicated) so I think it will be somewhere Canada-West. hihi

[Pax]

Hey Helene, are you a native French speaking Quebecois? (is Quebecois correct? sounded better than Quebecer ) I know I see tons of people from Canada every winter in FL, but I think most are just visiting to get a break from the cold, not moving permanently.

[Helene2013]

Yep. French Quebecers (french is Québécois).

It is not easy to become an American. Many rules and regulations.

As for the snowbirds, in Quebec you can leave the province for a max of 180 days per year not to lose the health care benefits. You can't even be out of the province (let's say travel in Canada for 180 days). Some cheat (by paying cash for everything for x period of time just as they leave or a few weeks from their return, or have family do transactions in QC for instance during their leave so it "looks" as if they are physically here!)

In some other provinces the leave is not 6 months but 7 months. And if we stay longer in the USA, there is a form to fill out to prove you are still a Canadian. This form prevents the US government asking you to pay taxes as an american citizen. Complex thing for being neighbours but I guess every country (either Canada or USA) wants part of your income.

Our snowboards are starting to migrate South anytime now. They cherish Florida, Arizona and Texas.

[Crankin]

I am like you Helene. I hate hot weather, despite living in AZ and FL for 20+ years. I might go visit AZ/CA where friends and family are, for a bit (3 weeks?) after DH stops working, but I will *never* be a snowbird. Love being out in the snow, on my nordic skis or snowshoes.
But, my reading tastes don't change according to the weather! I read historical fiction, autobiography, and plain old contemporary fiction with very little deep meaning. I don't read romance novels, but just good old stories about people and places. Apparently, I am one of the few who hates science fiction and fantasy, as well as mysteries. I can't stand reading about crimes or gory stuff and all the fantasy/sci-fi just doesn't make sense to me. And all of those names... I am probably the only living person around who has not read Harry Potter. To me, that would be living Hell. And just think, I was an English teacher. I read all of the YA books, and was aware of the themes of the genres I didn't like in new books, so I could recommend to kids who wanted to read sic-fi, etc. I do miss some of that reading, but I don't even have a clue who won the Newberry in the past 7 years.

[Pax]

Yep. French Quebecers (french is Québécois).

It is not easy to become an American. Many rules and regulations.

As for the snowbirds, in Quebec you can leave the province for a max of 180 days per year not to lose the health care benefits. You can't even be out of the province (let's say travel in Canada for 180 days). Some cheat (by paying cash for everything for x period of time just as they leave or a few weeks from their return, or have family do transactions in QC for instance during their leave so it "looks" as if they are physically here!)

In some other provinces the leave is not 6 months but 7 months. And if we stay longer in the USA, there is a form to fill out to prove you are still a Canadian. This form prevents the US government asking you to pay taxes as an american citizen. Complex thing for being neighbours but I guess every country (either Canada or USA) wants part of your income.

Our snowboards are starting to migrate South anytime now. They cherish Florida, Arizona and Texas.

Same is true on the reverse, we looked into to emigrating to Canada a few years ago, very complicated! And unless you are wealthy, almost impossible after age 50.

Your written English is great, must be cool to be able to speak and READ in different languages. I always wanted to read The Count of Monte Cristo in the original French.

[Helene2013]

Thank you Pat. Until my mid-teens, I had no clue what English really was coming from a mostly French area. My mom had family in B.C. and decided to move there to "force" us to learn English. So I went for a year in a private college. It was my worst nightmare year ever. Talk about "hating" mom to make me go through all of this. haha

But thanks to her, today I have excellent job/salary because I am bilingual. My work is mostly in English for the past 20 years. Most of my bosses barely spoke French. Imagine! In fact, I'm better at writing English than French. That is terrible when you think about it. Also, I probably read 25% French, and only watch basically the news in French so maybe only 10% of the tv, videos, etc.

I could work in the USA with the Firm I'm with but it would be very complicated.

I would love to learn Spanish. One day when I have more time. I think I'll move to Mexico. No choice. haha

[malkin]

Still working on my Spanish and tired of Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal, I am now reading La Telaraña de Carlota.