This first-person narrative draws from a conversation with Erin Smith, a forty-seven-year-old independent marketing professional and the creator of the travel blog *Gluten-Free Globetrotter*. In early 2024, Erin and her family embarked on a transformative chapter by relocating from New York City to Montreal, Canada. Their discussion, later edited for concision and coherence, offers a glimpse into the experience of uprooting a life built in one of the world’s busiest metropolises and adapting to a new cultural and linguistic environment.
Erin grew up amid the relentless energy of New York, where she not only shaped her identity but also spent two decades residing in Brooklyn, the borough she cherished with unwavering affection. For her, the frenetic pulse of the city was not merely a backdrop but an integral part of who she was. Even when circumstances led her temporarily westward—to Santa Cruz, California, in 2016, following her then-boyfriend (now husband)—she found herself unable to adjust, despite California’s undeniable natural beauty and coastal serenity. Something vital was missing: the vitality, variety, and immediacy of New York. Within two and a half years, the couple returned east, eager to reclaim the rhythm and familiarity of their urban home.
For a long time, Erin believed that move back to New York would be her last major relocation. Yet life presented an unexpected twist in 2024 when her husband, an agronomist specializing in indoor agricultural systems, received an exceptional job offer in Montreal. His new role involved helping to launch a greenhouse division for a large national corporation—a unique opportunity perfectly aligned with his expertise. Given the scarcity of agricultural work in the dense urban landscape of New York, the decision made practical sense, even if it required leaving behind the city Erin loved so deeply. While Erin’s own work as a freelance marketer provided flexibility and geographic freedom, the opportunity for her husband was both professionally significant and time-sensitive, tipping the scale decisively toward Canada.
The family spent the first half of the year preparing carefully for the transition, allowing their son to complete the school term in New York before the move. Erin, knowing the emotional and logistical complexity of such a life change, hired a relocation coach—someone who specialized not so much in the administrative tasks of moving, but in the psychological and emotional process of adapting to a new place. She found guidance in a digital nomad who had lived across continents, someone who encouraged Erin to envision how her personal values and daily priorities could transcend geography and continue to shape her Canadian life. The fear of repeating her unsettling California experience lingered, yet through this preparation, Erin began to see the move not as a loss but as an expansion.
Before the transition, the family made multiple visits to Quebec to familiarize themselves with the local neighborhoods, climate, and school options. Erin felt it was essential to witness Montreal during the harsh winter months—the season that defines much of Canadian life but is largely foreign to those accustomed to New York’s milder conditions. Their final scouting trip took place in April, under considerable time pressure, as they had only one week to secure housing. In contrast to New York’s flexible rental system, Montreal’s tenancy structure is largely synchronized around July 1, leaving little room for negotiation. Ultimately, they succeeded in finding a home in Westmount, a picturesque and well-connected district in the southwest of Montreal, within walking distance of downtown and public transit links. Though Erin’s husband’s work took him to more rural parts of Quebec, the family preferred the urban convenience and cultural vibrancy of their new neighborhood.
Financially, the move presented both benefits and trade-offs. During their Brooklyn years, Erin and her family had been fortunate to rent a duplex with a private backyard—an extraordinary advantage secured during the pandemic’s exodus from the city. That apartment cost them around $3,500 per month. In Montreal, their rent dropped by roughly a thousand dollars, making housing one of the few areas where they enjoyed genuine savings. While they forfeited their outdoor space, they gained amenities that had long been luxuries, such as an in-unit washer and dryer. Such conveniences brought unexpected satisfaction, offsetting some of the sentimental attachments to their old home.
Once settled, Erin and her family faced a variety of new challenges that went beyond housing. Quebec’s distinctive culture and governance, with French as the official language, meant navigating an entirely new bureaucratic and educational landscape. The local school system, divided into French and English boards, required documentation to qualify for English-language education. Their son ultimately enrolled in an English school offering an immersion program that gradually integrated French—a balance that eased his transition while still honoring the province’s linguistic identity.
Building a new social network proved difficult as well. Erin’s professional life remained tied to New York, leaving her somewhat isolated in her new surroundings. To cultivate a sense of community, she immersed herself in school-related groups and reached out to neighbors, gradually finding a circle of friends who shared her interests and values. Yet, creating these connections required effort and vulnerability, underscoring how integral local relationships are to feeling at home.
Perhaps the most complex hurdle was rebuilding their financial footing. Without a Canadian credit history, even basic financial tasks—securing a credit card, opening a bank account—demanded patience and persistence. Processes that might have been routine in the United States stretched out over several weeks. In terms of overall living costs, Erin found that groceries and everyday expenses were roughly equivalent to what they paid in New York. Their housing savings were partially balanced by her husband’s commuting expenses, as his job required regular travel outside the city. Erin’s remote work arrangement, however, spared her such costs and allowed for a more settled daily routine.
Health care, another major difference between their old and new lives, presented both advantages and complexities. Erin has lived with celiac disease for more than four decades, an experience that made her particularly attentive to food safety and dietary regulations. In Canada, she discovered that food labeling and gluten-free compliance standards were not only more consistent but also legally enforced, significantly simplifying everyday choices. Through her blog and professional associations with gluten-free brands and restaurants, Erin had already cultivated a support network, which helped her integrate rapidly into Montreal’s wellness community.
Adjusting to Canada’s socialized healthcare system, however, required an entirely new learning process. Having never experienced a public medical structure, Erin found herself surprised by the differences—from registering with a family doctor to understanding the procedures for prescriptions and specialist appointments. While English-language information was sometimes limited, modern tools such as Google Translate became essential aids. The affordability of healthcare represented a dramatic improvement compared to the United States. In New York, private insurance for a family of three had cost nearly as much as rent; in Quebec, coverage was public, comprehensive, and largely free at the point of service. She was astonished at times to receive care, anticipate a bill, and then realize that none would arrive. Additionally, she discovered the province’s progressive allowance for pharmacists to prescribe medications based on test results—a convenience she had never encountered before.
As months passed, Montreal began to feel less like a temporary assignment and more like a genuine home. Erin was captivated by the city’s refined beauty, its sense of calm, and the civility of its residents. The pace of life contrasted sharply with the intensity of New York. Streets appeared cleaner, people seemed more considerate, and the general atmosphere encouraged balance rather than constant motion. After years of living in a perpetual state of busy alertness, Erin found the slower rhythm restorative.
Although their initial visas permit a three-year stay, both Erin and her husband hope to extend their residency. For now, their priority is stability—especially with their child thriving academically and socially. When reflecting on her journey, Erin admits that a year ago she might have envisioned returning to New York. Today, she hesitates at the thought, uncertain both of the practicality and of the emotional cost. While she continues to identify, first and foremost, as a New Yorker—her accent, mindset, and pride rooted firmly in that identity—she acknowledges that Montreal has redefined her sense of belonging. For the first time in years, she feels she can exhale. Life, she says, moves differently here—not worse, not necessarily better, but gentler, more intentional, and quietly fulfilling.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-new-york-to-canada-for-husbands-job-2025-10
