Tallow + Steel

I hear you, I prefer the wilderness outdoors to the city and Toronto with a metro are population of 6.324 million is as city as it gets in Canada.  If I were to spend much time in any large Canadian city it would be Vancouver.

Isn't it funny how we each like to live.  I would so choose Toronto or Montréal over small town living.  Vancouver and Victoria are gorgeous, I admit, but they simply do not have the sophistication of the other two.  I wasn't in Québec City long enough but what I saw, I liked.  I have never been to other large Canadian cities like Winnepeg, Calgary, or Edmonton but wonder if they are more like our somewhat larger midwestern cities here in the U.S., which is to say not like our East and West Coast cities.

What I like in Calgary or Vancouver or Victoria is that the wilderness, mountains, forests, oceans etc are right there.  You can see them and be in them miles from anybody in minutes. Toronto and Montreal are just unending urban sprawl, crumbling old cities.  They do have their attraction to be sure but I can only take so much before I need mountains and forests to feed my soul.  Obviously lots of people enjoy the big cities and that's fine with me.  I've not spent much time in any Midwestern cities so I couldn't compare. I have a sister that lives in Rochester, Minnesota. Maybe I should visit her and see?

LOL, Marko, I am the exact opposite.  I love to visit beautiful countryside but only for a while.  Ultimately, I find I need the vibe of the city.  It seems obvious to me that, in their own ways, each is needed.

I'm with Marko on this one.

Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria etc gives the best of both worlds. You have everything that a city has to offer, plus the wilderness right there should you choose to venture into it.

However, this is assuming one can afford to live in any city anymore. The average price of a house in metro Vanvouver is approaching $2 million.

Toronto and Montreal are just unending urban sprawl, crumbling old cities.

Sounds like Detroit...

I'm with Marko on this one.

Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria etc gives the best of both worlds. You have everything that a city has to offer, plus the wilderness right there should you choose to venture into it.

However, this is assuming one can afford to live in any city anymore. The average price of a house in metro Vanvouver is approaching $2 million.

Vancouver's market is being distorted by the unchecked inflow of illicit funds from offshore that is using real estate to park/launder the money.  I have a friend who lives there and he does pretty well but is really concerned that there is no way on earth that either of his sons will be able to afford to live in the city.  Here's a picture of the view to the west from his deck.  I'll take this over Toronto or Montreal any day.

Isn't it funny how we each like to live.  I would so choose Toronto or Montréal over small town living.  Vancouver and Victoria are gorgeous, I admit, but they simply do not have the sophistication of the other two.  I wasn't in Québec City long enough but what I saw, I liked.  I have never been to other large Canadian cities like Winnepeg, Calgary, or Edmonton but wonder if they are more like our somewhat larger midwestern cities here in the U.S., which is to say not like our East and West Coast cities.

What I like in Calgary or Vancouver or Victoria is that the wilderness, mountains, forests, oceans etc are right there.  You can see them and be in them miles from anybody in minutes. Toronto and Montreal are just unending urban sprawl, crumbling old cities.  They do have their attraction to be sure but I can only take so much before I need mountains and forests to feed my soul.  Obviously lots of people enjoy the big cities and that's fine with me.  I've not spent much time in any Midwestern cities so I couldn't compare. I have a sister that lives in Rochester, Minnesota. Maybe I should visit her and see?

LOL, Marko, I am the exact opposite.  I love to visit beautiful countryside but only for a while.  Ultimately, I find I need the vibe of the city.  It seems obvious to me that, in their own ways, each is needed.

Freddy I agree that both are needed and that its a matter of individual taste what the balance is. The impact of the landscape on our psyche is profound and we're heavily influenced by where we grew up and what our experience was. I'm mildly uncomfortable not having a mountain range at least within view but someone from the prairies might feel claustrophobic among tall peaks.

Did you fine gentlemen mention Vancouver?

Freddy, you should have visited Commercial Drive in East Van as it is one of the most sophisticated and intellectual areas around the world, in my opinion.
There is so much to do here. I have lived here for the past 22 years and I still find it quite vibrant.

Regarding the housing prices, don't get me started on that topic.

Did you fine gentlemen mention Vancouver?  

Freddy, you should have visited Commercial Drive in East Van as it is one of the most sophisticated and intellectual areas around the world, in my opinion.
There is so much to do here. I have lived here for the past 22 years and I still find it quite vibrant.  

Regarding the housing prices, don't get me started on that topic.

You forget, celestino, I live in San Diego so I know all about housing prices.

As for Vancouver, itself, it is truly one of the most stunning cities I have ever seen and I need to get back.  I have never been to Portland or Seattle and should try to tie in those cities with a return to Vancouver.  You're going to laugh but a highlight of your city for me was your amazing main branch of the public library.

Marko, being born and reared in Brooklyn, New York, of course I was influenced by New York City.  I find some cities absolutely click with me while others do not.  Chicago and San Francisco click while Los Angeles, Houston, and Phoenix do not.  I am not putting those places down; they just lack something, at least for me.  San Diego, while not as sophisticated as New York City, Chicago, or San Francisco is a perfect cross for me.  I live in an older part of the city that is gentrifying.  I can see the mountains and they are only an hour away.  A bit farther away and, if I want it, I have the desert, and I am only a few miles from the Pacific.  Just a couple of miles from where I live is Balboa Park, one of the largest and most beautiful city parks in the U.S., along with its many wonderful museums.  Finally, while I do drive, I don't like it and I have public transit at my front door.  This, of course, is just me and it would be awful if other options for what we call home weren't there.

P.S. guys, I think we have totally hijacked this thread which is doing Ryan @ Tallow + Steel a big injustice. So, to get back on track, based on the chatter here, it may be time to give T+S a try. Any thoughts on a scent to start with?

Did you fine gentlemen mention Vancouver?  

Freddy, you should have visited Commercial Drive in East Van as it is one of the most sophisticated and intellectual areas around the world, in my opinion.
There is so much to do here. I have lived here for the past 22 years and I still find it quite vibrant.  

Regarding the housing prices, don't get me started on that topic.

P.S. guys, I think we have totally hijacked this thread which is doing Ryan @ Tallow + Steel a big injustice.  So, to get back on track, based on the chatter here, it may be time to give T+S a try.  Any thoughts on a scent to start with?

I don't mind! It's great discussion, so by all means continue.

That being said - I'm hoping some reviews will be popping up soon. The early customers who have posted some initial impressions are very pleased, so hopefully this week we will start to see some.

I will definitely give you my opinion once I get my loot :-)

Did you fine gentlemen mention Vancouver?  

Freddy, you should have visited Commercial Drive in East Van as it is one of the most sophisticated and intellectual areas around the world, in my opinion.
There is so much to do here. I have lived here for the past 22 years and I still find it quite vibrant.  

Regarding the housing prices, don't get me started on that topic.

You forget, celestino, I live in San Diego so I know all about housing prices.

As for Vancouver, itself, it is truly one of the most stunning cities I have ever seen and I need to get back.  I have never been to Portland or Seattle and should try to tie in those cities with a return to Vancouver.  You're going to laugh but a highlight of your city for me was your amazing main branch of the public library.

Marko, being born and reared in Brooklyn, New York, of course I was influenced by New York City.  I find some cities absolutely click with me while others do not.  Chicago and San Francisco click while Los Angeles, Houston, and Phoenix do not.  I am not putting those places down; they just lack something, at least for me.  San Diego, while not as sophisticated as New York City, Chicago, or San Francisco is a perfect cross for me.  I live in an older part of the city that is gentrifying.  I can see the mountains and they are only an hour away.  A bit farther away and, if I want it, I have the desert, and I am only a few miles from the Pacific.  Just a couple of miles from where I live is Balboa Park, one of the largest and most beautiful city parks in the U.S., along with its many wonderful museums.  Finally, while I do drive, I don't like it and I have public transit at my front door.  This, of course, is just me and it would be awful if other options for what we call home weren't there.

P.S. guys, I think we have totally hijacked this thread which is doing Ryan @ Tallow + Steel a big injustice.  So, to get back on track, based on the chatter here, it may be time to give T+S a try.  Any thoughts on a scent to start with?

Take this thread to Cuba! I am armed (with a razor) and certainly dangerous - I promise to post my feedback on Ryan's soaps once I've received and used them. In the mean time....I love San Francisco. My wife has an aunt and some cousins in the Bay area and we've visited over the years. Great setting, great city. I've not been to New York but I'm sure I'd like it, I mean all those people that live there must be on to something right?. Maybe not to live in but to visit and experience. I've heard great things about San Diego and want to get down there at some point. Vancouver I'd move to in a heartbeat, but for all that cloudy rainy weather in the winter. I can't go months without seeing the sun. We get sun in winter here. It may be -30 degrees but its sunny. I'm going to start a thread in the lounge asking people to post what they love about where they live.
Mark