Moving

We're moving out of our small house, unwillingly. Rent is going up by 60% and luckily we don't have to downsize by an equal amount, but we're still going to reduce our living space. We added a 4th child a year ago, so when we should be expanding in space we're being forced to go backwards. I feel like a tycoon's soon-to-be ex, complaining about how $50k a month in living expenses is just impossible. But, while $10k a month in rent allows a family of 6 to live well, it's going to be tighter than that to which we are accustomed.

I totally understand the desire to buy a house. A house is a home, and a home is the ultimate in utility. We're looking to move back to Canada or the US, more likely Canada just because we're not too pleased with the way the US is polarizing, both domestically and internationally. And the modern social norm of being exceedingly politically correct means that you don't express an entirely truthful opinion for fear of creating a conflict. Rather than engaging in a fruitful, friendly debate I get the sense that you discuss your opinions with those that are of the same opinion, and you don't seek out conflicting views. Hence the polarization. The sensationalizing nature of the media also bugs me to no end. To sensationalize something you need to contrast the event versus the norm so the bigger the contrast the greater the sensational nature. To compete, other media need to beat the competitor's sensationalized story which either reinforces the angle of the original story or goes in the complete opposite direction. Again, polarization.

I don't know if Canada's media has the equivalent of Fox and others, but I don't think so. In any case we'll get the US feeds and can choose at will.