Best places to retire in BC

[Bsuds]

Considering your age (I'm not much younger) you should consider being close to medicale services as well. We have talked about moving away from Kelowna but not having a full service Hospital close is a major concern and if we left for awhile would we be able to afford moving back. We decided it's better to stay put.
Oliver/Osoyoos area is nice as well as Salmon Arm/Enderby.

[cori]

Hi Bsuds

As an expat, I live in a place where you can go to any doctor who generally can give you a date within 48 Hours and you are Free to go directly to any specialist of your choice without having to go first to have the authorization of a general doctor.
I have been surprised by what is indicated in the kelowna forum about having to beseech to be accepted after years by a family doctor.
So, I hope that Victoria should not be worse. What is you opinion about this?

Salmon Arm/Enderby must be beautiful places to live but as you wrote, but with less than 20,000 people there is not enough services and medical facilities and I think that, although living a simple life, I have not enough wisdom to be filed up with the only company of mother nature. I think I could feel soon limited and get bored rather quickly... nobody is perfect...

Thanks for your suggestions

[django]

If you're worried about having your own personal "family doctor" then Victoria is not the place to live. Family doctors are akin to the Wal+mart greeters of our medical system. If you've got a problem they merely point you down the correct isle to find real help. Just go to a walk in or the hospital if you need help, a doctor at either place can just as easily give you the referral you require or write a prescription.
Victoria is a great choice, as are many places on the island. Used to live on the island myself and would love to retire to the island or sunshine coast eventually.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/family-doctor-shortage-in-victoria-critical-says-physician-1.3160327

[Catri]

The shortage of family doctors is province wide. I disagree with django's characterisation of GPs in our system, a good family doctor will diagnose and treat many conditions, but also know when to refer you to a specialist. The ongoing relationship with a GP is also beneficial for continuity when you do see specialists as they tend to send you back to your family doctor for follow up care. I do not have a family doctor and can tell you that going to Emerg or a walk-in clinic to see a doctor that doesn't know you from a hole in the ground is sometimes fine, sometimes frustrating and sometimes perilous...it's also always far more time consuming than even the tardiest family doctor.

I do not know much about Victoria, only that it's beautiful and that the ferry is expensive.

[Always Sunny]

the only negative I've heard about Victoria is many people do not like being stuck on an island and relying on ferries.

Nothing wrong with that. Once you're there, there's no reason to leave.

The same could be said for virtually anywhere though, no? In theory no one needs to leave Kelowna either, but it also won't cost you $55.40 + $16.90 per adult for the privilege of setting tires on the mainland.

Then again, I know plenty of people who never leave the valley, so if someone is comfortable in a defined area, Victoria is pretty.

[MAPearce]

The same could be said for virtually anywhere though, no? In theory no one needs to leave Kelowna either, but it also won't cost you $55.40 + $16.90 per adult for the privilege of setting tires on the mainland.

Then again, I know plenty of people who never leave the valley, so if someone is comfortable in a defined area, Victoria is pretty.

I think you're looking at that the wrong way..

$55.40 plus $16.90 keeps the "riff raff" OFF the Island..

[Bsuds]

I think you're looking at that the wrong way..

$55.40 plus $16.90 keeps the "riff raff" OFF the Island..

Doesn't stop the Politicians! ...oh ya we pay for that...

[Glacier]

Dease Lake.

[MAPearce]

Doesn't stop the Politicians! ...oh ya we pay for that...

You don't think they take the Ferries ???

We pay for their air fare .....