Anne, clearly you have thought through this carefully. And I totally agree it's crucial that people spend some vacation time during another region's worst weather, not best weather...to get an accurate feel.

The mildest weather regions in Canada is on the British Columbia coast..but it is also the rainier, grey areas during winter. Summer and fall are lovely. I do miss the area.

The Canadian prairies to me, are tough areas...very cold, longer winters. The only saving grace for locals here in our city, is that we are only 130 km. south of the famed Canadian Rocky Mountains...and a lot of locals do visit at least once a year there. It's only 1 hr. drive there and there are several buses that run there daily.

I grew up in southern Ontario and was there for over first 40 yrs.

I do enjoy distinct 4 seasons, I just don't like long winters. I can live with some very cold days, slush and ice ...I just don't like it stretching it into May sometimes.

Anne, Jabber and whoever else:

I have made VERY clear choices to ALWAYS live within 15 min. walk of public transit, near grocery stores and services. This actually has been my whole life.

I even remembered as a kid, my parents actively looking for their first house that it had to be close transit, stores, etc. in a city of 50,000 people.. This was in 1969. After all, they have 6 children and it just wasn't practically that my father (my mother didn't drive) would be schlepping us much for stuff.

So I am very accustomed to find accommodation, homes that had these neighbourhood factors. Even at university, I made sure where I lived I was within 15 min. walk to bus, a grocery store. http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2013...st-and-ontario/

So when I talk about cycleable neighbourhoods, these are also areas that are walkable for shopping, services and for local transit service. So I'm not really talking about cycling, but more about making life a lot easier and services far more accessible, convenient for yourself.

I would suggest for anyone downsizing to another home, to seriously consider such factors --regardless of hot or cold climates. Why live out in the rural/far flung suburban areas where you have to drive around everywhere? If we don't trust 85 yr. old folks behind the steering wheel, should we trust ourselves by that age?