When you’re an English journalist in Montreal you’re forever hearing, “You should move to Toronto…” “Toronto is the place to be…” Yes, sure, Toronto is the cosmos for magazines, publishing houses and PR agencies. But, no offense to my fellow Torontonians, it seems like such a cookie-cutter big city.

But Montreal… ahhh my Montreal… there’s no place I’d rather live. During my years growing up in Florida and visiting family here, I dreamt of what it would be like to live in a city, especially one as eclectic, historic, charming as Montreal. I imagined sitting in a cafe along the cobblestone streets in Old Montreal sipping a latte and working on an article for some magazine or newspaper. I pictured myself strolling into a hoity-toity press event at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (where my aunt took me when I was little) and schmoozing with the arties. I would dream about being wined and dined at some of the city’s fanciest restaurants with some handsome guy who could speak French sitting next to me (tee-hee).

Montreal – it’s everything I hoped it would be. And when I’m sitting at the A.L. Van Houtte on St. Paul Street, drinking my decaf soy latte and jotting notes from my latest interview, I never miss the opportunity to relish in the moment… I’m where I always aspired to be. It may be snowing on April 27th, but Montreal is my home and I love it!

Move to Toronto? Meh, maybe one day. But not today… or tomorrow…