Goldtent TA Paradise

For Canadians

1. Columbia says:

   July 22, 2025 - 3:31 pm at 3:31 pm

   Before we left for our regular Grocery run to Bellingham GMG and I had listened to an interview where a Canadian from ON who recently did some cross-border shopping ended up paying the retaliatory tariff of 25 or 35% (not sure what it was) after converting to Cdn Funds, and some other tax that was ambiguous. My thoughts were it sounded like a hit piece to scare Canadians from cross-border shopping. I believe he had TDS but what could I tell. Weird interview if I must say.

   Undeterred GMG and I presented at the US Border and stated our intentions for a few hours of shopping in Bham. He was professional and polite but ended with “Good luck with that”.

   WTH. As we drove to our favourite destinations we had thoughts going through our minds. At Trader Joe’s we met a young Vancouver couple (the only other Cdns) who told us that most of their friends condemned them for cross-border shopping. Turns out they were headed to Montana to attend a wedding. They appeared to be one of us.

   At the Milk display we encountered a couple our age. The
   lady curtly warned her henpecked husband not to pick Raw milk. I couldn’t help it and stated my opinion of the benefits of Raw Milk. They parroted the standard line of it’s unsafe, etc. Somehow the shots came up you can guess where that went. When we identified ourselves as Cdns they told us we were lucky to have such a great healthcare system to which GMG couldn’t hold back. The opinion of many Americans we encounter is that Canada’s Healthcare is topnotch and everyone is taken care of. GMG set them straight about the obscene number of Canadians without a Family doctor. We are soon to be added to this list when ours moves on later this year. I mentioned that at least we can pay cash and see a specialist in WA. My Dermatologist is there. The Lady tried to tell me that Americans come to Canada to get healthcare.
   “No they don’t”. How is that when there are thousands of Canucks going without and we do not have the option for private health care unless it is considered under extended healthcare. Chiro, massage, accu, etc.

   I’ve encountered this belief too many times to relate. Where do they get this idea? People do come from all over the World for US healthcare paying for this service out of pocket. I’ve done it. It’s not the other way around.

   Crossing the Cdn Border was business as usual. “Anything to declare?” GMG went over the amount, what we did not bring home and separated US sourced food from Foreign sourced items (some even from Canada). After a long spiel from GMG, the nice man waved us through and wished us a good day.
   So is there a tariff or is it at random?

   Picked up my regular PM purchases on the way back and off for an afternoon ride.

   I have no idea if there is misinformation out there to scare Cdns from cross-border shopping but it works for all TDS inflicted individuals which is likely 80% of Cdns.

   In advance we were prepared to take the hit and be glad we could obtain food we wanted. Cost not a factor when it comes to health. Can’t take it with you.

   • silverboom says:

     July 22, 2025 - 4:09 pm at 4:09 pm

     The level of ignorance in the world is truly astounding. What’s amazing is the number of people who CHOOSE to be ignorant.

     Thanks for the post!

2. YYZ says:

   July 22, 2025 - 11:44 pm at 11:44 pm

   How do they get so stupid – simple, the people in charge of the cell phone feedback loop algos (unsolicited yet re-enforcing), are smarter than the users (it’s a borderless international thing).
   Even if I think I’m smarter than the algo writers, the fact that I even have a smartphone makes me a mind-fk target so I opt for the text/walkie-talkie featureless versions. Speaking of algos – it’s bad enough when a friend sends a link to Youtube Shorts and my brain goes into a timewarp with sleep patterns for the entire week screwed up. I see people looking down at their phone and think of the ad – “This is your Brain…. This is your brain on drugs”.

   • YYZ says:

     July 22, 2025 - 11:45 pm at 11:45 pm

     BTW Columbia (and GMG), thanks for sharing your encounters, always entertaining!

     • Columbia says:

       July 23, 2025 - 12:40 am at 12:40 am

       GMG says I will talk to anyone and everyone.
       People are interesting.