While we have truly enjoyed our time here in Wild Rose Country, it's no secret that we initially came to Canada for the money. Namely, we came here so that Christopher could take a great opportunity and stay gainfully employed. What we did not anticipate that the money we would receive would be so much fun. Yes, I know that money is fun to have and fun to spend, even fun to hold on to for a rainy day. I mean that Canada's money, its physical currency, is like a party in your wallet.
See what I mean? It's color-coded and just plain happy.
When we first arrived, not all of the bills had plastic holograms running through them. The five dollar note (blue) actually had children playing hockey on the back. That image has now been replaced with an astronaut and a cool space arm thingy that Canada is super-proud of developing. It's like they decided to tell kids, "Hey, we have the hockey thing locked down. Let's get back to space."
The holograms are a little spooky, I must admit. Having the Queen pop out of the ATM on your twenties is sometimes a little intense. It's like she knows I am going to spend it on something unwise. She would prefer that I be a little less frivolous, or maybe she would like me to stop dressing so casually and put a proper hat on once in a while.
"Do you really need that bag of crisps?"
It also took a while for the money to feel real. At first, it just felt like we were in the game of "Life," minus the other three child pegs and without Art Linkletter's signature on everything. Now, months later, it actually feels right. U.S. currency actually looks odd when I see it on TV. I think the solution is for me to sit quietly among a lot of U.S. currency until it starts to look right again.
Canada has some really nice coins, too. There is no paper dollar here; we use the Loonie, a golden coin with a loon on one side and the Queen on the other. (You won't hear any Queen/loon jokes here, move along, people.) As a special bonus, there is a two-toned two-dollar coin known as the Toonie. Brilliant. Both are lighter-weight than U.S. dollar coins, so your change purse stays manageable. Sometimes, you go a little while without spending them, and then you realize that you have $18 in coins in your bag. Then, you experience the euphoria commonly felt when you find money in last year's coat pocket. They had to have some way to create this effect, as your coat doesn't get tucked away long enough for you to forget about money in it here. I would take a picture of a Toonie and post it, but I just gave all of mine to the whipper-snapper with the whipper-snipper, who just mowed our lawn.
Canadians have also done away with the penny. The phase-out happened just as we moved here. There was an adjustment to that, as well, but I can now say that I do not miss the little guy. I think it is silly to mint a coin that costs more to produce than it is worth. There, I said it. You still use exact amounts in electronic transactions, but cash deals use rounding. Sometimes it goes in your favor, and you get to feel like you made a little extra money. Whoo! Other times, it doesn't go your way, but you realize that right now a Canadian penny is worth even less than a U.S. penny, and you move on with your life.
I hope you have all enjoyed my tribute to the wonderful world of Canadian currency. Remember, if you want to help me readjust to the U.S. dollars, feel free to send some to me for my tactile therapy. It will really help.
