The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Living in Montreal is an experience of extremes: extreme cold and extreme heat, high levels of festival excitement and high levels of annoying stairs. Each Montreal resident will come to a point, though, when the pressures of city life begin to crush your spirit, and you wonder whether it's time to move on — or just take a break.
Thankfully, there are several key signs to watch out for that will let you know when your time is approaching. For instance, on a warm and inviting summer day walking around town, you might feel that something's missing from the air.
Then, you realize: you're actually missing the sweet smell of weed smoke. A spring day without it is like a bagel without sesame seeds, you think to yourself; it just doesn't feel like Montreal.
That's it: the first moment when you began to accept that you've been in Montreal way too long.
You pretend to care about the bagel debate
But underneath the air of interest is a neutral desire to eat whatever bagel is closest to your body at any moment in time. Sometimes that's Fairmount, but sometimes, that's St-Viateur.
You have opinions on every Montreal CEGEP...
...even if you've never actually attended one.
You can navigate Berri-UQAM station without checking the map
Metro map? Real actual map?
You unconsciously kick your shoes to dislodge snow, even in the summer
Against the side of buildings, the door frame, the steps, anywhere your subconscious mind sees fit to shake off ice and gravel that just isn't there.
You automatically double whatever time your maps say it'll take to drive somewhere
That is, if you can even drive in the first place.
You have an unnecessarily pointed hatred for la Grande Roue
Why is it so smug? Just staring at us with its big old eye. It's overrated.
You no longer believe in crosswalks
Or more accurately, you think all streets are crosswalks, and all cars should stop for you. You're not wrong! You're just also very bold.
You treat red lights as gentle suggestions
It's like a rolling stop, but better (as in more dangerous).
You can tell where someone is from based on their take on Valérie Plante
If they love her, they're Plateau people or Verdun residents. If they hate her? Saint-Laurent or the South Shore it is.
You believe stick-and-pokes are way cooler than machine tattoos
Yes, even the bad ones. Especially the bad ones.
You've given yourself micro-bangs
Bonus points if you loved it, points off if you hated it.
Your go-to errands outfit includes Doc Martens and a massive scarf
And a tote bag, some grungy eyeliner and a really obscure song no one has ever heard of playing in your headphones.
You've memorized all of the metro announcements
And you say them in your head along with the voice, obviously.
You've legitimately considered the ramifications of going polyam with your friend group
The verdict may have been "No, hell no, god please no," but if you really thought about it, you have terminal Montrealer disease.
You can tell where in France someone is from based on their accent
You can not only identify France-French accents when you're in the Plateau, but you can tell if someone is from Paris, Marseille, Lyon or somewhere else just by hearing a snippet of their conversation.
You're so sick of whiny anglophones AND whiny francophones that you think it's time to leave.
Maybe life in Ontario wouldn't be so bad, after all...
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
