text: You probably missed my post (in the G&M comments) that I haven't visited the Lower 48 or Hawaii since 1999. Yes, I've been to Alaska, but just barely since I'm a railfan. 
  
  What I didn't mention in my comment to the "Canada to make skilled-worker permits easier to get in wake of U.S. delays" story ... I used to travel quite a few times to the USA, always on business never for pleasure. 
  And in most of those instances, with very few exceptions, to get companies out of an expensive "pickle", since there was no qualified personnel in the USA to fix the "pickle". 
  It may come as a surprise to you, but some immigrants to Canada chose very wisely where to go. And I for one still do. 
  We also shop according to those "rules", not always convenient or less expensive, but ... we are Canadian!