1. The boys. There are a lot of boys, and they smell nice. Unlike St. John’s, I do not need to dress like a trashy hooker to attract attention. Sometimes they approach me at bars, and actually engage in intelligent conversation before trying to get in my pants. I’ve been texting back and forth with a cute army dude I met at the Alehouse one night, and he’s a perfect gentleman who plays the fiddle. I’m not really sure what to do about this seemingly normal man.
2. The city isn’t very big, but it’s big enough. I keep running into people I know, but if I don’t necessarily want to talk to them, I can easily slip away.
3. It feels like home. People here drink and party just as good as Newfoundlanders, other than the awkward bars-shutting-down-early thing. Plus I keep running into people I know from the island, and we instantly bond even if we’ve only ever known each other through a drunken keg stand somewhere
4. Sushi. There is so much freaking sushi.
5. The arts scene. There’s a whole lot going on here in the arts scene, especially with film and music. The best part is that there is mostly no pretention, and if I want to go to a 3D musical performance where people stand under a giant parachute and create waves to bounce around the rubber balls on top of it, it’s perfectly acceptable to do so.

Parachute time!
6. Shopping. Spring Garden is my credit card’s playground (or at least it would be if I had a job). Dartmouth’s Mic Mac Mall has freaking Costa Blanca. And The Bay. And a whole slew of other things I can’t find in St. John’s. Additionally, who names a shopping plaza the “Mic Mac Mall” and gets away with it? Nova Scotians, that’s whom.
7. Everything downtown is in walking distance. My first time here, I was annoyed that I had to walk WHOLE BLOCKS between bars. Now I realize it’s not actually that far, and I’m just a lazy shithead.
8. The social media scene is bumpin’. There’s like a different Tweet-up here every week. Between #Twushi and #HalifaxChicks, I should be making a crapload of new friends. Unfortunately, I’ve only learned of these events recently and now it is too late. They don’t know what they’re missing.
9. Beaches. I can drive 20 minutes outside of town and come across some of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen, like Rainbow Haven where Jo and I jumped hurricane waves. Sandy, beautiful, clean beaches. Oh how it does make me weep!
10. Party cruises. Why the hell doesn’t St. John’s have party cruises?
The end.