My gf and I have had a wandering eye for moving up to Vancouver BC. We're going up there next month to check the place out, and could use some direction before then.
What can monkeys tell me about the city as a place to live? I know mountain biking and moto riding is plentiful around there. She's super into equestrian stuff and it appears to be a good area for that as well. Tell me about the rest.
- Cost of living? We already live in a super expensive area (Orange County, CA) and previously other fairly expensive areas (Ventura, CA and Santa Barbara, CA). 2bd/1ba places will run $1500-2200 in any of these areas for reference. I know tax rates are higher, but I do know it's offset by other things like the health care out-of-pocket expenses. There are lots of other contributing factors to total cost of living too like various taxes, food costs, gas prices, etc etc.
- How easy to become a citizen? Gf is going through law school and would probably be able to transfer up to UBC next year, so she'd be there on a student visa I suppose. I'm finished with graduate school in mechanical engineering and could jump into a variety of fields up there (aerospace, petroleum, etc). I've considered doing a second masters or a Ph D in something at UBC since they have some specialty stuff like Mining Engineering, but primarily for work. Am I at a huge disadvantage looking for jobs up there being a U.S. citizen? Is it like pulling teeth trying to get sponsorship or something?
- What other perks are there to the area over Southern California?
- What sucks about it compared to Southern California?
- Where are the engineering/industrial hotbeds around Vancouver?
- Where are good areas to live? Close to good food, major freeways out of town, good riding, and no ghetto-ness. Would prefer somewhere with more space as opposed to less (I need a garage for the toys basically).
Any and all input is appreciated. Pics to make me prematurely jealous of the area are also encouraged.
What can monkeys tell me about the city as a place to live? I know mountain biking and moto riding is plentiful around there. She's super into equestrian stuff and it appears to be a good area for that as well. Tell me about the rest.
- Cost of living? We already live in a super expensive area (Orange County, CA) and previously other fairly expensive areas (Ventura, CA and Santa Barbara, CA). 2bd/1ba places will run $1500-2200 in any of these areas for reference. I know tax rates are higher, but I do know it's offset by other things like the health care out-of-pocket expenses. There are lots of other contributing factors to total cost of living too like various taxes, food costs, gas prices, etc etc.
- How easy to become a citizen? Gf is going through law school and would probably be able to transfer up to UBC next year, so she'd be there on a student visa I suppose. I'm finished with graduate school in mechanical engineering and could jump into a variety of fields up there (aerospace, petroleum, etc). I've considered doing a second masters or a Ph D in something at UBC since they have some specialty stuff like Mining Engineering, but primarily for work. Am I at a huge disadvantage looking for jobs up there being a U.S. citizen? Is it like pulling teeth trying to get sponsorship or something?
- What other perks are there to the area over Southern California?
- What sucks about it compared to Southern California?
- Where are the engineering/industrial hotbeds around Vancouver?
- Where are good areas to live? Close to good food, major freeways out of town, good riding, and no ghetto-ness. Would prefer somewhere with more space as opposed to less (I need a garage for the toys basically).
Any and all input is appreciated. Pics to make me prematurely jealous of the area are also encouraged.