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dolariSo. This wasn't just a vacation...this was a fact finding mission. I'm planning on moving to one of these cities in the near future - how did they stack up?
SEATTLE
Also known as the Bellevue/Kirkland/Redmond area. Of the three cities I visited, Seattle is the most like Austin, just on a MUCH bigger scale (From Tacoma to Everet is about 60 miles!). The place is INCREDIBLY diverse, and the rents are reasonable at the money I'm making with my job. If I move "laterally" into a new job in Seattle, I should be very comfy. However, if you're not in Seattle proper, the cities roll up the streets at 6PM. We waited for Erin at a Pho place 6PM, and were amazed at how "closed" everything was in Redmond. Same in Fremont (I think) where the outdoor movie was. My friends already living there are kinda in that one area of Seattle - Bellevue/Kirkland/Redmond so it's not like I'll miss out on seeing folks, or knowing what to do, but at the same time, the Seattle area is SO SO SO SO spread out, I might find myself commuting for an hour or two to a job. Living in Seattle, is like living in DFW - You can live in arlington, and work anywhere in the surrounding 12 counties. Then again, the outdoor activities, with the Cascade mountains and state forests should make for nice nature hikes. And while I was there, I definately felt I could live there.
PROS:
Tons of friends already there
Cost of living feasable
More than McDonalds for fine dining
Incredibly Diverse
Cultury
Naturey
Reruns of Almost Live
CONS:
Stuff closes up too quick.
Entire area is just too spread out
Lack of straight streets
Confusing grid system
VANCOUVER
Which is more of a Burnaby/Richmond/North Vancouver Area. Vancouver and it's surrounding cities are about the size of San Antonio proper, but with no freeways. Yet it's fairly easy to get around, even when you're not using the public transportation. I wasn't able to really sit an compare rents and prices and living arangements (Condos seem to be a big thing up here), but most every where I looked the houses looked fairly upper middle class San Antonio-ish. I'm assuming it's about as expensive (possibly a little more). The city itself doesn't seem as diverse as Seattle, although still more so than Austin. I don't have nearly as many friends here as there were in Seattle, but, then again, the people seem pretty nice (this IS Canada, after all :) ) The scenery is even more beautiful than Seattle. Where there were a few hills and mountains here and there in Seattle, Vancouver is surrounded by it. Not sure what the job situation here is, but in a place this large, I'm assuming it wouldn't be hard to find work here and afford a place with my current skill set. I feel like I could live here. Very easily feel like I could live here. Especially after seeing DAvie VIlliage. But more information is necessary before carbon units can be reduced to data patterns.
PROS:
Beautiful
VERY good public transportation system (this IS Canada, after all)
Pretty diverse
People mind their own business
CONS:
No freeways!!!!
Not as diverse as Seattle.
Few friends in the area
Would need Canada's version of a green card to live and work here (come on, I know I'm Mexican, but really....)
VICTORIA
The trip there was great - a nice relaxing ferry ride to Victoria and from Victoria...at a cost of $120 round trip. I can expect this anytime I leave that town, were I to stay there. Not good. And Access to Seattle is four hours away no matter how I try to get there. Not good for an 80 mile trip. The city is wonderful, the island is beautiful, and it's all right there at your fingertips. Want a trip to the beach? Poof, right there. Want a hike into the woods? Poof, right there. Fields more your liking? Poof, right there. Sadly...there doesn't seem to be much more than that. And while it's a lot, I don't think I could find a "lateral" move there.
PROS:
Gorgeous
Historic
Legislaty
Emily Lives Here
CONS:
No way to get there or leave that doesn't cost at least $50
Jobs look to be geared for Legislaty and Touristy types
Water needs pepper
Emily no longer wants to live here
FINAL JUDGEMENT:
Let's face it - Seattle first. I can get there easily, quickly, and affordably. It's still statesside, but Emily is a four hour trip away instead of a Full Day on a Plane. Victoria is an incredibly beautiful town, but it's just that - and incredibly beautiful town. You can't get on or off Vancouver Island without paying, and on top of that, from what I saw, it's VERY much a vacationer's town. If you're not in government or in a service industry, good luck. However, the winner of all three towns goes to Vancouver. It's not perfect, but it's juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right. Course...I need to figure out what I need to be able to actually STAY there. And WORK there.
There is a way surefire way - but that's a long talk in the future.
SEATTLE
Also known as the Bellevue/Kirkland/Redmond area. Of the three cities I visited, Seattle is the most like Austin, just on a MUCH bigger scale (From Tacoma to Everet is about 60 miles!). The place is INCREDIBLY diverse, and the rents are reasonable at the money I'm making with my job. If I move "laterally" into a new job in Seattle, I should be very comfy. However, if you're not in Seattle proper, the cities roll up the streets at 6PM. We waited for Erin at a Pho place 6PM, and were amazed at how "closed" everything was in Redmond. Same in Fremont (I think) where the outdoor movie was. My friends already living there are kinda in that one area of Seattle - Bellevue/Kirkland/Redmond so it's not like I'll miss out on seeing folks, or knowing what to do, but at the same time, the Seattle area is SO SO SO SO spread out, I might find myself commuting for an hour or two to a job. Living in Seattle, is like living in DFW - You can live in arlington, and work anywhere in the surrounding 12 counties. Then again, the outdoor activities, with the Cascade mountains and state forests should make for nice nature hikes. And while I was there, I definately felt I could live there.
PROS:
Tons of friends already there
Cost of living feasable
More than McDonalds for fine dining
Incredibly Diverse
Cultury
Naturey
Reruns of Almost Live
CONS:
Stuff closes up too quick.
Entire area is just too spread out
Lack of straight streets
Confusing grid system
VANCOUVER
Which is more of a Burnaby/Richmond/North Vancouver Area. Vancouver and it's surrounding cities are about the size of San Antonio proper, but with no freeways. Yet it's fairly easy to get around, even when you're not using the public transportation. I wasn't able to really sit an compare rents and prices and living arangements (Condos seem to be a big thing up here), but most every where I looked the houses looked fairly upper middle class San Antonio-ish. I'm assuming it's about as expensive (possibly a little more). The city itself doesn't seem as diverse as Seattle, although still more so than Austin. I don't have nearly as many friends here as there were in Seattle, but, then again, the people seem pretty nice (this IS Canada, after all :) ) The scenery is even more beautiful than Seattle. Where there were a few hills and mountains here and there in Seattle, Vancouver is surrounded by it. Not sure what the job situation here is, but in a place this large, I'm assuming it wouldn't be hard to find work here and afford a place with my current skill set. I feel like I could live here. Very easily feel like I could live here. Especially after seeing DAvie VIlliage. But more information is necessary before carbon units can be reduced to data patterns.
PROS:
Beautiful
VERY good public transportation system (this IS Canada, after all)
Pretty diverse
People mind their own business
CONS:
No freeways!!!!
Not as diverse as Seattle.
Few friends in the area
Would need Canada's version of a green card to live and work here (come on, I know I'm Mexican, but really....)
VICTORIA
The trip there was great - a nice relaxing ferry ride to Victoria and from Victoria...at a cost of $120 round trip. I can expect this anytime I leave that town, were I to stay there. Not good. And Access to Seattle is four hours away no matter how I try to get there. Not good for an 80 mile trip. The city is wonderful, the island is beautiful, and it's all right there at your fingertips. Want a trip to the beach? Poof, right there. Want a hike into the woods? Poof, right there. Fields more your liking? Poof, right there. Sadly...there doesn't seem to be much more than that. And while it's a lot, I don't think I could find a "lateral" move there.
PROS:
Gorgeous
Historic
Legislaty
Emily Lives Here
CONS:
No way to get there or leave that doesn't cost at least $50
Jobs look to be geared for Legislaty and Touristy types
Water needs pepper
Emily no longer wants to live here
FINAL JUDGEMENT:
Let's face it - Seattle first. I can get there easily, quickly, and affordably. It's still statesside, but Emily is a four hour trip away instead of a Full Day on a Plane. Victoria is an incredibly beautiful town, but it's just that - and incredibly beautiful town. You can't get on or off Vancouver Island without paying, and on top of that, from what I saw, it's VERY much a vacationer's town. If you're not in government or in a service industry, good luck. However, the winner of all three towns goes to Vancouver. It's not perfect, but it's juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right. Course...I need to figure out what I need to be able to actually STAY there. And WORK there.
There is a way surefire way - but that's a long talk in the future.
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Seattle - Vancouver
Date: 2007-08-25 04:34 am (UTC)You'll rub shoulders with MacGyver and Mulder that way - wasn't that the town they made both shows in? My ol' mate Ralph originally came from Bamph but considered himself a Vancouverite. From what he said, it seemed OK.
I used to live with an American in Perth, and whilst there were some disadvantages in her being overseas, there were some advantages too. Any money she got from the States was always worth more in Australia, and she had a good time educating her friends about American foods and past times. We used to go to a "foreign deli" to get overseas "exotic food" like "Reeeces Pieces" and REAL bagels.
Re: Seattle - Vancouver
Date: 2007-08-25 08:29 am (UTC)X-files
Stargate Atlantis and the orignal series
The Crow
Smallville
Supernatural
The Sentinel
and a slew of others
Not to mention the last two X-men movies :D
Vancouver is Hollywood North
Re: Seattle - Vancouver
Date: 2007-08-28 06:38 pm (UTC)>like "Reeeces Pieces" and REAL bagels.
I got that just moving from Texas to Pennsylvania. You know how hard it is to get good Fajitas in Pennsylvania? Or Big Red?
Re: Seattle - Vancouver
Date: 2007-08-28 09:57 pm (UTC)Re: Seattle - Vancouver
Date: 2007-08-28 10:04 pm (UTC)I don't like it when its around, but if I go to long without it - I crave it. :D
Re: Seattle - Vancouver
Date: 2007-08-28 10:24 pm (UTC)Re: Seattle - Vancouver
Date: 2007-08-29 06:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-25 05:28 am (UTC)Also, why wouldn't they roll up the streets at 6 in Redmond? Wouldn't the go-gangers from the Barrens, like, try to steal them or something?
no subject
Date: 2007-08-25 08:27 am (UTC)What the heck do you mean?
And Victoria isn't so bad! You've gotta come visit during non-tourist season. Also you need to see the art sector more next time you visit. Also the walk on price for the fairy (I have no idea how to spell that properly) isn't as expensive as the car price. But ya its expensive here since its the island.
I vote Vancouver! I can visit you guys there. But you gotta try Seattle first. I know your scared crapless but I really think you'll do just fine there
no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 06:37 pm (UTC)Could use some garlic, too.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-25 01:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 06:35 pm (UTC)Mexican by culture and blood
Date: 2007-08-28 10:06 pm (UTC)...cool!
Re: Mexican by culture and blood
Date: 2007-08-29 06:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-25 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 06:33 pm (UTC)>lived in another country.
My goal for more than just a few years now isn't to just just live there, but become one. That way I can be Mexican by blood, American by birth, and Canadian by choice. I'M A PAN AMERICAN CHILD!
There's a song there, I know it.