Can't decide if we should leave Vancouver for L.A.? (good credit, job market)

[jaypee]

Come to LA, where the freeway signs are huge.

[Nightscape]

Originally Posted by jaypee

Come to LA, where the freeway signs are huge.

Welcome to LA

[HiKoo]

I agree with all the posters. LA isnt what it use to be, and jobs are hard to find now and for any length of time.
The weather is better but it is hot unless you are on the coast and that is very expensive. California has changed
and not for the better of the middle class. We are struggling to make it. Im retired and Im struggling and its not a good
feelling. Its scary. The school system is in bad shape here.
I would stay where you are.

[BarcelonaFan]

I love Los Angeles, but why someone would want to leave Canada, and Vancouver for that matter, is beyond me. I am sorry but the move would be a horrible decision unless your spouse has a seriously nice job lined up here. LA is one of only cities I have been to in America where the divide between those who have and those who don't is very apparent. I mean blatantly (yes I know there are those who try to make it look like they have dough, but there are many more who do not).

In Canada, you have free healthcare, free education and a very decent social services safety net that a lot of Americans can only dream about or get yelled at by right wingers when we plead for that stuff every election year. They tell us to, "go to Canada".

Sorry for the side rant but is Canada hurting that bad that you would want to move to LA? Unless you want to try your hand out as a movie star, the weather is not worth it.

[lesallimc]

I've never lived in Vancouver, but absolutely love that city! I have traveled there for work, and absolutely fell in love with it. I've lived in LA for 11 years (not from here originally), and it has its pros and cons, but overall I'm happy. If I were Canadian and living in Vancouver, I couldn't see leaving there for LA though...

[BarcelonaFan]

If you're rich LA > Vancouver

If not stay in Canada. 'Nuff said.

[saybanana]

I dont know much about green cards. You said that your husband has been on the wait list for 16 years to get one. Would it take another 16 years to get another chance? It sounds like a good opportunity to live, work, and become dual citizens of two large countries. If you don't like the Greater L.A. area, you can always try the hundreds of other cities and towns in the warm areas of America later on.

[berrycurious]

I moved here to Vancouver from LA (Santa Monica) 6 months ago.

Though it rains a lot more here (which can get kind of depressing, yes), it's worth it to me to live near such amazing hiking spots. The ones near LA totally suck in comparison.

I really miss buying things online with free shipping in LA, and $4.50 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

There is more crime in the LA area. You can't even go downtown in LA, it's a hellhole, though so is the DTES.

There's more to do and a better art scene in LA.

There are a lot more Asians here than in LA, and much more Black and Latino/a people in LA.

People seem easier to talk to in LA and more superficial, party-type. Here people seem more closed off, though more polite.

Palm trees in LA and desert. Cherry blossoms and rainforest here.

Transportation is much better here. A nightmare in LA, and so is the damn traffic; hate that sprawl.

Overall Vancouver is better than LA.

[berrycurious]

@ Barcelona

As an international student I pay about 2,200 per class here in university.
Health care, minimum insurance (doesn't cover dental or prescriptions) is $64 a month. Not free!

[BarcelonaFan]

Does anyone go bankrupt over medical bills in Canada? 64 bucks is cheap as my work wants to deduct over 200 bucks a month for my health insurance, and that barely covers everything medical related not to mention no dental.

Are you going to a private university? I'm sure Canada offers aid to those going to your nations public schools. I never hear stories about grads going bankrupt over education costs.