How's Vancouver?

[Sopdadope]

Hey dudes (and dudettes)!

If everything goes according to planned, I hope to move out of Mass by the summer. Problem is, I don't know where I'm moving to...

Posted this in the Meets section on accident:

Maybe it's the nomad in me, I don't know, but I just get claustrophobic when I spend more than five years in one place.

Before researching, I narrowed it down to the following criteria:

1) Climate- I can't handle the snow. I'm also not looking to live in year-round, hot region either. 2) Has to be a big city. Used to, but I don't do that burbs thing anymore. 3) Decent quality of life. I've lived in the ghettos of America all my life, it's time for a change. 4) Has to be culturally diverse.

After asking laundry lists of questions, Vancouver, BC has gotten lots of raves. I was looking to visit the city a couple months back but you know, things popped up and I had to cancel.

I wanna hear you folks think about the place?

[ninjak84]

Vancouver is awesome.Lots of rain, but whatever.

In a year, I move there for 4 years to start a 4 year University scholarship at the UofBC.Hope to see you there!

[yashin]

vancouver is a crazy ****in citythere's somethin for every one

weed is more or less legalized, there are strippers everywhereand if you like the outdoors there is alot for you

its a pretty big city and very nice, obviously there are bad parts but not terrible

[Tino]

aww man your leaving mass? massachusetts make it yours you know haha or w/e our gay slogan is. Come on though our weather is beautiful we have the perfect roads in the world taxes are great and insurance rates are wicked low... and i must be wicked high.

[Tino]

vancouver is a crazy ****in citythere's somethin for every one

weed is more or less legalized, there are strippers everywhereand if you like the outdoors there is alot for you

its a pretty big city and very nice, obviously there are bad parts but not terrible

hmmm on second thought rent me a truck too sop.

[Rockenreno]

you want good climate and good environment come to San Diego, one of the cleanest places I have ever been... it's just kinda expensive.

I went to Vancouver once in May though, it was pretty nice, just in Canada :pface

[AZhitman]

Phoenix: More sunny days (w/o rain) per year han any other large city in the US. Recently surpassed DFW as the 5th largest city in the US. Getting more diverse by the day, and swimwear is pretty appropriate for "Casual Fridays".

Lots of freeways, lots of entertainment, 3 state colleges, and recently voted the Best City to Live In by Maxim magazine. Two hours drive to snow skiing. Five hours to the beach. Do you know what state has the MOST boats registered per capita? AZ. Lots of nice lakes (look up Lake Powell, you'll be blown away).

Housing is DAMN cheap here - $130K buys you a large suburban house on a quarter-acre lot (if that's what you're into). $200K gets you a brand new house of over 2500 square feet. Insurance is cheaper (I pay $1K/yr for full covg on the Q and Sub), and sales tax is comparable to the rest of the nation, Premium is at $2.08/gal now....

Did I mention it's bikini weather here already? Gotta love it.

[Rockenreno]

only problem with AZ is it gets damn hot there...

[WDRacing]

I might seeya out there in a few months AZ.

[VimyJ]

Vancouver was voted the second best city in the world in which to live by an international agency, down one place from last year. The best place is Bern, Switzerland. No US cities made it into the top 25 mainly because of crime rates. People in the US don't generally realize how violent their society is because they know nothing different. Coming from Canada, it is noticable to me. No flames, please. Not trying to be controversial although the statements are bound to create controversy. Anything that implies the US isn't no. 1 in everything creates hard feelings in Americans.

If you like downhill skiing, there is a great hill right in town. However, the weather can be too warm for good skiing even on the mountain frequently but then again you are only an hour away for some of the best skiing in the world at the massive Whistler/Blackcomb areas.

[Rockenreno]

This is a survey similar to the one you speak of. If you can find yours, I'd like to see it. Personally, I think that many of their choices are extremely poor. This is NOT because they are not in America.

Anyway, to the point. The survey was done by a British Economist group. The group is international, but they are not multinational, so they have some biases I suppose. They seem to love Australia (I don't blame them, I'd love to live there except they are so far away from everyone else), but they also neglect to mention San Diego, which has an excellent economy, very low crime, is the cleanest city I have EVER been to (admittedly, that is a very limited sample of cities as I do not travel much, but I have been to Vancouver, and while it is very nice, San Diego is cleaner. I make no pretense as to the knowledge of Vancouver's crime or economy). San Diego deserves to be up there in the top 50 regardless. Also, the fact that LA is on there at all boggles my mind. I have been to LA a few times and I fear for my life on the streets downtown. It is a dirty, ugly, and crime-ridden city in my opinion, and I don't think it belongs in the top 130. I also noticed that in this survey Hawaii is listed at number 21. That is top 25, but barely. I would say it definately deserves to be top 25 in any list though.

Regardless, that link should be useful for looking at cities to live in, and I was just trying to point out that surveys aren't perfect. I am also trying to show that VimyJ is not 100% correct on his assumptions about Americans. I take offense to your generalizations, and I don't mean to flame you, but enlighten you that we are not all incoherent slobs here. There are some very fine cities in the USA that often go unnoticed, and while we get protective of our native lands, so do you. If I were to say Canada is a horrible place to live, you would defend it. And while you are not saying America is a horrible place to live, I feel you are downplaying the many great places to live in our country. I know I am being a bit repetitive, so forgive me, but don't take offense to this. Canada is a great place to live (Vancouver, Montreal, etc), but places like San Diego and Seattle are also very nice places to live. You seem to have this notion that Americans are only cognizant of ourselves, and we are not. I would place America as one of top places to live in the world, but there are many other countries (Canda, Australia, Switzerland...) that make superb places to live, and depending on your situation those places can be much better than America for you. As for Sopadope, Vancouver, San Diego, Arizona, Seattle, Montreal, et al are all excellent places to live. I'd put Boston up there too, but you want to leave Mass....

I guess to answer your question about Vancouver, it seems to be highly ranked on all lists, but the only way to know you want to live there is to go there yourself and check it out!

Just watch how you world yourself VimyJ:icesangel

[VimyJ]

Hey, I love Chicago and other fine US cities. What brought many of the US places down in the rankigs was crime. Many other evaluators were similar. I suppose you could live in a "gated" community and have very little crime in your immediate neighborhood but that counts against overall quality of life. I'll do a little checking and see if I can find a link on that survey.

[VimyJ]

Still looking for that survey but I did come across this little tidbit. (Apologies in advance if it offends our American cousins)

http://www.english-vancouver.c...ment/

[VimyJ]

This is the survey outfit but this page is last year's I believe. The Scandinavian cities were brought down a couple of notches in the latest one because of "Seasonal Affective Disorder" (little daylight in winter months causing depression).

http://across.co.nz/qualityofliving.htm

[MaineExport]

People in the US don't generally realize how violent their society is because they know nothing different. Coming from Canada, it is noticable to me. No flames, please. Not trying to be controversial although the statements are bound to create controversy. Anything that implies the US isn't no. 1 in everything creates hard feelings in Americans..

No hard feelings and no controversy... just curious why you go so far out of your way to point things like this out. You LOVE the controversy.

But in response, without flaming, I think we have a very keen sense of the violence in our society. It is on the TV every day. What have you founded your opinion of our ignorance on? For crying out loud... the violence in the US is sensationalized, packaged, and sold as entertainment. We are VERY aware that major US cities have problems with violence. Perhaps the people that you surround yourself with are not aware of anything outside of their own home... but please refrain from making blanket statements about an entire society that you yourself are a part of.

My question is... if we can't get a city on the list of the best places in the world to live... why is it that everybody seems to want to move here? Given the chance... our borders would be overrun by the masses of eager immigrants. We may not be perfect... but it sure seems as though a lot of people want a piece of the pie. Hundreds of people die every year trying to make it here, and the black market for false papers is HUGE. People risk death and imprisonment to live here.

If I were to pick a favorite FOREIGN city to relocate... I would say Vancouver would be high on the list. I've never been there but I have heard great things. And Canada would be an easy second choice if I HAD to move out of the good 'ol USA! But... I think I'd rather have the life ripped away from me than move from this great country!

:patriot

[Tino]

Yea arizona is just great, death valley, deathly weather, and deathly snakes spiders scorpions and other deathly wildlife.

[Rockenreno]

No hard feelings and no controversy... just curious why you go so far out of your way to point things like this out. You LOVE the controversy.

I agree, I think he just wants to argue

I don't plan on leaving the USA anytime soon personally...:patriot

[Tino]

maine is a sucker for controversy too hell we all are in our own way you can't deny it Im a ****ing riot...

[VimyJ]

[quote=" maineimport I think we have a very keen sense of the violence in our society. It is on the TV every day.[/quote]I belive it's called desensitization these days.

Quote » What have you founded your opinion of our ignorance on?[/quote]Observation. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Quote »My question is... if we can't get a city on the list of the best places in the world to live... why is it that everybody seems to want to move here?[/quote]The money.

[Rockenreno]

money? try quality of life, perhaps freedom?? hmm?

I could use some of this money you speak of...:rolleyes

[Sopdadope]

Hey, I love Chicago and other fine US cities. What brought many of the US places down in the rankigs was crime. Many other evaluators were similar. I suppose you could live in a "gated" community and have very little crime in your immediate neighborhood but that counts against overall quality of life. I'll do a little checking and see if I can find a link on that survey.

Well for me, the crime rates are a mute point since I've lived in supposedly some of the worst cities in the States: Oakland, Long Beach, the Bronx and now an urban Boston burb. Quite frankly, I'd rather live in urban decay rather than living in a suburb.

Azhitman, Phoenix sounds pretty cool. I've been to Arizona quite a few times now and honestly, it's just not my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, it's a very scenic state, but I can't quite put me finger on it.

[Sopdadope]

As for Sopadope, Vancouver, San Diego, Arizona, Seattle, Montreal, et al are all excellent places to live. I'd put Boston up there too, but you want to leave Mass....

Seattle's also at the top of my list.

But you know, I love Boston to death. Boston gets a bad rep for being the most racist city in America. IMO, nothing could be further from the truth. Bostonian's are cordial in the rough and tumble sort of way. Case in point, let's take a look at my workplace. We have a melting pot staff that consists of two Portuguese dudes, two Irish guys, a Greek fellow, a Brazilian, five Puerto Ricans, two black guys, an Egyptian and three asians: two Cambodians and one viet. And this is supposedly the most racist region in the country! BS!

Everyday at work we have a racial slur-fest but it's all in good fun.

It's gonna hurt like hell to move away from this area but I need a change of scenery. I'm thinking of moving back to Mass in a couple years, I'm just gonna take a break from everything going on here.

By the way, I had a brief stint in San Diego too. Love the city, but there's really something special about Boston.

[MaineExport]

Originally posted by VimyJ "]I belive it's called desensitization these days.

I couldn't agree more! But regardless of our desensitization, we are very aware of the violence.

Observation. Sorry, couldn't resist.

I think you need to recycle your test group... this sample seems to be less than an acurate representation of our culture. Man... for a guy that acts so smart you sure must surround yourself with some damned idiots! (insert your own NICO joke here)

The money.

Ummm... most the imports I know are dirt poor... but thanks to our liberal scial welfare pograms they live off the system nicely. It is amazing how easy it is to live without lifting a finger... once you decide you can be comfortable living a minimal existance is a 1 bedroom apartment with 20 other family members....

here's to the American dream.... I mean South American dream!:beer

[VimyJ]

I think you need to recycle your test group... this sample seems to be less than an acurate representation of our culture. Man... for a guy that acts so smart you sure must surround yourself with some damned idiots! (insert your own NICO joke here)

Hey, I don't only include our little happy family here in my sample. I include the president, too!

[MasterMan]

just dont go to florida.. it sucks here.. damn old ppl and hot weather..

[deesolballs]

just dont go to florida.. it sucks here.. damn old ppl and hot weather..

Quiet you loser! Florida is the place to be. You live in Brevard County where there is a per capita income of about $15000/year. Broke basturds! If it weren't for those "old people" your county would be converted to an orange farm.

Come to Tallahassee Fl. and prosper.

Ann Arbor, Michigan is heaven aswell. I love it!

[Tino]

Florida is nice but humidity odd rain all the time, old people and way too crowded.

[Sopdadope]

Quiet you loser! Florida is the place to be. You live in Brevard County where there is a per capita income of about $15000/year. Broke basturds! If it weren't for those "old people" your county would be converted to an orange farm.

Hell hath no fury like a Q-Tip head scorned! j/k

[MasterMan]

Quiet you loser! Florida is the place to be. You live in Brevard County where there is a per capita income of about $15000/year. Broke basturds! If it weren't for those "old people" your county would be converted to an orange farm.

Come to Tallahassee Fl. and prosper.

Ann Arbor, Michigan is heaven aswell. I love it!

yeah your right im a poor *****.. but eh.. whatever

[Bizz]

Portland, OR is a chill spot to live. Cheap to live, within an hour of the coast or Mt. Hood, Highest bars, stripclubs, and brewery's per capita in U.S. Employment market is in the ****ter right now though, so you better be damn good at somthing somebody wants to pay you for.