Completely off topic - Vancouver
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From: Christchurch, Dorset
Completely off topic - Vancouver
Somebody told me last week that Vancouver had been voted the best city in the world to live in? Education, health, economy etc ...
I don't know if this is is true (and if anyone has a link to it I'd be interested to read it), but it's given me something to think about. For the past year I've been contemplating what I might do in the future and this Vancouver claim has got me started.
I'm a 35 y.o. male UK registered osteopath (not the type the US have, but the rest of the world has!) with my own small practice just outside London and I'm thinking of moving.
If you have the inclination, can you give me any thoughts, pros, cons about Vancouver and Canadian life? The Vancouver climate seems similar to London (although you may have drier summers) so that's acceptable. Cost of living, employment, foreigners like me, healthcare, where to live ... anything!
It may never happen, but I am intrigued to know more.
If you want to make it private you can e-mail: singularis@btopenworld.com and save clogging the board up for people who aren't interested.
Thanks in advance.
PS How much is a used S2k?
I don't know if this is is true (and if anyone has a link to it I'd be interested to read it), but it's given me something to think about. For the past year I've been contemplating what I might do in the future and this Vancouver claim has got me started.
I'm a 35 y.o. male UK registered osteopath (not the type the US have, but the rest of the world has!) with my own small practice just outside London and I'm thinking of moving.
If you have the inclination, can you give me any thoughts, pros, cons about Vancouver and Canadian life? The Vancouver climate seems similar to London (although you may have drier summers) so that's acceptable. Cost of living, employment, foreigners like me, healthcare, where to live ... anything!
It may never happen, but I am intrigued to know more.
If you want to make it private you can e-mail: singularis@btopenworld.com and save clogging the board up for people who aren't interested.
Thanks in advance.
PS How much is a used S2k?
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From: Vancouver
Climate and environmental wise Vancouver is really not bad in my eyes. But the current BC provincial government is the one that likes to cut budget on health care, educations and blah blah blah.
Employment wise, hehe, big
on that. It's pretty hard to find a job here. But depends on which field u used to work in now.
There aren't many nice import cars as u have in England. Fortunately we still have S2000 though we don't have the new model's DC5R(Integra R) and EP3R(Civic R) here, Honda wise.
For motorsports, we also don't have those nicely build F-1 track in UK. The best track will be the one in Portland, US, I think.
Employment wise, hehe, big
on that. It's pretty hard to find a job here. But depends on which field u used to work in now.There aren't many nice import cars as u have in England. Fortunately we still have S2000 though we don't have the new model's DC5R(Integra R) and EP3R(Civic R) here, Honda wise.
For motorsports, we also don't have those nicely build F-1 track in UK. The best track will be the one in Portland, US, I think.
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From: Burnaby
Since you're a licensed osteopath, you'll make lots of money here. We're short of health care professional, they all moved south (unethical traitors 
). I have a friend who's working in the UK and he's dying to come home 
A used S2K? definitely cheaper than in the US. They go as much as new price to as low as $36,000cdn.
Haul your a$$ over here first and we'll help you get a S2K
). I have a friend who's working in the UK and he's dying to come home A used S2K? definitely cheaper than in the US. They go as much as new price to as low as $36,000cdn.
Haul your a$$ over here first and we'll help you get a S2K
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 37,305
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As a non-Vancouverite, my observations are:
This is one of my all time favourite vacation spots. It's a vibrant, beautiful city with lots of things happening all the time. It's close to sea and mountains and the "island" is just a ferry ride away. I sometimes refer to it as "paradise". The close proximity to the B.C. interior and all its grandeur is very inviting. The scenery is breath-taking.
Now here's the BUT ................... (and please, no offense to the locals) ....................
It's the absolute greatest place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. It is NOT "far from the madding crowd". There are simply people and traffic everywhere. Sometimes, you just can't get away from any of it. It can drive you nuts. You pay two taxes on everything. Health care system isn't anywhere near the best. Car insurance can be seemingly high and unfair. There are so many government constraints on just about everything - fishing, lumber, housing starts. "Things" just cost more there. As a tourist, I don't mind because I expect to be spending money anyway and that's why they call them "tourist" traps. When you live there, you can't continue to be a tourist. You either have a really, really good job or a really, really mediocre job. The realities of daily life comes into play.
I'm reminded of that joke where you see a bunch of guys standing waist high in "something", having champagne and caviar, being served by gorgeous naked women, gentle music playing in the background. You think, "Wow! What a great way to spend your time." Then the room light brightens and you can see they're standing in poop and a big booming voice comes over the PA system, "OK, coffee break's over, back on your heads."
(Please don't come after me when I come to visit!
)
This is one of my all time favourite vacation spots. It's a vibrant, beautiful city with lots of things happening all the time. It's close to sea and mountains and the "island" is just a ferry ride away. I sometimes refer to it as "paradise". The close proximity to the B.C. interior and all its grandeur is very inviting. The scenery is breath-taking.
Now here's the BUT ................... (and please, no offense to the locals) ....................
It's the absolute greatest place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. It is NOT "far from the madding crowd". There are simply people and traffic everywhere. Sometimes, you just can't get away from any of it. It can drive you nuts. You pay two taxes on everything. Health care system isn't anywhere near the best. Car insurance can be seemingly high and unfair. There are so many government constraints on just about everything - fishing, lumber, housing starts. "Things" just cost more there. As a tourist, I don't mind because I expect to be spending money anyway and that's why they call them "tourist" traps. When you live there, you can't continue to be a tourist. You either have a really, really good job or a really, really mediocre job. The realities of daily life comes into play.
I'm reminded of that joke where you see a bunch of guys standing waist high in "something", having champagne and caviar, being served by gorgeous naked women, gentle music playing in the background. You think, "Wow! What a great way to spend your time." Then the room light brightens and you can see they're standing in poop and a big booming voice comes over the PA system, "OK, coffee break's over, back on your heads."
(Please don't come after me when I come to visit!
)
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From: Vancouver
Thread Starter
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From: Christchurch, Dorset
Interesting reading so far.
Seems to be that taxes, traffic, employment, healthcare, cost of living are not the cheapest. However, it could all be relative to what we are used to. (Thanks BDJ for the link)
Currently Canada has no professional regulation for osteopathy so it could be quite pioneering. Do you actually have osteopaths in Vancouver or is it chiropractors? Anywhere you could link me to?
Given the cost of living varies and it's not just down to exchange rate, how much does one need to earn to:
a) survive
b) enjoy life
c) enjoy life with an S2k.
I see that an S cost C$48,500 and its
Seems to be that taxes, traffic, employment, healthcare, cost of living are not the cheapest. However, it could all be relative to what we are used to. (Thanks BDJ for the link)
Currently Canada has no professional regulation for osteopathy so it could be quite pioneering. Do you actually have osteopaths in Vancouver or is it chiropractors? Anywhere you could link me to?
Given the cost of living varies and it's not just down to exchange rate, how much does one need to earn to:
a) survive
b) enjoy life
c) enjoy life with an S2k.
I see that an S cost C$48,500 and its
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From: Burnaby
They go by the name chiropractor here. I have no idea if it's the same thing or not but the job description is similar enough (excuse my igorance ) Recently a change in government policy chiropractice is no longer cover under health care, which mean it's a private service. This translates to big buck and freedom for some chiropractor.
Taxes - you can't avoid it, it's a Canadian thing heh!
Traffic - only if you want to put yourself into the position to face one. There are plenty of roads. For some strange reasons people here just have the urge to dive themselve onto the highway even if it's just for 1-2 exits. Don't be a fool and you'll be fine
Employment - you are a professional, if you're willing to work there's a job out there for you.
Healthcare - don't drive your S to McDonald everyday and you'll be fine. Why worry about getting sick when you can prevent yourself from getting sick. Don't be like all the fools out there and expect the healthcare system to keep you healthy. Everything starts with you.
Cost of Living - eat Chinese foods they're cheap, they're everywhere and they're good
(Yes, I know...I'm too extreme.)
) Recently a change in government policy chiropractice is no longer cover under health care, which mean it's a private service. This translates to big buck and freedom for some chiropractor. Taxes - you can't avoid it, it's a Canadian thing heh!
Traffic - only if you want to put yourself into the position to face one. There are plenty of roads. For some strange reasons people here just have the urge to dive themselve onto the highway even if it's just for 1-2 exits. Don't be a fool and you'll be fine
Employment - you are a professional, if you're willing to work there's a job out there for you.
Healthcare - don't drive your S to McDonald everyday and you'll be fine. Why worry about getting sick when you can prevent yourself from getting sick. Don't be like all the fools out there and expect the healthcare system to keep you healthy. Everything starts with you.
Cost of Living - eat Chinese foods they're cheap, they're everywhere and they're good
(Yes, I know...I'm too extreme.
)
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,575
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From: Palm Springs
Dog Biscuit: The info you heard about is a little out of date. Vancouver was voted top city LAST year; this year it dropped to second - with Geneva top. Not bad company though!
I'm an ex-Brit and ex-Yank who's now living in Vancouver. I find it a true crossover between the U.K. and the U.S. Surprisingly, most things seem a lot cheaper to me than in the U.S. (especially good apartments, restaurants, general merchandise, and utilities), although gas (petrol) prices are pretty outrageous. Don't listen to what the others say about traffic - they don't know what traffic is until they've tried to cross London in rush hour, or spent 2 hours driving to work in L.A.! Traffic here is a breeze if you can handle the few impatient drivers who like cutting in front if you when they encounter a blocked lane.
And one of the main reasons Vancouver is such a great place for me is that the people are some of the nicest and friendliest that I've met anywhere.
I'm an ex-Brit and ex-Yank who's now living in Vancouver. I find it a true crossover between the U.K. and the U.S. Surprisingly, most things seem a lot cheaper to me than in the U.S. (especially good apartments, restaurants, general merchandise, and utilities), although gas (petrol) prices are pretty outrageous. Don't listen to what the others say about traffic - they don't know what traffic is until they've tried to cross London in rush hour, or spent 2 hours driving to work in L.A.! Traffic here is a breeze if you can handle the few impatient drivers who like cutting in front if you when they encounter a blocked lane.
And one of the main reasons Vancouver is such a great place for me is that the people are some of the nicest and friendliest that I've met anywhere.