#1Aug 11th, 2009
Where is best to move to?
#2
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 11th, 2009
Welcome zoe
I am hooked on Vancouver Island and I live in Nanaimo, which is a compact little city of about a hundred and twenty thousand people. Vancouver is twenty minutes away by air and three hours away by the ferry system. Victoria is roughly an hour and a half away by car.
Are you male or female?
I am hooked on Vancouver Island and I live in Nanaimo, which is a compact little city of about a hundred and twenty thousand people. Vancouver is twenty minutes away by air and three hours away by the ferry system. Victoria is roughly an hour and a half away by car.
Are you male or female?
#3
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009
Im female ( well i should be with my name being Zoe haha!) I have been looking at nanaimo and my friend is moving there next April so it is appealing!! I have read some reviews which say it is suitable for retirement? Is there much nightlife in Nanaimo? how much does an average apartment cost? do you think it would suit my sort of lifestyle? thanks for the initial advice!
#5
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by petros
Food and housing at Whistler is way over the top with the Olympics coming up. The person needs to come to Nanaimo. Much more affordable then either Vancouver or Whistler. Since we have so many Albertans moving in it's obviously more affordable than many places. Even though I heard Calgarians mentioned as part of a conversation regarding people moving here we get a lot of Prairie people and a lot of people from Ontario. Whistler! If you're young go to Whistler.
It's been a little chilly and damp here for the past week or so but the hot weather is coming back and we should be hot again in about another 2 days. According to the report the City gets - we should be back to the mid 30's. High 20's is good for me.
#6
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009
Hi Zoe, move to the country if you really want to live it up in the new world. BC seems perfect for that.
#7
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by zoe0411
I cannot answer your night life question. The young people I work with certainly seem to enjoy the night life. It is suitable for retirement because of our weather and affordable housing. Most that retire here come for the weather. However - that doesn't mean we are a city full of retirees. It's a good mix and apparently we have more shopping per capita than any other city in Canada which to me sounds odd but we do have a lot of places to shop. I think that in some cases you can use google to see what the rents are like. I work with people that earn as little as $9.75 per hour and they seem to be able to afford places to live. As a nurse you should be able to afford better housing than they can. I don't know what the work situation is here for nursing but I do know that my son's best friend just moved over here from Vancouver a few months ago and his wife is a nurse. She managed to get hired immediately at the local hospital.Im female ( well i should be with my name being Zoe haha!) I have been looking at nanaimo and my friend is moving there next April so it is appealing!! I have read some reviews which say it is suitable for retirement? Is there much nightlife in Nanaimo? how much does an average apartment cost? do you think it would suit my sort of lifestyle? thanks for the initial advice!
#8
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by darkbeaver
They don't require a lot of nurses in the "country" and I doubt there is much night life either.Hi Zoe, move to the country if you really want to live it up in the new world. BC seems perfect for that.
#9
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009
Thank you all for your posts, they are really helpful - Nanaimo is sounding a lot more appealing to me! anymore advice from anyone will be greatly appreciated x
#10
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by zoe0411
Vancouver Island would be a much better chocie than Vancouver, cheaper to live, safer environment, easier to get around. A lot depends on the size of community you are looking for and what amenities you desire. I spent over 45 years of my life living in various communities on Vancouver Island, none of them too objectionable- if there is one it might be Victoria, but Nanaimo, Duncan, Port Alberni, Comox Valley, Campbell River, Parksville are all liveable. Nanaimo would be the largest of those with a pop. of 80,000- the rest would vary between 10 and 40 thousand. Parksville has a good climate and is centrally located to Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Courtenay, all within 40 minutes. All the communities are on the ocean. Google the names I mentioned.Hi all, I am looking to move to Canada Christmas 2010. I have decided on Vancouver and Vancouver Island as my choices. Could anyone give me information on the best places I should move to? I am 24 yr old registered nurse who likes to party and meet new people. I also like a bit of peace. I would like to move where I have the best of both worlds - (if there is any such thing!) I have no children, love shopping and enjoy eating out. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!
#11
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by zoe0411
You speak of retiremnt and night life, with our economy the way it is these days, it's just about impossible to do both, so I would advise you just to plan on one. You can pay $10 for a drink in some of these places.Im female ( well i should be with my name being Zoe haha!) I have been looking at nanaimo and my friend is moving there next April so it is appealing!! I have read some reviews which say it is suitable for retirement? Is there much nightlife in Nanaimo? how much does an average apartment cost? do you think it would suit my sort of lifestyle? thanks for the initial advice!
#12
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009
The night life in the country is full frontal 7/52, why bother with the synthetic stuff.
#13
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by VanIsle
I could use some night nursing here in the country.They don't require a lot of nurses in the "country" and I doubt there is much night life either.
#14
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by zoe0411
Being a nurse raised the probability of you being female but I hate to assume.Im female ( well i should be with my name being Zoe haha!) I have been looking at nanaimo and my friend is moving there next April so it is appealing!! I have read some reviews which say it is suitable for retirement? Is there much nightlife in Nanaimo? how much does an average apartment cost? do you think it would suit my sort of lifestyle? thanks for the initial advice!
There is live theatre in Nanaimo, and the town certainly has it's share of pubs, restaurants, and movie houses.
In your opening post you expressed a desire for peace. Nanaimo is definitely more peaceful than Vancouver but I don't know how it compares with what you're used to.
The average one bedroom apartment cost is probably in the region of $200,000.00 Canadian dollars near the hospital. Maybe a little less.
I hope this helps..
Last edited by #juan; Aug 12th, 2009 at 12:03 PM..
#15
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by #juan
Yeah, real estate is pretty steep in Nanaimo, Port Alberni may be a better choice (brand new hospital to boot) it's has most of the amenities found in Nanaimo and housing is much cheaper. Just have to get used to a little fog and rain in winter.Being a nurse raised the probability of you being female but I hate to assume.
In your opening post you expressed a desire for peace. Nanaimo is definitely more peaceful than Vancouver but I don't know how it compares with what you're used to.
The average one bedroom apartment cost is probably in the region of $200,000.00 Canadian dollars near the hospital. Maybe a little less.
I hope this helps..
#16
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009
A couple small points:
When you take the ferry from the mainland to Victoria you still have another thirty kms or so to travel to get to Victoria. If you take a ferry to Nanaimo, it takes you right into the center of town.
Here are some images of Nanaimo:
Google Image Result for http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/17/ea/1a/shot-of-nanaimo-harbour.jpg
When you take the ferry from the mainland to Victoria you still have another thirty kms or so to travel to get to Victoria. If you take a ferry to Nanaimo, it takes you right into the center of town.
Here are some images of Nanaimo:
Google Image Result for http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/17/ea/1a/shot-of-nanaimo-harbour.jpg
#17
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009
Two-hundred thousand dollars for a one bedroom apartment? I'm going to faint.
#18
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by #juan
A couple small points:
When you take the ferry from the mainland to Victoria you still have another thirty kms or so to travel to get to Victoria. If you take a ferry to Nanaimo, it takes you right into the center of town.
Here are some images of Nanaimo:
Google Image Result for http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/17/ea/1a/shot-of-nanaimo-harbour.jpg
Pretty 1970's, Juan.
#19
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by #juan
I lived in Victoria for five years, it's a little like a commune, if you weren't there from day one you don't fit in. Most Victorians don't know the existance of anything north of the Malahat. It's windy there all the time. Parksville is worth checking out 20 minutes from Nanaimo 40 minutes from Port Alberni and the driest climate on the Island.A couple small points:
When you take the ferry from the mainland to Victoria you still have another thirty kms or so to travel to get to Victoria. If you take a ferry to Nanaimo, it takes you right into the center of town.
Here are some images of Nanaimo:
Google Image Result for http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...mo-harbour.jpg
#20
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by Nuggler
There are some new buildings in Nanaimo but none that change the skyline. Some of it is maybe eighties but not seventies. 98 percent of those pictures can be taken today with very little change. They are very good to give someone from outside the country an idea what Nanaimo is like, regardless of what some old guys think...Pretty 1970's, Juan.
#21
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by #juan
I'm not sure what Nanaimo looks like today as I haven't been there for about 8 years, but at that time the "downtown" was about 7 miles further "up Island" than it was in the 70s. Nanaimo sort of just moved into Lantzville.There are some new buildings in Nanaimo but none that change the skyline. Some of it is maybe eighties but not seventies. 98 percent of those pictures can be taken today with very little change. They are very good to give someone from outside the country an idea what Nanaimo is like, regardless of what some old guys think...
#22
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by JLM
Population here has grown considerably JLM. You better look at Juan's post - he's much closer to the real thing. I was driving by the sign that says our population just the other day and thinking they should get around to changing it. Vancouver Island would be a much better chocie than Vancouver, cheaper to live, safer environment, easier to get around. A lot depends on the size of community you are looking for and what amenities you desire. I spent over 45 years of my life living in various communities on Vancouver Island, none of them too objectionable- if there is one it might be Victoria, but Nanaimo, Duncan, Port Alberni, Comox Valley, Campbell River, Parksville are all liveable. Nanaimo would be the largest of those with a pop. of 80,000- the rest would vary between 10 and 40 thousand. Parksville has a good climate and is centrally located to Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Courtenay, all within 40 minutes. All the communities are on the ocean. Google the names I mentioned.
The downtown core is better than it used to be. It's been cleaned up a lot. The downtown you are talking about is North Nanaimo and yes - it is more like what a person would think of as downtown. Most new developements happen in the north end and yes - it borders on Lantzville. Lantzville is it's own community but without seeing the the sign that says you have changed towns, you would not know you have left Nanaimo and entered Lantzville. There is upper and lower Lantzville. Fantastic ocean views from both. I like North Nanaimo and rarely go south. There is very little reason to go there for my likes and needs. Housing in Pt. Alberni is cheap but you couldn't pay me to live there. Not to my liking and never has been. Parksville is only about a 20 min. drive but it's expensive to live there. Much more so than most places here. It's a real retirement community. Taxslave lives more in that direction than Juan and I do.
#23
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by darkbeaver
LOL - then you better speak to Zoe yourself. I could use some night nursing here in the country.
#24
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by #juan
Those are great pics. Juan but only a couple of them give a glimpse of Nanaimo North. (Including The Grand Hotel). Too bad there isn't more of it to show.A couple small points:
When you take the ferry from the mainland to Victoria you still have another thirty kms or so to travel to get to Victoria. If you take a ferry to Nanaimo, it takes you right into the center of town.
Here are some images of Nanaimo:
Google Image Result for http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...mo-harbour.jpg
#25
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 12th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by darkbeaver
Try Vancouver. My niece and her hubby bought a 2 bedroom (900 sq. ft) apt.(condo) there. It's nothing special but it's okay. I stayed 2 nights but that was long enough. They paid $490,000.00.Two-hundred thousand dollars for a one bedroom apartment? I'm going to faint.
#27
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 13th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by Liberalman
No it isn't. It's much more expensive. It has a lot more retired people. As JLM stated - if you are not born and raised there - they never let you in. People from Victoria move here and they treat us with distain and tell us how much they hate it here. They move here because they can afford to live here so they should allow themselves to fit in rather than knocking us so that we don't care if they like it or not. Nanaimo is a friendly place to live.Victoria on Vancouver island is your best bet.
#28
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 13th, 2009
As a registered nurse the last place you want to be is in Vancouver The Chinese and Aborigionals won't let you in and the crime rate is a lot higher in Vancouver and you have a better chance of of getting killed in Vancouver and and and the list goes on.
#29
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 13th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by Liberalman
All that's true. But - so is it true that Nanaimo tops Victoria in this case. As a registered nurse the last place you want to be is in Vancouver The Chinese and Aborigionals won't let you in and the crime rate is a lot higher in Vancouver and you have a better chance of of getting killed in Vancouver and and and the list goes on.
#30
Re: Where is best to move to?
Aug 13th, 2009Quote: Originally Posted by VanIsle
I cannot possibly even begin to comprehend that number attached to 900 square feet of living space. I am soooooooooo out of touch. I am hyperventilating, I have turned blue and I'm passing out again.Try Vancouver. My niece and her hubby bought a 2 bedroom (900 sq. ft) apt.(condo) there. It's nothing special but it's okay. I stayed 2 nights but that was long enough. They paid $490,000.00.
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