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Living overseas

DH wants to quit his job and move to Vancouver

29 replies

MrsKoala · 18/02/2013 20:27

I have posted the below in chat but would appreciate any advice from here too?

Hi all, I really need to process my thoughts. DH has a good, but very demanding, job. His company have said we need to move to the states. We initially agreed, this time last year, but since then his work load has increased and his line manager has changed to someone he does not get on with (no problem personally, just different working approaches - I have sympathy with both sides). He has decided he does not want to continue working in this role and thinks a move will just make things worse, as we won't be able to leave for 13 months. I hate the thought of him being unhappy.

We have 5mo so I do not work and my job is min wage so we couldn't afford me to go back even if we wanted it.

We have Canadian visas (applied for yonks ago, when they criteria was more lax) which will expire in3 years. If we want to go to Canada we would need to go now (must spend 2 years there in 3 - so it gives us holiday and emergency home visit leeway). DH has said he wants to jack in his job and just go to Canada. Where we want to live does not have any companies in his industry, but dh thinks he can start up a consultancy (he also does this here and is quite successful).

We have 70k in savings and Dh just thinks it's now or never and we should go. I a currently studying for a new career I should be qualified in in 2 years, but we also are planning to ttc later this year as I'm knocking on a bit!

I have never done anything exciting like this so am tempted but I'm also terrified. Can any mners help me to talk this thru?

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expatinscotland · 18/02/2013 20:29

I'd tell him there's the door!

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MrsKoala · 18/02/2013 20:50

Right well, thanks for that Confused

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Lighthousekeeping · 18/02/2013 20:54

I have no idea but, it sounds exciting to me. I've heard Canada is a great place to have a family. Why not try it out?

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chloeb2002 · 19/02/2013 07:13

Go.. worst case scenario.. go to another area of Canada where they do have a job for dh, down the track.. no regrets just go... I suspect you will regret if your visa runs out and you don't try it. I admire him for his get up and go! ( and you..)

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pupsiecola · 19/02/2013 09:55

Go. Tie up some/most of your savings as a fall back. We've had an up and down time since moving to SE Asia 8 months ago but I wouldn't change it for anything. We hope to settle in West Coast USA/Canada Summer 2014. From everything I've read (and I've done my research lol) it's mostly a great place to live. Sounds like you have a great opportunity with your visas already sorted. Also, your DC is at an age where they'll be mostly unaffected. Believe me, it gets a whole lot more complex as they get older.

I'm of the "far better to regret the things you do than don't do" mindset.

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specialsubject · 19/02/2013 10:34

as long as you have a plan B, why not? Suggest renting out your house if you own it, or if you rent make sure you have enough to come back to the UK and live for months while you sort yourselves out.

baby won't care and next kid doesn't even exist yet -sounds like perfect timing. If it doesn't work out, you come back. Nothing to lose.

good luck!

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MrsKoala · 19/02/2013 11:05

Thanks all (well, almost all! Grin )

I am allowing myself to get quite excited now. Loads to do.

Any advice would be so gratefully received.

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Imabitlost · 19/02/2013 11:12

Agree with all said above (well most of it;)! And you don't want to live with 'what if...'. My cousin moved to Canada for 6 months initially and now after 2 years she is sorting her visa to stay. We are also taking the plunge to a different part of the world as DD1 is still a toddler and baby 2 hopefully soon

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Internationaltraveller · 20/02/2013 03:02

I moved to Canada from UK last year and the good thing about having a young child is that they force you to get out and about and you get to meet people. Vancouver is apparently very expensive (not meaning to be negative) but is meant to be pretty. You will need to buy health insurance for the first few months.

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runningforme · 20/02/2013 04:01

We did it almost 18 months ago, and apart from missing family and friends, decent cheese and TV programs, it was the best thing we ever did. our dcs were 7,6 and 10months and we sold everything and moved to Toronto. Everyone has adjusted well and is happy, I'm now a sahm and dh's career is really taking off. we're not sure we'll stay permanently, but for now we are good

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Nandocushion · 20/02/2013 04:07

Vancouver is beautiful but the whole 'start up a consultancy' idea is half-baked. He has no contacts there, I presume, and it's not a very big place, so it's not like he'll have people just walking in off the street throwing money at him. It sounds like he's running from, rather than running to, IYSWIM, and I'd ask him to have a better business plan in place before he moves you all over there.

Vancouver is very expensive. Even compared to UK, not quite London prices but very close. I have spent much of my life there and it's lovely but the social life is hard to drum up and the costs are surprising. Make SURE you have the income in place first before you go.

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nooka · 20/02/2013 04:13

I moved to BC over four years ago and it is a great place to live. I'd be a bit worried about moving to Vancouver without a job though. Does your dh have any contacts there? It sounds like you have a good financial cushion but emigration is expensive, so you'll need to have a good reason to think that your dh will be successful. Sometimes in Canada it's more who you know - there is a lot of informal networking here. On the other hand it's a pretty welcoming place.

A plan B is important to have, in case you are not happy or the job/consultancy doesn't work out.

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MrsKoala · 20/02/2013 10:11

It isn't as 'half baked' as it sounds, he does consultancy here and has a few contacts made thru linked in and the army. He will plan to work more in Toronto, DC (where he has loads of contacts) and London (likewise). We used to live in Canary Wharf so I know what expensive living is like. We have enough for £3k per month for a year. After 6 months we'd review and the plan B would be to move to Toronto. Where he knows more people and companies which require his skills.

I spoke to him yesterday and he has joined a franchise offering his skills and they have a presence in Canada, so we hope this will be an in. He networks well and his industry is very interested in skill/info sharing. But, we can't wait for a job and the time is right for us now. So it's now or never really.

We can always come home. Fortune favours the brave and all that.

He is handing his notice in on Friday.

Cheers for all the advice. I will show him this thread shoe how's how important networking really is. (It is here in his job too)

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nooka · 20/02/2013 15:14

Good luck MrsKoala! Sounds like you are at a point in life where you can take the risk, so why not.

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Internationaltraveller · 20/02/2013 16:34

Come to Toronto! I need more mum friends. Also not too far from New York.

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MrsKoala · 20/02/2013 17:44

Oh well international, keep your fingers crossed it all goes tits in Van and then you may have me as your neighbour. ;)

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runningforme · 21/02/2013 03:11

Yoo hooo, I'm in Toronto!

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Bue · 24/02/2013 12:49

Toronto sounds like more of a goer, to be honest. Yes Vancouver is a great city but it is ridiculously expensive (house prices are crashing, luckily, but it will be years before they return to sane levels), has very little economy to speak of, wages are pretty low, fairly crap weather, and it's nowhere near any other metropolitan centre. But you've got Toronto as a good backup (not as beautiful but a great place to live), so I'd go and see. Has he handed in his notice? Have fun!

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VivaLeBeaver · 24/02/2013 12:53

Some friends did something similar.

He jacked in his well paid managerial job and they and their kids moved to USA. They've got a franchise out there doing kitchen improvements. They did a lot of research before they went, into the franchise, into the economy of the area....was there likely to be enough business, etc.

They can only get temp visas which they have to renew every 2 years or something.

I thought they were a bit mad but very brave. However its worked out really well, the business is doing great, they love the lifestyle and can't imagine going back.

Go for it.

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amidaiwish · 24/02/2013 13:08

Why Vancouver over Toronto?

Vancouver is a really beautiful city, but small, cold and wet!

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nooka · 24/02/2013 16:58

It's all in the eyes of the beholder though isn't it? We originally thought of moving to Toronto but were surprised to find that we didn't like it at all. It was to us just a standard North American city, busy and a bit boring. I thought we might as well stay in London (we went to NYC in the end).

On the other hand I really like Vancouver (we are currently thinking about moving there for career reasons). The house prices are a concern but otherwise there are good reasons why it is consistently in the top ten most livable cities. For us it's mostly about accessibility to the rest of BC, which is truly beautiful. I will miss the heat/sunshine of interior BC, but Vancouver weather is basically London weather so fairly tolerable really.

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Alisa75 · 03/01/2014 07:28

We moved from London 15 months ago, 2 kids, 1 dog. To Vancouver. Bought a house in North Van. There are so do many Brits where we live - from young families with tiny kids to older, uni age kuds. One of the orimary schools PTA is run by Brit pack :-) pm me if you wish somd helping hand, advice. Best of luck.

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pupsiecola · 03/01/2014 18:03

Alisa75 I am currently researching a move to Vancouver. Can you please give me further information on the primary school you mention? I absolutely have to get the schooling right!!

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BrianTheMole · 03/01/2014 18:07

It sounds amazing.

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uptheanty · 03/01/2014 18:09

What about Calgary? We're seriously considering upping sticks this year.
Anyone with info on Calgary?

Sorry for the hijack op Blush

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