Glory's Sun

My wife and I are talking about moving.. (to those of you who don't know, we were on the brink of divorce and we've since worked some things out and have now found a middle ground that works)

Granted, the move won't happen until next year at the earliest due to her graduation, but I think a move will be necessary for our careers to really take off. She's an HR Generalist, and I'm in production.. while there are opportunities that exist in this state, we both don't enjoy NC for much that it has to offer. Add that I'm a city boy and the cities in NC are pathetic, well, we want to move somewhere.

The short list includes:

Boston (DUH)
Manhattan
Toronto
London
Orlando (I have an inside connection at the golf channel)
Hollywood (I really want to work for Troika)
and my wife threw out Oregon. I have no clue wtf is even in Oregon.. other than bears and trees.

This list can naturally change and if I move to Canada I'd much rather live in BC. Of course moving to another country involves a whole host of issues such as visa's, passports, 2 children adjusting to a new culture etc etc etc..

So basically, I'd like to hear from people who either have experience in our work fields or people who have other recommendations on cities that not only have career opportunities, but educational opportunities for my children. If anyone can come up with good reasons to stay in NC I'll hear those as well (don't EVEN say the weather.. it sucks )

ShaniFaye

I would give anything to be able to leave Atlanta and move to NC *sigh*

I have no experience with any of the cities you listed, nor any desire to live in any of them so I cant help!!!

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Baraka_Guru

Although I cannot compare and contrast between your choices, I will speak about Toronto in and of itself.

I'm not sure if you've been reading much about our national economy, but we haven't been doing too shabby during this recession (e.g. our banks made profits). Canada in general is poised for a decent recovery.

Toronto is considered the economic engine of Canada. Of course there is criticism and challenges here, but when all is said and done, and when worse come to worse, Toronto is here, it is big, and it is a heavily mixed economy, meaning that there are virtually all industries here, which means many opportunities for an HR generalist. There are many companies of all sizes as well, big and small.

As for you, I can't imagine you'd have much trouble finding work. I don't know the big picture of what you do, I just know that you produce video "stuff." Well, if this is related to advertising, then Toronto would work for you too, for the same reasons.

As for education, it depends on the area in which you choose to live. Compared to places such as London and Manhattan, you'll have a better time affording a nicer area to live. With that, comes nicer schools (though the worst of our schools aren't nearly as bad as you'd see in the U.S.). This is mainly due to the fundraising successes that richer neighbourhoods provide. Just do the math.

As for post-secondary opportunities, there are 3 universities and several colleges, most of which are decent quality. They are big, too, so you have your law & med. options, etc.

If you become citizens, you'll also have access to the RESP, which is a great education savings program that the government will pitch into and give you tax benefits. (Not to mention that you'll get a host of other benefits, being as socialist as we are here. )

Anyway, I'm getting to the point where I'm assuming too much. I hope you will come back and post a few more details about what you are looking for.

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Glory's Sun

Shani: I'll never understand the appeal that people have towards NC unless they are of retirement age.. but.. to each their own

Baraka: With my wife being a HR Generalist, I'm sure she could end up anywhere and find a job. Hell there are plenty of HR jobs where we're at now, but in many cases, she just doesn't see the potential in the companies.

As far as I go, well I'm mostly an Avid editor. I mainly do adverts but can do news packages, long and short format video etc. I'm currently learning Final Cut better so I can utilize both on my resume.. and I know that a lot of production has moved to Toronto.. especially in the children's sector. While I don't particularly want to work in the children's sector by any stretch, the recent trend at least from what I've seen is that a lot of shows are shot on location here, and then edited in Toronto.

My main concern naturally, is living in a nice neighborhood, and allowing my children to go to good schools. Frankly, I think the schools where we live now are complete shit... and it saddens me to think that I have to either choose between spending 6K a year for my child to go to a private school that is only slightly better than the public system, or send them to a public school where my kids are not going to have the opportunities they need.

So again, really we want to make sure we are in a competitive market, a diverse cultural area and we have opportunities to create a well balanced life for our children which is the most important in all of this. The cultural aspects of NC really turn me off and I don't want my children growing up with the majority of thought processes and people that live here. I'm not trying to shield them from alternative thinking, but children tend to absorb at the ages they are at and it's a bit unsettling.
The only reason London was entertained was because we're familiar enough with the city and my wife is British and she would like to move back home some day.

and really .. I hate the driving in Boston.. but I would love to be able to go to Fenway on the drop of a hat.. and it's a fun town as well.

Baraka_Guru

See, this is what I hinted at. We have some really solid companies here, and a shitload of them.

Well, then. Maybe you'd find even more if you did some more digging.

As I mentioned, the standard in Toronto is likely higher than many if not most areas of the U.S. Add to that the benefit of the wealthier parents giving money to the schools and otherwise participating to make them better. Have a look at the standards of our school system and compare it to what you have now. The Toronto District School Board is one thing to look at, but also check out the York Region District School Board, which is essentially "North Toronto," or the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). And I'll reiterate that you'll be able to afford more for your money here than you would, say, Manhattan or London (just be sure to calculate taxes and conversion to make sure).

Canada is generally a multicultural country. Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. It's more multicultural than L.A., Miami, and New York. Nearly half the city consists of foreign-born residents. Every day, you can easily see people from every continent on the planet. On a typical day, it's not uncommon for me to hear 3 or 4 (or more) different languages spoken (not including French and English) while walking or travelling about. People maintain their identities here, but they participate in the Canadian practice of bringing what they've got to the table to make this one of the best countries to live in. That's what we do here. With the exception of our deplorable record of letting foreign doctors and scientists drive cabs, it generally works. (Though even this is something we've started working on.)

As for a competitive market....you won't have any trouble finding it.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

thespian86

What Toronto provides that cities such as Manhatten and London don't, is purely a Canadian thing: TO is still loud, relatively dirty, incredibly diverse, fast paced, expensive, culturally expansive, etc. But all of those things are seemingly different, especially diversity. Canada follows a "mosaic" approach to racial and cultural differences, while American and British stances are a bit more "melting-pot". And that seeps into everything. The attitude, although Upper Canada is the America of Canada (Broadway North - ba-dum-csh), is far different. That's what makes Toronto an incredible city.

That and we are one of the biggest and best cultural and artistic hotspots in the world. Some of the best food and shops in the world. etc etc.

I've been to everywhere you short listed, and other then living in Boston everywhere else pales to Toronto, I think, when it comes to raising a family. Plus, Canada provides several, fun, socialist programs that are geared towards helping out families.

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Charlatan

There is film and television production being done in both Toronto and Vancouver. But given your previous comments, it sounds like you aren't man enough for a city like Toronto. Stick to Vancouver.

Have you thought of moving to Asia? There is a growing film community here. There is a need for Editors. There is also, like everywhere, a need for HR. Give it some thought.

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Glory's Sun

I've been to T-dot on several occasions and enjoyed it.. right now I have to figure out all the visa crap and all that before it's even considered..

the only way I will move to Hollywood is if Troika hired me for a non-assistant job.. that house is phenomenal.

Boston is expensive as fuck. That's the main draw back I have to that city.

Edit:

Char: Actually, no we haven't considered moving to asia at all.. what are the schools like?? I'm also curious as to the requirements and wage portions of the editors that are needed. Since you live there now I'm sure you have some knowledge of this

I'm manly enough for Toronto, I just enjoy the landscape of Vancouver..

My dad goes to T-dot at least once a month and says it's pretty much the same as the last time I went was several years ago.

Glory's Sun

my wife just sent me a text that said: Miami.

I promptly replied: NO.

jewels

Stick to your guns on that one.

If you can't get what you want in Hollywood, I see you in Manhattan. I don't know much about the schools but would imagine you can find some really good ones.

If not, I agree that Vancouver is very cosmopolitan and much like New York, only beautiful and surrounded by more beauty. (Sorry NY. Love ya to pieces, but ... )

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noodle

Orlando... schools are fairly okay (magnets are better) and the production connections are numerous with Disney, Universal, their spinoffs, etc... floating around. Or Hollywood.

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snowy

What's in Oregon besides me and lots of good green? Well, the Silicon Forest for starters. It's west of Portland and features employers such as Intel and other tech companies. We do have some work in your industry here, I know. I can't be precise about that. We've lost a lot of jobs in the last year here, but so long as you have skills that pay the bills that shouldn't be an issue.

And while our school system is underfunded and they have been cutting days from calendars across the state, our schools do pretty well. Oregon has long had a reputation in the PacNW for being the better state for education; while Washington provides more $ for their schools, our system is viewed as more academically rigorous.

We also have a better social safety net than most states. Oregonians have access to the Oregon Health Plan, an insurance safety net. Children in the state are guaranteed insurance coverage via SCHIP and OHP.

What I love about this state is that I could (in theory, haven't tested it yet but I want to) go skiing in the morning and surfing in the afternoon, or vice-versa. If you're in Portland, it's only about 1.5 hours to Mt. Hood and about an hour to the coast. Portland is cool in that it is getting to be a bigger city, but in some ways it still feels like a small town. People out here are friendly and polite.

If you have any questions, I've lived here for 14 years now (6 in Hillsboro, a suburb of Portland, and 8 in Corvallis). And no, we're not all hippies, but we do like fleece, coffee, pinot noir, Chaco sandals, and bicycles. Oh, and FYI: there are more than a few small batch distilleries here too.

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Glory's Sun

well.. after talking some more last night.. my wife seems to be bucking the Canada thing.. I'm not entirely sure why.. but she doesn't seem that interested in it any longer. If she moves to another country, she would rather it be somewhere in the UK.. which makes sense in her viewpoint.. but I have no idea how it would work for my career.

As far as Orlando goes, I could probably step right into a head editing job at the Golf Channel right now.. a friend of mine's dad started the damn company with Arnold Palmer..and they have a need for editors with golf knowledge.. I just don't want to move back home that much. There is a lot of family down there, but they are super clingy and it annoys me to no end. Maybe I'm being too selfish on that front.

Oregon is nice from what I hear, but the job market doesn't seem to be where we both need it to be.. I haven't even looked at the schools yet.

Thanks for all the info guys.. keep it coming. Feel free to offer other city or country suggestions.. the list is getting smaller rapidly and I want to make sure that we've looked at other possible places as well.

fresnelly

I know family can be clingy but they can also take the kids off your hands for extended periods.

I don't know what you and your wife have worked out but some occasional free child-relief will really help a marriage. It takes a village etc, etc...

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Glory's Sun

that's a good point fresnelly..

we have family here who does take the kids when we want to go out and such..and if we move away from them that would be difficult.. I don't know if we've even considered that.. I'll have to bring it up tonight.

Cynthetiq

the question I always run into for international is "how do I get a legal status so I can get a job?"

as far as the rest, I see NYC chew people up and spit them out all the time. Or even people just say they are tired of the fight...

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Glory's Sun

well as an editor.. one gets used to getting chewed up and spit out constantly.. thanks to stupid producers.. I don't mind the rat race.. I really don't.. I'm fairly certain that my wife can handle a big city again once she adjusts..

as far as international.. yes..that's our biggest obstacle.. getting a work visa and then gaining permanent status.. it's even more difficult after 9-11.

Halx

See you soon, neighbor.

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biznatch

I vote for NYC, my favorite city in the world. IMO, this place needs to be lived in. Absolutely amazing.

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Redjake

I just got done doing sys admin training in Kansas city, specifically the Overland Park area, and it is very very nice. I would move here given the opportuniy. I live in NC and love it too though. NC has tremendous opportunities for jobs if you are willing to move anywhere in the state. RTP is as urbanous as I'd ever want though.