Bob

surpringly true

And I was thinking train as a public transport option for that kind of distance.

Jerseygirl

Unbelievably New Jersey has more rain than the UK. The difference is most of ours is in the spring and summer...but it usually comes in torrential overnight storms...not days on end of grey drizzle.

tabskitten

Cheaper to drive by a large amount so was never an option over here anyway!

Vicky88

I don't think this is a question which will get you a one size fits all answer.

I'm Australian, have lived in the UK and currently live in the USA. Out of the 3 countries I would choose the USA. However, and this is a big however, this only works for us because my husband is able to earn a reasonable salary and get healthcare provided by his company.

I think the reality of coming to the USA and getting a job is quite slim, no matter how motivated or multi-skilled your might be. It is an awful job market out there. 4 years ago when I first started looking I had people swarming all over me. We relocated to Northern California a year ago, and I am lucky to find 1 job a week on Craigslist that would suit my qualifications, and I am in a skilled job as I am an Accountant. All things considered the job market for me is probably stronger here in Silicon Valley that it would be in other locales in the US.

In good times, I think the US is the place where you can get ahead financially. However, in bad times, like we are experiencing now, it is probably the worst place to be. You might want to read the thread in the Trailer Park about layoffs. Just about everyone on this board has been hit. You do not want to be in the US without medical coverage.

At least if you go to Australia you would have medical provided. However, one thing you do have to realise is nothing is forever. Nothing wrong with going to Oz for now with the idea in a few years you might relocate to the USA.

tabskitten

apart from it seems it will take us a few years to get in to Oz!!

meauxna

Good post, Vicky88.. I'd add too, that OP's business isn't an automatic 'go' everywhere.. some markets in the US (or Oz I'm sure) are going to be more receptive than others. Some markets are already totally saturated (we've got 5 massage schools in spitting distance here and you can't shake a stick w/out running into a cheap student deal or any specialty you can think of).

lifehouse51

And during winter's cold as hell as well. Geez you just get the *best* of both extremes. But I like the Northeast (New England + New York State, + maybe Pennsylvania as well), there's just more history, culture, and people are down to earth. If I were to choose a place to settle in, it'll be either that or the Bay area (Southern Cali's not really my thing...living in the same city as Paris Hilton's NOT an exciting thing to me)

Vicky88

WAiting a couple of years is not the end of the world. Better to take it slow and surely than rush into something that may be a gigantic disaster.

I think a lot of people have the fantasy of moving to California, but the reality is California is an expensive place to live. Taxes are high, property to rent or buy is expensive, Southern California especially is reeling from the economic downturn. You might think a $100k is a good wage, but let me tell you the 2 of you would likely struggle on that amount in most places in California.

Take a look at Craigslist at rental prices in San Francisco. If you can get anything under $1800 for a desirable area of the city you will be lucky. We rent a 3 bed house in Silicon Valley and pay $3,000 a month. My husband makes more than $100k but we have decided to downsize because the rent we pay combined with utilities is consuming too much of our income. Even if you get medical provided, don't think it is free. We are on a PPO Plus plan and this year alone, since 1 Jan I have forked out $170 for prescriptions and $700 for various medical care, and that is just for myself.

If you are coming to California you had better have deep pockets. Also unless your husband has a job or has worked here recently will he be entitled to any unemployment benefits?

Bob

True

It's not all bad though, you do get used to the cold, it's just it dragging on forever that gets a little annoying, and then the mud season making everything brown...spring is amazing here, shame it only lasts a week...and autumns are superb too

ian1976

What kind of lifestyle are you expecting that you think you are struggling?? Our house-hold income is probably similar to yours and we have a kid. We are able to live a comfortable life in San Francisco. Admittedly we pay less rent than you are for your house - $2300 for a 3 bed/2bth house in the Sunset district.

Cape Blue

I've got to say that I find SF weather pretty good - I live up in the Marina and I find most days are pretty sunny. There are micro-climates around SF due to the hills, Pacific & Bay, over in the Sunset it often seems quite foggy and you get the summer fog finger coming in under the GG Bridge, but its not all like that - one advantage is that it rarely ever gets too hot to go our and do stuff, whereas further inland such as Sac it can be too damned hot to do much in the summer.

tabskitten

Thank you for the helpful replies.....

I must say that it slightly amuses me how people tend to assume that those with ideas of moving away from England are going so on some misguided impression that life will somehow be rosey and easier elsewhere.

I am not green enough to think that England is the only country struggling at the moment, and to be honest my own business is doing well and i am blissfully happy in all other aspects of my life. I am not however going to let a recession or fear of succeeding elsewhere scare me off going something with my life that I want to.

And that, all of my adult life, has been to live somewhere where the sun shines more than 3 days a year!!

Vicky88

Ah yes but you have a kid and therefore probably pay less taxes than we do. Run your income thru a tax program and see what the difference is between having a child to deduct or just a spouse and you will see a difference.

Obviously we have difference expectations on areas to live etc., because if I lived in SF I wouldn't live in the Sunset District, I would more likely live in Nob Hill, Russian Hill, North Beach etc. Main reason for this is not having children means we aren't really all that into the suburban life. We much prefer being able to walk to restaurants and coffee shops, the leafy suburbs with play groups and parks for the littlies to wander around have zero interest for us.

Also SV is very different from SF in that there is little to no public transport. That means having to run two cars, extra insurance, running costs etc.

We aren't on the breadline, but we are certainly not living it high. That said we do what we want when we want. Went to Hong Kong for Christmas, just back from a week in Hawaii, much of it due to freebies accumulated from credit card points.

mayhemuk

SF has a winter. It's not SoCal. Fog and cold and rain do exist outside the UK!

Vicky88

Have to agree with you on the weather differential. WE moved from SoCal to NoCal a year ago and have been freezing our butts off ever since. Can't believe the amount of rain we have seen the past few months and seems like the heater is continually cranked up. We had to buy a ton of winter clothing to suit the new climate. However, would add it has never been as cold as it used to get in the UK.