Why did you choose the US?

[vanee 13]

I've seen this question asked for VJers from everywhere, but I'm wondering what factors led Canada/US couples to decide to live in the US instead of Canada. Of course some factors to consider will be the same for all couples. But like some other countries, Canada shares with the US the same language (well, most of Canada does), a culture that's similar in many ways, and the same standard of living more or less. Most Canadians have probably travelled in the US, and we get US TV, so there's less for us to get used to. Most of us aren't deciding on the language or continent, just which side of the border to live on (and all the changes that either decision brings).

My fiance was prepared to move to Canada to be with me. But when we took the emotion out of the equation (we both love our own countries), it made more sense for me to move to the US. I'm self-employed and work at the computer, so I can continue doing the same work almost anywhere that has an Internet connection. I earn most of my income in USD already. And he has a closer connection with his family, where he lives, than I do with mine.

Since you're here at VJ, you decided to live in the US. How did you make that decision? Or if you've lived in Canada together or plan to later, how did you decide that?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Moved because of what my wife does!! She really could not do it in Canada, thus putting her Masters degree to waste. And my job was in the Cdn Air Force, stuck out in Greenwood NS (sorry east coasters) so defiently nothing for her,lol So the decision was for me to move here (DC area) and start from square 1. Can't complaion, dont really work besides officiating hockey, and start my RN program this August. Maybe when we retire we wil move back to Canada, hard to say. Her parents do have a summer home in Newport RI, would have no problems residing there,lol

[Misty1979 0]

My husband has a daughter who wouldn't be able to accompany him to Canada, so that there pretty much made the choice for us.

[Emancipation 2]

Good question!!

It was a tough one for me.. I lived on PEI so was Island born & raised, and have the ocean in my blood.. I was working with teens in a volenteer role and successful in my career and had many many friends..

Hubby had recently moved to CT, has no family / friends here, but his children are in GA and he tries to see them whenever possible. It was for his children that we mostly decided to stay here in the US. He needs to support them financially and in his line of work (aviation) he makes the biggest $$ here in CT, and I wanted him to be closer to his children not further.

I can visit home.. I can keep in touch, but the truth is, his children need him more right now I don't regret the decision one bit!

[misa 2]

My husband's job is specific to an U.S. industry and his certifications are not transferrable. My skills and background are transferrable pretty much anywhere.

We've talked about moving back to Canada at some point. Not sure when, but we'd probably end up on the west coast. Would be a change for both of us since I'm from Toronto.

Edited May 30, 2007 by misa

[Ontarkie 14,133]

We decided it would be easier for her to come live here in Arkansas since my job alone is sufficient to support us. I do like the idea of living in Canada, and I would be agreeable to moving there if I could find the same line of work with at least the same pay and benefits.

Any suggestions where I should look to find information about working in environmental or chemical engineering, goverment and/or private company?

Where ever I live I want to be with my Danielle.

Edited May 30, 2007 by Ontarkie

[warlord 72]

I actually left Canada to come work here on a TN before ever meeting my wife to get away from Canada. When we got married we didn't even think about it and just settled here.

My wife has mentioned she'd think it would be interesting to move there and she has no problems ever doing so. I on the other hand would never want to move back there. Visiting is just fine with me. Hence we stayed...

[vnoe 0]

wow....what a great question.

Well I'm the Canadian and moving to the USA. My hubby-to-be is a farmer, so I'd be moving there. I would honestly still be able to work in Canada as well. We live on the border.

Cheers!

[Autumnchik 6]

Interesting topic!!! For us, it was combination financial and emotional reasons to live in the US. I am originally from CT, but left to go to college when I was 17 (am now 32) and lived in several states in the U.S. Even before my hubby and I decided to get married, I had been strongly considering moving back to the Northeast to be closer to my family. I am an only child and felt that it was time to live a little closer to CT, to be able to see my parents more often. The impetus for the move to New Hampshire was that I obtained a position that allows for student loan repayment (thank god!!!!!!) So, with this position, I have a 2 year contract and have received $48000 in loan repayment. Every time I question whether we should have moved to Canada instead (my career would be transferable), the hubby reminds me of the debt that has been wiped away!

We do not know where we will live when my contract is up. The hubby really wants to move back to Georgia, where I had lived for 6 years before the move to NH and had a great network of friends. Sometimes, I think it would be nice to live in Canada near his family. Maybe we will end up loving it here and stay in NH. Who knows!!!

[Ron/Sharon 0]

For the time being the States is the place to be for us, Sharon's parents are in thier 80s and 90s so I didn't want to take her too far from them and her children. I have only one daughter here who was asked to come to the states to be with us but she refused for her own reasons.

[neiks 19]

Well I'm the Canadian and moving to the USA. My hubby-to-be is a farmer, so I'd be moving there. I would honestly still be able to work in Canada as well. We live on the border

Ditto here.

Easier for me to commute to my job at the border than for him to commute to the US to farm as the port nearest our home is not a 24 hour port and doesn't make for good farming hours.

[Cassie 8]

For financial reasons -- he had a much better job (mine was great, but seasonal). We wanted to get out from under some debt and we felt me coming here would be better for us, for now. Jerry loves the area I am from, and if we never move back to Canada, we plan on buying a home there so that we have a home base whenever we go home to visit. Ideally Jerry would love to get a job were he telecommuted so we had the flexibility to go to Canada whenever we wanted.

[piosenka 0]

Yes, definitely a good question! It's interesting though, there really was no debate when it came to my fiance moving to the US.

I think a lot had to do that I am well established here in my job and I have more family here than he has family in Canada. Living in Chicagoland provides opportunity for both of us to continue to do what we love especially in the technology field. I think it also (to him) has to do with him being the man in the relationship and feels it's more appropriate to be the one that leaves his family and make that sacrifice. Obviously, that doesn't really matter, but since the beginning he's felt that that's the way to go.

I definitely admire and love him for being able to do that for me. Of course, I would get up and leave for him if it came down to it, but I can't even begin to imagine the difficulty of picking up and leaving friends and family. I admire all of you out there who are doing that too!

[~Nini~ 2]

Awesome question!

Bee makes more money than I do, so it was more feasible for me to move down there - I also don't have much of a career at the moment, so I'm able to move much easier than he can. When we talked about it, we realised that it would be wiser of us to buy a house in PA rather than in Vancouver, now that the Olympics have jacked the real estate prices up. Also, his mom is not well and he wished to be closer to her in the meantime. While I come from a large extended family and love the city, I felt that the opportunities in the States were better for us overall.

Though, our running joke is that if another Republican becomes president, he's going to haul us back to Canada.

[KarenCee 3]

My husband came to the States because I couldn't emigrate. I have to (unfortunately) share joint custody with my daughter's father (fondly referred to as "sperm donor") and he categorically refused in all ways possible to allow me and my daughter to move to Canada...despite the fact that he would have the whole summer with her.

When she turns 18, we'll be free of the joint custody thing and then we'll be able to move to NS. Home for him...home for me too in a way. I haven't much invested here in the States.