Places

[benlehman]

It's time once again to play the "where should Ben live" game.

I and the Girl are considering living in three different places, from this winter to next fall (after that we'll, if we're still a "we," be headed to whatever school will have her.) We're looking at living in Boston, SF Bay Area, or London. What's going on is that she's doing grad school preperations and studying for the Foreign Service Exam, and I'm (hopefully) working and continuing to run my publishing company. So job availability, etc, is a good thing. London is advantageous as she has an aunt that lives there, who would put her up, but probably not me.

Anyway, I know that there are people who've lived in all these places, and do presently, so ... convince me where to go! I've lived in the Boston area and Bay Area before, but never been to England. Why does one place rock more than another?

Comments

[ornithoptercat.livejournal.com]

London is VERY expensive. Especially with the dollar so weak. What's more, you'll have a very hard time getting a work visa. I adore London, but unless you can get a job and a visa all lined up, I DON'T recommend living there.

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

Huh. I was under the impression (from Girl) that there's an automatic 6-month visa / work permission for Americans. Is that new?

[noradannan.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there's a visa permission for Americans, but I wouldn't bet on the work permission, especially with the EU rules.

Some info that might be useful: Working in the UK (http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/your_status/coming_to_the_uk_.html) and The British Consulate (http://www.britainusa.com/visas/showcats.asp?i=65002&L1=41000)

Personally, while I highly recommend living abroad, I wouldn't move there on a whim. If one or the other of you has a yearning desire/big reason to go to London, then by all means do, but it's Just Easier in the US.

PS - Boston is cool.

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

I know EU and UK have different policies wrt Americans, though ... I'll poke.

yrs--
--Ben

P.S. I know. But cold.

[locke61dv.livejournal.com]

P.P.S. But: global warming!

[gigolohitman.livejournal.com]

Which will make some places colder :-)