Considering relocating to Kelowna

[Johnny199r]

I'm a lawyer.

Brown bag my lunch, walk to work, don't drink, don't smoke, don't golf, one paid off car, try to cycle everywhere, love to tent camp.

Pretty cheap life.

[Jonrox]

On Saturday I was out on my jetski for a few hours before I went in to play beach volleyball for a couple of hours... on an actual beach. I went in the lake between games to cool off. Then I went and hung out at Rose's patio on the water (it's also nice to go dancing at a bar where I can wear flip flops and shorts).

I'm not on vacation, it's just life in Kelowna.

Slowpitch and beach volleyball leagues start up in early-April (I think you guys still had snow on the ground). April is a tough month though... do I go to Biggie and snowboard or stay in Kelowna to golf? I missed my team's first ball practice because I was riding at the hill.

After living in Calgary, you'll think a Kelowna traffic jam is a joke. You might have to wait through 2-lights from time to time. But that's a "traffic nightmare" in Kelowna.

I've lived here for 5 years and get out quite a bit and have to say I've never seen "gang activity". Nor have I become a coke head. Calgary's issues with gangs and drugs are much worse than anything here.

[taco.vidal]

OP, you've got to do what's right for you. What are your priorities? Im guessing that since you're even considering the job and are asking questions that for example, your career isn't your number one priority. That's fine, its not the most important thing for many people but is for others. For someone who their career is number one or number two after family, then that person would tell you that a move such as this is nuts. For someone who values their life and time outside of their job, then this could be a great move. Money is important but not everyone gets as much satisfaction out of seeing their bank account grow or having more material possessions or a bigger house or a better car.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

After living in Calgary, you'll think a Kelowna traffic jam is a joke. You might have to wait through 2-lights from time to time. But that's a "traffic nightmare" in Kelowna.

With the old bridge, my commute in the summer from OUC to the Westside was 45 minutes because 25 minutes of it was sitting on Harvey between Richter and Abbott. I'm sure that's better now!

[darklord700]

Kelowna generally has better weather than Calgary. Although you can't pay me to lving there in July as 40 degree heat is murderous to me. But I think a lot of people equal moving to Kelowna with happiness is just because people generally shun the place they live in, the grass is always greener on the other side.

Just like people in SK shun SK and wants to move to Calgary. I wished that I could move to New York or London but I bet you New Yorkers and Londeners shun their own cities too.

I don't see how life in Kelowna could be that much different from life in Calgary that is worth giving up 50% of your income for. From Calgary, Kelowna is a vacation destination. But once you've lived there, it's just your hometown and you are looking for another place to go vacation for.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

What do you guys do for a living there?

Monday to Friday: Hunt for Ogopogo
Weekend: Jetski with flip-flops

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Not your fault, and I'd take it if it was offered, but how is 3 months of vacation even a thing that government gives its employees? Thats 12 weeks. A quarter of the year. Even the French would think that's grossly excessive.

Teachers get that, too. They work 2/3 of a day 3/4 of a year. Best benefits of any job in the history of the world.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Not your fault, and I'd take it if it was offered, but how is 3 months of vacation even a thing that government gives its employees? Thats 12 weeks. A quarter of the year. Even the French would think that's grossly excessive.

Funny you single out France. One of my friends works for the government in France (their equivalent of the CRA). 1st year on the job, first government job, junior-mid level employee and they had 12 weeks to start. They were there for 4 months and was told to take a month off because that's what had been earned up and NEEDED to be taken. Didn't work the entire month of December, fully paid.

When they told me that and I almost packed up my stuff and moved to France.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Drury18

Funny you single out France. One of my friends works for the government in France (their equivalent of the CRA). 1st year on the job, first government job, junior-mid level employee and they had 12 weeks to start. They were there for 4 months and was told to take a month off because that's what had been earned up and NEEDED to be taken. Didn't work the entire month of December, fully paid.

When they told me that and I almost packed up my stuff and moved to France.

That's why I moved to Alberta. Although your friend has a sweet setup from day 1.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Teachers get that, too. They work 2/3 of a day 3/4 of a year. Best benefits of any job in the history of the world.

Haha here we go! I love having you on this site. You increase entertainment value x10

[Sylvanfan]

I lived in Osoyoos for 2 and a half years. Financially I would have been better off going to prison. Make your money and stay out of the Okanogan until you can retire. 4 years later and am finally back to where I was financially when I left Alberta 6 and a half years ago.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I lived in Osoyoos for 2 and a half years. Financially I would have been better off going to prison. Make your money and stay out of the Okanogan until you can retire. 4 years later and am finally back to where I was financially when I left Alberta 6 and a half years ago.

All my memories of Osoyoos are of feeling like that is what clay being fired in a furnace must feel like.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Red John

Do it.

Kelowna is miles better than Calgary in so many areas. Less money yes but there's a reason most rich Calgarians have places in BC...it's the place to be.

My golf season starts in February and goes to November. Can go to the beach anytime. Coldest winter ever gets is -10 or -15. Oh and no stupid wind.

Drives are shorter. No more driving 20 minutes to go somewhere. Winter sports despite the mild weather are adequate with big white and silver star.

You already spend summers here so no need to sell you on how beautiful it is, you know.

You won't need as much vacation time when you get to enjoy the resort life every day.

You couldn't pay me to move back to Calgary. If lake communities are objectively better than ones without one, then Kelowna is objectively better than Calgary and money won't change that.

Bottom line home is where the heart is and it sounds like your heart is already in Kelowna so make the move!

This post highlights the smaller city living of a place like Kelowna and completely ignores every benefit of bigger city living in a place like Calgary and begins and ends with slamming Calgary as being nowhere near Kelowna in any respect.

[combustiblefuel]

^^^^ I have lived in both Kelowna and Kamloops. I do not miss either one. I have no Idea what he was talking about winters never getting below -15 and no wind in the interior. It most certainly does have both. That's a complete load. I'd stay In calgary and retire their. In my experiences growing up there I would never want to raise my kids in either. There's not much entertainment wise other that drinking, drugs and moutian biking. They both have attracted branches of street gangs from Vancouver like Independent Soldiers, Hells Angels etc.. . When I left the interior it was getting out of hand so much so Vancouver Gang Task forces were allowed to set up Shop. I know you get the same in Bigger Cities It just much more noticeable in these two towns. Their just is not many positives if you have kids. After High school many and I mean ALOT of us got the hell out of the interior and Fled to Edmonton and Calgary. Just any where but the interior. If you don't have kids It is a lot easier to justify moving there. The majority of the City is built for Adult entertainment. Kids just don't have enough choices.


I am quite bias tho. I wouldn't raise my kids their but I would retire there.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Wormius

All my memories of Osoyoos are of feeling like that is what clay being fired in a furnace must feel like.

I've only been to Osoyoos for 2 hours in mid July. I couldn't understand how people enjoy heat hot as furnace and call that enjoyable.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

^^^^ I have lived in both Kelowna and Kamloops. I do not miss either one. I have no Idea what he was talking about winters never getting below -15 and no wind in the interior. It most certainly does have both. That's a complete load. I'd stay In calgary and retire their. In my experiences growing up there I would never want to raise my kids in either. There's not much entertainment wise other that drinking, drugs and moutian biking. They both have attracted branches of street gangs from Vancouver like Independent Soldiers, Hells Angels etc.. . When I left the interior it was getting out of hand so much so Vancouver Gang Task forces were allowed to set up Shop. I know you get the same in Bigger Cities It just much more noticeable in these two towns. Their just is not many positives if you have kids. After High school many and I mean ALOT of us got the hell out of the interior and Fled to Edmonton and Calgary. Just any where but the interior. If you don't have kids It is a lot easier to justify moving there. The majority of the City is built for Adult entertainment. Kids just don't have enough choices.

The gang situation in Kelowna can't be ignored. People can say "Well I live here and don't notice it" or "Well sure, maybe if you're out the wrong place and time" all they want.

But the point remains the same; Kelowna has an abnormally high gang presence for it's size, and there is most definitely a danger to the way those groups in that area operate. Violence has flared up in a huge way on their streets in recent years, and the threat of it is still there.

I'm surprised anyone that lives in Kelowna would downplay the gang presence there, it's very well known across western Canada.

[jayswin]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle4201325/

Kelowna RCMP say they need reinforcements to combat a rise in gang and drug activity – with the public shooting death of Red Scorpions leader Jonathan Bacon being the most recent and most violent example.

Gang activity in the Okanagan city has been made more obvious ever since the Hells Angels established a chapter there in 2003. About eight gangs currently operate there, and nearly 70 per cent of the Kelowna RCMP’s work involves dealing with stabbings, robberies and murders that are related to either drug or gang activity.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...c-0a93fac60a20

Gang presence in Kelowna growing: RCMP

Bacon, a 30-year-old Red Scorpion, died outside the Delta Grand hotel in a hail of bullets fired at a Porsche Cayenne in which he and other gangsters were travelling. A Hells Angel and an Independent Soldier were also wounded in that attack.

Also last year, seven Okanagan men, including two full-patch Hells Angels, were charged in the June beating death of Kelowna resident Dain Phillips. The case was believed to be the first in the 28-year-history of the Hells Angels in B.C. where a club member was charged with murder.

In 2010, the RCMP's Federal Drug Enforcement Section also announced charges against Mexican nationals in two separate cocaine-smuggling operations, including one involving Kelowna residents.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by flameswin

The gang situation in Kelowna can't be ignored. People can say "Well I live here and don't notice it" or "Well sure, maybe if you're out the wrong place and time" all they want.

But the point remains the same; Kelowna has an abnormally high gang presence for it's size, and there is most definitely a danger to the way those groups in that area operate. Violence has flared up in a huge way on their streets in recent years, and the threat of it is still there.

I'm surprised anyone that lives in Kelowna would downplay the gang presence there, it's very well known across western Canada.

Yup when I was 18 ( a while ago when they were just setting up there shops) just before I moved We would see Vancouver Gang Task force Vans Around Town in parking lots doing final preparations before raids EVERY week. Then they would pull out and speed through traffic with no lights ,side door partly open. Usually 3 Vans.

One of my friend In Kelowna is a bouncer at a bar(not going to name it)and he says they constantly have problems between rivial clubs.

[Jedi Ninja]

Kelowna has a higher crime rate than any other major Canadian city, according to new figures released Thursday. (July,2013)

Read more: http://bc.ctvnews.ca/kelowna-s-crime...#ixzz37VRc7s5w

[SeeGeeWhy]

Do it. And live in naramata