A place to call home

In my last blog I talked about why I am in Red Deer, ab and why I am going to move.

I am going to move to a place to call home.
I am going to move to a place I can be happy.
I going to move so I can escape the chase for a better financial life and find a happy life.

So what is a 49 year old oil patch labourer gonna do out east. I have done a lot of other things like website design, computer repair, hotel night auditor, NDT labourer, Valve technician, in-bound call center (computer help desk), in-bound call center (road use permit issuer), general construction/landscape labourer.
I am still in pretty good shape and in all the cities I looked at I could continue the same type of general labour I am already doing.

Worst case if I don't find a permanent job I could always fly back to Alberta for a few weeks each year to catch a pipeline or service rig project. So the oilpatch taking off again doesn't worry me because I could maintain my home out east while I rape and pillage the oil patch jobs when necessary and only when necessary. I'm hoping it won't be necessary.

So now the hard questions started. The dream was requiring a look at the realities of jobs, housing, and quality of life.

Until today there were still 4 places I was considering. I grew up in Oakville, ont. so that was one choice but I also liked the St Catharines area for it's scenery. The jobless rate and cost of living were less in both Halifax, NS and Moncton, NB.

JOBS and WAGES

I have already travelled that "move where the jobs are" road. This time I plan to stay so if I can earn enough to eat I'm happy.
So who had the most promise for labour jobs (in order)
1) Halifax (2) St Catharines (3) Moncton (4) Oakville

HOUSING and COST OF LIVING

My housing needs are pretty simple so i priced out rooms for rent and bachelor aparments. I also looked at the price of vehicles, insurance, etc. For anyone who knows me "Of course i checked out the price of computers. "
So who had the best cost of living prices for me....
(1) Moncton (2) Halifax (3) St. Catharines (4) Oakville

QUALITY OF LIFE
Based on A) Sites to see (B) bikepaths, parks (C) Low stress levels
This was the most important category of all and it took me a long time to quit flip flopping.
Who had the best Quality of life for me...
(1) Moncton (2) Halifax (3) St. Catherines (4) Oakville

Winner ******** MONCTON ********
Best - Cost of living vs wage and low stress levels
Worst - Cost of insurance


Next Blog will be on or before Aug 28/09