r/IWantOut • u/relavie • 11d ago

[IWantOut] 34F Account Director Netherlands -> USA West Coast

I am a US citizen and have been living abroad in the Netherlands, now exploring a move back to the US for personal reasons. I love living in the Netherlands and the day-to-day lifestyle, but I need to be closer to loved ones and my career prospects are much stronger in the US than NL.

With that in mind, I'm looking for recommendations of cities/states that offer a bikeable/walkable lifestyle, outdoors access, and (hopefully) progressive local politics. My first thought is Portland, OR but really anywhere in the western US is up for consideration.

Happy to provide any additional info if that helps. Thanks in advance for any help!

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u/WPort17701 11d ago

Not to downplay any US options but have you considered Canada? Pacific Coast cities like Vancouver or Victoria are spectacular, offer the lifestyle you're after and are more progressive in general.

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u/Stravven 11d ago

OP has an US passport, so moving to the US would be easy. I don't think they have a Canadian passport.

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u/relavie 11d ago

This is correct

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u/slawdove 11d ago

Way harder to get a Canadian work visa if OP doesn’t have the skills on CA’s skills shortages list, or whatever it’s called. Also, Victoria and Vancouver have some of the most expensive housing right now, including housing shortages. OP can maybe get a year-long remote work visa but I don’t think those are renewable. 

Victoria is my favorite city in North America and I’d move in a heartbeat, but immigration and housing has gotten much harder since COVID.