Moved from Calgary and O&G to small town BC and am now in forestry.
Pay went down 35%. But I have better benefits and more holidays. People here aren't all about the bling and would rather have days off then work OT for the bigger cheques. Cost of living is way lower. In Calgary you have to pay for fucking everything. And everything is expensive. Here, you can really embrace your frugal side. All activities are cheaper. I can pay off my ski pass in the first quarter of the ski season. Life is slower. Nobodies is a rush to get nowhere. You don't know the definition of chill until you're in a small town. You go beat the shit outta yourself in the mountains all day, then you sit around, smoke a joint, have a meal and just fucking chill.
No fucking sirens!!!!!! Well once and awhile and the whole town perks up. It's hilarious. It'll definitely be discussed the nest day at work. It's just some much quieter.
I can park anywhere I fucking want. Like anywhere. If I stop to talk to someone, if, IF a car pulls up behind me, they'll usually wait or know us and join in. In Van I blocked a street to jump start a car. Instantly cars were log jamming behind me. You know those streets in Van where it's basically a one laner because of cars parked on both sides. Ones of those between Oak and Cambie. For fuck sakes everyone, I'm trying to jump a car, hold your fucking horses.
Quality of life, the life I want anyways is way higher. That's why I moved. I'm outdoors all the fucking time. Like I mean I'm out biking and hiking every weekend. I bike or x-cross ski several nights during the week.
I was in Vancouver couple weeks back. Coming off the freeway onto to the grandview exit I had to piss. There's no place to pull over and take a leak. No where. How do people live like that. I had to wait until I was at my sisters over on Cambie. Ridiculus.
I miss the diversity of all the food. I miss being able to drive to the store/malls to pick anything up. Now I'm forced to buy off the internet for random things the stores here don't carry. Closest international airport is 4 hour drive away. I miss the abundance of single ready to mingle women. There are a few here. Not enough.
All in all, best decision I've made thus far in my adult life.