r/AskVancouverWA

I've checked prior threads and wanted to expand on the topic. As a teen, I lived briefly in Vancouver WA, in the Evergreen area. Relocated often, and I've been living overseas since 2015. Nostalgic and wanting to come back to the US, deciding on the city. Would love any insights from residents.

I'm a US citizen, (foreign pharmacy degree, unlicensed in US). Partner is a non-citizen, works remotely in SAAS. Prior to licensing my income will likely be around $50k, will take 1-2 years to earn US Pharm license, in the interim I don't mind working wherever.

• Are you happy living in Vancouver, WA? Would you recommend a friend to move there?
• Would a ~$50k income be liveable for you during a year, comfortably, without dipping into savings? Research tells me it's doable but I'd love true anecdotal commentary.
• Any insights on work availability and QoL working locally in healthcare or tech?
• Best neighborhoods with good walkability/bikeability? Neither of us have a license, although it'll be our first priority after moving.
• Any safety concerns we should be aware of? We live in a city center now but there is very low crime.
• We're hoping to start a family and purchase a home once we're settled and a solid dual income; any thoughts on the general schooling quality/daycare availability?
• Do you consider this a good place to purchase/buy a home, raise a family and make permanent roots? We've moved/rented our whole lives, our parents never owned and we would love a place to call our forever home.
• How is the overall build quality of an average home there?
• What are your biggest complaints about living there?

Any insight is useful, thanks in advance! Google and practical research doesn't replace the lived experience, and my childhood memories are vague.

Looking for a nail tech who knows how to work with oily nail beds, my gel sets keep popping off about one week into the first fill.

If you’ve found someone who actually makes them last, drop their name and salon. Bonus if they’re in West Vancouver and can do a fill in under an hour.

Thank you!!

Does anyone know of any better options than Zillow for finding rentals in the Vancouver area? My hopes aren't super high, but figured it's at least worth asking.

We've had alerts set up on Zillow for properties that meet our criteria (allows pets, has AC, not over $3K/mo), but it seems like things matching that don't come on the market super frequently, so I thought I'd ask. I know finding a spot that allows pets and has AC is a bit of a unicorn in the PNW, but might as well try.

I recently read a (very mediocre) novel that centered around life after the "big one" here on top of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. It made me realize exactly how difficult communication would be with no mobile phones and no internet - so I feel like it's time to make sure I have some way to communicate in such an event.

But there are SO MANY choices. HAM, GMRS, CB, FRS, SatPhones - each with their own pros and cons.

What have YOU done - and how did you decide to do that? Or - if you've heard from any experts on this topic - what did they recommend