Sep
30
Lifestyle differences
Filed Under 1
Many of my friends ask if I would ever move back to the UK. My answer is simply “No, why would I?”
Life here in Los Angeles seems so much easier. Yes, you have to drive but with cars being anywhere between 30 - 50% cheaper (BMW 5 series in the UK = 27-30,000 pounds versus $43,000 ) and gas (petrol) a fraction of the price (Approx $9.00 per gallon in the UK versus $3.60 in L.A) and the roads being twice the size, driving is actually a pleasure. Shopping any time of the year is also a pleasing experience. No hustle or bustle, no standing in queues for ages and no lack of shopping trolleys. Parking is also a simple task. Generally speaking you can park your car right outside the store you want to shop in. Every shopping mall (indoor and out) has an array of restaurants or fast food chains waiting to curb your appetite and areas for the kids to play (including the male grown up ones). I often compare my experiences between living in California to that of living in England but it never becomes more of a contrast until I remember shopping.
I remember Christmas shopping at the Croydon Whitgift center a week before Christmas. I decided to drive to Croydon (as opposed to catching a bus) as the weather was bitter. The drive was horrendous and the parking was a nightmare. Signs merrily displaying “Car park full” outside both of the multistory parking structures. As high and as bold as they stood there it only signaled to me that someone in the design center never thought this shopping complex would be as popular as it had become. So even before I start on my exciting venture my frustration levels had been moved up a notch.
I ended up parking down near Argos and had to walk up the hill from the market but finally arrived to the main street where it was all happening. “Unbelievable”. Thousands upon thousands of shoppers weaving around one another with looks on their faces that mirrored “Shoppers on a mission”. It was almost scary. Screaming kids “I want this, I want that” and parents holding back their embarrassment as others judged their responses.
Me I was there to buy the “Barbie” caravan and a “Barbie doll” for my (then) 7 yr old daughter. By the time I got out of the store everything hurt. I couldn’t give priority to any of my aching body parts because the bitter wind had taken the feeling from my face, hands and feet therefore my priority was getting back to the car in hope that the numbness would wear off before I would need these important tools to drive.
Shopping in L.A is a joyful time. My husband and I decide what shorts to put on and head off through the canyons to Valencia. No waiting in line to park we just find a spot and pull in. After putting the sunroof up we casually walk into one of an array of stores. We are greeted with smiles and warm wishes for the season. We are never bombarded with assistants offering their annoying help but merely asked if we have found everything we need which usually prompts me to think “Did I find everything?” More often than not, we take a second patrol around the store just to make sure there were no hidden bargains that escaped me. Within an hour or two we’re done. Gifts, wrapping (Which these days can come in the form of a traditional roll of paper or a glitzy bag and cool colored tissue paper) and cards (which never get mailed and so I have a rather large selection of cards, some of which may be antique by now). We then head off to a restaurant. A nice glass of wine, a great meal and soothing music playing ends our Christmas shopping experience and its still daytime so guess what? I can still feel my hands and toes so no problem in putting the roof down and heading towards the mountains on our way home in our little convertible.
Shopping is as much a joy as living here in the USA. With today’s economic climate you couldn’t be in a better position than trading up those cold winter horrifying shopping experiences to the warmer relaxing climate of California. Houses are cheaper, cars are cheaper and life….well, it’s just better. If you have money to invest, America is crying out for investors. Why not do some trading for the future and consider some lifestyle differences.
Here at the Immigration Law Offices of Chris Ingram we are waiting to help you make that move. Whether you have had serious thoughts about moving to the USA, you are in a relationship and you want to find out the best way to handle a green card by marriage or like me, you have close relatives who are prepared to sponsor your application for green card with the eventual prospect of becoming an American citizen, we are here to help you. We would like to offer you a free telephone consultation. We will look at your current situation and discuss all possibilities. Our goal is and always will be to help make the US Immigration process less of a burden for you.