Get me the hell out of here!!!

Ok, so my wife and i are looking to move. We're tired of this city (Baltimore) and we want to go somewhere with a decent employment rate, good public transportation (this is a must), and a relatively low cost of living. Also, if it's bike friendly, that would be cool.

We're looking to move to the west coast for numerous reasons, but one principal on is that it will be easier for me to find meaningful work there, since i'm an animator.. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks.

Alabama. We are unclassifiable. The east coast, west coast, most of the south, and most of the known universe shuns us. It's awesome here.

Northwestern Wisconsin, it's unbearably cold and lonely, and everyone is slow as shit, and there is a bar for every 3 people.

(On the other side, with her mad unicycle skills, how can you leave Baltimore? She's primed to get into John Waters pictures.)

West Coast Cost of Living > Relatively Low.

How much for a 4br, 2bath, 1story house with front and back yard, living room, den, kitchenette, kitchen, and driveway per month?

Well it's all relative. I guess it's a matter of how much a place costs versus average salary for two, and then weighed against the cost up public transportation (because we're tried of relying on cars ALL the time). A lot of factors to consider. If we coud get away with having NO cars, it would be really great.

Bean and I live smack in the middle of Hollywood and have one car. He doesn't drive. Neither of us need a car to get to work (thanks, Metro Red Line!). We can easily walk to the grocery store, shopping areas, restaurants, the bank, movie theaters, etc.

Rent is pretty high, though, to get a nice place in a decent neighborhood in this particular area.

Well, when we say west coast, we're talking about the WHOLE thing, not just Cali.

But anyway, high rent meaning what? Like 2 grand? 3?

Public transportation?

Don't even waste your time looking in North Texas. Hell, most all of Texas, really.

Try Toronto or many of the other major cities in Canada.

I've heard lots of great things about Austin, TX.

Or maybe I spoke too soon. Though I've heard Austin is a lot different than the rest of Texas.

I've only visited Austin, so I can't speak so much for their transportation system. Other than that, it's a nice city.

Nah, not THAT high. Not at all.

Just figured you meant down here since you said you were an animator.

i should know this, but whats your specialty? flash/drawn, 3d rendering motion graphics?

laika is a new studio doing 3d work in portland.
i know some kids doing work in LA obviously.
seattle is not too far away from vancouver, which ive heard is a pretty decent city for film production, and therefore animation. tougher to get work as an american, though, due to the labor laws (they arent supposed to hire americans when they can hire canadians of the same proficiency)

id recommend checking out the company profiles at awn.com, and coldhardflash.com

also, VFXpro.com has been pretty useless to me for east coast gigs. but it seems great for west coast.

Sydney is glorious. The buildings are beautiful, the streets are mendicant, and the skies are beautiful and warm and grey today. Come here. You guys can stay in my house!

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

I don't have a house.