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Jerry From LA
Jerry From LA HalfDork
7/19/10 11:04 a.m.
oldtin wrote: Seems like a lot of chinese companies could use better technical documentation.

They absolutely do but absolutely will not pay for it. Ask me how I know. They just make the stuff even cheaper and companies buy it anyway.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest is incredible. NorCal is great despite real estate costs comparable to buying entire small countries. Even parts of SoCal are great with a Mediterranean climate and the ability to ski and surf on the same day. In three hours I can be deep into the Sierra. In an hour and a half I can be at Willow Springs or Buttonwillow. In one hour, CA Speedway or the swap meet at Pomona.

z31maniac
z31maniac Dork
7/19/10 11:05 a.m.

tuna55, it sounds like a LOT of freaking work is what it sounds like!

ddavidv wrote: My only suggestion is to do it. Much like a job you don't hate, where you live makes life so much better. Waking up every day and looking out the window and seeing scenery that pleases you...that's a wonderful thing. I wasn't smart enough to do that when I was younger and now I'm rooted here. My only hope is for the retirement years. Take the chance. Most everyone I know who has were glad they did.

Keep in mind I don't hate Tulsa or anything, I just think it would be a shame to live in the same place all my life and not to get to see another part of the country on at least a semi-permanent basis.

oldtin, I have looked at doing some work on the side before but have found it not to be worth my time. From what little I've seen on places like Elance (and I know that's probably not the place to land a decent gig from, but not sure where else to look), people are willing to work to cheap.

I'm not going to take on additional work for 1/3 my normal rate. I'm not expecting OT type pay or anything, but down near minimum wage? No thanks, I'd rather have the time off.

z31maniac
z31maniac Dork
7/19/10 11:07 a.m.
Jerry From LA wrote:
oldtin wrote: Seems like a lot of chinese companies could use better technical documentation.
They absolutely do but absolutely will not pay for it. Ask me how I know. They just make the stuff even cheaper and companies buy it anyway. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest is incredible. NorCal is great despite real estate costs comparable to buying entire small countries. Even parts of SoCal are great with a Mediterranean climate and the ability to ski and surf on the same day. In three hours I can be deep into the Sierra. In an hour and a half I can be at Willow Springs or Buttonwillow. In one hour, CA Speedway or the swap meet at Pomona.

My uncle now lives in San Diego and was trying to sell me on it. And being that I already work for a defense company, there would be many opportunities out there for me.

But the politics/taxes/cost of living of California are a complete turn-off to this guy.

However, Portland does seem appealing and is someplace I would like to visit soon.

oldtin
oldtin HalfDork
7/19/10 11:20 a.m.

I dunno about heading completely off the reservation, but we've built up skills and abilities that should provide value and hopefully businesses would be willing to pay us for. Saw some financials from the current employer - revenues and profits are up 500% since 2002. My income is not, although I've been involved in increasing this guy's income - so all I'm doing is helping make this guy wealthy without improving my family's situation. My state is broke - so they are desperately trying to figure out how to suck more cash out its citizens - basically, we want a place with a little less government (or at least more effective than Ilinois) and better views.

The tricky part is finding a niche for what you do that people value. All I can say is that companies struggle with producing content and you have that skill. Forget the internet freelancing sites - lowballers. A friend of mine just went on her own as an editor for medical journals. She lives on the beach in FLA.

Strizzo
Strizzo SuperDork
7/19/10 11:21 a.m.

i can't say i'd recommend houston, but if i worked more on the south side rather than the west side, i'd definitely live down near the coast, Galveston, League City, Clear Lake, even lake Jackson or Freeport, if you don't mind a long commute. that would mean, though that you would have to like the coast, and deal with a few pesky tropical storms and hurricanes. other than that, i love it down there.

that said, i really like where i'm at now, on the west side of Houston, hour and a half i can be at the beach, two hours and i can be in austin. another hour and i'm in the hill country.

JeepinMatt
JeepinMatt Dork
7/19/10 11:48 a.m.

Towards the end of my high school education, and when I left for college, I was set on California. Then I realized that 30 years ago California would be nice, but not a chance these days.

It took leaving and coming back to realize that I was in my little corner of paradise all along. I've always loved North Carolina, but I still remember the drive back at sunset when I realized that's exactly where I want to spend the rest of my life. I can honestly say that after the years, I still think to myself how lucky and glad I am to be living here. Find somewhere that makes you think the same. I ended up in a different city, and I'll likely be moving to another area in the near year, so I'm sort of in the same boat as you. I know the state, I've just got to narrow it down from there.

96DXCivic
96DXCivic Dork
7/19/10 11:55 a.m.
coolusername wrote: ALAFREAKINBAMA! I have been everywhere and you will not beat it, I don't care what anybody says....no I am not from here...the best race tracks and car/motorcycle and boat junk around.

I love Alabama too. Huntsville is a nice town maybe a bit boring for college age people like me but Nashville is only an 1.5 hours away, Atlanta is 3.5 hours away and Chattanooga is 2 hours away.

Dr. Hess
Dr. Hess SuperDork
7/19/10 12:08 p.m.

In reply to Strizzo:

Having lived 6 years in League City, I'd recommend Someplace Else.

My friend who lived around the corner from me was a technical writer in the Houston area. He worked for some type of temp agency that sent tech writers to businesses for six month or longer stints. They called their contact at the temp agency their "pimp," as in "I gotta call my pimp and see what else is coming up."

I wouldn't move to the People's Republic of California for anything, and I grew up there. It was going downhill fast 30 years ago when I left. It still hasn't reached bottom.

Osterkraut
Osterkraut Dork
7/19/10 12:13 p.m.
tuna55 wrote: Seriously. How good does a self-run, self-sufficient farm sound right about now?

If you like 80+ hour workweeks and constantly struggling to make ends meet, a small farm might be just right for you!

As it seems my life has chosen to be one of perpetual flat-landedness (Florida, Texas, and Nebraska), if I could move anywhere I'd need mountains. I'd also need a real summer for watersports. Out of the southeastern states that meet this qualification, Tennessee probably ranks highest, though honestly I'm a little tired of the east coast. I'd probably settle in Colorado, unless the Californians have started to ruin it, in which case I'd be willing to overlook the particularities of Utah.

sachilles
sachilles HalfDork
7/19/10 12:57 p.m.

Central Vermont. 2 hours to Montreal. 3 hours to Boston 4 hours to NYC. Lots of great Mtn and road biking. Small and involved communities. Low crime. many, many micro breweries. Central to many tracks, rally venues and other motorsport hot spots. Central Vermont is a little more hippy than the traditional real vermont. For example, every thursday there is a farmers market and a free concert. As I'm leaving I see a prius pulling out of the parking lot. Lady driving, kid in the back seat and a goat. You really can only see that in central Vermont. Other parts of vermont are similar but substitute prius for any SUV.

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim Dork
7/19/10 1:11 p.m.
PHeller wrote: I'd want to go someplace where I felt like I was part of the community. Someplace where I identify with many of the folks that live around me.

Dunno about that yet, just moved here (Northern NV/Tahoe).

PHeller wrote: I ride a lot of bicycle...not a ton, but a enough that I think I should always ride more. I love riding with people too. If I moved someplace, I'd want to go someplace where I could ride both mountain and road...but mostly mountain.

Plenty of mountains and mountain biking here. With the climate, I don't think you'll have to wait a couple of days before being able to ride after it rained, either.

PHeller wrote: I'd also want to go someplace with lots of "nooks and crannies" as I call it. Secret outdoor places that only the locals know about. Cliff jumping, waterfalls, places to camp or just get away that aren't a state park or something.

Plenty of that here, although a lot of them are parks.

tuna55
tuna55 HalfDork
7/19/10 1:28 p.m.
Osterkraut wrote:
tuna55 wrote: Seriously. How good does a self-run, self-sufficient farm sound right about now?
If you like 80+ hour workweeks and constantly struggling to make ends meet, a small farm might be just right for you!

If an 80 hour workweek means that I get to reap 40 hours worth of it, then I'll be ahead of where I am now!

TJ
TJ SuperDork
7/19/10 7:58 p.m.

Of the places I've been to enough to know something about, my dream locations are on the Olympic Peninsula (Port Angeles or even Port Townshead, not so much Forks or a reservation) or the north-central Oregon coast.

Neither fits too well with finding a job, neither is close to family. They both get a good amount of rain, but I would go there if I could find a way to make ends meet.

Other than that I would consider West Virginia, mostly because I grew up there. Don't like the weather or scenery as much as the other two, but I would be happy living there.

pete240z
pete240z Dork
7/19/10 8:06 p.m.

My Pastor had me read Russell Conwell's book; Acres of Diamonds.

But I strongly suggest you follow your heart........

"The central idea of the work is that one need not look elsewhere for opportunity, achievement, or fortune—the resources to achieve all good things are present in one's own community. This theme is developed by an introductory anecdote, told to Conwell by an Arab guide, about a man who wanted to find diamonds so badly that he sold his property and went off in futile search for them; the new owner of his home discovered that a rich diamond mine was located right there on the property. Conwell elaborates on the theme through examples of success, genius, service, or other virtues involving ordinary Americans contemporary to his audience: "dig in your own back-yard!"."

neon4891
neon4891 SuperDork
7/19/10 11:38 p.m.

That thread a month ago about Colorado, and talking to a few friends from there has me interested. Otherwise, once the future Mrs. neon has her teaching degree, we might be Florida bound.

Strizzo
Strizzo SuperDork
7/19/10 11:47 p.m.

In reply to Dr. Hess:

I knew I'd draw you out if I brought up league city! Only been a few times but the area has grown recently and LC is close enough to clear lake, leman, and Galveston if you can't swing any of those otherwise. I wouldn't mind being "stuck" in clear lake for a while, but for some reason I like water of any kind and they've got all kinds down there. Like I've said about east Texas (Longview) it's a fine place to have a family, not so great if you're looking to find someone to start a family.

stroker
stroker Reader
7/20/10 10:34 a.m.
JFX001
JFX001 SuperDork
7/20/10 10:40 a.m.
neon4891 wrote: That thread a month ago about Colorado, and talking to a few friends from there has me interested. Otherwise, once the future Mrs. neon has her teaching degree, we might be Florida bound.

I'd ask JG his opinion about Florida with his Wife being a Teacher. Might be able to give you some insight on the ups and downs of teaching there.

JeepinMatt
JeepinMatt Dork
7/20/10 11:19 a.m.
JFX001 wrote:
neon4891 wrote: That thread a month ago about Colorado, and talking to a few friends from there has me interested. Otherwise, once the future Mrs. neon has her teaching degree, we might be Florida bound.
I'd ask JG his opinion about Florida with his Wife being a Teacher. Might be able to give you some insight on the ups and downs of teaching there.

I'd be interested to hear that too. My girl is a teacher.

neon4891
neon4891 SuperDork
7/20/10 1:47 p.m.

I should say CO and FL are optimistic, but realisticly I'm stuck within the range of Wegmans locations, NY, PA, DC(VA, MD) and outside of boston.

4eyes
4eyes HalfDork
7/20/10 6:26 p.m.

From Tulsa, take hwy412 west. Go past a lot of nothing, when you hit something, it will be Raton NM. I loved a vacation week I spent in Raton. Beautiful town, country, and people. If I were to move it would be in my top three.

cwh
cwh SuperDork
7/20/10 6:38 p.m.

OK, real estate prices. 4 bedroom, 3 bath home, 2000 square ft., 20x30 outbuilding, 12x24 shed. On 17 acres. 175,000.00 Magnolia MS. Bring your own money with you.

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