ProDarwin wrote: How do you define quality of life? Cost of living? Access to certain things? Suburbia? Urban? Ultra-rural? I really like this area of NC, although we are about 1.5 hours from a large airport. My wife works in healthcare admin. But our government shenanigans here are pretty nuts lately as you've no doubt seen in the news.
I was going to suggest Charlotte, NC or the RTP.
Don't worry about the Govt shenanigans, the SCOTUS is going to correct all that.
spitfirebill wrote: Don't worry about the Govt shenanigans, the SCOTUS is going to correct all that.
They'll correct HB2... but NC still has some pretty terrible shenanigans that won't be fixed.
I'm in Winston. I'd prefer here over Charolotte or RTP (depending on area) because of 2 things: Sprawl/suburbia & traffic. I spent my first 29 years in the DC metro area, and moving away from those two things has made my quality of life go up an incredible amount.
Also, its pretty cheap here.
Louisville is a pretty cool city. I went there for a business expo a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. You were out in country within a half hour also.
I have a friend who lives in North Carolina and he seems to enjoy it.
Maryland has some good hospitals that have been mentioned. Delaware right next door has no sales tax.
I live in southeast PA, although originally from GA. Oddly enough, the more places I spend time in - I'm currently spending a year in coastal NH ("Live Free or Die" my ass...), the more I like the Philadelphia area.
I'd say about 1/3 of my friends in the Philly area are in the healthcare industry.
Philadelphia has a lot of healthcare industry itself on top of some great hospitals.
Temple TX.
Scott and White health care is huge. Close enough to Austin and Dallas and Houston and san Antonio. Fort hood/Killeen airport is just up the road. It's a lil warm in the summer but I commute on motorcycle all year.
By far the best place I've lived so far. The only real negative is Texas.
Can you tell us more about the particular part of "healthcare"?
In reply to OHSCrifle:
My background is hospital administration, with experience in frontline management (oncology) and spent some time in hospital marketing. Going way back I've worked in life and health insurance. Have also designed a training program for healthcare workers to improve the patient experience and satisfaction. The program is in use at a couple of health systems and works. Thinking of the consulting route promoting that.
My bro moved to Appleton and likes it - almost. He misses all the Chicago stuff he did all the time. I imagine he won't stay there long.
DeadSkunk wrote: If I were working at UofM I'd live outside Ann Arbor. Just commute from Chelsea. My son bought a nice 3 bedroom place there for $180K and he works in AA.
Not sure about healthcare as a specific industry in the local economy, but seems that it's growing everywhere. I can say the cost of living is definitely cheap in the SE. House next door is about 1500SF, has 3 BR, 2 full baths, 2 car garage. House is about 18 years old, updated flooring, kitchen, and appliances. Listed for $125k and was under contract the day after it was listed. Not sure what it actually sold for. We're about 15 miles from the "big city" and the airport (CAE).
Mike wrote: In reply to oldtin: I believe Epic Healthcare is in Madison WI. Short trip, and Madison is a hell of a nice city.
Madison was a really cool town for the 8 hours I spent there after 8 weeks freezing my tukas off a Ft McCoy...
secretariata wrote: I can say the cost of living is definitely cheap in the SE. House next door is about 1500SF, has 3 BR, 2 full baths, 2 car garage. House is about 18 years old, updated flooring, kitchen, and appliances. Listed for $125k and was under contract the day after it was listed. Not sure what it actually sold for. We're about 15 miles from the "big city" and the airport (CAE).
Yup. I paid a little more than that, have a little bit newer house, but roughly the same specs, only my garage is a "2 car" that is very large at around 900 sq. ft. (4 Miatas would fit). I'm 7 miles from downtown. You can buy closer in for the same amount of money or less, but garage space like this is harder to get.
And of course with the climate in the SE, you don't spend a ton on utilities either.
Ok, that's a bit closer to patient care than I can help with - my ins are all in the Medicare Risk Adjustment part of the industry. That said, if you're interested in that, I can get you in touch with some people.
ProDarwin wrote:spitfirebill wrote: Don't worry about the Govt shenanigans, the SCOTUS is going to correct all that.They'll correct HB2... but NC still has some pretty terrible shenanigans that won't be fixed. I'm in Winston. I'd prefer here over Charolotte or RTP (depending on area) because of 2 things: Sprawl/suburbia & traffic. I spent my first 29 years in the DC metro area, and moving away from those two things has made my quality of life go up an incredible amount. Also, its pretty cheap here.
HB2 is what I was talking about. Pretty much all states have shenanigans going on.
I had a couple of projects in downtown Winston. I loved the old downtown area, but I had to call on several local gov't agencies. I wasn't too impressed. BTW I too love rural areas.
Fox Valley Hematology & Oncology has a nice newer (less than 5 years old) building here in Appleton. The housing market here is pretty reasonable and if you're willing to commute 30 minutes you can find some great deals. Bad traffic here is if you can only do the speed limit on the high way. The Packers dominate the news, all year around. My wife complains (Wisco transplant) and my response is "at least it's not stabbings/shootings".
http://appleton.craigslist.org/search/rea
http://www.livability.com/top-10/families/best-affordable-places-live/2015/wi/appleton
On that livability website, Madison, WI is rated the best place to live in 2015. As an UW-Madison Alum, I know why.
probably the first person to type this without laughing - "how about moving to Cleveland Ohio?"
seriously.
Cleveland Clinic is a darling. We have a big park system, the lake, cheap housing (and cost of living in general) and thanks to global warming, the winters are not too bad.
plus healthcare jobs are big here and when you go on vacation, anywhere automatically looks so much nicer. And if you like watching people throw a ball 14 feet into a hoop - this is THE place to be.
In reply to bastomatic:
I worked there in the hospital for a number of years, and about any shift you could imagine. The parking isn't that bad once you get the hang of it. Starting at the busiest time (7am) I could get from my car to the hospital in less than ten minutes. And that was with the cheapest parking pass.
Administrative types mostly work on the medical campus, but not necessarily in the hospital itself.
And I second the point DeadSkunk brought up- there are some very nice (and cheaper) areas within 20 minutes or so.
Given what you do, just about any major suburb in the country would work for you. I am assuming if you have kids they are about to be grown, so the education system isn't something you are worried about (other than the quality of your neighbors.) I guess it boils down to what you want to do in your off time. Like the great outdoors? Maybe Nashville/Knoxville TN or Denver might be a good place for you. Want more of a beach life? Destin has some stuff getting built. Hawaii is actually looking to move people for the right jobs. Although those jobs may not be your cup of tea. If you like a melting pot the DC metro area goes from farm to big city in about 15 miles.
Washington, Oregon, Vermont, New Hampshire, all have some really cool things going on. Like it hot? Austin TX is pretty hip. Asheville NC has the largest micro brew cluster in the nation. A decent airport is just a few hours away if you don't like the regional.
Or you could telecommute. That is becoming more and more popular for some jobs.
Seems to me you have an opportunity as you aren't begging for money and are mid career.
So what do you want to do when you aren't working?
t25torx wrote: Nashville has a fairly large healthcare market. The area has a very low cost of living and housing costs are low. Weather is pretty pleasant, a little humid in the summer, but has mild winters. Nashville International can get busy, but for the most part is pretty smooth to travel out of and is a Southwest hub so flights with them are cheap. You being a farmboy will fit right in.
Or not being a farm boy too.
Nashville has massive healthcare industry ties. I believe it is the #3 industry there. Behind #1 Printing and #2 Tourism.
spitfirebill wrote: HB2 is what I was talking about. Pretty much all South East states have shenanigans going on.
FTFY
I would stay out of ANY state doing the HB2 crap. For two reasons. 1 ALL of them are loosing jobs and tax base because of it. 2. All of them are covering up something with it. Most are inadequate budgetary issues (some are other things). Last thing you want to do is go somewhere losing people, which means losing patients which means layoffs.
California. The water shortage has made this a no go, IMHO.
Flight Service wrote: If you like a melting pot the DC metro area goes from farm to big city in about 15 miles.
Hahaha what? Where is that? On the VA side it takes about 45 miles minimum to get from farm to "city". Unless you are county those few instances of a $$$$$$$$$$ farm-like property in the middle of suburbia.
IMO, "just about any major suburb in the country" is a recipie for exactly what I hate: inflated cost of living, traffic/congestion, lack of character, and the whole 'keeping up with the joneses' mentality.
In reply to Flight Service:
Glad to hear NC and SC are losing people. It sure didn't look like it.
NordicSaab wrote: Uhhhh... EASY BUTTON... Boom Florida Huge Healthcare industry, great weather, no state income tax, you can register and drive anything, The Challenge, all things GRM. Your welcome
Honestly, FL is a great choice for you. Depending on where youre at, the cost of living is still cheap there.
Which Puerto Rico going bankrupt, maybe there will be openings over there. Beautiful place and people will still need healthcare there.
That being said, with PR or FL, how is your Spanish? 
ProDarwin wrote:Flight Service wrote: If you like a melting pot the DC metro area goes from farm to big city in about 15 miles.Hahaha what? Where is that? On the VA side it takes about 45 miles minimum to get from farm to "city". Unless you are county those few instances of a $$$$$$$$$$ farm-like property in the middle of suburbia. IMO, "just about any major suburb in the country" is a recipie for exactly what I hate: inflated cost of living, traffic/congestion, lack of character, and the whole 'keeping up with the joneses' mentality.
Chantilly to Middleburg is definitely on the order of 15 miles, not 45. I'd say that transition qualifies as city to farms.
I would cross reference your considerations with a city on the cheapest cities to live in list. Moving to boom states (Oregon for one) might be worse than where you already are. Lots of people snatching up housing and jacking up prices. You could get a lot more house, less traffic, less busy airports in cities that lost their industrial economy in the last few decades.
Man, there's gonna be no GRMers left in Illinois. 
szeis4cookie wrote:ProDarwin wrote:Chantilly to Middleburg is definitely on the order of 15 miles, not 45. I'd say that transition qualifies as city to farms.Flight Service wrote: If you like a melting pot the DC metro area goes from farm to big city in about 15 miles.Hahaha what? Where is that? On the VA side it takes about 45 miles minimum to get from farm to "city". Unless you are county those few instances of a $$$$$$$$$$ farm-like property in the middle of suburbia. IMO, "just about any major suburb in the country" is a recipie for exactly what I hate: inflated cost of living, traffic/congestion, lack of character, and the whole 'keeping up with the joneses' mentality.
beat me too it, not to mention on the Maryland side going south east. Essentially go in any direction outside the beltway that doesn't have a major highway and it goes to farm land real quick.
You'll need to log in to post.
