So I just got laid off...

[flyboyx]

i suggest ann arbor, MI. at least that is a real college town with tradition and a real football stadium!

what is it that you want to do with your life? what education do you have? sounds like you have some management skills.

i suggest you figure that out first, then move where you can have the best chance of success in that industry.

[Pantless Spency]

So yesterday my boss and I had lunch and discussed whatI feared was inevitable...my job getting laid off. I work in the bicycle industry as the warehouse manager for a smaller BMX company. The whole industry took a nosedive in the last year or so and have been worrying about my job for a bit.

Last monday I was running some errands with my boss and casually mentioned I was itching to possibly move out of state, across the country...somehwhere new at some point in the future. He pretty quickly asked if it would help if I were to opt to be laid off, if it would give me a solid nudge to do it. I said possibly and we talked a bit more, just tossing around ideas of where I was thinking about. I kept thinking about the way he brought up the lay off thing so I asked if we could grab lunch and talk about it. Basically as I feared, there is simply not enough work in any sort of consistency to justify the cost of keeping me around. He was actually realived I brought it up because he was trying to find an easy way to bring it up to me. We're a tight crew of close friends so while it is just business, there is no easy way to let people go you care about. I wasn't mad, I mean I basically saw this coming and the great thing about my job is even though he's my boss, he's also a very good friend of mine. He gave me an additional month of pay and is keeping me on insurance for the month aswell but the kicker was that after talking about wanting to move. He offered me a round trip plane ticket anywhere in the country I'd like to check out to move to. I'm seriously going to miss working for and with these guys but shit happens and sometimes the cards don't fall the way you expected them to but I've been given a nice opportunity here.

On top of this. My relationship isn't really doing much for me and I don't see it going anywhere substantial. It's become a one way street with me bending over backwards, paying for everything and doing everything with very little reciprocated and I'm about over it.

My friends group has become quite small as I have found myself simply wanting more from life than what the direction of my friend circle was taking me. Our local skatepark shut down this year and was my main outlet for fun and aggression and now I have almost no one to ride with that isn't a two hour drive away.


So R3V...talk me into or out moving far the fuck away from everything here. I like Columbus, it's a great city but I think I'm at a point where I have basically nothing to lose and everything to gain from trying out somewhere new. I have almost nothing keeping me here anymore aside from family. I'm thinking along the lines of Portland OR, norcal, Colorado. Somewhere very different than what I'm used to. I've never made such a drastic change in my life and I think it would be good for me.

move out to norcal!

peteluma has ramp rats a dope indoor biking park and theres tons of trail riding and street riding around the bay.

also on the upside you can go to sonoma raceway and watch the doriftos with me :D

[meanEG]

after being transplanted to Savannah from Philadelphia. i can say that i miss Philly more than ever. I really dont like the south. I would consider the firearm laws where ever you go, if your freedom is important to you.

I lived in Chicago for a while as well, but that is a communist state regarding firearms, but they are making progress. Roads are terrible in Chicago. Constantly under construction form the winter prior. Rust is a huge issue anywhere up North.

I always wanted to get stationed up in washington State, but i have never been there, GOod car scene, Hiking, ?Snowboarding,Snowmobiling, hunting, no rust, ok gun laws...just have to deal with some hippy shit to the south.

[Nick_S]

Everything happens for a reason. when i was 18 my parents split up and my mom moved to washington. so i figured i would go with her and see another place. and i fell in love with the northwest.

i would say get your ass to portland, its an amazing place to live. the bmx scene is huge, a few R3Vers are there.
the rain isnt even that bad.
i would trade rainy winters over the 200+ inches of snow we get. hopefully i find my way back there. but keep your head up. better things are coming.

I've got a few friends out in Portland and have always really liked the idea of living there. The bmx scene is a large draw anywhere I want to go. There is also the ocean an hour away and my hood is close . Got a little bit of everything fairly close.

Cliff notes

-Nick gets fired
-Free round trip tickets to start a new life
-A month of servant's pay
-Girlfriend won't suck the D anymore
-R3V to the rescue

Am I rite or did I miss something?

Pretty much nailed it

Australia is pretty sweet.

A bit too far. The ticket is within the states. Although I would love to visit there sometime.

Could have gone badly for you, plane ticket to check out a new place to live and on top of that a month of pay/insurance.

I have been looking to move towards PA or NC myself, I am sick of upstate NY. All my friends moved away and the e30 group here is always too busy to do anything. NC has a really nice knit group. I would to make the trip there for Vintage*Hoping*.

Good luck, Nick and make sure to share your adventures here!

Thanks man. It def could have been much worse but like I said, my boss is a good friend and he wouldn't leave hanging dry. He's helping me with a resume (never had to make one, lol) and the usual letter of recommendation and anything else I could need.

Well I got to say its sounds like your almost answering your own question.
Life has a way of pointing you in the right direction, and some times big changes are needed to mix things up and get you started on a new adventure.

Yes and no but I agree. Having wanted to switch it up for a bit and this opportunity arrives, life has a strange way of throwing curve balls sometimes right when you need the,.

If I were you I'd move. I'm planning on doing the same in a few years time. I've got my eye on Denver, Salt Lake City, and Norcal. Any of those places you chose will be better than Ohio lol.

Columbus is a great city and had lots to offer, but I'm just over it. I like the idea of the west coast. I liked SoCal but it was a bit pretentious and uninviting when I was there. For some reason Portland has just stood out to me.

move to the dakotas and make some major bank in the oil industry then figure it out in a year!!

That would be a good way to put me into a deep depression, haha. Having been to South Dakota, I couldn't imagine even going back there.

[Dozyproductions]

Go to florida and play your music loud.

[Nick_S]

Go to florida and play your music loud.

Florida is one of the last places I'd want to go. I don't do heat and humidity very well.

[matthugie]

I too vote for a change of scenery. Growth comes from change, and it seems that's where you are right now.

[ST1G]

Go to florida and play your music loud.

America's Wang.

Florida is one of the last places I'd want to go. I don't do heat and humidity very well.

Seriously, humidity sucks balls.

PDX seems like it would be a great fit for you.

[Nick_S]

Seriously, humidity sucks balls.

PDX seems like it would be a great fit for you.

Amen. We get shitty winters and miserable summers. I know it rains a bit up there but I can deal with rainy days over months of snow and months of hot sticky weather.

[Nick_S]

move out to norcal!

peteluma has ramp rats a dope indoor biking park and theres tons of trail riding and street riding around the bay.

also on the upside you can go to sonoma raceway and watch the doriftos with me :D

I had thought of NorCal. I don't know much about it. I do know of ramp rats, i used to ship stuff to them at my job as they used to carry our products. What's the cost of living, weather etc up there?

[AndrewBird]

Portland is awesome. I'm moving there next month.

[IRON-E]

San Diego

[Pantless Spency]

I had thought of NorCal. I don't know much about it. I do know of ramp rats, i used to ship stuff to them at my job as they used to carry our products. What's the cost of living, weather etc up there?

Cost of living in the north bay can be pricey.

Rent in napa is ridiculous but over in Petaluma and rohnert park it's not as bad. Rent in Vallejo and American canyon and all around the rest of the bay (excluding sf) is relatively affordable and not too bad at all.


Weather up here is great. Summer time it can be in the high 90s sometimes hit 100.
Rains probably less than one month out of the year. Doesnt get colder than 30 at night. The weather is the best part. This winter most days were 70 degrees and sunny, but we didn't get enough rain were In A drought

[dirtbag30]

I've got a few friends out in Portland and have always really liked the idea of living there. The bmx scene is a large draw anywhere I want to go. There is also the ocean an hour away and my hood is close . Got a little bit of everything fairly close.

yeah thats how it is for me, the biggest reason i want to make it back there. the Portland and surrounding areas parks are the best ive ridden. riding street downtown Portland is never boring.

[kendogg]

Move to ATL. GA's pretty awesome :)

I packed up everything I owned, quit my job, and moved down here with a BMW friend. One of the best decisions I've ever made.