Starting my life over from scratch this fall

[z31maniac]

Wife and I have been thinking the same thing lately. She has a new job where she travels a lot and basically can be based anywhere in a 13-14 state area.

It would be nice for me to be in a city with more opportunities for what I do.

[rturbo 930]

I third this. I moved to Denver from a little town outside Philly in 2000 at the age of 20. A year and a half ago moved the family again to Portland, OR. I don't know what I'd be doing right now had I stayed in PA, but besides realizing the woman who's now my wife was the one, moving away was the best decision I ever made.

Coming from Philly, how do you like the PNW? I'd love to move there, but I feel like the weather would get to me in the winter. I'm not sure if it's as bad as people make it out to be.

[mrsleeve]

In Buffalo, we had snow from November to April this past winter. Not quite 3/4ths of the year, but 1/2 the year is still pretty miserable.

I still have snow above 4000 feet, and will likely see snow fall one more time before OCT... I like snow and winter, I have seen it snow and accumulate on the valley floor in the middle of JUNE before and the oldy timers have seen it in July and August a time or too as well..... Yeah its one day and its right back to 70-80+ in a day or 2 but I dont base quality of life on snowfall totals, in some respects the more the better , and the longer its above 4-5000 in large amounts the longer you can do snow activities in t-shirts

[ddavidv]

I've lived in the same county in PA all my life. I got married to a woman who still has her umbilical cord attached to her mother, so I am stuck here.

And I want to live somewhere warmer, where the sun shines a whole lot more than it does here.

Don't be stupid like me, and figure this out when it's too late. Do it now. You can always move back if you decide it's not working. You can't always uproot and move when the mood strikes, particularly as you get older.

[E30volk]

I say 100% unequivocally do it.
I moved from Canada to Eastern Europe on my own for a year, not knowing the language and not having a ton of money, and it's still the best decision I've ever made. I'll be moving out again, to Tokyo, on a one way ticket in February.

It does your head a world of good and broadens your horizons. Anything you haven't found in your home area after searching for 23 years, you're not going to find by staying. And that's not necessarily saying anything about your home area, but more about yourself. Meeting new people and having experiences can really help to make you realize what's important to you in life, and how you're going to go about making those things a part of your life. And moving abroad is one of the best ways to do that.

Don't be too afraid of making the "right" choice. You don't have to choose a place and say 'alright, this is where I'm going to live for the rest of my life'. If you live somewhere for a bit and decide it's not what you want, then pick up and go. You've already done it once, you can do it again. The benefits outweigh the hassle. Just choose a place that speaks to you, or even just somewhere you think looks cool, then go for it and don't look back.
It won't turn out exactly the way you expect, because nothing ever does. but there's a good chance it could turn out even better than you thought it would

[pandaboo911]

DO IT! life is about experiences, you make mistakes but they will only make you better.

[evandael]

I don't understand how this is really possible.

I'm barely considered 'tied down' and have debt, responsibilities, family, not to mention the difficulty of finding employment or moving to a foreign nation. Passports? Work visas? Where the hell do you stay while you're jobless and young?


I encourage you to do it but I can't see if working for me.

[ajhostetter]

Coming from Philly, how do you like the PNW? I'd love to move there, but I feel like the weather would get to me in the winter. I'm not sure if it's as bad as people make it out to be.

The rain sucks. But it's pretty mild, not nearly as humid as the east and the climate is incredibly temperate. The culture is night and day compared to the east. Some love it, some hate it. But you don't know until you try. Oh yeah, and cars don't rust here.

[Ray Smoodiver]

I probably went the furtherest, went from New Zealand to Spain which are Antipodal points apart on the globe (wasn't intentional, but is pretty cool :D )

Best decision I ever made.

[TexasTerp]

Definitely do it!!

If you want to get out of the Northeast, I recommend Austin, Houston, New Orleans, San Diego, San Francisco, and DC.

It all depends on what you are looking to do different, Austin is my favorite place in Texas (I'm from Houston) and the only other place in this country that rivals Austin in culture, food and music is New Orleans (and yes, I've spent plenty of time in Nashville, Chicago & NYC.)

New Orleans is my second home and the food and culture there is beyond amazing. Yes the rampant alcoholism is part of the culture but you'll discover it's a city unlike any other in the US.

DC is great but a totally different culture (I prefer southern hospitality) but I've loved living here the past 6 years. I'm definitely looking forward to Germany in 2years though.

Get out of Jersey and experience life somewhere else!

[z31maniac]

Houston

No, just no. The only reason to ever live in Houston is if you have a high paying job for an oil company. Otherwise that city is literally the armpit of the country.

"Look at all the big buildings downtown. I wonder how tall they are since I can't see through all the smog."

[xAZxE30x]

Do it!! no better chance than now

We are probably going to be moving the family within the next couple of years, maybe sooner. It really all depends which law school my wife chooses. We love Phoenix but think it would be nice to get a little further away and live somewhere new for a change

[the imitator]

I couldn't see myself leaving the PNW anytime soon.


It's a killer balance over here.

[mrsleeve]

No, just no. The only reason to ever live in Houston is if you have a high paying job for an oil company. Otherwise that city is literally the armpit of the country.

"Look at all the big buildings downtown. I wonder how tall they are since I can't see through all the smog."

kinda what I was thinking, I hate it when I have to go down to Huston (US headquarters office) to even pick up equipment and drive it back to somewhere else

[e30damen]

I couldn't see myself leaving the PNW anytime soon.


It's a killer balance over here.

Same here. I love the PNW. I couldn't ever see myself leaving out of choice.

Whatever you choose, I hope it all works out well!

If you come to Seattle, there is a great automotive scene and minimum wage is pretty high.

There's also a lot of places outside the city that you can rent for a good price and then commute a short bit each day into the city.