...Or should I go?....(seriously)

[artplumber]

Well guys been off the forum for a few months now-much water under the bridge, but I see that little has changed in OT land except for the Joe vs Shaun contretemps.

An honest question awaits you who peruse the remainder of the post, give it your best shot. It's keeping me up nights (that's why I'm typing at this hour).

Some of you may recall, I was moving from SoCal to Florida (new job) last summer. Got there and job went in the toilet - the usual political baloney. Anyway, I scrambled and found some temp work and am looking again for something permanent. The last six months, if I haven't been at work, I've been traveling 3day weekends to interview - now everything looks the same. So you get to cast your vote for where you think the best place to land would be.

Those in the running include Kalifornia - north central valley (north of Sac) several towns of around 100K pop, one with a university, San Antonio, and St Pete.

What's important: (your order of importance may vary)
1. The 930 is de-smogified
2. The jobs rate out of 10 Kali - 5-6 (maybe 7 at a stretch), SanAntone - 8-9, St Pete 7
3. All of the nuc family (both mine & wife's) is in SoCal & we have a <2yr old, with plans for more.
4. We are solidly in the 9.3% tax bracket in Kal
5. Infineon/Laguna Seca vs SeaWorld vs Daytona/Sebring
6. other hobbies: sea kayaking, fishing, out of shape road biker and backpacker, avoiding natural disasters
7. We like towns that have a character (hence little interest in big metroplexes), and have generally lived in <100K towns in the past.
8. On the other hand, we like ethnic diversity and proximity to a major airport because we travel(ed) a lot.

Those are the things that come to mind immediately.

PS Lets avoid the "commie Kalifornians" and "facist Floridians" for now.
PPS I would prefer not to visit Niffleheim (sp), Hades, etc.

[Joeaksa]

Pete,

I know several people who live in the San Antonio area and like it. I have lived in DFW, El Paso and Padre areas and would not mind trying the Texas hill country. DFW is too damm big for me and not my cup of tea.

Personally would not try Cali just due to the numbers of people, crap everyone puts up with on getting cars smogged and their laws on guns, but thats me. Almost took a job in Sarasota a few years ago and then was offered a excellent position in Phoenix, and for me that was no choice.

Might look at SAT, otherwise staying in FLA would be my choice...

[oldE]

Peter,

At one time or another, your weighting of the various factors might change, but family is important, not only for you, but for your children.

Good luck
Les

[artplumber]

Thanks guys. That's the tough decision Les. We've always traveled to see la familia (rather than them coming to see us), but the time zones really make things harder for kids to even talk the the families. Frankly the Norcal positions require up to 2hrs of car time to the airport making a trip almost as long (St Pete is 20 min from Tampa's airport).

Joe, hope you get back safe from where ever w/o any hijackers.

[Joeaksa]

Peter,

Thanks and its Europe and Africa again this trip so its always an adventure! Agree with Les and family is important so make sure that you are near an airline hub. That said, Tampa/Orlando, SAT or Cali all fit that bill.

Personally I prefer to be at a smaller location. Have had enough of living in larger cities and while there are more things to do there, the hustle and bustle is not what I want in this stage of life...

Hope it works out whichever way you go!

Joe

[Rikao4]

SA while in the top 10 for size, its a village.Traffic is acceptable. Nearest tracks (Dallas) Beaches 3 to 4 hrs out. 1 great P shop ( Jones Autowerks) for your $ you get alot of house or space around here. Lots going on all the time, growing fast , I like it here.
Rika

[vash]

getting that car smogged in cal would be hell. having said that, norcal, up by sac, is kinda nice.

is it easy to find your type of work? i would think that would be the biggest factor. everytown i visit, i poke around the job market. just left el paso, nothing happening jobwise there.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Central Texas, Texas Hill Country are all nice. Look from Whacko to San Antonio and go a little East and West. Cost of living is highest around Austin and The Hill Country, lowest around Whacko. There are some good jobs in the area, but Georgetown, Roundrock, and Austin areas might fit yall's lifestyles better. No income tax as of yet, plenty of open spaces, and Texans are generally nice people when you don't get them talking about politics. My $.02.

[Rich76_911s]

I moved to Florida for my first job out of college and got the same B.S. Ended up having to bus tables for a couple months.

I've been to these two and like them a lot:
Boulder, CO
Flagstaff, AZ

I've never been but the Reno area seems like it could be a decent place. Maybe Tucson would be a good option. I've never been there either.

[artplumber]

Originally posted by Rich76_911s
I've been to these two and like them a lot:
Boulder, CO
Flagstaff, AZ

I've never been but the Reno area seems like it could be a decent place. Maybe Tucson would be a good option. I've never been there either.

Like Flag, Prescott, Tucson, and so Utah as well. Unfortunately, the job dictates these options.

[JeremyD]

St. Pete rocks - I've lived in Texas off and on - went to Baylor University - Lived in N. California -

What kind of work are you looking for - I know a few folks in the recruitment bidness.

[JeremyD]

and Tampa airport is one of my favorite

[artplumber]

Originally posted by JeremyD
St. Pete rocks - I've lived in Texas off and on - went to Baylor University - Lived in N. California -

What kind of work are you looking for - I know a few folks in the recruitment bidness.

Jeremy,
Thanks for the offer to help, actually have offers from people in each of these places for perm positions. Oh, I'm one of the M(ad)D(og)s on the forum.

[artplumber]

Originally posted by JeremyD
and Tampa airport is one of my favorite

Not hard to depart from, and the parkings good, but baggage claim sucks there man! That train ride between the terminals and main building somehow always means >30min before the bags show up. Once, the baggage handlers were hiding from the lightning, and they didn't tell us for over an hour.

[Schrup]

St Pete is awesome, my wife & I are planning on retiring there. Cost of living is reasonable & the people are friendly. The hurricane thing would make me a bit nervous though. Good Luck!

[tabs]

Chico is a nice place to live....in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada..

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by artplumber
Not hard to depart from, and the parkings good, but baggage claim sucks there man! That train ride between the terminals and main building somehow always means >30min before the bags show up. Once, the baggage handlers were hiding from the lightning, and they didn't tell us for over an hour.

That's not normal - but yes, can happen... I've also had bags waiting for me by the time I got from the terminal too.

[artplumber]

Jeremy,
Seems like it has been happening all year long - maybe it's just Delta/Continental.

Tabs,
That is certainly one option. Just gonna mean a lot of car work or a new one, plus the job is the least well matched to me.