Need some advice....

[bclapham]

Hey guys and gals, i need some advice.

ive been given my notice (informal) at work- i have until May to get out. Ive been on the job hunt for 2 months now, there seem to be jobs out there, especially in m San Diego area, but i just cant land an interview.

now, i just landed an interview at a company in West Chester PA. i think i can get that job, its a OK company, with a few drugs on the market and a good pipeline.

problem is, i am not sure i want to move- nothing against Pennsylvania, but ive left a life behind before and i am not sure i could do it again. then again, i might actually be able to afford a house there.

so if i get an offer, do i take it, or do i hold my nerve and keep trying to get a new job in SoCal....

thanks in advance!

 

[Okiewan]

Humm... as most know, I'm not into the SoCal value thing, so take with a grain of salt.
Riding will be tough for ya, it's actually dirt in PA.
You'll pay somewhere in the $80-100 per square-foot range for a house (yeah, it's nice not needing a 100 year mortgage to afford a shack)
Lot's of green, nice countryside, there.

Go to monstermoving.com and do a salary comparison between the two potential locations, it get's rather obvious.

 

[bclapham]

Thanks Okie- i expect i will get a similar salary on either coast, so it would be a much better standard of living if we went.

i dont care much for socal, nor many of the people i meet on a daily basis. however, we have made some great friends here and leaving them would hurt.- 5 years ago, we jumped on a plane with nothing but 4 suitcases- its a wierd thing!!!!!

 

[Treejumper]

Riding will be tough for ya, it's actually dirt in PA.

I thought it was just rocks and coal?? :laugh:

Pa is not a bad state to live in. Housing is definetly cheaper here. Main thing is whats more important, job or your present life? If you really hate the thought uprooting and starting over than i would consider looking more around your area. Myself, i was a military brat and the thought of moving every 3 years was nothing. Heck even after staying in Pa for the past 15 years i've still moved 4 times within the state.

 

[JuliusPleaser]

Bruce, can you handle the change in climate?

 

[oldguy]

Bruce, can you handle the change in climate?

The seasonal, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly?

 

[Rich Rohrich]

Bruce, can you handle the change in climate?

That seems like the TOUGH question.

 

[bclapham]

right now, i may just save my energy a look for a nice bridge over I-15, LOL.

i tell ya, i may be a dickhead online at times, but i am good at my job and it makes me really mad that i am getting the screw over at work.

so come on, what is the PA weather like?

and what are the PA tracks like???:)

 

[MrLuckey]

Other things to consider:

The good riding areas will most likely be few and far between what you are used to.

You mention the people in SoCal - PA has it's fair share of good people and real redneck idiots. I've spent enough time there to warn you about the cliques, locals, bar fights, depending on exactly where you are it can be a chore to break into the local scene. Common a lot of places I suppose.

Money isn't everything - some people I know prefer to live in SoCal in a smaller house with a bigger mortgage. Others who prolly only need 1,000 sq ft prefer to live somewhere cheaper in a 5,000 sq ft monstrosity that mostly goes unused. Some like property. What is important to you?

Weather - man you better think seriously about that one.

I know some people that can be perfectly satisfied pretty much anywhere and others that really love certain area's. Both seem reasonable to me.

Remember it's your life and your decision, don't let anyone (especially us) talk you into something you haven't thought long and hard about.

Good Luck - I may be in a similar boat soon!

PS - I just got back from spending about 2 months near Mechicsburg PA, it rained more days than it didn't during that time lol. Winter hasn't started yet and some of it was really cold rain too :)

 

[Jaybird]

I did a job in Johnstown, PA a few years ago....there had been 120 inches of snowfall that year!
Big state with drastically different weather from one place to another. I imagine Harrisburg and Pittsburgh much easier in winter than Stoudsburg or Wilkes Barre.

 

[JuliusPleaser]

The seasonal, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly?

Yep. ;)

 

[bclapham]

thanks guys. all things considered, my main question is, if i get this offer, do i take it, or try and hold my nerve and find something local? i would prefer to stay here, but i will feel like a real doofus if i am ou of work in may yet turned a job down.

ive got 6 months!

 

[MrLuckey]

Easy for me to say but if you think you would prefer to stay in Cali or not be in PA and you have 6 months.... wait!

 

[bclapham]

Easy for me to say but if you think you would prefer to stay in Cali or not be in PA and you have 6 months.... wait!

thanks, that was what i needed to hear.

i really didnt like the sound of the wife crying down the phone when i told her we might have to leave.

its early days yet.......stay tuned!

 

[Treejumper]

Easy for me to say but if you think you would prefer to stay in Cali and not be in PA and you have 6 months.... wait!

I agree with this.

As for PA weather, lets see. 6 days ago we had snow. 5 days ago it was in the upper 40's. 4 days ago it was in the 20's. 3 days ago it was raining and in the 40's. 2 days ago it was the same as day before but add 50mph winds. 1 day ago it was the same but no wind. Today it was rain and mid 50's. Tomorrow rain and 30's and saturday snow. Alittle bit of everything. last winter it snowed about an inch or 2 every day for 40+ days straight. Warmed up enough to melt it each day but got enough to make driving fun. The eastern half gets more rain than snow and usually warmer. We dont have earthquakes but do have tornadoes and huricannes.

 

[Treejumper]

This should help you. :laugh:

Jeff Foxworthy on Pennsylvania:

If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through
18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will
swim by, you might live in Pennsylvania.

If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights
each year because Bradford is the coldest spot in the nation, you might
live in Pennsylvania.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you
might live in Pennsylvania.

If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the
year, you might live in Pennsylvania.

If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work
there, you might live in Pennsylvania.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of
his forehead, you might live in Pennsylvania.

If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you might live
in Pennsylvania.

If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, you might
live in Pennsylvania.

If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who
dialed a wrong number, you might live in Pennsylvania.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE Pennsylvanian WHEN:

1. "Vacation" means going up north past I-80 for the weekend.

2. You measure distance in hours.

3. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.

4. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back
again.

5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard, without flinching.

6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including
weddings).

7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave
all the doors unlocked.

8. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how
to use them.

9. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

10. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow.

11. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and
road construction.

12. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.

13. Your idea of creative landscaping is a concrete statue of a deer
next to your blue spruce.

14. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.

15. Down South to you means Pittsburgh.

16. A critter is something you eat.

17. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole shed.

18. You go out to fish fry every Friday.

19. YOUR 4TH OF JULY PICNIC WAS MOVED INDOORS DUE TO FROST.

20. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

21. You find 0 degrees "a little chilly."

 

[Farmer John]

West Chester........

I have approx 15 relatives in that area. That is MORE than enough reason for me to never go there again. :bang:

Some days I miss PA. On those days I just call one of my non Amish relatives and within minutes I realize why real estate is cheaper back there & why I love NorCal!!!!

 

[Tony Eeds]

Bruce:

I'm not much halp as I now live 30 miles east of where I was born, but weather has always been a big factor in any thoughts of moving for me.

I detest being cold and I almost moved to Harrisburg. I decided not to because the big discussion of the moment when I was there was the fact that the city was going to buy out some folks that were flooded out when the entire river (nearly a mile wide) froze and backed up water into the houses.

My friend, that is too cold for me! :yikes:

 

[Patman]

The SW corner of PA is sort of cool, well it can be COLD. My wife is from that part of the state and I spent some time there as well. If you like to snow ski, hunt, ride, eat great ethnic food and drink beer then it's an awesome place. Not too hot in the summer and the really stupid coldness doesn't last that long. For me home is Texas though, been here more than half my life and it's about 45F out right now and I'm freezing! If I was forced to decide I first try and pick where I wanted to be, if that didn't matter much then I choose the best job option.

 

[bclapham]

thanks guys, i fly out there for the interview tomorrow. if nothing else, it will be good practise for me.

ive done some research on the company, and the job i am going for has been posted for months- that makes me wonder why the position wasnt in great demand. Surprizing really since they have 3 drugs on the market which is very good for a biotech- most never last that long. ironically, their best seller is a drug to cure sleepiness- originally developed for narcolepsy, that market wasnt too good, but now they sell the stuff to military and police forces!!!

that said, i am going with an open mind and we will see how it goes.

we will see what happens here in the new year- i really have gotten the poop end of the stick, but i am hoping for an upturn in the economy in the new year, and the job market that goes with it.

cheers!

 

[steve125]

Bruce what part of PA? South PA has quite a few good practice tracks. As far as the Nationals go Highpoint, Budds Creek, Steel City are all close enough to drive to:):))........The east coast rocks,, when it comes to awesome tracks!!! If you move to PA the weee laddy will have to jump a plane and visit!!! You may be a only a few hrs from my place? :yikes:

 

[bclapham]

West Chester, Steve.

but when you say driving distance, how far??? more than 1-2 hrs?

 

[steve125]

West Chester??? :yikes: JK ;)......Close to Philly and Balti mooooore. Humm? not a whole lot around there. Closest national would be Budds, about 3hrs south. HP-SC around 5hrs west. I don't drive that far north to ride, but I know that just west of West Chester there are local tracks. You Would be around 2.5 to 3.0 hrs from my place.

 

[Zoomer]

Bruce,
Not sure, but have you ever lived in a colder environment with snow and all?

Its something you really want to give some thought to. The older we get, the more of us want to go south where it is warm. Me, I miss riding my bike for 4-5 months out of the year. I use to ski, snowmobile, and enjoy snow. Now its a pain in the arse. You can always stud up and ride the lakes and rivers!
my2cents, good luck

 

[Tony Eeds]

Bruce,
...You can always stud up and ride the lakes and rivers!

OMG ... telling Bruce to stud up ... this thread will go south now :yikes: