Possible move to MemphisTn or Alabama

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: Minchenden
A) My gf is Korean. I am a Brit. In Princeton, the "liberal" capital of USA, nobody thinks twice about it. Is that likely to change?

Can't speak for Memphis, but certainly parts of Alabama are much more progressive now than in the past. In general, the majority is concervative but tolerant of the liberals. Currently reside in Nyc, and the differences in this regard are minute. Certainly present, but minute. Your particular example is quite common in Birmingham. See below regarding international population.

B) Are there any towns in either state similar to Princeton (and Oxbridge in UK). IE Small "old" university towns, or even just old " "high class" towns. Don't mean to sound snobbish, but if any of you know Princeton, you will understand my meaning.

Would consider the Birmingham metro area to be more of a large university town, as there are a several major education institutions nearby; chiefly, UAB (University of Alabama - Birmingham). UAB is a huge medical hub. World renowned. Several other smaller universities present as well (Samford, Alabama-Tuscaloosa nearby, Faulkner, etc). As such, the infusion of different ethnicities creates quite an international mixture. A number of areas in and around Birmingham are very much "old money", and do not hesitate to exhibit such. Most of the metro area itself is somewhat a lower class, while certainly areas outside the city (parts of Homewood and Vestavia come to mind) are vey much high class ($5 and 6 million homes can be common). Would say, overall, not to expect a Princeton like atmosphere, but in the same regard not the redneck trailer-park the area is commonly portrayed as.

C) Trying to get intelligent cost of living comparisons is not easy. I currently earn +100k with a 25 minute drive to work. Will. say, 85-90k give me a comparable lifestyle?

Should compare quite well. In fact, with the adjustments your COL may seem a bit lower. Expect approximately the same drive as well.

D) What are the main cultural centres

Some define culture differently than others, but there are quite a few museums worth attending, and a number of historical districts and landmarks. Birmingham in particular is quite rich with history. Certainly other parts of Alabama as well.

Wish I could offer the same experience regarding Memphis, but have only been a few times on business.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: Goth
Agreed on the Nashville statement as I lived in that area for 10+ years.

Huntsville can be boring for college age students as it's not a college town. However, why do you say "people are fat and ugly"? That's a general statement and is not indicative of the population as a whole. Granted, you won't see a plethora of California hardbodies, but most are not fat and ugly. For the most part, people are friendly as well.

It was meant to be a general statement. I find that there are a lot of fat and ugly people in Huntsville. What can you expect from a town full of engineers? 😉 But people are very very friendly.

 

[Minchenden]

At the moment any/all details are unknown, as I am in very early stages of negotiation.

In fact, I have a phone call coming in any minute now, so I will get back to you guys later.

Many thanks for the time and info so far.

Much appreciated.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Minchenden
Thanks for the info so far guys.

One possibility I am thinking about, at least for a short while, is flying to Memphis on Sunday night and back to Princeton on Friday night.

I think my main concerns are as follows: (some may be considered silly by you guys, but they are concerns none the less)

A) My gf is Korean. I am a Brit. In Princeton, the "liberal" capital of USA, nobody thinks twice about it. Is that likely to change?

B) Are there any towns in either state similar to Princeton (and Oxbridge in UK). IE Small "old" university towns, or even just old " "high class" towns. Don't mean to sound snobbish, but if any of you know Princeton, you will understand my meaning.

C) Trying to get intelligent cost of living comparisons is not easy. I currently earn +100k with a 25 minute drive to work. Will. say, 85-90k give me a comparable lifestyle?

D) What are the main cultural centres in either Tn or Alabama.

Thanks again guys.

A) In larger cities in the South this will go pretty much unnoticed. If you do travel to smaller towns though you might get stares.

B) Memphis is an old city, not that many snobs in either place though. Maybe upscale communities near country clubs.

C) 85-90k there is probably like 120+k in Jersey

D) Memphis has alot of old blues and arts type places. Not aware of any in Alabama

 

[Minchenden]

Well, just got off the phone with HH.

If I were to relocate, it would be to Birmingham, Alabama.

I guess the best thing I can do is go visit and see what it and the surrounding area is like.

As far as the consulting position is concerned, if we can agree everything, then it seems a good deal.

They pay:

A) return airfare once a week
B) accomodation costs
C) per diem living expenses (per IRS recommendations)
D) $50.00 per hour up to 40 hours per week and $75.00 anything over that.

I cannot thank you guys enough for the info provided. An spoonful of real world experience is worth a bucket of dry cost of living charts etc.

Cheers

 

[Goth]

Originally posted by: Minchenden
Well, just got off the phone with HH.

If I were to relocate, it would be to Birmingham, Alabama.

I guess the best thing I can do is go visit and see what it and the surrounding area is like.

As far as the consulting position is concerned, if we can agree everything, then it seems a good deal.

They pay:

A) return airfare once a week
B) accomodation costs
C) per diem living expenses (per IRS recommendations)
D) $50.00 per hour up to 40 hours per week and $75.00 anything over that.

I cannot thank you guys enough for the info provided. An spoonful of real world experience is worth a bucket of dry cost of living charts etc.

Cheers

If you like the area, you can't beat $100K+ salary with per diem expenses paid (currently $59/day for lodging, $43/day for meals and incidental expenses). The $59/day might be a little low (the lodging per diem usually is in larger cities), but the $43 for grub should make up for it.

 

[cornbread]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
What part of AL & TN are you talking about?

Housing in Huntsville, AL (mentioned above) is pretty affordable and it is a NASA town. But it's boring, most people are fat and ugly, and there's not much to do. I wouldn't go to Huntsville if I was in my 20's or younger.

Nashville, TN is OK, more to do than Huntsville and most of AL, but it does have a heavy country music environment.

Huntsville isn't that bad of a place, you just have to know where to find the fun.. I rarely ever have a boring night. I don't know where you went or have on in HSV, maybe the space center, but there are plenty of good looking women here. I've lived here 8 years, the first few were pretty boring, but a lot has changed over the past few years...

Downtown is becoming alive, (well, the 2 main clubs downtown did get shut down by the ABC board for serving alcohol to minors and nude dancing, but they'll be back very soon), resturants and smaller clubs are opening up down there as well as a new embassy suites being built next to the von braun center - expect more resturants to open around there.

The cost of living is some of the cheapest in the nation like you said, for the most part, not too much crime, things look nicer than Bham or Memphis (which I agree wish some of the above posters as being dirty and crime ridden towns), one of the lowest unemployment rates in the south, and one of the highest per capita income rates in the south.

There's a new "upscale" development, called Bridge Park, or something similar, being built in Research Park, which is the 2nd largest research and technology park in the US.
Here's a headline, that you wouldn't expect to see about education in Alabama: "Huntsville City Schools named the Top Rated Major School System in the South and one of the Top 70 Major School Systems in the nation." -Expansion Management Magazine, December 2001

It might not be a big city, and doesn't have "big city life", but there is plenty to do for everyone (bars, clubs, bicycling clubs and trailways, greenways, fishing, boating, hunting, canoeing, caving (spelunking), mountain views/hiking/biking, shopping, concerts (not that many, but still around 20 major acts a year not including big spring jam which drew approximately 240k people last year), broadway theater, symphony, arts (museum and an annual fesival), and the list goes on and on..

Now tell me again that there's nothing to do here... Can you? There are cultural events that any big city has, without the big city crime, traffic (I forgot to mention traffic jams are rare, and it takes less than 20 minutes to get across town during rush hour), crime, pollution, and noise. Sounds like a decent place to live and raise a family to me.

 

[Mill]

You wouldn't have an issue with being a Brit and your wife being Korean. I have 3 Korean cousins here in Bham, and I KNOW they have never had an issue. Actuary has given a good slice of Bham, but I think the COL needs to be discussed. 90k in Bham will have you living much better than 100k in the NE. Bham does have some backwater areas, but stick to Shelby County and/or Hoover/Mtn. Brook/Vestavia and you will like it.