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Would you move? Well, would you? No, really, would you?

J

jme5343

Platinum Member
Yet another job thread.

Currently:

*I live in the upper - way upper - midwest. Call it Fargo, ND.
*I have one wife and two kids, both in elementary school.
*We're about 600 miles from my folks and 720 miles from my wife's folks.
*I've only lived here for about 20 months.
*In that 20 months, I've met some awesome friends and have become active in the community, I'd go so far as to say respected.
*However, when I moved here, I only anticipated it being a two year stint and that's about up.
*I get paid a good wage and have a company vehicle.
*I manage a small business for a corporation.
*It gets so freaking cold here that I would like to vomit.

Potentially:
*I would live in the PNW, call it Olympia, WA - or a 30 mile radius of there.
*I would still have one wife (if she decides to move, lol) and two kids in elementary.
*We'd be 1500+ miles from all of our family.
*I would start over with friends / community.
*It's a step up in the "progression" of my job.
*It doesn't get nearly as cold, but it really doesn't get that warm either.
*I would manage about 20 more people and a business about twice the size of my current assignment.
*I would have more mid level managers to help manage the business.
*I would get paid a little better wage.
*I would either have a company cehicle or get paid mileage for personal vehicle use.
EditThe cost of the move is covered entirely by the move package. In fact, I even clear a good deal of cash after moving expenses are covered.

The tough thing is that I don't think my wife wants to do it...I could probably convince her if things work out during the job negotiations.

Also, as for the distance from family, here's my take. We see our family once, twice a year tops. Usually during a wedding / Christmas / Thansgiving, etc. It's not like that's going to change. We'll still see them once a year regardless of distance. It does all but eliminate the possibility of making a "weekend trip" to see them, but that doesn't happen anyway.

What can you tell me about the area? I've never been further north than West Central Oregon.
 
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I'd move, assuming the 'better wage' more than covers the higher COL. Better location, and proximity to parents isn't really THAT different (it's not like 600 miles is easy 'drive' distance anyway).
 
Pretty spendy living up there compared to Fargo. Wage would have to be significantly different for me to make that move. I live about 2 hours south of you right now on I-29.
 
Cost of living will increase, but you'd be moving to a very nice part of the country.

Me? I'd go in a heartbeat.

I don't foresee us being in California more than about another year...then, either Western Washington, or maybe NW Oregon...with Cody, Wyoming coming in 3rd. (I know it gets cold there...but I LIKE that little town.)
 
I was in a similar situation regarding the job and locations. Where I differed in my dilema was my parents lived 5 minutes away from me. I passed on the opportunity. If I were in your situation and looking at a 15+ hour drive anyway then I'd be packing my bags and heading west.

The friends part does suck, but if you are a fairly social person then you can rebuild that group in the next place.
 
TwiceOver said:
Pretty spendy living up there compared to Fargo. Wage would have to be significantly different for me to make that move. I live about 2 hours south of you right now on I-29.
Click to expand...

This ^

The most populous areas of Pacific Northwest can be kind of expensive, especially relative to Fargo. I've spent most of my life in either the Portland or Seattle area, and now being in Vegas I see how relatively expensive it was to live in the Northwest.

I wouldn't make that move unless you're getting a good sized bump in pay.
 
aldamon said:
I think going from ND to WA would require more than a small pay bump.
Click to expand...

Yeah, definitely research the differences in cost of living. But at least Olympia, WA is driving distance to Portland, Seattle, mountains and ocean; versus Fargo, which is driving distance to crop fields and snow.

How much do you like rain and clouds?
 
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I think it would take a significant pay increase to move. Factor in various costs of moving which can easily be in the thousands depending on how much stuff you have.
 
I base where I live on what I like to do. I like to ski and be in the mountains, I couldn't imagine living in ND.... It's hard to imagine that I would enjoy living anywhere except SLC.
 
KGB said:
So, ... if he doesn't get the job he should kill himself?
Click to expand...
Not an option. I could probably start cutting or other forms of self mutilation, though.


Cost of move is covered 100%. Bump in pay is probably 15% of my salary, at minimum.I'll check into the COL differences, I appreciate the insight.
 
jme5343 said:
Not an option. I could probably start cutting or other forms of self mutilation, though.


Cost of move is covered 100%. Bump in pay is probably 15% of my salary, at minimum.I'll check into the COL differences, I appreciate the insight.
Click to expand...

"A salary of $50,000 in Fargo, North Dakota should increase to $65,889 in Olympia, Washington"

http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salary=50000&city1=53825700&city2=55351300

You didn't say your salary, I just used their default.

If your COL is at least fully covered, I'd move. If your COL is not fully covered, I don't know what to do. And obviously, if COL is covered and them some, on the plane and gone.
 
I'll just echo what others have said. I remember reading that Fargo, ND is one of the more affordable places to live in the country while still having a decent economy. I've never heard anything saying the pacific NW was particular affordable. I have no personal experience with that area though. It almost sounds like you're going to lose your friends in exchange for more responsibilities and possibly an effective pay cut. If MotF Bane's number are accurate, you're going to need more than 15% bump to make up for the cost of living.

Then you also risk pissing off your wife and moving is hard on kids, especially once they're in school.

Honestly, the only plus I see is that it might be a resume builder.
 
aldamon said:
I think going from ND to WA would require more than a small pay bump.
Click to expand...

This is exactly the first thing that came to my mind. Housing im sure is near double that of ND if not more. Id love to live in the PNW compared to ND but unless the pay increase is about double you will probably have a net negative due to housing costs. That would be my guess at least.
 
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