planning an out-of-state move...

[glitterchick81]

Hi all. I know I lurk here more often than not anymore, but I have a question to ask you all.

I'm starting to plan a move out-of-state. It's scary, it's nerve-wracking, but I realize that it's necessary in order for me to get to where I want to go. The place where I work is willing to transfer me to another center - I just have to let them know ahead of time. I see it as my only chance to escape my current living situation (which I won't get into). However, I'd have to go where there is good transportation. I can't afford to drive or have a license at the moment (and probably in the near future), so having that wherever I end up is really important. It'd be nice if I can find somewhere where I can be able to afford rent, too...heh.

So my question is this...where are there places that have good transportation? I'm willing to go no farther west than Illinois, and no further south than North Carolina.

Thank you so much in advance.

[shimma]

Boston.

asdfgh

[cache]

Check out city-data.com

You can look up tons of demographic type data on there for any city in the US. A lot of places have good transportation...make sure you are going to like the place you move to.

[pisces2473]

What do you do that you can just up and move anywhere?

[Empressallie]

If you can't afford to drive make sure you take into consideration the cost of living. Boston is much more expensive than most american cities, but yes, the public transport is very good (provided no ceiling panels fall on your head...)

what about D.C?

[wordsmith]

Chicago has good public trans and is cheaper than many eastern cities.

[inmediasres]

I moved from Seattle to Boston just over a year ago with no job, family, or friends in the area. It ended up being a LOT easier than I ever thought it would be. Of course, I was 21, no debt, no ties to anyone or anything.

[wordsmith]

no debt

This is the key.

I would ONLY attempt this if my finances were rock solid, I owed nothing to anybody, and had about a year's worth of expenses saved up in case it took a while to get fruitful employment.

And since that'd be a cold day in hell, there's no way I'd ever move someplace without a job. Ever.

[pisces2473]

This is the key.

I would ONLY attempt this if my finances were rock solid, I owed nothing to anybody, and had about a year's worth of expenses saved up in case it took a while to get fruitful employment.

And since that'd be a cold day in hell, there's no way I'd ever move someplace without a job. Ever.
Ha, I'm moving across town, with a job, and that's still draining my savings. I think ANY move needs a little nest egg. :googly:

[inmediasres]

Well, I live a simple life, by choice. I don't drive, I rarely go out, I don't buy shit I don't need. But I see my peers, the people of our generation that the media has dubbed "the gold collar" generation, and it's no wonder they're in such trouble.

[wordsmith]

You don't have to have "a gold collar" to not be in the financial position to pull up stakes and move somewhere with no employment lined up.

I live a damned simple life, and I wouldn't ever move anywhere without a job lined up, and I wouldn't quit a job without a job lined up.

[pisces2473]

Well, I live a simple life, by choice. I don't drive, I rarely go out, I don't buy shit I don't need. But I see my peers, the people of our generation that the media has dubbed "the gold collar" generation, and it's no wonder they're in such trouble.
So do I, smartass. I even left a job I LOVED for another job with a higher salary. Things cost money that you need, not that you want, like COBRA since my new health insurance hasn't yet kicked in, and gas for my car, since my commute is farther. Just because you live simply, doesn't mean that you don't spend anything.

[NewMrs.]

Hi all. I know I lurk here more often than not anymore, but I have a question to ask you all.

I'm starting to plan a move out-of-state. It's scary, it's nerve-wracking, but I realize that it's necessary in order for me to get to where I want to go. The place where I work is willing to transfer me to another center - I just have to let them know ahead of time. I see it as my only chance to escape my current living situation (which I won't get into). However, I'd have to go where there is good transportation. I can't afford to drive or have a license at the moment (and probably in the near future), so having that wherever I end up is really important. It'd be nice if I can find somewhere where I can be able to afford rent, too...heh.

So my question is this...where are there places that have good transportation? I'm willing to go no farther west than Illinois, and no further south than North Carolina.

Thank you so much in advance.



Good luck with your move, if you do eventually decide to do so. I'm sorry that Pennsylvania isn't working out for you.

I think that I read in another post of yours that you live in Pittsburgh, and if this is the case, I'm sorry that Pittsburgh in particular isn't working out for you. I spent several years living and working in the counties around Pittsburgh before I started working downtown in 2004, so I can tell you that wages in Pittsburgh are generally higher than they are in the area outside it, and jobs are more plentiful, so if this city isn't working for you, it might very well be best to leave this part of the state altogether.

Two of my sisters recently left the area to take jobs in their fields: one went to a suburb of Philadelphia to take a job as a librarian, and another one moved to Virginia to take a job as a teacher.

One of my best friends had a very good paying job in Pittsburgh and she left a year and a half ago because she couldn't meet enough men whom she considered to be "marriage material." She is living in Raleigh now, has a steady SO, and seems to like living down there better.

Wordsmith mentioned above that Chicago has a very good public transit system. I've never been there, but my husband has raved their transit system before, so I'll agree with her. I've also heard that Atlanta has a good transit system, but I don't know anything about the COH there for a decent standard of living.

[pisces2473]

Steph78 lives in ATL...you might want to ask her about COL.

[Xander]

Chicago.

Best. City. Ever.

And if you want to know how to get anywhere in the city, just type in where you're at, and where you want to go: http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/

They'll suggest a few unnecessary transfers and such (i.e. "take bus A to X" when it's only 3 or 4 blocks away) so just walk those, but you get the idea.

What do you do? My friend's company is hiring about 100 people, so if I can help...

[SunDevil]

The big cities are NYC, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Indianapolis.

The first four have good public transportation. But the cost to rent and live there is probably twice the cost of Pittsburgh.

If you are willing to go just a little more to the south, Atlanta would be my first choice in this area. They do have a rail system and buses as well. http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm

Washington DC (or the suburbs around it) would be my second choice, but that's just because it would be easy for me to get a job there. But traffic and renting costs wouldn't be that great.

Chicago isn't horrible, and it would be better if you don't have a car there to find parking for. But, I wouldn't want to live there for a really long time. It is still pretty expensive.

[wordsmith]

But, like anywhere else, far more expensive in certain neighborhoods.

[NewMrs.]

I looked at the bottom of the screen and realized that today is the OP's birthday. So Happy Birthday.

[glitterchick81]

Hi all!

Shimma – I think Boston would be a bit too expensive for me...?

Cache – Thanks for the link. I'll have to give it a look. And I definitely do have to like where I end up...I don't want to make a mistake, ya know?

Wordsmith – I'm seriously thinking about Chicago. It's a huge possibility. *nod*

Pisces2473 – I work for a national bowling alley chain…they're willing to transfer me anywhere I'd want to go. I see it as my way out of here.

Immediasres – Congrats. I'm glad that everything worked out for you. I hope things will work out for me. :)

Newmrs. – Thanks. I've lived in the 'Burgh for my entire life, and I was so lucky to get the job I have now. I was unemployed for a year, so yeahhh. I've had no luck finding anything here that's in the field that I want to get into (publishing), and the temp agencies keep telling me that they can't find me anything due to having hardly any work experience, so...it's time to move on and find other opportunities. Hopefully people in other cities will be willing to give me a chance. It's interesting that you mention Raleigh - I was thinking of moving there, too, but I'm not sure how transit is there. As I told wordsmith, Chicago is a huge possibility for me, but we shall see how things end up...thanks for the birthday wishes. :)

Xander – You mentioned Chicago too, haha. As I told pisces2473, I work for a national bowling alley chain, though I'm trying to get into publishing, or at least something where I'll be making more than $8 an hour. What type of company does your friend work for? *is curious*

SunDevil - Yeahhh, that's what I'm worried about...the rent cost. I'm planning on getting a studio apartment, so maybe that'll make things a little cheaper for me?? I'll take a look at Atlanta, too. Yeah, DC I'm not too sure about...and while Chicago is a possibility for me, I'm not planning on staying there long-term.

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I appreciate them.

[Xander]

Which bowling alley chain? I live across the street from "Lucky Strike" at AMC 21 (River East). There's another one by the House of Blues called, I think, "Ten Pin." I have no idea what company runs them.

My friend works for an advertising/marketing company. Rent can be expensive, but you don't have to live downtown. There are plenty of affordable places a few minutes outside. In terms of cities, I think Chicago is much better than Atlanta (sorry Atlanta people :huge: ). Have you been here before?

[glitterchick81]

AMF. Hehe.

Oooh, advertising/marketing. I was told that could be an option for me. Hmmm. *ponders* Yeah, I was definitely thinking of the 'burbs...I mean, even if it's a half-hour away from the city proper, that's fine.

I've never been to Chicago before, though I have relatives there that I have never met.

[NewMrs.]

Which bowling alley chain? I live across the street from "Lucky Strike" at AMC 21 (River East). There's another one by the House of Blues called, I think, "Ten Pin." I have no idea what company runs them.

My friend works for an advertising/marketing company. Rent can be expensive, but you don't have to live downtown. There are plenty of affordable places a few minutes outside. In terms of cities, I think Chicago is much better than Atlanta (sorry Atlanta people :huge: ). Have you been here before?


I laugh whenever I hear "Lucky Strike."

They built a Mills Mall across the river from where I now live. It opened in July 2005, and one of its big deals was the "Lucky Strike Bowling Alley." I never went bowling there because I heard it was pretty expensive. Well, it closed a few months ago. Didn't get enough business here. I think the whole mall's in trouble.

[wordsmith]

AMF. Hehe.

Oooh, advertising/marketing. I was told that could be an option for me. Hmmm. *ponders* Yeah, I was definitely thinking of the 'burbs...I mean, even if it's a half-hour away from the city proper, that's fine.

I've never been to Chicago before, though I have relatives there that I have never met.

Problem with Chicago sprawl is that there are 'burbs that would put you PROHIBITIVELY far away from downtown, if that's where you ended up working (and there are many jobs in the city that aren't downtown, just FYI).

But it's not as if you have as your only choices living downtown or in the burbs. There's a LOT of middle ground in there, various city neighborhoods that are in varying tiers of costliness, and the decent public trans makes it easy enough to live in a 'hood other than the one in which you work, come to that. Chicago is a city of many diverse neighborhoods.

[inmediasres]

One of the wonderful things about Boston is how close together everything is. Our city has a delightfully human scale that allows for easy walking and short driving distances. The White Mountains of New Hampshire, the beaches of the Cape, the corrugated coastline of Maine are all within two hours of driving from the city and its amenities.

This is a huge advantage over most North American cities.

[pisces2473]

One of the wonderful things about Boston is how close together everything is. Our city has a delightfully human scale that allows for easy walking and short driving distances. The White Mountains of New Hampshire, the beaches of the Cape, the corrugated coastline of Maine are all within two hours of driving from the city and its amenities.

This is a huge advantage over most North American cities.
Uhhhh only when there's NO TRAFFIC.

Glitterchick...another thing you might want to consider is that most bowling alleys are in the 'burbs. Going to a city might not make you super close to a bowling alley...

[AG_47]

Three weekends ago my parents and I visited Chicago. My mom had a conference to go to in DeKalb. After her conference we drove to Aurora and got lost trying to find the train station. We finally found it and just missed the train so we had to wait an hour for the next train. It took fourty-five minutes to get to Union Station and my mom was already worring about missing the train back. We were going to go to the top of the Sears Tower and then head to the Cheesecake Factory for supper. The Sears Tower was already closed at 7:30PM and we decided not to walk to the Cheesecake Factory (my mom thought it was too far, and was also worried about walking around Chicago in the dark, she thought that gangs would rob us - she worries way too much) so we hopped on a bus. An hour later, we realized that we had missed our stop and the bus wasn't going back. We got off and found out that we were near Skokie. We waited fifteen minutes, got on a bus back to Union Station, got back on the train and went back to Aurora. We got back to Aurora at 11:30PM. We had to eat at McDonalds because everything else was closed and we got lost again. We stopped at 3 different gas stations to ask directions to the interstate. I thought my parents were going to kill each other. My dad drove 8 hours back to Minnesota, only stopping for gas. I do have to say though that I was very impressed with Chicago's transit system. It was the first time my parents had been to Chicago and I had only been there one other time for a high school band contest. If we were going to spend more time there then I think we would enjoy it. It was very affordable, the trains were really clean and we didn't see any druggies or murderers on the bus (my mom was scared that we were going to get shot or robbed - she had the belief that only mental psychos rode the bus in big cities). The only people we saw on the bus were business people heading home after a long day at work. It was the weekend before Halloween and the bus almost ran over a bunch of drunk bicyclists riding in the middle of the street in their Halloween costumes.:)

[wordsmith]

Hee. There are sections of the city that are more gang-heavy, but those sections do not include the Loop.

I would imagine, though, that DeKalb wasn't too much culture shock if you were coming from Mankato.
(BTW, not being a snob about either, I grew up minutes from DeKalb, and I went to college in St. Peter)