Thinking of moving to Newport News, VA. Will I be doing the right thing?

[davegbgguy]

So currently I live about 30 minutes east outside of Pittsburgh, PA (Greensburg) however, there is a potential job offer in Newport News, VA. The job I'm at now just isnt giving me any satisfaction, and I think this new potential job would give me more opportunity for advancement, not to mention I'd be making about 10k more a year. I think it would be a good thing for me, getting out of the same old routine, job, make new friends etc. I'm 24 and it seems anytime I ever go out with any of my friends (which is either on a fri or sat night), all we end up doing is going to the bar, which I no longer find any satisfaction in. I'm usually in a bad mood by the end of the night too, which causes me to usually be in a bad mood the morning after. I'm not in any kind of a relationship, and usually spend my weeknights after work at home (still live with the parents :( which drives me crazy sometimes, or at the gym). I would go out for something to eat etc, but my few friends that I have wont go out because of the lack of money, or because they have to work the next day, so if i am doing something during the evening, its just errands etc. Anyway back to the job, I'm actually going to the interview tomorrow lol. I've never been in the Newport/ Virginia Beach area. I've heards both positive and negative about the Newport area in particular, but more negative than anything else (high crime etc). Just wanted to get some peoples input from anyone that has been there/ lives there. Also, if I take the job (if they offer it to me) am I doing the right thing, leaving basically everything behind and starting over? Everything in this town is getting to me, and personally I think a change of pace would be great for me.

[davegbgguy]

25 views and no responses?

[crystal_dance]

So currently I live about 30 minutes east outside of Pittsburgh, PA (Greensburg) however, there is a potential job offer in Newport News, VA. The job I'm at now just isnt giving me any satisfaction, and I think this new potential job would give me more opportunity for advancement, not to mention I'd be making about 10k more a year. I think it would be a good thing for me, getting out of the same old routine, job, make new friends etc. I'm 24 and it seems anytime I ever go out with any of my friends (which is either on a fri or sat night), all we end up doing is going to the bar, which I no longer find any satisfaction in. I'm usually in a bad mood by the end of the night too, which causes me to usually be in a bad mood the morning after. I'm not in any kind of a relationship, and usually spend my weeknights after work at home (still live with the parents :( which drives me crazy sometimes, or at the gym). I would go out for something to eat etc, but my few friends that I have wont go out because of the lack of money, or because they have to work the next day, so if i am doing something during the evening, its just errands etc. Anyway back to the job, I'm actually going to the interview tomorrow lol. I've never been in the Newport/ Virginia Beach area. I've heards both positive and negative about the Newport area in particular, but more negative than anything else (high crime etc). Just wanted to get some peoples input from anyone that has been there/ lives there. Also, if I take the job (if they offer it to me) am I doing the right thing, leaving basically everything behind and starting over? Everything in this town is getting to me, and personally I think a change of pace would be great for me.

IMO you should go for it. You're at the right time in your life to step out of your comfort zone and experience something new. Leaving behind the familiar and starting afresh is always stressful in the beginning, but it's also very rewarding. You learn alot of new things about yourself when you are away on your own. You essentially become your own person and that independent though process will shape your identity.

Even if for some reason the job offer doesn't pan out, I still say make every effort to expand your horizons beyond Pittsburgh. I've moved cross country/continent several times and it's always some of the most rewarding decisions I've ever taken.

[(an)dy]

Well, I drove through the Newport News area and it wasn't all that (and I'm being nice)...nor is Norfolk. Just my opinion from the little I saw of the area. On the plus side, decent beaches are close.

[Sanman111]

Well,

I spent 3 years there and i'll be blunt. I am not a fan at all. Yeah there is crime, but there are good areas as well. The important stuff...due to the large military presence, there is a terrible guy to girl ratio. If you are not black or white and hoping to meet someone with a college or grad degree, the chances are even slimmer. Outside of Williamsburg, it is mostly bars, etc that you will find in Pittsburgh. Then again, I grew up near NYC, so take that with a grain of salt. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[davegbgguy]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Sanman111, where do you consider the nicer places to be? The main thing I'm concerned about is finding a decent community to get an apartment in. I'd be working in Newport News, but wouldn't mind a 20-30 minute drive. I'm not really too concerned about bars, as far as night life goes, I grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh and can literally think of at least 25 bars in a 5 mile radius of my house lol. And I'm used to a bad girl to guy ratio, I did grow up in southwestern PA after all lol.

[ironekilz]

Newport News is a hole. I used to date a guy who lived there and it's dirty and also pretty racist. The only things it has going for it are the Naval yard and the nearby theme parks and maybe the college so opportunities are pretty limited if your job doesn't pan out or if you're looking to try something new.

[davegbgguy]

Somebody tell me something good about this place! I was down there for two days recently but really didnt get alot of time to look around. Traffic is crazy, thats for sure. I'm putting in my 2 weeks notice tomorrow and will be relocating to the area on the 18th. I'm thinking of looking for a place in Chesapeake or Norfolk (I have a temp apt provided to me for a month, from my new job, so I have time to look around)

[fuzmiq]

Best of luck, dave...from a fellow Pittsburgher.

[davegbgguy]

hey thanks fuzmiq! i'll need it lol. it was tough putting in my 2 weeks today, i was nervous as hell, cause honestly i didnt know how my boss would react. its a small company, prob about 15 people that work there, so it really is like a big family. luckily he was cool about it, said my new job sounded like a good opportunity for me, and even complimented me on how much of a good worker i was. if i was just making another 500-600 bucks a month, i woulda stayed there and been kinda content. but the new job is going to allow for me to afford an apartment, despite the higher cost of living in the newport news area. plus theyre only asking for a one year commitment out of me, so if worst comes to worst, i'll just move on back to PGH or somewhere else for that matter. I honestly wouldnt mind staying around PGH for a while if i could find a job around the area. Wilmington NC is also catching my eye as another potential place to live. who knows. i'm gonna give the new job a try and see what happens. home will always be PGH though.

[fuzmiq]

A friend of mine reminded me recently that Pittsburgh will always be there. It's the kind of place that always has its arms open to you. So, if you move and decide it's not for you. No harm in that.

[davegbgguy]

Figured I'd bring this thread back to life lol. So I've been here going on 6 months, and to keep it blunt, I'll be moving come May. Traffic sucks, people cant drive, the news is nothing but shooting/ stabbing reports, and the job isnt that great. The people I work with are nice, and my manager is actually from the same town I came from, but the job isnt challenging me in the way I need to be challenged. The hardest/ most frustrating part is working my way through all of their stupid databases! And theres many days where boredom sets in. I'm kind of regretting leaving a small family owned business, to a huge company where in fact, you're a number. You live you learn, right? I do like my apartment (paying enough for it too), but I'm getting to that point in my life where I want to invest my money into something, instead of throwing it all away on an apartment. Anyway, luckily this time of the year till January usually flies by, and I'll be home for a week in November and 2 weeks in December, so even better. Where I'm moving to, not sure, possibly back to PA, but we'll see what pans out in the meantime.

[Tayl405]

Good luck. At least you tried (otherwise you may still be wondering about it, right?). Where are you thinking about moving to?

[davegbgguy]

I'm thinking about PA again. I've realized the Pittsburgh area really isn't that bad. Actually it's quite a livable city. Housing prices are low (good for me since I'm considering buying) and the fact that the downtown is clearly separated from the suburbs is a plus. I can get from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the other side of Pittsburgh in prob an hour and a half on a good day. Plus, whatever type of living you want (country, suburb, downtown, etc. it is within reach). Hampton Roads is just overpriced cheaply built houses/ townhouses/ apartments, and theres no room for anything. I need room, country roads, house lots that are bigger than a 1/4 acre, etc. I am also considering North Carolina because my sister and brother in law and his family are there, and she may be able to get me hooked up with a job. We'll see what happens I guess.