For NYC people--at what point do you give up and go home?

jrwilheim · #1 10-10-2006, 09:40 AM

I'm six weeks away from exhausting my unemployment. Beyond that, I have $14K in a savings account, about half of which I borrowed from a relative for non-unemployment things (buying some furniture and moving into a different apt. next year). I have $4K sitting in a mutual fund, earmarked for a down payment on a house, and about $4K in various IRAs. I could probably make all of this money last a year if I had to, but I don't know if I can stand to see all this money just drain away.

At what point would you, faced with seemingly never-ending unemployment, leave this d****d city and go home? At what point does it no longer make sense to stay, for the sake of having an independent existence, when all you seem able to find are crappy, $10-an-hour data entry temp assignments?

wordsmith · #2 10-10-2006, 11:14 AM

At the point at which I could find a job I'm qualified for someplace where $14K (or even $7K) in a savings account, $4K in a mutual fund, and $4K in various IRAs is actually relatively decent money.

I guarantee you that NYC is not the only place on earth you can have an independent existence.

SmilesSoSweet · #3 10-10-2006, 11:25 AM

Why is the only other option moving back home? Like wordsmith said, there are plenty of other cities that you can still live in and have your independence.

it sounds like you have enough in savings to make a transition to move to another city/state. Why not research other places?

NYC isn't the only place to be.

pisces2473 · #4 10-10-2006, 11:28 AM

Yeah, you mentioned Philly in another thread. I think you should explore things there--online, weekend trips, etc.

And NYC people are not the only ones who can help you out. I've left a "big city" too and went home.

The X · #5 10-10-2006, 11:37 AM

Though I have dreams of moving to NYC, that and LA are the only places in the US where "it's happening". That probably doesn't make any sense to anyone. Other places I'd like to live are like Paris and Toronto.

SmilesSoSweet · #6 10-10-2006, 11:42 AM

I really do think that NYC and LA are "overrated" since it's assumed that those places are where EVERYONE wants to be and the only places where EVERYTHING is happening.

I grew up Southern California, just outside of LA. And honestly, it's not all that it's cracked up to be. But that's my perspective since I grew up there. I just couldn't afford to live there much longer and I didn't want to just live in the same area I grew up in when I knew that there were plenty of other places to explore.

It did take me about a year to finally make a move out of state, but still, it was all worth it. Since the age of four, the furthest I've lived from my parents' house was 40 miles. It was enough distance for college, but it wasn't enough to "see everything" either.

At my last job, when one of my co-workers found out I was moving out of CA to AZ he was shocked. But then I told him that he did the same. He went moved from his home state of Indiana to move to CA and to "start over". I basically had to tell him that I was doing the same thing, except CA was where I grew up and I needed to "start over" some where else.

J-girl · #7 10-10-2006, 11:47 AM

JR- I am sure there are other cities with populations less than 8 mill that wont hinder your independence and the job market is not over saturated!

WorkInProgress · #8 10-10-2006, 11:48 AM

What sorts of jobs are you looking for, eventually. I feel very bad, but I really can't remember. I have a vague idea that you were looking for something related to financial stuff but I'm not sure if that's what you wanted to do, or what you thought would land you a job.

And yeah, if you feel like you've gone through all your luck, you might consider seeing what jobs are available (that you're qualified for) elsewhere.

The X · #9 10-10-2006, 12:01 PM

I believe you're right. Like I said these are merely fantasies I have, just that I have never lived in NYC, never lived that life, but I'd probably be miserable. Probably not uncommon among QLCers to wonder about other places to live eh?

wordsmith · #10 10-10-2006, 12:09 PM

Bear in mind that there is a lot of mythology about certain places, too. I've actually never been to NYC. But I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that it's probably not the case that everyday life is like an episode of Friends, Sex in the City, or what have you.

Really, this is a pretty big country to narrow it down to one or two places being the end all-be all.

#11 10-10-2006, 12:22 PM

I don't know..I'd probably give myself like 4 months to find a real job.

But, I probably wouldn't move to NYC without a job already lined up.

winneythepooh7 · #12 10-10-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrwilheim

At what point would you, faced with seemingly never-ending unemployment, leave this d****d city and go home? At what point does it no longer make sense to stay, for the sake of having an independent existence, when all you seem able to find are crappy, $10-an-hour data entry temp assignments?

I've noticed that a lot of people apply to work at my agency who are barely qualified for my $10/hour positions, yet, want to be starting out as a Program Director. I don't want to offend you, but I have noticed you talk up your Columbia degree a lot. It's cool that you went to any Ivy-league school and all that, but still, when it comes down to it, are you actually qualified for the positions you are applying for? I remember from a lot of your threads that you've jumped around a lot and held temporary positions. Unfortunately, that often is going to make you look like a liability for many companies. I've found that usually the most successful people who advance quickly are the ones who will start out at the bottom and don't turn their nose up at entry-level stuff, especially if they are out of work. In this day and age, it's not about where you got your degree from, sorry to say........

winneythepooh7 · #13 10-10-2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

I don't know..I'd probably give myself like 4 months to find a real job.

But, I probably wouldn't move to NYC without a job already lined up.

I don't think I'd move anywhere without a job already lined up!

asm198 · #14 10-10-2006, 12:26 PM

I never understood the draw and appeal of living in NYC or LA. Unless you're wanting to live there because of being in a certain job market that is only really available there, why put it up on such a pedestal?

Your only options aren't NYC and home, you know. There are lots of other cities in other parts of the country where you can be independent.

WorkInProgress · #15 10-10-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winneythepooh7

I don't think I'd move anywhere without a job already lined up!

Ditto that, if I could help it. I hated being unemployed and searching for work. Not something I want to do again.