[Saundra]

Am from Florida and thinking of moving to Tennessee can anyone tell me about Knoxville?

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by tenn or ozark bound

Good luck with your decision. You could always move to LA to give it a try, then back to AR if you don't like LA.

That's kinda what we're thinking. The LA thing mostly hinges on what I'd get paid. I don't have a job lined up back in AR and I'd probably have a hard time finding one now. I'm an engineer and about 90% of the real engineering jobs (not network admin, never have been able to figure out why people try to call them systems engineers....) are in heavy manufacturing or plumbing/HVAC. I'd almost have to go back to entry level to take those jobs. So, in reality, the decision may actually get made for us.

[tenn or ozark bound]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

That's kinda what we're thinking. The LA thing mostly hinges on what I'd get paid. I don't have a job lined up back in AR and I'd probably have a hard time finding one now. I'm an engineer and about 90% of the real engineering jobs (not network admin, never have been able to figure out why people try to call them systems engineers....) are in heavy manufacturing or plumbing/HVAC. I'd almost have to go back to entry level to take those jobs. So, in reality, the decision may actually get made for us.

Wow, that's interesting you're an engineer. I'm an engineer too, for the last 20 years in CA, but wanting to give it up. So I'm not planning on doing engineering in AR. But in case I have to or change my mind, I'm curious, what kind of heavy manufacturing jobs are there?

[USAwanderer]

moved to NWA from South Carolina and LOVING IT HERE!!!

[tenn or ozark bound]

That's good to hear. What do you like about it? Which part of NW Arkansas do you live in?

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by junkman18

Seems like allot of people getting out of California, Wonder why??

Too crowded, too expensive, too fast-paced, infrastructure shabby, people not particularly friendly, open areas disappearing, too many immigrants who don't even try to assimilate, need I go on?

Oh, yeah! I live in CA. Born in the south, lived in the central, now in the north. When I retire in three years we're strongly considering NWA. My wife lived there in the 70s and there's a lot about it that's attractive to to me.

For me, retirement will be ABC -- Anywhere But California!

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by tenn or ozark bound

Wow, that's interesting you're an engineer. I'm an engineer too, for the last 20 years in CA, but wanting to give it up. So I'm not planning on doing engineering in AR. But in case I have to or change my mind, I'm curious, what kind of heavy manufacturing jobs are there?

There's a pretty good bit of heavy manufacturing. There's a major aluminum wheel maker in Fayetteville, a new Denso(?) plant in Marion, a passenger bus maker in Conway, etc. If you're a manufacturing or quality engineer, then you'd have little trouble finding something. I have a mechanical degree but i specialize in thermal system analysis and design so there isn't much call for the skills and knowledge I've developed. I thought very seriously about moving back last summer and got an offer but after I took into account everything I could possibly think of in terms of reductions in cost of living, the salary they offered was still about 20% less I make here!! We don't live high on the hog by any means so to take a huge reduction in spending power like that was unacceptable.

[woopig_sooie]

I grew up in Piggott which is about 1 hour north east of Jonesboro, right on the Missouri line. Went to college in Russellville. I've lived in Sherwood (Little Rock community) and Conway since. I'm presently living in Conway.

Of all these places Russellville has been my fav!

Someone was asking about Paragould earlier. paragould is a nice town of about 12k people, but there's not much to do there except go to Jonesboro.

[tenn or ozark bound]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

There's a pretty good bit of heavy manufacturing. There's a major aluminum wheel maker in Fayetteville, a new Denso(?) plant in Marion, a passenger bus maker in Conway, etc. If you're a manufacturing or quality engineer, then you'd have little trouble finding something. I have a mechanical degree but i specialize in thermal system analysis and design so there isn't much call for the skills and knowledge I've developed. I thought very seriously about moving back last summer and got an offer but after I took into account everything I could possibly think of in terms of reductions in cost of living, the salary they offered was still about 20% less I make here!! We don't live high on the hog by any means so to take a huge reduction in spending power like that was unacceptable.

I'm an electrical engineer. It sounds like there may not be much call for that?

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by tenn or ozark bound

I'm an electrical engineer. It sounds like there may not be much call for that?

Depends on what type of electrical engineer I guess. If your background is in power distribution/construction electric then you'd have no problems but if its more board level design or consumer products type electrical then your options become more limited. There's Baldor electric (motor manufacturer) and Trane HVAC around Fort Smith. There are some other consumer products manufacturers that will have a few electricals on staff.