Working up in Palmdale (Palm Springs, San Fernando: hotel, live in, cost)

[TDBaker1]

I am planning to work up in Palmdale for a defense contracting company and was excited about this up until I read about the negative reviews of Palmdale. I will be mainly working near the palmdale airport which is also near the mall, is this a safe place to work? I actually live in the OC and driving up here I know is horrible but they are planning to pay for me to stay up here (hotel) during the week and drive back down at the end of the week.

After reading these reviews, I''m thinking of declining the opportunity but have heard there are certain nice (safe) areas, of which I'm not sure the area I'm working at is considered safe or hostile.

I am very interested to hear your comments on this in addition, if you all think it's manageable to work up here during the week and driving back. Please any honest feedback is desirable

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by TDBaker1

I actually live in the OC and driving up here I know is horrible but they are planning to pay for me to stay up here (hotel) during the week and drive back down at the end of the week.

I live in Northridge (San Fernando Valley) and worked in Palm Springs in a similar arrangement. It's not too bad if you're making a lot of money (I was) and don't mind having no life except for the weekends. I was able to work lots of overtime, often 10 hours a day or more (and sometimes Saturday and Sunday at home), so I cleaned up for about 13 months before it ended. Financially it was a most excellent year!

Remember, part of the cost is having NO life. I doubt there's much to do in Palmdale considering it's not exactly one of LA's trendy areas. Between work and a hotel I doubt you'll have much to worry about safety, and you're not exposing your children to any risk since they won't be with you. You might want to give serious consideration to personal safety if you're a woman, particularly if going into deserted areas at night. Much of the violence in the desert cities is associated with domestic abuse and with alcohol. Domestic abuse won't apply to your solo sojourn, so my advice is to get dinner after work and head back to your hotel, and I doubt you'll have any problems doing that.

I did pretty much that in Palm Springs although PS is a nicer area, much nicer. With my long hours I was happy to get back to my hotel, eat dinner, and catch a bit of TV, then rest before another long day. Work may not be much fun but it sure beats being poor every way!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by TDBaker1

I am very interested to hear your comments on this in addition, if you all think it's manageable to work up here during the week and driving back. Please any honest feedback is desirable

I don't think danger will be a problem. The commute on Monday morning will be bad unless you leave like at 5AM - not too tough - most of the traffic on the 14 will be heading towards the LA metro - you'd be heading towards Palmdale. Fridays will be bad no matter what time you leave, even noon.

We don't know your demographic (single, married, young, older, etc) so we can't comment on whether you'd have fun. Palmdale is more suburban than hip.