Should I move to Denver to take this job up?

[CosmicWizard]

audio....My wife and I made a cross country move 3 summers ago. Of course the economy was alot different back then, so this is not intended to be an apples to apples comparison. Not knowing where our final destination would be, not having job offers, not having lots of $$$ in the bank, we both quit jobs that we had been doing for years, put our house on the market, and put our belongings in storage. Fortuntely, the house sold in just 2 days at the price we were asking. Oh, I might add that I was 57 at the time. In fact the closing took place on my 57th birthday...what a great birthday present!

Yes, there IS stress in making a big move, and there is also adventure. I don't know about you, but my spirit NEEDS a certain amount of adventutre from time to time. Moving is also a costly process. I reached a point where I realized that the majority of my decisions in my life for the past 30 years had been driven mostly by $$$$$$, and I no longer chose to live my life inside of that self imposed box. Sometimes, I find that I can only move forward in my life by doing something that seems totally irrational to most people and even to myself. Sometimes, I find that I just need to trust that things will work out advantageously...and they ususally do, but I did not rely upon dumb luck. Like you, I did alot of homework and preparation, and I had a plan of action that served as my guideline. But it was a guidline only, with very litte etched in stone. I needed the open endedness at that time in my life. Perhaps you need it too. Only you can make that determination.

You and your wife know better than anyone else how much risk and adverture you want to have in your lives, and your decision will be colored by those consideration. Best wishes whatever you decide.

[audiophile]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

audio....My wife and I made a cross country move 3 summers ago. Of course the economy was alot different back then, so this is not intended to be an apples to apples comparison. Not knowing where our final destination would be, not having job offers, not having lots of $$$ in the bank, we both quit jobs that we had been doing for years, put our house on the market, and put our belongings in storage. Fortuntely, the house sold in just 2 days at the price we were asking. Oh, I might add that I was 57 at the time. In fact the closing took place on my 57th birthday...what a great birthday present!

Yes, there IS stress in making a big move, and there is also adventure. I don't know about you, but my spirit NEEDS a certain amount of adventutre from time to time. Moving is also a costly process. I reached a point where I realized that the majority of my decisions in my life for the past 30 years had been driven mostly by $$$$$$, and I no longer chose to live my life inside of that self imposed box. Sometimes, I find that I can only move forward in my life by doing something that seems totally irrational to most people and even to myself. Sometimes, I find that I just need to trust that things will work out advantageously...and they ususally do, but I did not rely upon dumb luck. Like you, I did alot of homework and preparation, and I had a plan of action that served as my guideline. But it was a guidline only, with very litte etched in stone. I needed the open endedness at that time in my life. Perhaps you need it too. Only you can make that determination.

You and your wife know better than anyone else how much risk and adverture you want to have in your lives, and your decision will be colored by those consideration. Best wishes whatever you decide.

Cosmic,

You are absolutely right. I just entered by 40s and feel like I need a change of place and job to motivate myself a bit. Maybe this is called mid-life crisis. Hmmmm....

I think I can plan and delibrate until the cows come home, but there comes a point when I have to just trust my instincts and judgment and make a move. I think I have done my homework to the best I can. Now it is time to make a call. Honestly, if my home here sells in 2 - 3 months, I can take care of the rest.

[Consider_Again]

Interesting thread. My spouse and I are both engineers, software and chemical, DINKs, almost mid 40s, we lived in Denver (beautiful place in Conifer actually, worked in metro area), moved for the money, moved again for the money, now have the money in the bank and we are looking to move back to Denver.

My spouse works for LM’s main competitor on the defense side. There is aerospace and other associated, specialized work in Denver. Salaries are neither the highest nor lowest in Denver and competition can be tougher than other areas, but enough work is there. Denver has a diversified enough technological and industrial base that I think it is there to stay.

I did not find the cost of living that bad in CO. The property tax on our house in TX was a cumulative 3.4%, but no state income tax. I think our Jefferson County, CO prop tax rate was 0.65% and the state income tax is a flat 4.6%. My state income tax in CA is 9.3% and I am not crazy enough to buy a house here. Food and other life necessities are about the same everywhere. CO housing is a little higher than the national average, but not too much so.

Renting may not be a bad option for six months as you get a feel for different areas and settle-in at the job. Your coworkers will be an invaluable source of info on the dynamics of the different areas you could buy in before you commit.

Denver was its warts, just like any other place. I don’t know about the mid-life crisis for me/us, but we have lived in many places and Denver is the best small, big town we’ve come across. Good luck to you.

[CosmicWizard]

Consider_Again wrote:

I don’t know about the mid-life crisis for me/us,

IMO, mid-life crisis is a just fabrication of psychologists. It's a way to drum of business from people who have reached a point in their lives when they can afford to hire a psychologist to help them deal with the curve balls that life keeps throwing at us.

[Spincycle]

The question I would pose is if you uproot and deeply root yourself in Colorado and say for some reason the job at LMS does not work out (e.g. layoff, etc) can you rebound elsewhere. My experience and opinion is that good stable jobs in Colorado are very rare. Too many seekers and too few posted jobs, just be careful.

[audiophile]

Originally Posted by Spincycle

The question I would pose is if you uproot and deeply root yourself in Colorado and say for some reason the job at LMS does not work out (e.g. layoff, etc) can you rebound elsewhere. My experience and opinion is that good stable jobs in Colorado are very rare. Too many seekers and too few posted jobs, just be careful.

That is why I do not want to root myself deeply in Colorado (like buying a house right away) until I check out the job and the future prospects at LM at least for 6 months to a year. That way, if it does not work out, I can get out without too much baggage. And frankly, where I am right now things are not rosy either and it appears sh*t could hit the fan.

[Spincycle]

Originally Posted by audiophile

That is why I do not want to root myself deeply in Colorado (like buying a house right away) until I check out the job and the future prospects at LM at least for 6 months to a year.

What about future prospects outside of LM in Colorado? At least for 6 months to a year? Maybe wait 18 - 30 mos to have a warm fuzzy. No?

Originally Posted by audiophile

That way, if it does not work out, I can get out without too much baggage.

Always go into something new with an "exit strategy" nowadays, in a post 9/11 society anything can happen in a "NY Minute". Think contingencies short and long term, never take anything for granted.

[audiophile]

Well, it is official now!!! I formally accepted the offer from LM and turned in my resignation at my current job today. So there is no turning back now. I will be relocating in the next one month now and should be in Denver Metro area no later than 1st week of Sept, perhaps a bit earlier.

Thanks for all the advice!

[Legs1357]

Congrats and welcome to Denver

[zenkonami]

Congratulations and enjoy, you lucky...er...hard working devil!