Relocating from Big City to Smaller Town (jobs, Budget, furniture)

[IonRedline08]

Hi all. I posted in the Work/Employment forum, but realized this may be a better place to pose this question.

I have a small dilemna, and, I am hoping my fellow City-Data crowd can help me.

I currently work for a large company, that relocated my (per my request) to San Antonio, in the same job I had in Virginia.

Ok, now, they have a great job opening. Instead of supervising, I would be a Training Specialist for another location. I would be part of a team that develops all new training materials, trains associates and management, etc, etc. A very nice opportunity, and, honestly, a great job in the company. It would be M-F day shift, which is near impossible to get here.

Problem is, this job is located in Florence, South Carolina. Also, I would be moving from a Call Center environment to a Distribution Center.

I have lived in Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and Texas now. I love it here in San Antonio, way more than anywhere else I have lived.

However, this is a great opportunity in the company. It would be a high profile job, as we are implementing new systems in this distribution center that will hopefully change the entire way our company does business. I already have a great name going in the company, and this would be a great way to learn more about what we do, and get my name out further. Also, where I am located, to get promoted, it will take an act of congress, or members of our management team dying, as no one is leaving any time soon, and, because of budgetary concerns, there won't be any new positions either. From talking to our GM, I would be the most likely candidate to be moved up, but that could be years from now. From talking to managers I respect, they tell me that I should take the job, because it is a promotion, and it's a job that, over the years, has led to bigger things for people in the company.

The dilemna, for me, is, that, I really like it here. I have never been to Florence, I probably have driven through it on the way to Myrtle Beach. From everything I read, it is a HOLE. I would be going from a city of over 1.3 million people to a city of barely 30,000.

There are so many pros to moving, as well as cons. One big pro is that we would be 5 hours from my girlfriends family, instead of 24, which, will be great for her. Also, while the town is not great, its in a close proximity to lots of cool places (Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, Charlotte, Charleston, Atlanta, etc). A couple of Cons: not a lot of good shopping/dining options, slow pace, starting over again (third time I have moved out of state in less than 5 years).

So, I am weighing my options. Any input?

[StilltheSame]

I would go. If you absolutely hate it - do your stint and either move back - they will want you back or move on with your new bag of experience. win win.

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by IonRedline08

The dilemna, for me, is, that, I really like it here. I have never been to Florence, I probably have driven through it on the way to Myrtle Beach. From everything I read, it is a HOLE. I would be going from a city of over 1.3 million people to a city of barely 30,000.

There's your answer.
You've "maybe' driven though Florence and you've read about it.

Take the girlfriend and go spend 3 to 5 days there. Cruise the grocery stores. Read the local paper. Sample the local nightlife. Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner where the locals hang out. Talk to them.

Then go home and do a good vs bad list

[Lucky Lady123]

I agree with what Gandalara has posted. In the end whatever you decide, I wish you all the best.

[plaidmom]

My first thought and gut instinct would be "go for it" (the job) if you are young and have no dependents. As another poster said, do the time and then you have a ticket to move back to S.A. or possibly anywhere else in the country/world.

I also caught this:

One big pro is that we would be 5 hours from my girlfriends family, instead of 24

a) What does she think? (that's HUGE if you guys are "serious").
b) Is she currently working in TX? Will she need/want to work in SC?

Here's the thing. About 10 yrs ago I made a similar move (from Austin to a small, 40K, town in the Midwest).

The difference is that I was tired of the hot, dry, crowded south and ready for a change. I wanted trees and green grass. I wanted to try life in a small town. I was the SO in the scenario (so, more like your GF).

What I have found: I love small town life, although, in my 40's, I am probably older than you folks (?). I love my house. My neighborhood and my friends. I like the farmers markets and walking to the park, the library and the bank.

Since there is virtually no nightlife, and we can sample all of the fine dining in a weeks time, we cook at home a lot more often. We entertain at home or visit friends. We do a lot of ordering off of the internet. Life is definitely slower and more simple.

What has been, somewhat frustrating, is the lack of employment for us "spouses". I'm not sure what it is like in Florence, SC. Here, my SO works for the major employer. It's nice because it gives us an "in" socially. If you are not an engineer or in healthcare in this town....well pretty much your options are limited. I had a job that "went away", and, on the plus side, here in this small town, we can easily live on one salary.

So, I am bored. I manage the household and I cook a lot. I have a very PT web-based job. I clean the house and am working on a renovation. I spend too much time on C-D.

We talk often about our "next life". We might try a smaller place in a larger city. Someplace where he can really stretch his creative wings and I can go back to doing "meaningful work". It's funny because we often pass by furniture and appliances in showrooms and say "....in our next house...."

Well, there you have it, the good and the bad re: "downsizing" .


Some things to think/talk about. Good luck and best wishes.

[steve147]

I can give a little insight into Florence, S.C. For starters.. in my opinion it is very, very run down and unappealing. You are, however, closer to the South Carolina Beaches. Lots of things to do within about an hour drive. But as far as Florence, itself goes, prepare to be uninspired. You may find some smaller towns further away from Florence that could be appealing. I personally, love small town life and would go back in a heartbeat.. but such is life. Definitely consider looking at places a bit further from town though. If you are thinking of this on a permanent scale, I'd spend some quality time looking at the place first. Jobs are great and all, but where will you be raising your family?