Worth moving to Lima for this opportunity? (Columbus, Cleveland: high crime, house)

[lawmom]

Imamichigander -- we're deciding on a job in the Berkshires. The hourly rate is the same, less perks, higher cost of living, but better quality of life in some ways. The Lima opp is attractive for the experience and the money, but you have to wonder why they are offering so much ($100k sign-on and $100k student loan payments) when most places aren't.

Life is full of difficult choices!

[ImaMichigander]

My husband worked in Metro Detroit and was on staff at hospitals for 2 major health systems in the area. As a specialist, he was making good money, especially considering the economics of the very automotive heavy area. The job here in Findlay paid double. Not figuratively double. Literally double. And they pretty much made most concessions we asked for contractually. And they gave a huge lump when he started to help cover the costs of closing on the house in MI and the down payment on a home in Findlay. The deal was just that good. They are having a really tough time recruiting to this area. We have a lot of farm land. But we do have a lot of retail and chain restaurants and local stuff too. The rust belt needs docs.

When my hubby asked the VP of MA what the catch was, they said there is none. They just need the docs.

[lawmom]

Well, it's certainly not off the table. He did let the director know he'd like to go out to interview. It must be a region issue. It must be nice to have a career where you are in such demand!

Also, I meant to compare the quality of life between Lima and the Berkshires, not Findlay -- I didn't mean to sound condescending if I came across that way!

[ImaMichigander]

Not condesending a bit! You have to live where it works for your family! I had serious doubts when the local band the Danger Brothers were playing the Ohio State Fight Song so loudly (blowing trombones in the ears of little of ladies in wheelchairs) and in such a "rousing" way at the church festival, that my kids we're covering their ears. My husband and I are both grads of the University of Michigan. Would my children grow to believe that Ohio State is the right choice for them??? It's just a different bit of culture....

I was just saying, the offers do sound too good to be true. We thought the same thing. I would have never thought Ohio to be underserved, but in some spots it is, and hospitals are willling to pay to keep speciality dollars in their small communities instead of passing it on to Toledo, Colombus or Cleveland.

The biggest thing is that you and your husband and kids be happy where you pick. For us, we only moved an hour and half from our home in Michigan. Easiest enough for us to run back and forth in a day-- as we'll do tomorrow for a wedding. But there are a lot of things that go into what makes a family happy.... Good luck!

[NewToCA]

Interesting discussion, having lived in a couple of different areas in Ohio in the past, and considering the alternatives I would go with Findlay.

I agree with the many posters concerning the situation in Lima today. The commute to Findlay wouldn't be that bad, I would figure about 35-40 minutes on the road. Your daily life and school situation would be better, and you would have Toledo for any major weekend shopping needs.

The larger major cities are simply to far, the commute would become wearing after awhile.

[BelieveInCleve]

Originally Posted by Daytonnatian

Daytonnati, not Dayton, SmartGXL. The region as a whole, in my opinion, is doing great now, even with economic difficulties in Dayton, or even the smaller amount of economic difficulties in Cincinnati.

No, its called Dayton. Dayton is a completely separate city than Cincinnati, and what are they, like 50 miles apart? The only thing connecting them is a few low-density suburbs, and Daytonnati just sounds dumb. The least you could do is come up with something better than that.

[lawmom]

Well, perhaps all of this is moot as DH let the recruiter know he wants to move ahead with the MA job. If it doesn't pan out, we'll revisit the Lima idea.

Thanks for all of the good advice!

[SmartGXL]

Originally Posted by Daytonnatian

Daytonnati, not Dayton, SmartGXL. The region as a whole, in my opinion, is doing great now, even with economic difficulties in Dayton, or even the smaller amount of economic difficulties in Cincinnati.

Daytonnatian-

Actually I have to disagree, Dayton/Cinci are not doing so good. Actually, Ohio, Michigan, PA, etc are having troubles, in general, as their economies were all tied to manufacturing. With "the giant sucking sound" of NAFTA, sucking factory jobs out of the rust belt to Mexico and other places (along with other things, such as technological innovations and improvements in worker productivity), the area is losing jobs and is losing worker talent to other regions. This is having a HUGE negative effect on Dayton in the following ways:

-Less people, less demand for housing, causing real estate prices to decline.
-Less people, less demand for products and services, etc, causing other types of layoffs.

This is a classis recession environment. It is a downward spiral. When I left Ohio 10 years ago, I knew about 40 people, in my circle of family, friends and acquaintences. The last I checked, I would estimate that FIFTEEN of these people have left!! Mostly younger people, who have left for greener cultural and economic pastures.

The thing is, growing up there, all I ever heard people say was "I CANT WAIT TO GET OUT OF HERE"!! A lot of this had to do with the winter weather. It seemed like EVERYONE I knew, wanted to move to Florida. Either that, or people would frequently compare Dayton to other cities, or people would just simply go to other cities for weekend shopping trips etc.

Most of the Tr-state is not doing so well. Look at Butler county (technically part of the area you call Daytonnati)...it has Middletown, and Hamilton. BOTH of these towns, last time I visited, were GHOST TOWNS. With shuttered factories, empty streets, dead downtowns, broken windows. These towns are NEVER coming back. Sure, there are a couple suburbs doing well - Kettering, Mason, etc, but most of the region is either in a recession or just going sideways.

Now, dont get me wrong, I dont mean to be so harsh to Dayton. The region, as a whole, is a nice place, with some really nice people. Both Dayton and Cinci have a lot to offer, and I still know plenty of people who will stay there the rest of their lives (I'm single, and when I visit the area, I am struck with how gorgeous many Ohio women are!!), and it is not nearly as bad as places like Gary or E St Louis or PA, Flint, MI, etc. But like one other poster said about Lima, a lot of people hanging around are people who remember what the place used to be like (the good memories). If you enjoy living there, then I am happy for you! As that is all that really matters is if it works for YOU! For me, I could not find a job there in my field, and had to move on.

Bottom line, I was born in Dayton and lived there 25 years (actually in Englewood), went to Wright State, and I know the area, and the region has peaked. The country's future lies in places like Chicago, or in the southwest, notably Texas.

[the_pines]

Originally Posted by SmartGXL

The country's future lies in places like Chicago, or in the southwest, notably Texas.

That better not be true. Circle the wagons!

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by the_pines

That better not be true. Circle the wagons!

I agree. I am sorry, but Ohio has a very bright future. Tech wise, we have a low tax base that will be taking affect, drawing in large companies that do not want to stay in high taxed states, we will be one of the forefront states on wind energy, we already have a booming medical based economy. Ohio is underrated, we still have yet to be discovered for what we have to offer.

Texas I agree with, Chicago is doing great, but it is not where the future lies. People are already realizing what Florida is going through. Areas like West Palm which were growing greatly, are close to declining in population from the new census, and North Carolina will be doing the same thing in a few years, and lets not even get started on the southwest. There are plenty of places that are doing great, and that is the great thing about this nation. There are areas all across the country that have a lot to offer, they are not located in one area.