Similarities (Weatherford, Alva: relocate, health insurance, hotel)

[Jammie]

Since many of you have been to Texas OR live in Texas now, how similar is northern Tx. to OK? I know that a couple of you live in the Ft. Worth area and I'm curious how similar it is to living in Ok. (Besides the fact that it's warmer there.) Are the people as friendly? Is there a lot of the same ethics and ideals there?

I'm getting so frustrated cause we could actually be heading south this autumn~technically it could've been last month already. We actually had chosen a place and were nearly ready to head out, but too many negative things starting popping up that we cancelled our plans. I really don't want to live through another winter up here~52 of them is enough. DH isn't a mover so I really need to be cautious when I make suggestions to him cause where we land will probably be it for us.

Here are some of the things we want to avoid~

1. Employers posting jobs that really aren't there because they just want to pad their apps so they can keep their employees in line.

2. Employers being dishonest as to benefit packages.

3. Discrimination because you're over 30 so you wouldn't be a good, youthful looking employee.

4. Areas that probably have nearly as many con artists as average people.


I think you get the idea of things we want to avoid. SO, input, PLEASE.

[peggydavis]

Hi Jammie! Nice of you to visit us!

All I can say is the more touristy the area, the more con artists you will have around.

[Synopsis]

The people here in North Texas are pretty decent Jammie, but this is a big, big city/metropolitan area. There are almost twice as many people in this metropolitan area than there are in all of Oklahoma and with that tend to come some big city attitudes. The people in my neighborhood are all fantastic, but I don't think you'd like the traffic around here.

If you did choose a city, I would definitely choose Fort Worth, it's a lot more laid back and easygoing. Dallas is more fast paced and big city-ish.

There are small, outlying cities like Azle, Aledo, Alvaredo, and Cleburne that might be a good fit, but even those are growing. Try looking into Weatherford, Texas. It's a nice city about 30 miles West of Fort Worth. It's about 20K. Below is a picture. Heck, as hot as you guys like it you might look further South toward Austin.

As for me, I'm looking North to Oklahoma..



PS. You will find age discrimination here. Even at my age (46), I see firms wanting to hire cheap, young writers straight out of college that couldn't write their way out of a paper bag. All they have to do is put up an add that says will pay <insert LOW wages here, and I do mean LOW>. Somebody my age will not even apply for a job that pays literally 1/3 of what I'm accustomed to. There is a certain electronics manufacturer headquartered in downtown FW (initials ar R.S.) that pays so low that they are constantly having turnover. Somebody young comes in, gets a few years under their belt, and they are off to another higher paying job. The cycle begins again. I guess they have found this to be better than hiring someone with experience who will stay. I imagine their unemployment insurance costs them a bundle though.

[peggydavis]

You are right Synopsis, there is age discrimination everywhere. Finding a new job at an age above 40 can be frustrating. I guess we must cost them more in health insurance.

If I were to move to TX, it would be to the hill country west of San Antonio. Wait, that is touristy but that was an area I was very impressed with.

[Ted_Foster]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

... PS. You will find age discrimination here. Even at my age (46), I see firms wanting to hire cheap, young writers straight out of college that couldn't write their way out of a paper bag. All they have to do is put up an add that says will pay <insert LOW wages here, and I do mean LOW>. Somebody my age will not even apply for a job that pays literally 1/3 of what I'm accustomed to. There is a certain electronics manufacturer headquartered in downtown FW (initials ar R.S.) that pays so low that they are constantly having turnover. Somebody young comes in, gets a few years under their belt, and they are off to another higher paying job. The cycle begins again. I guess they have found this to be better than hiring someone with experience who will stay. I imagine their unemployment insurance costs them a bundle though.

Agreed. I can't prove it, but this is what my instincts tell me.

[Jammie]

Yes, it's kind of sad that they want to put us out to pasture so soon. The ironic thing is that I was just reading a post the other day that was saying by the age of 30, you would be washed up in certain areas of the country.

Peggy, I visit the Ok forum quite often. If I have extra time, I do a bit of reading, but I always keep up on the "Picture" threads here. And yes, I caught that about a month ago when Happytown was pointing out to me that the trees were budding. (OKC forum)

Ted, it sounds like you're in our age group. You've just got to wonder what will happen when they finally get all of us Baby Boomers out of the work force. Might be a bit scary.

Synopsis, thank you so much for all the info both posted and private. It's starting to sound like it's a place we definitely need to check out.

[Synopsis]

It all boils down to money. Which, in itself is not bad, but when you sacrifice quality for money it is a sad thing. The almighty dollar reign$ supreme. Everybody is out to get rich at all cost$.

And Jammie, it is indeed a pleasure to help you. You are one of the many reasons I love this forum so much.

[mkfarnam]

Jammie, have you put this into consideration? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that the Dakotas draw a humid climate in the summers, something that your use to.
I live in SW, OK. Last summer was my first summer here, but after living in Ca, with no humidity to speak of, (dry desert heat), I noticed immediately even the mild humidity here, but one good thing about it, after a week or so it was no longer noticable. ( I'm not too far from the OK/ Texas border)
Now, for a couple years as a teenager I lived south of Houston, and the humidity was so bad that I could hardly breath,,,,,,life was miserable.
So if for some reason I would have to relocate again, it wouldn't be in a southern direction, because, from here, the further south I'd go the heavier the humidity would be.
This is just a suggestion, something for you to think about, because I know how miserable humidity can be, especially if you've never live in it before.

[redbird4848]

I lived in West Texas (the panhandle) and it was great. People say its like a whole different part of the world from the rest of TX.

The people were friendly, and the weather was lot easier to take than OK due to the elevation of Amarillo. The humidity was never over 25%.

[Ted_Foster]

Originally Posted by Jammie

...
Here are some of the things we want to avoid~

1. Employers posting jobs that really aren't there because they just want to pad their apps so they can keep their employees in line.

2. Employers being dishonest as to benefit packages.

3. Discrimination because you're over 30 so you wouldn't be a good, youthful looking employee.

4. Areas that probably have nearly as many con artists as average people.


I think you get the idea of things we want to avoid. SO, input, PLEASE.

1) I haven't heard of this, but I wouldn't be surprised.

2) Haven't heard of this either, but I do feel that employers have started a trend of not offering benefits at all.

3) Yup.

4) If you hear/read an advertisement that uses the words "concierge", "elite", or any other word that should only describe a fancy French hotel, turn on your baloney detector and listen carefully.