Should I take Job in Mechanicsburg? (Harrisburg, Penn: condominium, how much, new home)

[osu4me]

I have a job offer in Mechanicsburg and I am wary of taking it due to having to move to this area. When I went for the interview it seems like this is a very family oriented, somewhat depressed area (no offense).

I am in my early 20s and am a pretty social person. If I move here am I going to be alone, in that there are few people who are college educated, in there 20s to hang out with. I am leaving one job that I hate and I dont want to get into another bad situation.

I dont know anything about this area and I dont know anybody who lives around here. Any residents or expertise would be much appreciated.

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by osu4me

I have a job offer in Mechanicsburg and I am wary of taking it due to having to move to this area. When I went for the interview it seems like this is a very family oriented, somewhat depressed area (no offense).

I am in my early 20s and am a pretty social person. If I move here am I going to be alone, in that there are few people who are college educated, in there 20s to hang out with. I am leaving one job that I hate and I dont want to get into another bad situation.

I dont know anything about this area and I dont know anybody who lives around here. Any residents or expertise would be much appreciated.

I am in my early 20's and live near Mechanicsburg. Depressed area? Hardly. The area is booming right now. Just this summer a new shopping center was completed right outside the borough consisting of high-end stores completely new to central PA, including an upscale shopping market (Wegmans). Mechanicsburg and the west shore area is, in general, a pretty family-friendly area. But you are only 15 minutes away from downtown Harrisburg which has a very active nightlife and restaurant scene. My friends and I usually go out on "2nd street" on the weekend which has a lot of bars, nightclubs and restaurants if that is your thing.

[osu4me]

The reason I say depressed is, I saw a quite a few trailer parks and the area seemed a little run down.

After reading some other threads about harrisburg, I have to say I'm not too optimistic about liking it here.

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by osu4me

The reason I say depressed is, I saw a quite a few trailer parks and the area seemed a little run down.

After reading some other threads about harrisburg, I have to say I'm not too optimistic about liking it here.

I'm not sure what you mean by "quite a few trailer parks". There is only two in Mechanicsburg that I know of. One is just northeast of the borough along Salem Church Road. Right next to it they are building a condominium community. Another is just north of the borough, and again very nearby they are building over 1,000 new homes. There used to be several others but they are gone now.

But anyway, this is Pennsylvania. It's a lot different from other states. There are trailer parks next to McMansions...thats just the way it is. Ironically, the shopping center I mentioned was built on a former trailer park. Quite a contrast. There is also another trailer park down the street from there that was removed several years ago and a Lowes and T.G.I. Fridays was built in place of it. The incomes are rising rapidly in this area and the economy is the most stable in the state, and pretty fast growing compared to the PA average.

As for Harrisburg, well again it has its trouble spots but also quite a few nice areas. I have a few friends who live there and it just depends on the neighborhood. It's the regions hotspot for nightlife and entertainment and generally most of the young professionals live there.

[solancogirl]

Originally Posted by osu4me

I have a job offer in Mechanicsburg and I am wary of taking it due to having to move to this area. When I went for the interview it seems like this is a very family oriented, somewhat depressed area (no offense).

I am in my early 20s and am a pretty social person. If I move here am I going to be alone, in that there are few people who are college educated, in there 20s to hang out with. I am leaving one job that I hate and I dont want to get into another bad situation.

I dont know anything about this area and I dont know anybody who lives around here. Any residents or expertise would be much appreciated.

Could you give me an idea of where you're moving from and how you felt about that area? Any move is hard but I think that information will give me a better idea of what to say. And please don't feel bad about saying what you thought of the area. That is a good indication of what you might be thinking.

[rescue brew]

Originally Posted by solancogirl

Could you give me an idea of where you're moving from and how you felt about that area? Any move is hard but I think that information will give me a better idea of what to say. And please don't feel bad about saying what you thought of the area. That is a good indication of what you might be thinking.

Having lived in several states/cities including PA (my dad lives in mechanicsburg) I can tell you that your thoughts on the area are only relative to where you have been.

So where are you moving from?

[nocturnal rooster]

Originally Posted by osu4me

I have a job offer in Mechanicsburg and I am wary of taking it due to having to move to this area. When I went for the interview it seems like this is a very family oriented, somewhat depressed area (no offense).

I am in my early 20s and am a pretty social person. If I move here am I going to be alone, in that there are few people who are college educated, in there 20s to hang out with. I am leaving one job that I hate and I dont want to get into another bad situation.

I dont know anything about this area and I dont know anybody who lives around here. Any residents or expertise would be much appreciated.

Mechanicsburg is depressed. This is not a place for someone in their early 20s such as you and I. The majority of people here are 50+. This is a town to basically retire and die in. I hate it here with a passion. The people are so rude. It's because everyone is also poor, except for the corporate fatcat rich republicans, who are also rude.

I am soon leaving here, and I will be jumping in joy when that day comes.

[suburbanite1]

Originally Posted by osu4me

The reason I say depressed is, I saw a quite a few trailer parks and the area seemed a little run down.

After reading some other threads about harrisburg, I have to say I'm not too optimistic about liking it here.

osu4me,

I'm curious where you are moving from. Mechanicsburg is just one small town in the Greater Harrisburg area. How much looking around did you do while here? If you work in Mechanicsburg you certainly don't have to live or play there. I don't recall ever being in a state that didn't have some trailer parks. There are many great things about the area, but if you are looking for big city life it is not here. The one nice thing though is you are 1-2 hours form Baltimore and Philly if you need the occasional big city fix.