NOW who's the crazy one?? (Pittsburgh, Washington: school, places to live, costs)

[guylocke]

It's funny you are leaving the Pacific Northwest because that is where I am moving in August!! Only I will be in Seattle.

I am young and just graduated and want to experience something else (plus I'm gay and the "too liberal" thing works for me!). So I want to put out there right now I'm not leaving due to Pittsburgh whatsoever, I love Pittsburgh.

That being said, I think Seattle (albeit quite clean!!!) has an enormously rich history, too. I see MANY similarities between Pittsburgh and Seattle, and in fact, have read more than one dissertation about how Pittsburgh should be very much like Seattle were it not for the steel industry collapse.

I don't know about all that, but I do find Seattle to be a very "real" town, educated, BEAUTIFUL topography, excellent economy, not cookie-cutter AT ALL.

I've never been to Portland, I wonder if it's very much different?

I also might add that my degree could have taken me to ANY city in America. All I had to do was say the world and the transfer would be overnight (I am very fortunate and blessed). I had a list of 10 cities that I considered, and Denver was one of them.

I think there is a lot to like about Denver. The thing that thwarted me from Denver is that I would miss water. I wouldn't care if it was a big river or several big rivers (Pittsburgh) or the ocean (Seattle) or the lakes (Chicago)... but I like seeing and having water around. It's just something I prefer. It may seem silly, but no water, no moving!!!! I also wanted to be away from the cold winters for a bit.

[Katiana]

Well, I wish you were moving here, guylocke. We could go out for drinks. I hope you enjoy Seattle. My high-school sweetheart, from Beaver Falls, was stationed in Seattle in the Navy and stayed there ever after.

[Huckleberry3911948]

do people do it like that? i mean no family job connection friends just put up a dart board and decide where it hits is where i will go?
i could never do it like that. nobody i know does it like that. they got a lil plan maybe a lil one but a plan.

[raynist]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

I don't think computer programming jobs in general are widely available, it really depends what you are doing. If you are dealing with more theoretic work or say web related work there aren't many jobs.

I have to disagree here. Being in this field I know first hand there are many jobs available. My company is always hiring as our most of our customers.

[5starson23]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

do people do it like that? i mean no family job connection friends just put up a dart board and decide where it hits is where i will go?
i could never do it like that. nobody i know does it like that. they got a lil plan maybe a lil one but a plan.

Yes... and no. There isn't a dart board. I get to pick. I have absolutely no ties to Pittsburgh what-so-ever, no family, job, connection, or friends. But I am seriously considering moving there for reasons I have explained earlier in this thread.

I am also seriously considering Denver. I have a couple friends there but I try not to let that sway my decision too much. I hear GUY on the whole water thing - I am really going to miss being by the coast.

Seattle is nice. It's just too much like Portland... I want a change.

Anywho to Huckle... Just because you and your friends don't do it like that doesn't mean it doesn't work. It worked for me when I moved from Chicago to Portland. I moved to Portland without a job or job leads and I found a job just fine and have lived here for 4 years reaping the rewards of rolling the dice.

To me the thrill is in moving to place for adventure and change; it's a challenge to get a new life set up - but that's the point. Some people may not understand that. It's ok.

I am 31 and single and I have a camera, a journal, and desire to make it work.

Carpe whatever.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by guylocke

It's funny you are leaving the Pacific Northwest because that is where I am moving in August!! Only I will be in Seattle.

I am young and just graduated and want to experience something else (plus I'm gay and the "too liberal" thing works for me!). So I want to put out there right now I'm not leaving due to Pittsburgh whatsoever, I love Pittsburgh.

That being said, I think Seattle (albeit quite clean!!!) has an enormously rich history, too. I see MANY similarities between Pittsburgh and Seattle, and in fact, have read more than one dissertation about how Pittsburgh should be very much like Seattle were it not for the steel industry collapse.

I don't know about all that, but I do find Seattle to be a very "real" town, educated, BEAUTIFUL topography, excellent economy, not cookie-cutter AT ALL.

I've never been to Portland, I wonder if it's very much different?

I also might add that my degree could have taken me to ANY city in America. All I had to do was say the world and the transfer would be overnight (I am very fortunate and blessed). I had a list of 10 cities that I considered, and Denver was one of them.

I think there is a lot to like about Denver. The thing that thwarted me from Denver is that I would miss water. I wouldn't care if it was a big river or several big rivers (Pittsburgh) or the ocean (Seattle) or the lakes (Chicago)... but I like seeing and having water around. It's just something I prefer. It may seem silly, but no water, no moving!!!! I also wanted to be away from the cold winters for a bit.

To each his own, but I lived in Seattle for 5 years, and a blander town you will not find. I really hope you like passive-aggressive WHITE people. It's not as expensive as California, but it's definitely getting there. Don't get me wrong, there are several pluses, such as the scenery, proximity to Vancouver and TONS of great Asian food (something Pittsburgh lacks), but I'll bet anybody who leaves PGH for Seattle will be missing it sorely within a year.

I moved to Pittsburgh with no job, no prospects, and after putting down a security deposit and first month's rent, very little money. I signed up with a temp agency and now have a nice stable job in the healthcare field (data entry/office work) and I'm buying an amazing bungalow in Observatory Hill. I've lived in Richmond, VA, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Seattle and Pittsburgh's quality of life has them all beat.

Incidentally, Portland and Pittsburgh are more similar....it was number 1 on my list till I decided I was sick to death of Northwest hipsters and subsequently discovered America's Most Underrated City.

[Humanoid]

I have to disagree here. Being in this field I know first hand there are many jobs available. My company is always hiring as our most of our customers.

I looked for jobs (and knew many others that did) when I was in Pittsburgh. The offerings in Pittsburgh were pretty bad, at least for the sort of we were looking for. Its not so much that there weren't jobs, but not jobs that paid well and would be interesting given our skill set. Working on a banking system is much different than working for XYZ coding up simple websites in PHP. The person that does the former is going to be way overqualified (and bored) doing the latter. Similarly for research oriented computer work. Not many jobs outside of the universities for this (The universities almost always hire from within). Regardless, "Programming" is rather general. A programmer that works on X may find it easy to find a job where as a programmer that works on Y may not.

[5starson23]

Originally Posted by creepsinc

To each his own, but I lived in Seattle for 5 years, and a blander town you will not find. I really hope you like passive-aggressive WHITE people. It's not as expensive as California, but it's definitely getting there. Don't get me wrong, there are several pluses, such as the scenery, proximity to Vancouver and TONS of great Asian food (something Pittsburgh lacks), but I'll bet anybody who leaves PGH for Seattle will be missing it sorely within a year.

I moved to Pittsburgh with no job, no prospects, and after putting down a security deposit and first month's rent, very little money. I signed up with a temp agency and now have a nice stable job in the healthcare field (data entry/office work) and I'm buying an amazing bungalow in Observatory Hill. I've lived in Richmond, VA, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Seattle and Pittsburgh's quality of life has them all beat.

Incidentally, Portland and Pittsburgh are more similar....it was number 1 on my list till I decided I was sick to death of Northwest hipsters and subsequently discovered America's Most Underrated City.

This is what I am talking about... to a T. Or at least it is what I want to hear so perhaps I should be cautious.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by 5starson23

This is what I am talking about... to a T. Or at least it is what I want to hear so perhaps I should be cautious.

Portland has a much better transit system, it's somewhat cleaner (Pittsburgh has lots of litterbugs, which pisses me off to no end) and a LOT more upscale, but Pittsburgh oozes charm, which the West Coast (outside of San Francisco) just doesn't have. If you're interested in a Portland type place back East, with hills (a lot more) and subsequent steep streets (ala San Francisco) and a general Appalachian Gothic post-industrial Eastern European ambiance, you can quit looking.

Also, I feel bad for talking down on Seattle when somebody is moving there...I hate naysayers. Imagine what I got from people when I told them I was moving to Pittsburgh. Some people like bland yuppies though...I think the Puget Sound area would be better without it. There I go again!

[guylocke]

Also, I feel bad for talking down on Seattle when somebody is moving there...I hate naysayers. Imagine what I got from people when I told them I was moving to Pittsburgh. Some people like bland yuppies though...I think the Puget Sound area would be better without it. There I go again!

Well it's a little bit different for me because I wanted to live somewhere where my boyfriend and I were completely accepted, a state that is progressive with same-sex unions (marriage is only a matter of time in Washington, domestic partnership is already there) and where we could be legally joined with health-benefits, ect.

I refuse to live in San Francisco, and from what I hear (and from what I know, I have been to Seattle, of course!), Seattle is a perfect fit for a young gay couple.

I can't really say I've found Seattle to be bland, but maybe I will after a time. I'll just move again!!

I'm certainly not bland, but I am a yuppie.. actually we're guppies, so we may find Seattle to our liking!! I know there is a very vibrant gay club and entertainment culture there.