Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Pennsylvania > Pittsburgh
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 05-25-2009, 10:15 AM
 
4 posts, read 12,368 times
Reputation: 10

Advertisements

I have lived in the Pittsburgh area for the last 10 years and like it very much. My wife has a good job and family in the area and one of my kids has 2 years of high school left. I also have 2 older kids in college, not far from Pittsburgh.

I am the primary breadwinner in our family. Due to recent changes where I work, my job has been moved to a town about 300 miles from Pittsburgh. It is not a location that my wife and I want to move to. For now, I am "commuting" to work there each week, leaving on Monday and returning home on Friday. I'm not sure how long my company will allow me to continue with this arrangement. Eventually, they will probably want me to move to the new location.

I am considering looking for a new job, but opportunities are limited in Pittsburgh. I would probably have to leave Pittsburgh to get a position that is comparable to what I have now. Do you think I should uproot the family and move to a new city, or stick it out for awhile and see what happens? Let me hear your opinions. Thanks.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 05-25-2009, 10:29 AM
 
43,011 posts, read 108,083,010 times
Reputation: 30722
First, what is wrong with the town that is 300 miles away? Even if you don't like the immediate area, is there a town within 60 miles of it that is desirable?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2009, 11:24 AM
 
Location: Crafton via San Francisco
3,463 posts, read 4,648,440 times
Reputation: 1595
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steelerfan07 View Post
I am considering looking for a new job, but opportunities are limited in Pittsburgh. I would probably have to leave Pittsburgh to get a position that is comparable to what I have now. Do you think I should uproot the family and move to a new city, or stick it out for awhile and see what happens? Let me hear your opinions. Thanks.
Since staying in Pittsburgh is your top choice, I'd start by doing a concentrated job search there. Let everyone (friends, relatives, trusted colleagues, neighbors, etc.) know you're looking. Tap into professional organizations, online social networks, want-ads, Craigslist,... You say that you probably won't be able to find a comparable job there. How much of a pay/benefit cut could you handle if it meant being able to stay?

If that doesn't pan out I'd take the earlier advice given and check out areas that are a shorter commute to your current job. When the economy improves, you'll probably be able to find something back in the 'burgh.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2009, 11:31 AM
 
Location: Foot of the Rockies
90,297 posts, read 120,810,305 times
Reputation: 35920
I can't tell you what to do, but it would be better to move now, while your kid has 2 years left in high school, than to move next year, when s/he has only one year left, IMO. Two years would give your child more opportunity to make friends and get involved in activities.

When s/he graduates, you can always look for a job in Pittsburgh, or you may find you actually like the new place just as well!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2009, 12:11 PM
 
43,011 posts, read 108,083,010 times
Reputation: 30722
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana View Post
I can't tell you what to do, but it would be better to move now, while your kid has 2 years left in high school, than to move next year, when s/he has only one year left, IMO. Two years would give your child more opportunity to make friends and get involved in activities.

When s/he graduates, you can always look for a job in Pittsburgh, or you may find you actually like the new place just as well!
I disagree. As parents, we make sacrifices for our children. The high school years are the most difficult time to move a children. Since there are only two years left, it makes more sense to remain here if at all possible.

To the OP, also consider the stability of having long standing employment with a company. I've heard horror stories of people resigning from a stable position for a better job offer only to be laid off six months later. During a recession, I think it's often best to stay put. Even when the writing is on the wall that a job will be lost, people often make the mistake of seeking new employment prior to being laid off, which means losing out on valuable severence packages.

As juliegt recommended, focus your job search within the Pittsburgh area since it's where you would prefer to live. Stick it out as long as you can to see what comes of it. For all you know, your employer could decide to move your position back to Pittsburgh instead of losing you.

Your employer isn't going to force you to relocate your family. If anything, they'll just quit paying for your travel and accomodations. In the end, your decision depends on your financial situation.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2009, 12:18 PM
 
Location: Foot of the Rockies
90,297 posts, read 120,810,305 times
Reputation: 35920
I was talking about moving now or moving later. The ideal would be to not move at all, of course. I'm a parent; I know all about making sacrifices for kids. However, it's foolhardy to sacrifice your income, retirement, etc.

The employer may well expect the OP to move to his job location. It's not unheard of. The family might not have to move, but the employee might. Most of the people I know who have done the long distance commute thing have ended up moving. Having family together is important, too.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2009, 12:43 PM
 
43,011 posts, read 108,083,010 times
Reputation: 30722
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana View Post
However, it's foolhardy to sacrifice your income, retirement, etc.
I'm not suggesting that he sacrice his income and retirement. It sounds like he has already decided that it's preferable to leave his job eventually. That was the entire point of his post: should he continue to commute or look for a new job in another city. They don't want to move to the town where he's currently working.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana View Post
The employer may well expect the OP to move to his job location. It's not unheard of. The family might not have to move, but the employee might.
I already acknowledged in my previous post that this was a possibility.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana View Post
Most of the people I know who have done the long distance commute thing have ended up moving.
That's true. Many people do the long distance commute thing until it's the right time---like waiting for a child to finish high school.---and then they move.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana View Post
Having family together is important, too.
For the past four years, I've raised my teenagers with my husband only home on the weekends. We haven't suffered any negative consquences. As a matter of fact, our lives have been enriched by it. When he's home, he's home 100% for the family. He doesn't have to waste his time mowing lawns or repairing things because I make sure that's all done. There are many careers that require a spouse to be away, not just people who have jobs that were relocated.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2009, 12:52 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
6,327 posts, read 9,159,127 times
Reputation: 4053
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steelerfan07 View Post
I have lived in the Pittsburgh area for the last 10 years and like it very much. My wife has a good job and family in the area and one of my kids has 2 years of high school left. I also have 2 older kids in college, not far from Pittsburgh.

I am the primary breadwinner in our family. Due to recent changes where I work, my job has been moved to a town about 300 miles from Pittsburgh. It is not a location that my wife and I want to move to. For now, I am "commuting" to work there each week, leaving on Monday and returning home on Friday. I'm not sure how long my company will allow me to continue with this arrangement. Eventually, they will probably want me to move to the new location.

I am considering looking for a new job, but opportunities are limited in Pittsburgh. I would probably have to leave Pittsburgh to get a position that is comparable to what I have now. Do you think I should uproot the family and move to a new city, or stick it out for awhile and see what happens? Let me hear your opinions. Thanks.
IMO it would probably be hard for your kid to move him away with it being so late in their education so it may be hard to make friends in a situation like that. I'd try to stay if at all possible.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2009, 02:10 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,224,262 times
Reputation: 29983
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steelerfan07 View Post
I have lived in the Pittsburgh area for the last 10 years and like it very much. My wife has a good job and family in the area and one of my kids has 2 years of high school left. I also have 2 older kids in college, not far from Pittsburgh.

I am the primary breadwinner in our family. Due to recent changes where I work, my job has been moved to a town about 300 miles from Pittsburgh. It is not a location that my wife and I want to move to. For now, I am "commuting" to work there each week, leaving on Monday and returning home on Friday. I'm not sure how long my company will allow me to continue with this arrangement. Eventually, they will probably want me to move to the new location.

I am considering looking for a new job, but opportunities are limited in Pittsburgh. I would probably have to leave Pittsburgh to get a position that is comparable to what I have now. Do you think I should uproot the family and move to a new city, or stick it out for awhile and see what happens? Let me hear your opinions. Thanks.
It sounds like your question is rooted far more in personal considerations than practical ones. Do what you think is best for you and your family. I don't know that any of us here can be of much use in making a decision this personal.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 05-25-2009, 03:53 PM
 
43,011 posts, read 108,083,010 times
Reputation: 30722
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover View Post
It sounds like your question is rooted far more in personal considerations than practical ones. Do what you think is best for you and your family. I don't know that any of us here can be of much use in making a decision this personal.
For the most partk, you're right. I can think it's best to wait for the daughter to graduate, but I have no idea the state of the marriage. We only know they would prefer to live in Pittsburgh, but he hasn't bothered to look for a Pittsburgh job because he's assuming he won't find something comparable. Based on that, we can comfortably recommend that he at least try to see what's available in Pittsburgh.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Pennsylvania > Pittsburgh

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:07 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top