How many of you have lived in Chicago all your life? (Naperville: job market, public schools)

[frimpter928]

In the city of Chicago and the metro area. Having never lived outside of it?

[MSchemist80]

I lived in GA for 9 months after I graduated college otherwise I've lived in the Chicago area all my life. In fact, my family has lived here for over 100 years. Due mainly to the govt here, I'd rather live in GA if I could get an equivalent job there again only this time one that wasn't an excrement show. It was my first job out of college and given all the crappy employers here offering $15 an hour contract no benefits I jumped at the first job that offered >$40k and benefits.

[frimpter928]

Originally Posted by MSchemist80

I lived in GA for 9 months after I graduated college otherwise I've lived in the Chicago area all my life. In fact, my family has lived here for over 100 years. Due mainly to the govt here, I'd rather live in GA if I could get an equivalent job there again only this time one that wasn't an excrement show. It was my first job out of college and given all the crappy employers here offering $15 an hour contract no benefits I jumped at the first job that offered >$40k and benefits.

What do you do? I would think that you could make a career elsewhere. While Chicago has a great job market, it's not the only great job market in the US.

Interesting though, 9 months for you.

[fusillirob1983]

Lived a couple hours away in-state for college for 4.5 years (excluding summers). Other than that, I've either lived adjacent to or in Chicago my whole life until 3 years ago, now in Naperville.

[Nearwest]

I'm 70 and have lived in Chicago (city) all my life. Have never been tainted by suburbia. My sister and I attended Chicago public schools for both elementary and high school. I think that this fact made us better adults. We came to realize at an early age that not everyone is the same.


Also, I've only resided on the West Side. At the time of my birth, the West Side was viewed as 'Chicago's Mediterranean Sea.' The largest communities of Italians, Greeks, and Jews who lived in the city, were then located on the West Side. This extended west from downtown to the city limits bordering Oak Park and Cicero.

[frimpter928]

Originally Posted by Nearwest

I'm 70 and have lived in Chicago all my life. Have never been tainted by suburbia. My sister and I attended Chicago public schools for both elementary and high school. I think that this fact made us better adults. We came to realize at an early age that not everyone is the same.


Also, I've only resided on the West Side. At the time of my birth, the West Side was viewed as 'Chicago's Mediterranean Sea.' The largest communities of Italians, Greeks, and Jews who lived in the city, were then located on the West Side. This extended west from downtown to the city limits bordering Oak Park and Cicero.

Where in Chicago do you live now?

[Nearwest]

Frimpter 928: I still live on the West Side. I'm located near UIC, the Medical District, and the United Center. This fact is the origin of my handle on this site: Nearwest.

[MSchemist80]

Originally Posted by frimpter928

What do you do? I would think that you could make a career elsewhere. While Chicago has a great job market, it's not the only great job market in the US.

Interesting though, 9 months for you.

I'm a Chemist and it is insanely hard to find a job that is decent in my profession. A lot of the big companies (like Abbott, Baxter, Pfizer/Hospira, and Pepsi around here) won't even hire chemists directly and pay ~ $20 an hour no benefits contract crap. I've looked for a new job and I've found I can expect a 33-50% paycut if I ever lose my current job assuming I can ever find another job at all and that I would be better off changing careers.

As a result, I am on a FIRE extreme savings budget (not easy with lamprey Democrats taking more and more of my money) and hoping to ride my current job (which is niche and pretty stable) until I have enough to retire. In short I am stuck here.

[beaniemac]

I have lived her my entire life with the exception of being away for college for 4 years, when I primarily was in central illinois and I spent a year in dallas from summer 2017 through summer 2018.

[smegmatite]

Originally Posted by frimpter928

In the city of Chicago and the metro area. Having never lived outside of it?

I have until recently, its so great when you're not living there I tell ya what. Only thing I miss are my friends, but thankfully with modern technology its pretty easy to keep in touch.