moving cross country out west with no job lined up (Denver: sales, 2015)

[esteban865]

thanks again everybody! I have thought of boulder but is the diversity really an issue? I have heard that its pretty much snobby white people who live in boulder although I could be wrong. If I do go and visit colorado I do plan on visiting boulder and seeing for myself. What I like about boulder is that it does have a great vegan community and also a great mmj scene. I am worried about making a living though. Is it really possible to afford an expensive city like boulder or denver with just an entry-level job? If I do look at those, I may as well look at california too since california is probably just as expensive or a little more. I have thought about doing the camper thing but I think an easier thing to do would be to keep my car and stay at a motel or corporate housing until I find a job. And I completely forget about the cultural difference from TN to boulder. In knoxville if you just met someone who you worked with nobody would be comfortable just letting you stay with them. And my parents aren't that bad, I can always return if I have to. I just don't want to come home a failure because I am already seen as a failure to them so success is my best option. and the PO box is such a great idea. I never thought of that. The problem with not having a permanent address is that employers don't want to hire someone who isn't already stable or established. But if I have my own PO box address, that could easily cover it. Also, if I do decide to visit colorado or california because I am interested in the different cities available, is there any way I could get a rental car at 19? I have never heard of a place renting to such a young person and my car can't handle driving all around the west coast right now because it is at 140,000 miles and the trip out west when I move is going to be quite alot already.

[rogers719]

As someone who relocated to Colorado from Clinton, Tn I think you would enjoy it here very much. Other than a few friends I do not miss Knoxville at all.

Anywhere north of Colorado Springs is rather expensive. Boulder is nice, but too expensive in my opinion. Denver is like just about any other large city, and is an experience you could get anywhere other than legal cannabis.

While the Denver / Boulder areas are the center of the Colorado cannabis scene more affordable housing can be found as you go south in both Colorado Springs and Pueblo. They are still large enough to have decent amenities and job opportunities.

Many small towns on the eastern plains offer low cost of living, but have very little in the way of jobs and are too far to commute. Plus if you are going to move to Colorado, move near the mountains.

Personally, I chose to live near Canon City. Cost are comparatively low and I am 30 - 45 minutes from Pueblo or Colorado Springs. Instead of renting an apartment I purchased a mobile home. With the difference in what I pay for lot rent versus what I would pay in rent for a three bed apartment the mobile home will have payed for itself within two years. Plus I have more free cash to enjoy Colorado. The mmj scene isnt as good as Denver by a long shot but cannabis is everywhere in this state and I wouldnt choose based on that alone.

As far as the industry, trimming jobs are easy to find but it is honestly a horribly tedious job for low pay. As mentioned you would have to be 21 for a mmed support badge regardless.

Why not find a job in Knoxville that also has locations out here where you could possibly transfer? Work in Knoxville for six months to a year then when ready to move you have a job lined up when you get to Colorado.

[jamies]

LOL wants to be a professional pot head!

At 19 you'd be better saving your brain cells and going to college, or join the army and do a little growing up first.

Then you will have the skills or education for something other than a minimum wage job and low income life. Rich people can pay for pot easier too.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by jamies

LOL wants to be a professional pot head!

At 19 you'd be better saving your brain cells and going to college, or join the army and do a little growing up first.

Then you will have the skills or education for something other than a minimum wage job and low income life. Rich people can pay for pot easier too.

This kid is not ready to move, and it shows.

[sithlord72]

Bro, you're parents are right. Go back to school and don't use the legalization of pot as an excuse to get out of your parents house. Go to school, put as much money as you can away and when's are more stable you can move. Going to Colorado with 5 grand and no job means you're gonna blow through that money very quickly on necessities and weed and the what are you gonna do ?

You're 19, these should be the years that you are developing a career to earn money and have a retirement set for yourself 40-50 years from now.

[Sunderpig2]

Originally Posted by sithlord72

Go to school, put as much money as you can away and when's are more stable you can move. Going to Colorado with 5 grand and no job means you're gonna blow through that money very quickly on necessities and weed and the what are you gonna do ?

Great points. I can almost guarantee that that will happen. Then you (the OP) will be left with the guilt of losing that money, having even less options, and having wasted more time. Too many people these days - even very young - are essentially ready to retire before they've even contributed and paid "their dues". Most non-wealthy people deserve and get the "easier life" only after they've worked hard, saved up, and advanced their brains over a long period of time.

The approach of the OP is very foolish anywhere, and especially so in CO. No one will feel sorry or sympathic, or go out of their way to help. Even thinking along those lines should be a red flag.

[esteban865]

As I said before I am not going to move until I have at least 10k-15k saved up. I am sorry but I am not going to school right now. I am burnt out on school and I will have no motivation to do it. And that is a great idea of a mobile home. I am definitely going to look into that. I also might look into getting a job that has corporate connections where I could transfer. I currently work at a local restaurant but getting a job that has other stores or branches in another city and I could transfer sounds like a good idea as well

[Pequeño_Bonsai]

Hi OP:

I think you do have some good ideas, namely increasing your savings, looking at alternative housing options (trailer does sound like a viable option), and trying to land a job that could transfer you.

I am not going to tell you to pursue a college degree but I will encourage you to try and pick up a trade. If, for whatever reason, your dream of being a grower doesn't pan out either in the short or long-term then you will want something to fall back on... Let's say you do come out here and make it but in 10 years you need to move out of state for whatever reason and your profession isn't legal wherever you are headed. You do not want to be almost 30 with no true skill sets outside of growing. Many people who work in a trade industry make a decent to a very comfortable living, have good prospects at finding work no matter where they live, and can support a family whenever that becomes a priority for you.

Btw, you can rent a car when you are 18+ but rental car companies charge a pretty hefty fee for anyone under 25 years old. (Think a 3-digit fee amount.)

I'm in my late twenties now and had friends who didn't go the college or skilled labor route after high school... it hasn't ended very well for any of them. Just do your older, future self a solid and get a back-up plan in place now just in case.

Originally Posted by esteban865

As I said before I am not going to move until I have at least 10k-15k saved up. I am sorry but I am not going to school right now. I am burnt out on school and I will have no motivation to do it. And that is a great idea of a mobile home. I am definitely going to look into that. I also might look into getting a job that has corporate connections where I could transfer. I currently work at a local restaurant but getting a job that has other stores or branches in another city and I could transfer sounds like a good idea as well

[dreaminofitall]

Originally Posted by jamies

LOL wants to be a professional pot head!

At 19 you'd be better saving your brain cells and going to college, or join the army and do a little growing up first.

Then you will have the skills or education for something other than a minimum wage job and low income life. Rich people can pay for pot easier too.

I know literally dozens of growers who have six figure incomes, a few with seven.

Why take a risk, grow a harmless plant and be your own man as an entrepreneur when you can "grow up," sign your freedom away and become meat-slaughter for the military industrial complex...all for 35 grand a year! Yeah, OP. Grow up!

[brightdoglover]

What is the job market like in the MJ industry, both medical and recreational?