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This city isn't very kind to people with "modest aspirations," but it does reward people with outlandish aspirations. If you move here, shoot for a great job, not a modest one. Look for jobs that, even if you don't get them, are worth the effort pursuing. In the end, it's aspiration that sustains you in New York, not adventure. If you're living in Queens and doing clerical work, the adventure wears off very quickly. On the other hand, if you're working your way up in New York urban planning organizations (the most elite and competitive in the country), that aspiration can sustain you.
If you stay in Texas, you should move to Austin sooner rather than later. In your field, getting a great job means paying your dues with years in a low-paying position. However, you want to be in place for a big opening when it arrives. Austin is full of 20-somethings working their way up. They're not going make room for you when you're a 30-something and want to move to Austin (unless you have some outstanding credits from elsewhere). If you're going to pay dues, make sure they're in the local currency.
I recently discovered Idealist.org (idealist.org). It lists jobs in non-profits and government agencies (the people who are interested in Geography majors). It might be worth a look.
Turtle, your budget breakdown was exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to get. Thanks for taking the time to give me something so detailed! And tpk, you're right about the many years required (locally spent) to get some street cred in planning. I lived in Austin for five years, but had to leave to find a job that remotely relates to my field. Believe me, as soon as I can, I'm going back.
Maybe this whole "moving to NYC" thing is symptomatic of a deep-residing Austin homesickness more than anything else. Maybe not. Either way, thank you all for your advice!
p.s. I'll be checking out Idealist.org as well. Good call.
you do GIS and enviro work and want to get out of Texas.
You should consider DC. The govt, or a contractor. lots of demand for GIS folks, AFAICT. Esp with good quant backgrounds.
Cheaper than NYC, but higher salaries than small town in Texas. Rule of thumb, you want to make 50k to pay on an a 50k student loan. Should be almost as easy to do that in DC with your background as in NYC, with lower COL.
Turtlecreek's budget assumes that you require a certain lifestyle. If you're willing to live with craigslist roommates and maybe not in your favorite part of Queens, you can feasibly pay $500 in rent/utilities. You don't need to take cabs. Really. You don't need to go to the movies once a week. Really.
I make less than 20k and get by fine (in Queens) but admittedly it would be more difficult with your loan burden. It's important to realize that NYC rent prices can be as cheap as anywhere if you're flexible about where you'd be willing to live and how, and that not having to pay for a car more than pays for your subway card.
if you don't:
use smartphones
use cable tv
eat out
own a car
mind sharing an apartment
you are in good shape, under 20k is doable.
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