Golden handcuffs and jobs

[jillybean720]

Originally Posted by PK12

Ok that is messed up. Checking/responding to emails while on PTO is one thing, but working 50 hours during your vacay trip?!?!?

You must work on a really bad project with one of the Big 4 firms

I have mostly worked for small businesses, often being the only one who does what I do for them. When your company (or department) is small, there's not usually someone else to cover for you when you're out.

[Middlin]

Originally Posted by cheriex333

I've lived in NoVa since 1990 (with the exception of stints for schooling in Harrisonburg, VA and Orlando FL), and notice this area is growing so...hectic.

There are many positives about this area (wealth of jobs, diversity, culture, arts, nature and parks, authentic food), but the drawbacks are starting to wear me down.
Housing (rent or buy) is absurdly expensive, traffic/congestion, public transport sucks, hectic lifestyle, and the gray frigid skies of winter that seems to last 3-5 months.
There are rude people on the metro who push you aside or cut in line (I'm petite and easily movable), the angry drivers, and just mean ill-mannered folks.

I'm tired, worn, and feel defeated. Walking home in 15 degree weather or staring at the bleak gray skies, I long to be able to go to the beach, or bask in a nice warm day, or chat with friendly locals. Most folks are so busy, nobody really has time to "chat". I'm pretty introverted so it's not like I need to go out all the time or need others. I usually resort to online forums for support since my friends are busy and my husband gets tired of "chatting".

I love my job and I'm grateful for being gainfully employed. When I lived in Orlando, good paying professional jobs were hard to come by. But I so miss the warm winters, ocean, and lifestyle of a warmer laid-back climate.

I'm torn between putting roots here, or saving up for a move. The economy is what mainly keeps me here.
The DC metro area is rich with opportunities and plentiful jobs. I'm afraid moving somewhere like Florida where the jobs my field is scarce or underpaid (I'm in Government IT & Project Mgt).

Can anyone else commiserate or feel hand-cuffed to this area for one reason or another?

I can just hear people in Orlando bemoaning the tourists, traffic and the unbearable heat in the summer as well. No place is perfect and when other factors conspire to make you feel down, it's easy to feel this way. I worked in DC for 12 years and did the walk/subway, bus/subway, drive, vanpool, all of it and was never happier than when I took an intial pay cut and started working in the suburbs

[jeintucson]

We are looking at moving to NOVA from Arizona. My husband will have a ridiculous commute if we make the move but besides that we looking forward to the move. I lived in Andrews AFB when I was a kid and loved all the museums and history that surround the DC area. I can't wait to experience that with my kids. We may have better weather in AZ right now but with that comes the worry about rattlesnakes and gila monsters in the backyard. We've had a couple rattlers curled right next to our front door! And it sounds ridiculous but during the summer, it gets too hot to even get into the pool. We spend most of the day inside with the curtains closed. All that to say, every place has its pros and cons. Sounds like a vacation is in order for you.

[PK12]

Originally Posted by jeintucson

We are looking at moving to NOVA from Arizona. My husband will have a ridiculous commute if we make the move but besides that we looking forward to the move. I lived in Andrews AFB when I was a kid and loved all the museums and history that surround the DC area. I can't wait to experience that with my kids. We may have better weather in AZ right now but with that comes the worry about rattlesnakes and gila monsters in the backyard. We've had a couple rattlers curled right next to our front door! And it sounds ridiculous but during the summer, it gets too hot to even get into the pool. We spend most of the day inside with the curtains closed. All that to say, every place has its pros and cons. Sounds like a vacation is in order for you.

Why would his commute be ridiculous? Where are you looking to live, and where will he be commuting to?

[Fredesch]

We plan on moving to Florida this year. I work from home so it doesn't matter where we live.

[NOVA_guy]

While this area definitely isn't perfect, places like Florida -- although very nice to visit, have never appealed to me because of the lackluster job market. Yeah, the weather is super nice and the club scene is great but that's kind of redundant when you're living somewhere where people are either rich or socioeconomically depressed and the job market is subpar.

At the end of the day different places work for different people.