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Old 01-27-2014, 10:23 PM
 
60 posts, read 79,848 times
Reputation: 74

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CapsChick I may try that route next time and see how it goes.
Lebylander house shopping online is certainly a pain, especially if you don't know exactly where you want to live. They way I usually do it in a new town is just shop Craigslist and note several places (in different parts of town) I want to see and then drive around to look at them. Only go in and see the places you like and then go from there. You may have to come down this way a few times to find the perfect place but it will be worth it.
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Old 02-01-2014, 10:50 AM
 
Location: Madison, WI
141 posts, read 383,519 times
Reputation: 300
Oh Lord, do NOT go to Pulaski!! I see warning lights flashing all over your post. Pulaski is an incredibly economically depressed county, largely culturally locked in time, and not a place anyone from a "major metro area" wary of "culture shock" should go. I might offend some people by saying this, but just go, and drive around, and decide for yourself. You might feel like you need to hitch up your horse and wagon and start hunting squirrel. Radford is more with the times than the surrounding area, but is still very culturally limited. Being from the Philly area and northern VA you will be bored as hell. Commuting on I-81 is definitely a pain. Christiansburg is culturally dry as a bone, and Blacksburg can be alienating if you're not involved with, or an alum of, Virginia Tech, and it doesn't have everything you might expect in a university town, as far as cultural events go. Roanoke and Salem are great for RNs, and the culture you get for the trade-down in cost of living is good. There are lots of jobs for RNs that continually come up at Lewis Gale and Roanoke Memorial (Carilion). I would highly recommend holding out for one and not going with Pulaski!!
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Old 02-05-2014, 10:48 PM
 
31 posts, read 43,451 times
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NomadStephanie-

Unfortunately right now it is crazy hard for a new grad RN to get a job. (Yes, everyone talks about the nursing "shortage" but it doesn't exist.)
Here is an article: I can't find a nursing job! - Where's this so-called shortage? (1) - CNNMoney
and this.... For nursing jobs, new grads need not apply - Jan. 14, 2013

My husband has applied for close to 200 RN hospital jobs (including ones in Roanoke and Salem, as well as all over VA and PA) and at the moment, the one in Pulaski is the only one he has been asked to come to interview in person for. So we aren't really in a position to hold out for a better job, sadly. If he is given a decent job offer in Pulaski, he will take it, because we need more income, and health insurance :-(

That being said, I 100% agree that Salem/Roanoke would appeal to us more. For the time being, we plan on just doing what we have to do. Maybe if he gets the job and we are as bored as predicted in the area, after a year we can look elsewhere. I do really hope we would manage to meet some people, which is probably my biggest concern.
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Old 02-12-2014, 07:06 PM
 
60 posts, read 79,848 times
Reputation: 74
lebylander just wanted to give you an update on my recent move to Roanoke and where I ended up living. I found a house- 2 bed + den/office + 1 bath + backyard for less than $800/month in SW Roanoke right by Grandin Village. Super cute! Though with several negatives like mice and the original windows which are not great for keeping the cold air out. Though these issues are obviously due to the owner not taking great care of the place. Once I get it cleaned up I know I will be thrilled...I LOVE the neighborhood.
In regards to monthly utilities- the electric company said that the average bill around here is $100/month and water is apparently around $35/month. I guess the owner pays trash via property tax and I have no idea what my gas bill will be, though the only appliance that uses gas is the heater. Obviously I will only use that in the winter so I am hoping to keep that somewhat low right now. Now, the deposits on the utilities were crazy expensive, but coming from out of state may have made a difference there.
I hope the interview went/will go well!
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Old 02-18-2014, 03:14 PM
 
31 posts, read 43,451 times
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Treebw1- Sounds like you got a great deal there! I have heard the Grandin Village area is fantastic. Thankfully, mice and drafty windows can be dealt with- I have heard you can get kits to insulate windows cheaply at hardware stores.

Our trip down was a little crazy. Knowing about the massive storm coming, we came down last Wednesday. The last hour of our drive was in the blizzard- really scary. We ended up being snowed in for several days at my friends home in Christiansburg.

The interview seemed to have gone as well as it could've. He will be hearing around this weekend if he got the job. Thanks for the update, and the good wishes!
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Old 02-18-2014, 04:02 PM
 
60 posts, read 79,848 times
Reputation: 74
Glad you had a friend to stay with!!! I had to drive in a storm storm when I came across the country and it was scary!

Yeah, the area is great, so far I love it!

FYI- my daughter called last night to tell me that someone slashed her boyfriends car tire with a double-edged knife, her roommates car was egged last week (weird?), and a roommates car was repeatedly dented earlier in the year (this all happened in their parking lot). I guess their patio furniture has also been stolen...twice.
So- if you decide to move to Blacksburg I would maybe try to find out about crime. Though, not sure if they reported the thefts or the egging. They live on Clover Valley off Giles Rd-- maybe steer clear of that area.
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Old 03-04-2014, 05:52 AM
 
3,850 posts, read 4,160,813 times
Reputation: 7868
lebylander, what's the word? Did he get the offer?
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