Take a job in Grand Coulee?? I'm in Port Orchard, WA now (Spokane: fit in)

[Tony1790]

I've just retired from the military and am looking for a civil service job, the only one I've gotten is a security guard at Grand Coulee Dam in central WA. Should I take it? I can't see moving my family there, at least not until the summer, if at all. That means I'd be living in Grand Coulee during the week and commuting to Port Orchard on the weekends.

Should I do it? Should I take this job or pass and try for something else. Money is getting tight and I really need a job, but man, Grand Coulee is really in the middle of nowhere. Not sure if I can live there long term?

Thoughts? Am I missing a good deal here, is the town really nice and I'm just not getting it? And should I skip this job?

Thanks

Tony

[compltlyme]

Originally Posted by Tony1790

I've just retired from the military and am looking for a civil service job, the only one I've gotten is a security guard at Grand Coulee Dam in central WA. Should I take it? I can't see moving my family there, at least not until the summer, if at all. That means I'd be living in Grand Coulee during the week and commuting to Port Orchard on the weekends.

Should I do it? Should I take this job or pass and try for something else. Money is getting tight and I really need a job, but man, Grand Coulee is really in the middle of nowhere. Not sure if I can live there long term?

Thoughts? Am I missing a good deal here, is the town really nice and I'm just not getting it? And should I skip this job?

Thanks

Tony

With all due respect... shouldn't you be talking to your family and maybe taking a trip out there with them to see if this is something you would all like? You are close enough to make that trip and really look around.

Just my opinion and I am sure you will get many different ones... sometimes we have to do things we don't really want to in order to take care of our loved ones and ourselves. Maybe taking the job for now until you find something better and in a better location. Even if you work there a few months and find something else...at least you would be working. And who knows maybe once there you will love it.

Best of luck to you... and I hope someone on here knows the area enough to fill you in on it. And being informed you can make the right decision for you and your family.

[the dufferz]

Tony,

From what I know, Grand Coulee is a desolate tourist destination. If you have any kids who have "teen" attached to their age, you are probably in trouble. Summers are HOT!!!! with 90-100 degrees and no shade. It's not pretty unless you like rocks and shrubs.

The compster has a good point. Take your family over and take a look around.

I am a guy, family man and I understand the frustration of wanting to take care of the family, and not having a bunch of offers. I do not envy the position that you are in.

Also, thank you for your service to our country. You are an American Hero (and your families hero I am sure).

[Tony1790]

I've visited Grand Coulee twice, once with wife, once without. It looks like southern California, rocks and dirt, desert.

I'm supposed to start in Feb 07, but my kid's won't be out of school until June.

I'll take the job, because I do need work, still not sure if the family will follow me out there though.

Anyway, if anyone has every lived there, please chime in with any comments on what the place is like to live there.

Thanks

Tony

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Tony1790

...but man, Grand Coulee is really in the middle of nowhere. Not sure if I can live there long term?

Thoughts? Am I missing a good deal here, is the town really nice and I'm just not getting it? And should I skip this job?...

There are lots of dams in better living areas...
Depends on your need for cash, you can probably 'transfer', tho I might be looking for a job in Maint (tougher to 'outsource') I have some friends working at Bonneville Dam (similar to your climate), plenty of things for kids to do, ez acces to Mt Hood(ski / hike) Hood River (kite board / wind surf) and Portland, (whatever else you might want... )

I'm ready to dry out so I'd head to one of the other dams.
and would be tempted to commute. (the kids and wife may not be keen on Coulee City.) If you are the outdoor type there are lots of great destinations north of Coulee

but I'd keep a place on Port Orchard that could provide an apartment for when you want to visit, + keep you in the lucrative RE market, and generate postitive cash flow (rental or commercial). I tend to prefer a commercial building with an apartment above, there are several potential in Port Orchard (I come often and look as my dad was a Retsil resident for 17 yrs)

[AndreaSchumaker]

I am nineteen years old and have lived in Grand Coulee my entire life with the exception of the last year while I was in college. It is a desert no doubt about that and there isn't much to do but it isn't the worst place in the world. Its a nice place to live and although theirs not much to do if your willing to commute from port orchard all the way to grand coulee every weekend then you would fit in here. What I mean is if you live in Grand Coulee you will deffinitley be taking a lot of trips elswhere to go shopping for clothes and things like that. The closest town is about an hour and a half. Spokane is the place most residents go and it is about 2 hours give or take 15 minutes. The school here has had its share of problems with drugs, and fights but what school hasn't. Our High School just recently got a new principal and he seems to be doing a very good job. I attended all three schools and I never felt scared or anything like that. One thing I do have to say is that the schools are dillapitated and we are deffinitley in need of new ones.

I'm sure if you do decide to take the job it will be very different for you and your family. Kids seem to find some stuff to do around here though. Theres a local place where kids go and swim and jump off rocks in the summer. There is a theater which is only open on weekends. Boating is a big thing here as well as hunting so if anyone in your families into that they'd like it here. And if your kids are old enough to drive most teens go to Omak, Spokane, or Moses Lake to the theateres or malls there.

I don't love it in Grand Coulee, I'd rather live in Spokane but its not the worst place as I said. The people are genuinley nice here for the most part. You'll get to know a lot of good people here and nobodys to busy to talk to you like in the city.

Also if your family will be looking for jobs they're a little scarce. As far as jobs to support a family there is really only 3 main places people work. The dam (my dad works there,) the schools, the park service. As far as teenagers a lot of jobs open up in the summer such as Safeway, Restaraunts, Hotels...the normal summer jobs.

Hope this helps!

[tomsilv]

For a little Eastern Washington town, Grand Coulee isn't bad. There is a full-size gracery store, a little hospital, a few restaurants. Yes, once you are in town (Grand Coulee, Electric City, Coulee Dam, Elmer City) there are trees and grass and parks. Shoppings malls and big box stores in Moses Lake and Wenatchee aren't as far as Spokane.
BUT - The drive to Port Orchard every weekend would be the killer, winter or summer. From the dam to Wenatchee the road goes through remote, rugged, and non-scenic areas with snow and wind and the road in winter can be bad for days after a storm. From Wenatchee you go up Highway 2 through the bottlenecks of Cashmere and Leavenworth where one slow motorhome or truck any time of year backs traffic up for miles. From Leavenworth the road is twisty going over Stevens Pass, and from the pass to Everett it is narrow and one of the deadliest highways in the US.
Take the trip and check out the town, and on your way back when it's late and you're tired ask yourself if you could do that twice a week!

[Tony1790]

Thanks fella's for the replies, but this thread is from almost 2 years ago. I decided to take a job with Norfolk Southern Railroad, did a year program with them, quit and now in Nursing school in TN.

The Grand Coulee job would have been cool, could have taken it, but didn't. Passed on a couple of other govt jobs that I coulda/shoulda taken as well.

Tony