Here are my goals - which US state?
Mar 4th 2015, 8:52 pm
#31
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
The reasonable housing and living costs would rule out MA, well the Boston metro area and the cold winters, but the other points are all ticked. Plus it's a decent tech/science hub.
All moot if you don't have offices to transfer here though.
All moot if you don't have offices to transfer here though.
Mar 4th 2015, 9:05 pm
#32
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
Hey guys,
I recently posted about applying for an internal job at GE in San Ramon, California. I’ve since been reviewing the others options across America and Europe.
It got me thinking about what I want to achieve from moving and what is important to me and whereabouts I may find the sort of lifestyle that would suit us, an early 30’s married couple with a 1 year old son.
I would prioritise as follows:
• Safe family friendly environment with good educational opportunities.
• A warm climate that will allow us to spend more time outdoors than we can in Scotland.
• Nice scenery and catered to outdoor pursuits, think hills, forests, mountains, lakes, beaches etc
• Reasonable salary expectations, housing and living costs.
• Varied culture, eating, dining and festivals.
• Sport, opportunities to play and watch as much as possible - ok so this is just me!! Ha ha!
Many places in Europe offer these goals (think Italy and Spain) but I’m really unsure as to which states might also. I’m aware that I’m in pursuit of Utopia, and perhaps one or two will need to be traded off as compromise but I’m interested to hear peoples perspectives.
From limited research it sounds like Oregon, California and Arizona may be suitable perhaps Florida.... but what do you think?
I recently posted about applying for an internal job at GE in San Ramon, California. I’ve since been reviewing the others options across America and Europe.
It got me thinking about what I want to achieve from moving and what is important to me and whereabouts I may find the sort of lifestyle that would suit us, an early 30’s married couple with a 1 year old son.
I would prioritise as follows:
• Safe family friendly environment with good educational opportunities.
• A warm climate that will allow us to spend more time outdoors than we can in Scotland.
• Nice scenery and catered to outdoor pursuits, think hills, forests, mountains, lakes, beaches etc
• Reasonable salary expectations, housing and living costs.
• Varied culture, eating, dining and festivals.
• Sport, opportunities to play and watch as much as possible - ok so this is just me!! Ha ha!
Many places in Europe offer these goals (think Italy and Spain) but I’m really unsure as to which states might also. I’m aware that I’m in pursuit of Utopia, and perhaps one or two will need to be traded off as compromise but I’m interested to hear peoples perspectives.
From limited research it sounds like Oregon, California and Arizona may be suitable perhaps Florida.... but what do you think?
What sort of varied culture? If you mean art and music, that tends to be in the more expensive parts. Otherwise it's strip malls and a cinema. If you mean different cultural backgrounds, you will tend to find there's a lot of segregation.
Hot places are also hard to do sports and outdoor pursuits in, again unless you have the money to live in the pleasanter parts eg Malibu rather than east LA.
Mar 4th 2015, 9:29 pm
#33
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
In practice, if you live in the leafy 'burbs, don't rely on non-prescription pharmaceuticals for your income or recreation (and stay away from people who do, and the parts of town where they do business), and don't keep a gun in your house, the risk of living in the US is not significantly different from living in the UK.
Last edited by Pulaski; Mar 4th 2015 at 9:33 pm.
Mar 4th 2015, 9:45 pm
#34
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
Gun? High fructose sugar maybe.
Mar 4th 2015, 9:53 pm
#35
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
I think the city that I have visited before that most closely ticks the above boxes is Vancouver and the Rockies, sadly my company doesn't have any suitable business there.
I guess that is where my thought process has been leading me to west coast of USA. However I don't know much about other states in USA, so keen to hear what others think of where they live or visit.
I'm aware there will have to be trade offs, but it's nice to at least know what is important and what can be traded. I could accept 3 months of winter if it was nice sunny blue sky dry -15 snow conditions, however I just hate the dark, cloudy, rainy miserable winters we have in Scotland as I feel I am couped up.
I guess that is where my thought process has been leading me to west coast of USA. However I don't know much about other states in USA, so keen to hear what others think of where they live or visit.
I'm aware there will have to be trade offs, but it's nice to at least know what is important and what can be traded. I could accept 3 months of winter if it was nice sunny blue sky dry -15 snow conditions, however I just hate the dark, cloudy, rainy miserable winters we have in Scotland as I feel I am couped up.
Mar 5th 2015, 4:27 am
#36
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 429
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
Hey guys,
I recently posted about applying for an internal job at GE in San Ramon, California. I’ve since been reviewing the others options across America and Europe.
It got me thinking about what I want to achieve from moving and what is important to me and whereabouts I may find the sort of lifestyle that would suit us, an early 30’s married couple with a 1 year old son.
I would prioritise as follows:
• Safe family friendly environment with good educational opportunities.
• A warm climate that will allow us to spend more time outdoors than we can in Scotland.
• Nice scenery and catered to outdoor pursuits, think hills, forests, mountains, lakes, beaches etc
• Reasonable salary expectations, housing and living costs.
• Varied culture, eating, dining and festivals.
• Sport, opportunities to play and watch as much as possible - ok so this is just me!! Ha ha!
Many places in Europe offer these goals (think Italy and Spain) but I’m really unsure as to which states might also. I’m aware that I’m in pursuit of Utopia, and perhaps one or two will need to be traded off as compromise but I’m interested to hear peoples perspectives.
From limited research it sounds like Oregon, California and Arizona may be suitable perhaps Florida.... but what do you think?
I recently posted about applying for an internal job at GE in San Ramon, California. I’ve since been reviewing the others options across America and Europe.
It got me thinking about what I want to achieve from moving and what is important to me and whereabouts I may find the sort of lifestyle that would suit us, an early 30’s married couple with a 1 year old son.
I would prioritise as follows:
• Safe family friendly environment with good educational opportunities.
• A warm climate that will allow us to spend more time outdoors than we can in Scotland.
• Nice scenery and catered to outdoor pursuits, think hills, forests, mountains, lakes, beaches etc
• Reasonable salary expectations, housing and living costs.
• Varied culture, eating, dining and festivals.
• Sport, opportunities to play and watch as much as possible - ok so this is just me!! Ha ha!
Many places in Europe offer these goals (think Italy and Spain) but I’m really unsure as to which states might also. I’m aware that I’m in pursuit of Utopia, and perhaps one or two will need to be traded off as compromise but I’m interested to hear peoples perspectives.
From limited research it sounds like Oregon, California and Arizona may be suitable perhaps Florida.... but what do you think?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh
Mar 5th 2015, 12:52 pm
#37
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 572
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
Your comment about segregation really relates to the "safety" of living in the US too. The high homicide rate in the US is confined largely to certain ethnic groups and related to drugs, gangs, and other criminal activity. Most of the rest is domestic violence in households with guns.
Mar 5th 2015, 1:10 pm
#38
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: dundee
Posts: 186
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
North Carolina, specifically the piedmont region, which includes Charlotte as the largest city, but extends into north western South Carolina.
From the Charlotte area you're looking at 3 hrs to the coast, and a couple of hours to the mountains. Three bed detached houses in the 'burbs start about $150k for 1,500-2,000 sqft , and $200-$250k will get you a 4 bed house, upto around 2,500 sqft.
From the Charlotte area you're looking at 3 hrs to the coast, and a couple of hours to the mountains. Three bed detached houses in the 'burbs start about $150k for 1,500-2,000 sqft , and $200-$250k will get you a 4 bed house, upto around 2,500 sqft.
Just noticed that this really isn't far away from Charlotte area also.
Last edited by kancell; Mar 5th 2015 at 1:14 pm.
Mar 5th 2015, 1:16 pm
#40
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
Asking for a "state" is probably a bit too vague, because in every state you mention (heck, in most cities you will eventually start to narrow it down to) you'll have places that meet and that fail your expectation list. Good safe schools with decent housing can be only a few miles away from crap schools with drug dealers and trailer parks.
Do you have a more specific list of options? While I know GE is kind of humungous they probably don't have a position available for you in all 50 states and if you could turn it more into an A-B-C-or-D it would be easier than pick one of 50. If you can narrow it down a bit we can probably provide a much better reply.
Thanks
Do you have a more specific list of options? While I know GE is kind of humungous they probably don't have a position available for you in all 50 states and if you could turn it more into an A-B-C-or-D it would be easier than pick one of 50. If you can narrow it down a bit we can probably provide a much better reply.
Thanks
Last edited by penguinsix; Mar 5th 2015 at 1:21 pm.
Mar 5th 2015, 1:34 pm
#41
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
Ok so how does South Carolina compare with North? Just seen a good job in Greenville, looked at the wiki and it seems like an altogether nice place.... reasonable climate, low crime rates, arts, sports.... too good to be true???
Just noticed that this really isn't far away from Charlotte area also.
Just noticed that this really isn't far away from Charlotte area also.
) ..... But I digress. 
Anyhow, yeah, Greenville SC is a nice area, very similar to my neck of the woods.
Mar 5th 2015, 2:13 pm
#44
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Gaadnah MA
Posts: 597
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
Your comment about segregation really relates to the "safety" of living in the US too. The high homicide rate in the US is confined largely to certain ethnic groups and related to drugs, gangs, and other criminal activity. Most of the rest is domestic violence in households with guns.
In practice, if you live in the leafy 'burbs, don't rely on non-prescription pharmaceuticals for your income or recreation (and stay away from people who do, and the parts of town where they do business), and don't keep a gun in your house, the risk of living in the US is not significantly different from living in the UK.
In practice, if you live in the leafy 'burbs, don't rely on non-prescription pharmaceuticals for your income or recreation (and stay away from people who do, and the parts of town where they do business), and don't keep a gun in your house, the risk of living in the US is not significantly different from living in the UK.
- Yup
Mar 5th 2015, 8:49 pm
#45
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,043
Re: Here are my goals - which US state?
I've lived here 7 years. A few years ago a house on our street was burgled. It was such an unusual occurence that the police went door to door telling us that we really ought to start locking our doors. I do remember sometimes now...