| Author | Message | ||
     Zane |
There is an outside chance that I may be relocating around the first of the year. I'm in IT and there is a possibility (probability) that my company's IT functions will be absorbed by the parent company's larger IT company. Today I was approached by a company that I used to work for. They have several positions that I qualify for and would be interested in. The possible locations spots are: Los Angeles, California Seattle, Washington Farmington, New Mexico Some of the criteria for deciding are cost of living compared to Tampa Bay, the weather, and of course riding conditions. Here in Tampa Bay the weather is pretty most of the time but the roads aren’t worth much for sport bike riding. There are few twisties within a comfortable riding distance. What are these three areas like, weather wise and what are the roads like for a novice sport bike rider? Any and all comments are welcome. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Welcome to the PNW we gots your twisties here . You have mail | ||
| Zane |
Cityxslicker, Can't get to my personal mail at work but when I get home tonight, I'll check it out. thanks Z | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I only missed 3 days of riding last year due to weather , 2 to snow, and 1 to torrential rain that caused mudslides. I logged 352 days of riding last year. The weather is usually mild, but always be prepared for the wet. And the leaves this time of year... I will get some pics. | ||
| Doerman |
Farmington would probably be your least expensive in terms of cost of living. Riding isn't great right around Farmington, but great roads within a day's trip. Cost of living and roadwise, LA and Seattle are pretty close. However, the weather is much more cooperative in the LA area. | ||
| Zane |
An inexpensive cost of living is pretty important to me. I'm spoiled too because Florida doesn't have a state income tax. I worked for a year in Ohio and the taxes about broke my back. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
No income tax, and well its an election year, who knows what government holds for the next session for us. | ||
| Bartimus |
New Mexico's income tax is pretty low. Yes, the curves are ALL within a days ride. Durango, CO is just up the road, and curves abound throughout Colorado. Farmington isn't a very pretty city, but it's location, weather, and cost of living is VERY appealing... | ||
| Zane |
Bartimus, Once about 4 years ago I spent a 4 days in Farmington. Didn't get around much, I was too busy getting done what I needed to do. It did strike me as a good place though. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
zane, sorry to see you thinking about leaving the area, although i'm back in brandon working out in mulberry, i look forward to going back on the road again. as far as where to go, never been to none of the places but you hear how crowded LA is, and how wet seattle is but i've never heard anything about farmington. that might be worth looking into. although i'm pretty busy between work and getting stuff done on the house, i hope i have a chance to meet ya before you take off if you decide to go. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Although we (WA) do not have an income tax when you add up all the other taxes we are one of the highest tax states in the country. What you haven't stated is what do you want to do career wise? If you plan to stay in IT there is only choice, Seattle. If living expenses are most important than New Mexico is it. LA is nice, but you have to have a California mindset to live there. I personally like it, but then I am different. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
And not to steal Zane's thunder, but the company is moving me East to Wenatchee, to bolster their Buell sales. So Viao Con Huevos for a bit. I will be back in the Puget sound area for the IMS tho. | ||
| Zane |
I just looked on the map and Wenatchee looks to be about 100 miles. Probably more because of the mountains. I bet there is some GREAT riding there. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
and most of it is dirt....  I do have my priorities out of whack, I would move just for the miles of forest roads. | ||
| Zane |
You lucky dog! | ||
| Zane |
Hey Nevrenf, There should be plenty of time to meet up. First of all, nothing is finalized yet and I still have to get my divorce squared away first. That may take another month or so. Then getting the house disposed of. Yeah, I'll be hear to at least the first of the year. Brandon, isn't that far. I can make over to you with a problem. Maybe some Saturday after you get settled? | ||
| Teeps |
The riding is fair to good in the L.A. area, depending on your preferences. I'm guessing the riding here would suit you, based on your age. And, for better or worse, there are several Buell dealers within 50 miles (or less) of each other. However if you're coming to L.A. and make less than 80K a year for get about it... To rent a house in the Torrance area, for instance, is just north of 2k a month. Where exactly is your office? (Message edited by teeps on October 25, 2008) | ||
| Nevrenuf |
zane, your welcome over here anytime. right now i'm working overtime, which means saturdays but i'm trying to avoid sundays. as far as being settled, i've got to much to do to be at that point anytime soon. i'll just take it a day at a time. luckily i'm able to ride to work when i'm not car polling with the brother in-law. my number is in the bran so give me a call sometime. | ||
| Zane |
LA is the least desirable of the three geographic areas. Cost of living, taxes and being such a crowded area. If the Califorina gigs come through, the most likely location would be north of the Brentwood area. There is also a chance it would instead be out east in San Bernadino. I'd much prefer either Seattle or Farmington to the LA area. | ||
| Teeps |
Zane Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2008 - There is also a chance it would instead be out east in San Bernadino. I'd much prefer either Seattle or Farmington to the LA area. I'd have to agree with you. As for San Bernardino... to far from the ocean for my liking. | ||
| Krassh |
The Oceans are polluted! I'll hang in the mounitains. | ||
| Zane |
Yeah, I'm in IT and will most likely finish my career doing IT. There's no heavy lifting and I get to sit under an a/c vent in the summer. I have a pretty narrow speciality but the market is pretty good for what I do right now so feel like if I can make the jump I should. More money and I'll have several states between the ex-wife and I. | ||
| Dynasport |
Zane I lived in San Bernadino for a year about 15 years ago, so many things are probably much different now. My experience was that the winter was beautiful, but the smog in the summer blotted out the nearby mountains. It also made my lungs and throat burn when I jogged even when I couldn't see or smell it. If you smoke, you may not notice it at all, but the year I was there I wondered how much damage my kids lungs were getting from breathing the air. I didn't ride the year I was there, but there were really nice roads leading up into the mountains that I am sure would have been great. The traffic also was no where near as bad as it was into LA. The California taxes were very high but the school systems have many more resources than the do here in Florida. All in all, as beautiful as it was where I lived, I don't have any desire to ever live there again. I haven't personally even been to Seattle, but a good friend of mine recently spent a year there on temporary assignment from his company. He told me he hated it. It rained all the time and he got depressed. Of course, being away from his friends and family probably contributed to that as well, but he didn't like the weather at all. If it was me, I'd either stay in Florida or check out Farmington. But hey, I am sure there are people on this board who love southern California and Seattle. | ||
| Zane |
I've been to Farmington and was surprised how much I liked it there. I didn't get to really scope out the area because I was there on a work related trip. I do remember people talking about how little housing was available. The land to the west, south and north is all indian reservation so it' limits where I could live. I do remember liking the area though. I've never been to LA and don't think I'd like it. I'm basically a country boy and Southern California would just be too big for me me. Seattle is big but nowhere near LA size. | ||
| Dfbutler |
Zone, LA has traffic, sure, but CA is the only state where you can legally split lanes, so a 45 or minute commute in a car takes 20 minutes on a bike and you can ride almost every day. There are lots of great roads to ride. It is expensive to live. | ||
| Krassh |
Well if San Bernardino is an option check out living in Mountains. I grew up in western PA and lived 5 miles out of town in the country. The area I live in Crestline is about the closest I have come to that small town living in Cali. Only about a 25 miles commute to San Berdo. but with some nice twisties. Usually blue skies in the mountains, when coming down the mountain it is either brown haze hanging around or white fluffy marine layer.  | ||
| Ratbuell |
I used to have to travel to LA for training. I have NO desire to live where you can *see* the air. Yuk. I know, I know..."it makes for beautiful sunsets". BAH. If it were me, I'd go anywhere other than the LA area (apologies to any Los Angelenos on badweb...just my thoughts, though). | ||
| Zane |
I am leaning toward Farmington. Low cost of living and mild weather. Of course all this presupposes that I'll get an offer. We're still in the interview process and I still need to get my divorce squared away. Still, I like the idea of having a couple of states between me and the ex wife. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Nothing further in the Lower contiguous states than Seattle. She would really have to have a bur to come 3 time zones and 2500 miles. You wont be seeing her around town. And we all have our own demons. Mine is in Seattle, which is why Wenatchee really look enticing. | ||
| Zane |
We're talking about my soon to be ex wife. 2500 miles just barely far enough...lol |
