.

[FarminCy]

With the current role technology plays in our careers the need to move for a job isn't as much as it is a change in lifestyle. From college to where I currently am in life I've lived in Minnesota, Colorado, and now Iowa. I grew up in Iowa and really enjoy central Iowa. If there wasn't farming and farmland attached to my life I'd be open to going back to Minnesota or Colorado or just about anywhere because why not. However now that all my kids are in school, farming, etc we will be in Iowa until they are out of the house at least.

I recently was asked to relocate to the UK for a period of 2-3 years. Had this been an option before kids in school etc I would have jumped at it. As it is with technology today I got it worked out where I can take the promotion stay in Iowa use Skype, etc while here. The only change is I have to go quarterly for a week or two to the UK, which isn't bad at all. Even better at times I will get to bring my wife and kids. We are working on the whole family being in the UK for the entire month of June in 2019.

 

[JP4CY]

Good God, I didn't realize so many of you lived in Jaysker land at some point.

 

[kirk89gt]

Additionally, look that the US News and World article on "Best States to Live In". The midwest consistently ranks towards the top compared to the rest of the country. We must be doing something right.

 

[FarminCy]

cyhiphopp said: ↑
Is this a Midwestern thing, staying in an area to remain near to family?

Seems like people from New York or Chicago are much more willing to relocate. Or maybe that's just something that sticks out only to me.




I think it is what separates us (the midwest) from the rest of the country. Other parts of the country seem more concerned with "insignificant things" (cars, money, houses, keeping up with the Jones', etc.) We (in the midwest) tend to care about the "things that matter" (family, friends, values / morals, etc.) Which may explain why the issues that impact the coasts, seem to not be an issue in the middle of the country. I wouldn't trade this for the world.

As to the OP, pretty content in Iowa - would really like to get closer to the Ames / DSM metro, but life in the Dirty isn't too bad (it's still Iowa), and that is enough for the moment.

I think you forgot to put a jimlad after that comment.

 

[jbindm]

Needs to be balanced against the cost of living. We took a paycut to move to Iowa from San Francisco, but achieved a much higher standard of living.

When my sister was living in Chicago she had a boyfriend who was from the city. The only reason he'd come back to Iowa was so he could stock up on cigarettes. In his opinion, Iowa was "like going to ******* Mexico." He was a real winner.

So yeah, cost of living factors in. It's jaw dropping to see what homes similar to ours cost in other states.

 

[CycloneErik]

In academic job searching, you expect to relocate, unless you're that rarely special person that your school creates a job for. Since that happens mostly at Ivy League schools, and then like once a generation, you expect to move somewhere as part of the deal.

But having a daughter, I know this year's searching is extra difficult. The early rounds of schools were either places that don't look at ISU grads, or are looking for a "distinguished record" that new PhDs don't have, or were so remote that access to anything would be extremely limited, which isn't where I want to be.

The spring round is more promising, but still leaves thoughts like "do we want Kansas schools or Missouri schools" or "stay around Council Bluffs or Omaha" in order to have good schools and such available for her.

In my dreamworld, ISU would make up a job for me, and I'm good forever. Since that's not reality, I'll happily move along knowing that was always the deal.

 

[BCClone]

When my sister was living in Chicago she had a boyfriend who was from the city. The only reason he'd come back to Iowa was so he could stock up on cigarettes. In his opinion, Iowa was "like going to ******* Mexico." He was a real winner.

So yeah, cost of living factors in. It's jaw dropping to see what homes similar to ours cost in other states.

Had a relative who lived in the twin cities. Had an ok house that was 25 years old and not much yard. We built our house on a double lot and over twice the size for the house. His house sold for 20k more than we built ours for the same year.

 

[Playboi Carti]

This is tough because I can stay in Ames my whole life with a good paying job but visiting my sister in Colorado makes me want to live there. Mountains are way cooler than corn fields.

 

[jbindm]

This is tough because I can stay in Ames my whole life with a good paying job but visiting my sister in Colorado makes me want to live there. Mountains are way cooler than corn fields.

I only have anecdotal evidence, but I know a lot of people who left Iowa to go to college or when they were right out of school and they came back after a few years. If you're going to try living somewhere else then now is the time.

 

[Playboi Carti]

I only have anecdotal evidence, but I know a lot of people who left Iowa to go to college or when they were right out of school and they came back after a few years. If you're going to try living somewhere else then now is the time.

True, one nice thing about getting an associate degree is I can transfer almost anywhere I want. I'd like to transfer to CU or CSU but it would be a hard transition.

 

[Farnsworth]

Unless we have children real soon, wouldn't take anything for me to move really. As long as it's a job I like, comparable salary (cost of living accounted for as well), and a location I like, I'd be all for it.

I've been looking for jobs in Austin for awhile now.

I'm sure we'll end up back in Iowa at some point though.

 

[Kagavi]

Grew up in Iowa and have now lived in nearly all corners of the country.

My wife and I have lived in the swamps, the rural country, the desert, a college town, a megapolis, a beach town, a tourist trap, the rust belt. We've lived in conservative and liberal strongholds. Places where the gay pride flag waves. Places where the Confederate flag waves. We've been close to family and we've been thousands of miles away.

The experience and adventure has been invaluable. IMO, a significant percentage of this country is far too insular and tribal. Do your part in changing that by getting out there and truly exploring the world. Open mind!

A large part of me regretted going to my hometown ISU, because it was the safe move. I didn't pursue opportunities with elite colleges across the country. Even after graduating, I still kept a USC brochure in my bookcase as a reminder of what could've been. What if I had tried for USC film school? What about the Ivies? What about a school in a scenic part of the country?

It was less about the actual school itself, but more about putting myself in unfamiliar and scary situations to push myself in new and unexpected directions. I took my regrets and did something about it. Now I find myself in position to make my dreams come true in the coming years.

It's never too late to fix it.

To the OP asking what it would take, I respectfully submit that time is running out and you only have one life, go live it.

Don't wait!

 

[Gunnerclone]

One thing I thought was crazy is the area where I could see us relocating in the future is the schools. I’m in Johnston and I think Johnston HS is held in pretty high esteem in Iowa (maybe not?) but holy crap it’s not even rated by US News. The district we would probably move to is in the Top 500 in the country.

 

[Entropy]

In academic job searching, you expect to relocate, unless you're that rarely special person that your school creates a job for. Since that happens mostly at Ivy League schools, and then like once a generation, you expect to move somewhere as part of the deal.

But having a daughter, I know this year's searching is extra difficult. The early rounds of schools were either places that don't look at ISU grads, or are looking for a "distinguished record" that new PhDs don't have, or were so remote that access to anything would be extremely limited, which isn't where I want to be.

The spring round is more promising, but still leaves thoughts like "do we want Kansas schools or Missouri schools" or "stay around Council Bluffs or Omaha" in order to have good schools and such available for her.

In my dreamworld, ISU would make up a job for me, and I'm good forever. Since that's not reality, I'll happily move along knowing that was always the deal.

Pretty much this.

I grew up in NW WI, and would be fine living back there (or in MN) but it's a function of where the jobs were at.

I moved back to WI after grad school (UWSP) because there was a job. It was only part time and temporary, but it was critical experience. I ended up moving back to IA when a full time "tenure track" (community college profs have something called continual renewal, but it's similar to tenure) job opened up in Mason City. I didn't know anything about living in that part of IA, but I wanted the job and the experience. Ended up being a good move for the Fall of 2007.

I liked the IA system, but I applied to stay in the Midwest. I interviewed in N. WI, Twin Cities, MI, etc. When the job opened up at Kirkwood, it looked like a good move, as my wife was struggling to find work in N. IA.

For us to move (we both have full time jobs here) would take one of those dream job opportunities where we move to a part of the country we love and both have full time work.

 

[MeanDean]

Grew up in Iowa and have now lived in nearly all corners of the country.

My wife and I have lived in the swamps, the rural country, the desert, a college town, a megapolis, a beach town, a tourist trap, the rust belt. We've lived in conservative and liberal strongholds. Places where the gay pride flag waves. Places where the Confederate flag waves. We've been close to family and we've been thousands of miles away.

The experience and adventure has been invaluable. IMO, a significant percentage of this country is far too insular and tribal. Do your part in changing that by getting out there and truly exploring the world. Open mind!

A large part of me regretted going to my hometown ISU, because it was the safe move. I didn't pursue opportunities with elite colleges across the country. Even after graduating, I still kept a USC brochure in my bookcase as a reminder of what could've been. What if I had tried for USC film school? What about the Ivies? What about a school in a scenic part of the country?

It was less about the actual school itself, but more about putting myself in unfamiliar and scary situations to push myself in new and unexpected directions. I took my regrets and did something about it. Now I find myself in position to make my dreams come true in the coming years.

It's never too late to fix it.

To the OP asking what it would take, I respectfully submit that time is running out and you only have one life, go live it.

Don't wait!

Yeah, I tried a couple times to take a different route but ultimately the opportunities didn't pan out. I often wonder how my life might have been different if things had.

Another observation I made, probably in my 30's... Some people are going to be miserable wherever they are. Others are going to look for the good, unique, and interesting wherever their lives take them. It's not really what the OP's question is about but basically wanted to throw it out there. You can always look for the bad. Or you can look for the good and make the best out of your 'opportunities.'

 

[KnappShack]

cyhiphopp said: ↑
Is this a Midwestern thing, staying in an area to remain near to family?

Seems like people from New York or Chicago are much more willing to relocate. Or maybe that's just something that sticks out only to me.




I think it is what separates us (the midwest) from the rest of the country. Other parts of the country seem more concerned with "insignificant things" (cars, money, houses, keeping up with the Jones', etc.) We (in the midwest) tend to care about the "things that matter" (family, friends, values / morals, etc.) Which may explain why the issues that impact the coasts, seem to not be an issue in the middle of the country. I wouldn't trade this for the world.

As to the OP, pretty content in Iowa - would really like to get closer to the Ames / DSM metro, but life in the Dirty isn't too bad (it's still Iowa), and that is enough for the moment.

I haven't found this to be true at all.

 

[Kagavi]

Children, while the most incredible high of my life, completely reshape what changing the adventure would be like ... unfortunately missing the latter will haunt me the rest of my life.

Kids make it tough, for sure, but why are you so convinced you missed it?

Kids are resilient and pliable. People move with kids overseas. People homeschool. There's no requirement that a kid NEEDS a house and yard. If the family unit is solid and loving, anything is possible. Live out of a tiny house. Eat oatmeal for every breakfast. Live far below your means (easier said than done for some people, I know). There's a way if you want it hard enough.

Would a child be enriched or hurt by having diverse experiences? They can be a crutch, or they can enrich. Putting them in unfamiliar situations early on makes them more durable as adults. Good schools can be overrated if the home environment is enriching.

Still not too late buddy! Go get it. Sit down with your boo and figure out a plan to traverse your dreams.

 

[Colorado]

Translation: legal weed

I lived here 17 years before it was legalized and my answer would have been the same before legalization. But....it doesn't hurt

 

[LindenCy]

money and lots of it

I was going to post this:

 

[Bobber]

Have travelled the world. I like Iowa and our family is here. Kids are entering High School years and will not uproot them. I have been with the same company for 25 years, am a part owner and the money is good with a very low Iowa cost of living. You would have to double my pay for me to even think about moving and that wouldn't be enough if it was on the East or West coast.