Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with relocation

Living in Mexico.

zhivota — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:09:35 -0800

How can I go about living in Mexico for 3-6 months? I just got a job that enables me to work from any location where I have broadband internet access. I was thinking that I would like to winter in Mexico somewhere, starting probably October or November. I currently live in America (Idaho specifically). I speak very little Spanish.

My requirements are:

- Natural beauty. This can be ocean, mountains, or otherwise.
- Low cost. This doesn't mean super cheap is necessary, only that it's not like living in Manhattan or S.F.
- Internet Access
- Nearby International Airport (my job requires some travel)

Optional things:
- American expat community. Would be nice to have some people to talk to in my own language.
- Alternatively, tourist area. Again, people to talk to, good party scene for fun at night.

So, my questions:
Where do you recommend?
What steps do I have to take to do this legally? Can I just hop in and out of the country on cheap flights to Texas to renew a tourist visa, for example?
What gotchas am I not considering?
Is it even a good idea in your opinion?

I'll have a budget of probably about $2500 a month, for context. I don't want to spend all of that, that's just what I'll be working with.

I can possibly drive my car down, it's a beat up old Ford Escort. I can also consider going without a car, if it's feasible.

I am temperamentally okay with travelling down there with 2 suitcases and living out of them for the time period. I just need my laptop to work.

Thanks!

How's life in Burlington, VT?

subpixel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:01:50 -0800

How's life in Burlington, VT? I was in Burlington this past weekend and was very pleasantly surprised. Ignorant and judgmental as I am, I was sure it would be a bummer hippy-town where dreadlocked kids would crowd the sidewalks, using falafels as hacky sacks. Instead, I felt like the place had some soul. It certainly felt alive, with lots of different kinds of people in the downtown area. And while I did overhear a tourist couple ask the woman serving them coffee where they could buy a glass pipe, I didn't see any head shops. But I did see some decent looking restaurants. So - can anyone fill me in? Is Burlington on the upswing? What's like like there (or around there) for the post-college, pre-retirement set? Thanks in advance.

Moving to Wilmington, NC

sara is disenchanted — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:28:56 -0800

We're moving to the beach! But, I would like a few specifics about life in Wilmington, NC. Hope me Wilmington Mefites! I was offered a career position with the City of Wilmington last week, and now my husband and I have three to four weeks to relocate from Winston-Salem, NC to Wilmington, NC.

I grew up on the Delmarva shore and my husband spent most of his summers and free time visiting the coast from Wilmington down to Myrtle, so we have a decent understanding of coastal living. We're even familiar with where we like to fish and eat and drink and visit when we're in the greater Wilmington area.

What we would love to have is information regarding "lifestyle and living" questions.
-What neighborhoods are best for a married couple (who does not plan on expanding the family any time soon) that earns combined $60K? We're going to live in an apartment from 6 months to a year just to become oriented and save some money, but we would like to purchase a single-family house in the future.
-Any recommendations as far as apartment/condo complexes that are safe, comfortable, and dog-friendly? Any to avoid?
-Does anyone have a suggestion for veterinarians and/or doggie daycare? My schedule is so that we would only need to take the Rocky dog to daycare up to 3x per week. He's 5 years old, healthy, and blind (he gets around just fine, but sometimes we think we should buy him a little helmet!).
-What is traffic like on a regular basis? Is this a bicycle-friendly area (i.e., will I have trouble riding my road bike to work?)?
-What tasty vegetables and fruits can I grow in my garden?
-Best tackle/fishing shops in the area?
-Safe running trails and areas? Good mountain bike trails? Or will I be riding my road bike more with the terrain?
-We're both interested in hopefully joining an adult sport league (he's looking for flag or contact football, I'm more interested in ultimate, soccer, or tennis), and I've found some interesting leads, but do you have any clubs/teams you'd specifically endorse?
-Is there anything that you wish you would have known before you made the move to Wilmington?

Thank you in advance...this totally might be an excuse for a meetup.

Help me plan a European relocation?

dance — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:29:23 -0800

European relocation: I've been asked to help plan a friend's relocation from Switzerland to Norway. She wanted to do this herself by taking the seats out of a VW Caravelle and packing it up with her bicycle and personal effects (no large pieces of furniture are involved). I can't help but thinking that it would be cheaper and easier to have a company move her effects for her. It would save her driving nearly 3000km (that figure is for both ways) and is a safer option than having all the goods in the back of a car ready to fly forward in the event of an accident.

But has anybody made such a move? Was it easy? Was it a long time before the goods arrived? Was it expensive? Does it become more or less cost effective if you have loads of stuff vs. a lesser amount of personal effects?

And perhaps most importantly - can anyone recommend a firm we can use??

THANKS!

Should I move to the city I want to get a job in?

JennyJupiter — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:14:12 -0800

Should I stay in my current job while I look for a position in a new town or move and search from there? I am in a long distance relationship and we have decided that after nearly two years of driving two hours each weekend to visit each other its time to move in together.
I will be moving to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia (Harrisonburg) from Northern VA/ DC and am in the process of finding a job. The job hunt is taking much longer than expected(8 months so far)
Would moving to Harrisonburg make the job hunt easier or should I stay put in my well paying, secure position with my current company until I find something new? So far I've had 3 interviews in the area( declined consideration for one position and was not selected for the other two)
Issues that are affecting my descion:
1. Past interviewers were concerned that they cannot offer me a comparable salary to what I currently get. (I understand that the cost of living is less, and I will be making less money)
2. Past interviewers want to know why I would leave "the city" to come to Harrisonburg. (I went to college in Harrisonburg, am in a committed long term relationship, and have family in the area, but this doesn't seem to convince them)
3. Living in the city that I'm searching for a job in might make the interviewing process easier.
4. I'm not entirely comfortable with putting a financial burden on my boyfriend if the job search is more than a couple months.

Acting in Chicago?

a lunatic — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:36:14 -0800

Just relocated to Chicago, want to get back into acting... need some advice on good community theatre groups and talent agents of the non-scam variety. A couple of years ago, my life took a bit of a flip: my hobby became my career, and vice versa. I now get paid to make the websites, and get to be an actor as a hobby. I've recently relocated to Chicago from Calgary, and I need some advice on getting into the acting scene here: what are some of the decent community theatre groups? Which talent agents here are reputable (i.e. not looking to make a ton of money off of selling me headshots which I already have)?

Where exactly is "Silver Lake Adjacent"?

hwyengr — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:53:37 -0800

I'm relocating to LA from Chicago next month. I've been looking on Craigslist for apartments, and I'm leery of the accuracy of the lister's location descriptions. I've gotten plenty of advice as to what neighborhoods to look in, but I really don't know if I'm actually looking in those places. I hate looking for apartments from afar. But, this is happening fast and I'm going to need something quick when I get to town.

I've gotten plenty of advice from friends, and from searching here, I'm pretty sure I want to end up in Silver Lake even though I'm not into the hipster scene. I'll be working downtown and I want to stay within a 5-mile radius of the office so I can bicycle commute in a reasonable amount of time. And, I like the hilly-ness. And I need to be close to Intelligentsia to remind me of home.

But, even within Silver Lake, I don't know where I should shoot for. The LAist Neighborhood Project demarcated the official boundaries of the 'hood, but I know that some areas are probably better than others. Is it better to be north or south of Sunset? Is everything centered on the reservioir or is it scattered around? If I end up in Echo Park, is that going to be a problem?

When I first moved to Chicago, I let the "realtor" show me a really cool apartment in an area that had nothing around it. It wasn't a good or bad neighborhood, there just wasn't anything there. I don't want to do that again.

Job hunting from overseas: good or bad idea?

QueSeraSera — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:22:15 -0800

Job hunting from across the ocean: in a foreign country, looking to move back to home country. Which is better? Apply and interview from here, or quit current job and search from there? I've been saying it for years, but I'm finally ready to move back home after a great stint abroad. I've selected the location, now all I need is the job. I'd really like to begin inquiring from here, but friends have suggested that I should pack up and search from there. Which would maximize my chance of getting the job I want?

Apply from here:
PROS
- Security. I continue working my job, less crazy-making for me.
- Gainfully employed people are more attractive prospects. (?) "I'm a serious professional."
CONS
- Interview logistics. Can't drop everything and pop in for a chat, time zone nightmares, might turn off employers.
- I need at least one month of lead time to settle my affairs here. Is this a deal breaker?

Apply from there:
PROS
- More convenient for the employer.
- I would be able to start right away.
- Make me appear to be a confident risk-taker and go-getter. (?)
CONS
- Unemployment. Gap in my resume. Money worries.
- Major stress = less than my ideal confident, professional self.
- Setting up shop in a new city, may not be ideally located for new job.

Other details:
I live in Japan, relocating to the West coast of the US. (Most likely not my home state of residency.)
I am unmarried and have no dependents.
I will be able to plan some trips for in-person interviews.
Will be targeting specific companies and industries. Some with a similar job description to my current position, some a slight stretch, but none are entry-level.
My current job experience here will be directly valuable to future employers (I'd be bringing something extra to the table compared with the typical in-town hire).
Relocation package not required but would be welcome, of course.

I'd appreciate opinions, anecdotes and suggestions from both sides of the fence (job seeker, HR/hiring manager). Thanks AskMe!

Adjusting to a New Move

snap_dragon — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:08:45 -0800

How long does it usually take to adjust to a new place? I moved away from my girlfriend and friends by 3 hours. I know few people (those I met at a church and in workplace)...I am having a rough time of it as i am new in town, new and stressed at job, and just new at about everything it seems. The good news is that my girlfriend and I are getting married but it will be 8 months. SO, how long on average does it take a person to adjust to new changes such as job and city? I appreciate your feedback. My anxiety is much higher than it needs to be.

Apartment hunting is even worse from a distance

Listener — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:02:43 -0800

How to simplify relocation - renting an apartment in another city Situation: I'm selling my house and moving back to Vancouver. I need to rent a place for about 6-12 months. I was down there last week and looked at a bunch and applied and got approved for one. Now they want me back down there to sign and pay the deposit. Nonsense! There must be a better way. Looked into notarizing my signature, and there are some hitches in that, but it might work. I'm not rich, so I don't think a relocation agency is the way to go. I looked at some tips from past askmefi questions - I agree month to month would be nice, but that doesn't seem to exist in Van, especially not in towers. Work scheduling is not a factor, as I work from home on my own time.

Objective: I'm looking for a south-facing one-bedroom in a concrete tower, 6th floor or better. I need parking. Budget under $950 total. The one I found is quite a bit less, in New West. Not sure I'll take it due to the signature hassle, though.

Question: I need some tips to manage this situation and I hope to avoid making another expensive trip, staying in a hotel.

TaxFilter. Is the housing market justification enough for a delayed move?

shelbaroo — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:30:14 -0800

Getting the taxes done, and trying to figure out the real deal about whether my 2007 move passes muster for deductibility. The distance and time tests are no problem, but thanks to the ultra-soft local real estate market, the length of time it took to sell the old house (16.5 months) puts us outside the IRS's one-year (limit? guideline?) to count as "closely related in time." Can I still get some deduction love? The IRS guideline I'm referring to can be seen here. The examples of extenuating circumstances that justify a delayed (but deductible) move there and in other places on the internet tend to be about family concerns (e.g., staying put until child finishes high school), so I'm not sure how things like "getting saddled with 2 mortgages was not an option" are viewed. I can show that the house was actively being prepared for sale and/or on the market for the entire time. Any concrete knowledge or experience with this situation would be appreciated!

Moving to Houston, eh!

arcticseal — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:10:49 -0800

So after 5 years of swimming in the cold waters of Norway, the arcticseals are migrating to the warmer zones of Houston. Which brings us to the obvious question that all newcomers ask: Where should we live? I've been in Houston a few times before on courses etc. with work and I do have colleagues whose brains I've been picking, but would dearly love to hear what the hive mind have to offer. I've searched AskMeFi for previous questions, but most seem to be over 2 years old and I'm looking for more up to date information.

There's the 2 of us, married, mid-30s, Canadian/British, Asian/Caucasian, liberal outlook, arriving in mid-April. I'll be likely working near Dairy Ashford, and have gotten used to a 15 minute commute in Norway, so we'd prefer not to live in the suburbs.

Areas we're looking at (so far) are Mid-town, West University, Montrose, Bellaire and Sugar Land. We're looking for quiet & safe neighbourhoods, with walking access to shops, prefer to be close to the arts, movies, parks and generally cultural hangouts.

Type of place we're looking for is a condo, apartment or townhouse, with the intention to rent short term and then buy, budget TBC but in the range of $250-400k, need to look at finances first. Credit should be ok as I'll likely be getting the mortgage through the company credit union, so initial worries about credit rating should not be a big concern.

Recommendations on areas, good realtors, good building inspectors, places to go, things to see, the good and the bad deals on phone, cable, internet, things to look out for and tips on things to do. We're also planning on getting a dog since we'll finally have our own place, so pet friendly is a must.

Will also need to buy a couple of cars, so recommendations on good car dealers also appreciated.

I apologize for the brain dump, it's going to be a busy couple of months! Feel free to MeFi mail me with any questions.

Need opinions on Oregon, Portland areas..

mrflibble — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:00:16 -0800

Places to visit in Oregon, costs of living, etc.. Heading out to Portland and surrounding areas in a month. May move there.
After speaking with many about it I'm becoming quite enamored.

Biggest concern, Near(ish) Portland and more to the west, hows the costs of living? For those who may be familiar with Michigan, I'm in Birmingham, Troy, Clawson area for comparison.

Also, & I think I already know the answer but, are mountain biking and rock climbing abundant? Lots of biking / rollerblading trails as well? I always used to say that there was more bike path in Colorado than roads.
Perhaps a bit off the wall, any skydiving out there?

Last one, anyone who's lived in both states, hows Oregon compare to Colorado?

Thank you.

Is it time to cut my losses?

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:08:32 -0800

My job isn't all it's cracked up to be. Do I keep at it and hope it will improve or do I take another leap? Fall 2007 I moved from the east coast to the mountain west for a job. On paper the job is great. There are many reasons why I like the job, but there are many reasons why it's making me nuts.

I was hired away from an adjacent industry with an offer of doing X for $10k less than I was making out east (technically a raise based on cost of living, etc). The industry is insanely hot, even in these uncertain economic times. I'm currently doing X + a few other things I enjoy + a bunch of stuff I don't. My boss gives me way more than can possibly be accomplished by one person (and usually it is the stuff I enjoy doing). My boss is also the one that sets my goals.

The CEO/Owner of my company shoots me over tasks that I'm "happy" to help with, but often I don't like doing them. But they need doing, so I do them. They are things that someone earning far less than I am should be doing. It boggles the mind that the CEO feels it's a good use of money to have me doing something a trained monkey could do. Before you say "he's trying to get rid of you" He's not. He sings my praises to all who will listen, we have a great relationship and I in no way believe he is trying to push me out the door. I think that he finds me entirely competent and trusts that I will do things right without him needing to double check everything.

Then there's the thing that I finally realized tonight. He's also asking that I do things that will prevent me from reaching my goals. The best way I can illustrate this is to compare what I do with a used car lot. Let's say I'm in charge of buying the cars for resale. My boss (not the CEO) and I know that Honda and Toyota have better resale value and therefore my company is likely to be able to sell those cars at a good resale price. The CEO of my company really has a penchant for Chevy Cavlaiers. He likes that they are US cars and just thinks they are a great value for the money. Yet, I know that we are unlikely to be able to sell these cars because everyone wants a Honda or a Toyota and the carrying costs don't make it worth the time or effort. So my goals are negatively impacted.

In addition to the above I work with mostly young "professionals" who haven't been out in the real world and don't know how to behave in a professional manner. They let emotion rule their work days and are incapable of completing tasks without extreme supervision and follow up.

I am loathe to give up this opportunity, because I really do see it as an opportunity, but I spent the last five years in a similar situation and I don't want to get complacent again.

I work in a very narrow internet industry. I am *very* good at my job and have little doubt I'd be able to find something in my field or an adjacent field to cover my needs. As a matter of fact there is already a great opportunity for me to become part owner in a startup, but it won't be profitable/paying anything for several more months. If I start working on that while still employed at my current position I'd be in serious breach of my non-compete. But it's oh so tempting.

I'm late thirties, female, no significant other, kids, pets, plants or debt. I have $10k+ liquid cash available to me. My monthly expenses other than rent (high for my area at $1200/mo incl. utils) include a $300 car payment (on which I only owe about $3300 total) and food. I spoke to my landlord tonight about possibly breaking my lease if I help find a replacement. She's open to it.

I'm plagued by too many options. Any help you can lend to clarifying my mudded mind would be appreciated.

Insert bad reference to Clash song here

lemonwheel — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:49:49 -0800

How do I decide where to move next, (or not) when a limited salary is one of the factors? I will be graduating in May with an M.Ed, with the plan of becoming a sixth grade language arts teacher. I currently live in Phoenix, and I am trying to decide to stay or move to another city. Whatever my decision is, it will likely be permanent, as I am 30, and have already lived overseas, moved around a lot, and worked at low-wage jobs. I'd like to get settled and start building a pension.

Aside from the obvious factors of job availability (I will start looking into this once I narrow down potential locations) and the ability to transfer my certification over to another state (36 states have reciprocal agreements with Arizona), how do I decide?

Phoenix cons: A distinct lack of culture: live music, ethnic food, indie movies, arts & theater. A new Wal-Mart is considered the height of excitement, and malls and shopping centers are everywhere. A political and social climate that is more conservative and religious than is to my liking, and which doesn't have the same values I do. A lack of a social scene outside wealthy Scottsdale and the college atmosphere of Tempe; as a teacher I will fit into neither category. Everything is far away, because "metro Phoenix" is really just a collection of suburbs. Ridiculously hot summers. Very little diversity.

Phoenix pros: Cheap real estate. I can buy a two bedroom condo for under $100k, and in some sectors of the metro area, it's more like $80k, with very little down. Payments would be roughly the same as renting, so if I stay, I'll buy a place eventually. Mild winters. Plenty of jobs, since new communities are being built all the time.

Other bits of information: I lived in San Francisco for two years during college, so I definitely became a bit spoiled. Phoenix is certainly never going to measure up in my eyes, and part of me would just like to say "the hell with it" and move back. I spent another two years living abroad in a city where my salary was not commiserate with the cost of living, and things got so bad that I had to decide whether I wanted to eat or have electricity, or between the phone and electricity. I had the benefits of living in a big city available to me, but no money to do anything.

Other than a love for travel, I don't need much, but I really don't want to live like that again. I'm fine with being a renter for the rest of my life, but I do need to be able to meet basic expenses, plus pay off my student loan.

So to summarize: Is it crazy for someone who is on their own, earning a teacher's salary, to try and move to a big city? What cities will offer the cultural amenities that I want/need, but still allow me to like an adult? Or is it crazy to live in a city that I hate, but will offer more financial stability?

I've read similar questions about specific cities like SF, but my question is more general, I guess. Fellow teachers, I would love to hear from you!

Bike commuting in Boston -- best route between Cambridge/East Boston?

olinerd — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:28:44 -0800

For a friend: commuting by bike, need to get to Cambridgeport half the week and East Boston the other half. Best bike routes? Best places to live? A friend is just moving to Boston and is starting work at a company where he will spend half his time at an office in Cambridge (by the River St Whole Foods, about .6 miles from Central Square) and the other half in East Boston (Jeffries Point, about a mile from Maverick station).

He would like to commute by bike and only bike. He would prefer no T if possible. A car is not an option.

Question 1: if he lives in Cambridge near the Cambridge office (his first choice), what's the best route to bike to where he needs to be in Eastie without risking his life more than necessary?

Question 2: if this is pretty unfeasible, where's the best place to live to make it feasible? Charlestown/Chelsea area? IANAB(icyclist) so I have no idea how this stuff works or what is considered a reasonable biking distance.

(yes, this is similar to a previous question I asked, but with the difficulty of bike vs car/T....)

Canadian nurses in Engalnd? Anglophone nurses in Montreal?

TheyCallItPeace — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:35:24 -0800

How easy is it for a Canadian nurse to work in England? And how easy would it be for an anglophone nurse from Ontario to find work in Montreal? My girlfriend is a registered nurse in Toronto, having obtained her degree at U of Toronto (quite respectable). I am finishing my PhD and considering relocating to London, UK, or Montreal, Quebec, because these are the places where I have received postdoc offers from.

The questions that naturally come to mind are:

1) Do registered nurses from Canada, with a Canadian degree and Canadian experience, need additional training/accreditation in the UK? Or is the transition relatively seamless?

2) I know there are a number of English language hospitals in Montreal, most if not all associated with McGill. Are the nurses that work in these hospitals required to speak French as well? (We are both interested in learning French, of course, but it would be some time before we would be fluent enough)

Any information would be greatly appreciated!!

(We are doing our own research, but additional help is always good)

(As for being Canadian and not speaking French ... we are new Canadians)

Apply to low-level positions while out of state?

beefetish — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:01:32 -0800

I am 22 and one year out of undergrad. I would like to get a paraprofessional library job in NYC. I live in Seattle. Is it stupid to expect that I could set up interviews before moving? Will employers even look at my resume now? Given that I am looking at entry/low level jobs, I am not sure whether it is even worth my time to apply to positions while I am still out of state. I have a network of people I could crash with in Manhattan- should I just concentrate on moving into the city ASAP?

How to start your life over from scratch?

Smarson — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:35:57 -0800

If you had to walk away from your life in a split second, how would you start over? Writing a short story about a character who has to leave everything behind in his life with no prior warning. Literally set up as walking down a street and sees "x event" (something from his past) and realizes that everything associated with his current identity is compromised. Consider he has no wish other than to get away undetected and set up a new identity from scratch with only the clothes on his back and the twenty odd dollars in his pocket.

I'm struggling with how my character can accomplish this. It seems like obtaining official forms of ID is a lot harder these days than just splicing a photo booth picture of yourself over someone else's drivers license a la The Fugitive or stealing the SSN of someone who is deceased like in Enough. Not looking for a step-by-step guide to identity fraud, more just a way to reasonably explain how my character is going to manage recreating himself. Beyond identification, what steps must he take to re-integrate into society as a new person?

For the sake of argument (and those who might want to play with the narrative) assume this person is male, between 27 and 37, college educated, middle class suburban/ urban upbringing and would be trying to fit back into that cross section of society. Classic protagonist moral outlook (morally opposed to hurting others unless provoked), but willing to resort to petty crime (robbery, fraud, etc.) on a short term basis for the purposes of survival. Contacting Police/Feds/Witness Relocation Program is out of the question.

Road Trip to say Bye Bye to Michigan

mrflibble — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:28:00 -0800

Need help planning a 2-3 week road trip in spring for a new place to live. We're starting out in Michigan. 2 spots we know we want to hit are Colorado and Oregon (Portland area). Girlfriend needs water. I need high altitude.

We're going to take my van and sleep in that most of the time to save on what we'd end up paying at hotels.

We prefer a liberal atmosphere. Arts and whatnot nearby. Not big on being in the middle of a big city but like having one near by.

What I'm asking for..
Hotspots, Travel Tips, What to avoid, What not to miss, Locations of interest, Cities that you love, Where would you move? etc..

Thanks in advance!

What are good neighborhoods to consider in the Philadelphia area?

scblackman — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:11:22 -0800

PhillyFilter: My wife and I are relocating to the Philadelphia area and could use some advice on what neighborhoods or (shudder) suburbs to consider. We currently live in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, having previously lived in the Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati and in the East Lakeview part of Chicago, meaning that we prefer neighborhoods that are more artsy/diverse. We have a new little girl, so safety, schools and greeenspace are important.

We've been looking at places on the "Main Line" but I don't want to live in a generic suburb, and so our attention has been turning more to Germantown and Chestnut Hill, but we could use more suggestions.

I'll be working in Upper Gwynedd/West Point, but am willing to tolerate a commute of up to 45-60 minute if it means living in a neighborhood that we both are happy with.

For the sake of this AskMe, assume that we're a late 30s/early 40s family of 3 and that cost doesn't matter nearly as much as quality of neighborhood, schools, housing stock, safety, etc.

And if you have a minute, what's the scoop on the Friends schools? They don't have them here in Beantown.

Garden State Living

Papa Mango — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:50:15 -0800

We are relocating to Central New Jersey and are looking for recommendations for towns. Mama has got a new job in Princeton, New Jersey
This would be our first time on the east coast so we are looking for recommendations for towns in Central New Jersey.
Details in order of relevance:
- We are in our early 30's and expecting our first child in June. We'd like recommendations for OB/Gyn and midwives with expertise in natural and minimally invasive prenatal/birthing practices (emails in profile if you would rather refer off the green)
- We are a one car family and would like to keep it that way. Mama's office is close to princeton station so any towns on public transit would be great. Ideally not more than 20-30 minutes commute time.
- Looking for local and preferably organic grocery stores and farmers market/co-ops close by.
- Family and friends are mostly in Northern NJ / upstate NY so we are not looking to head south of Princeton
- Not looking to buy in the near term, so any insider tips to finding great apartments besides CL and all the apartments.com type listings would be great.

Thanks in advance all!

How do I approach apartment hunting with a dog?

actionpact — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:45:23 -0800

What's the protocol for when you are moving a long distance with a dog w/r/t apartment searching? I'm in the (very early) stages of planning a big relocation, from Phoenix to most likely Chicago. I am fortunate not to have many huge things to have to take with me and will probably go pretty bare-bones to start. I have one fairly major thing to deal with-- a dog whom I don't want to give up at all.

Now of course, I know that there are a fair share of apartments that say 'dogs ok' or ask for a deposit or extra pet rent, I'm cool with that. My dog won't have a huge problem making the grade sizewise, as she's a midget and only weighs 6.5lb. She is a bit of a freak, being a 2y.o. minpin who was rescued and has some separation issues, but I'm working on it with a dog trainer friend of mine and will put more effort into helping her along with that before I move. But what I'm wondering is how do you go about getting an apartment when you have a dog? I mean, since this is not a nearby move, I would rather not shell out the $200 or so I'd have to pay for a flight to take her along apartment hunting. I'm pretty clueless about this because I'm not very well versed in apartment searching-- I don't know if landlords would want to screen your pet before they choose to rent to you (I noticed some craigslist ads saying 'dogs considered'), or would I have to put together a resume for the little mite with references and such?

If anybody can point me in the right direction that'd be incredibly helpful. I know this move is going to be months away, but I'd rather be well-versed ahead of time!

Will my iPhone be ok with relocating to London?

cubedweller — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:43:56 -0800

I'm moving to London next month from California and I'd love to take my iPhone with me. Is this going to work? Will I have to unlock it? Does Apple have any "official" position on this? I'd rather keep it above board in case the damn thing craps out on me while I'm over there.

How can I get money to finance my move?

notjustfoxybrown — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:09:33 -0800

Are there any companies that still pay to relocate employees? I'm trying to make like a sheep and get the flock out of Phoenix. I have some savings but I'd rather not use all of it for my move. Every move I've ever made across state lines, with the exception of my most recent one, was financed by a company. It seems to me that these days, no one is interested in offering that. Many of the listings that I see (I'm looking in major cities only) specifically say "no relo." Why have these MFs become so cheap!