Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with relocation

Hunt for a rental while still here or when I get there?

glache — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:51:46 -0800

Hi everyone I'm relocating for the first time ever out of the family home. Should I start should start house hunting now *for a rental) while I'm away, or wait till I get there (I'm very happy to hostel it for a bit, as I don't know of anyone in the area and I'm a bit funny about couchsurfing). Thanks!

Moving to Denver, know nothing west of the Mississippi. Help!

stormygrey — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:44:42 -0800

I'm moving to Denver... soon! Aside from one awesome week in San Francisco, I've never even been west of the Mississippi. Help this Georgia girl find a place to love. I am so excited (In that I hope I don't puke on anybody way) to be moving to Denver. The job starts mid-September, but I will be ready to head out anytime from mid-July on. I could really use your input on where to live as I'm really not sure that I'll be able to go look before I can move. We really love our neighborhood now and I'm going to let that inform where I would like to live.

So things I love about where I live now:
*I can easily walk or bike (>1.5 miles) to multiple different bars/restaurants/shops/music venues/theaters.
*I live in a very small attic apartment, but what I pay corresponds to the size. $700 w/utilities in this case.
*No one thinks its weird if I go running after dark, there are lots of people running and biking and there is a recreation trail close that connects parts of downtown.
*It is very diverse and artsy in that, no one gives a fuck what you do, kind of way.
*I live a scant two miles from downtown proper and the capital, but my neighborhood is very homey, with modest historic homes and cute and eclectic yards and facades.

Other Considerations:
*My husband is going to be at Buckley AFB in Aurora. I don't want his commute to be awful.
*The suburbs both make us very sad. We really don't want strip malls or slick, new apartment complexes.
*Urban bike/walk-ablility is pretty important. I assume almost everywhere is going to have good access to some awesome wilderness hiking/activity stuff.
*We're not scared of people or city stuff. Ha. When looking at military spouse forums I feel like there is a lot of "safe places to live" which feels like code for "please shelter me from those who are different."
*We love zoos, city parks, green spaces, etc.
*At a glance I'm not seeing subdivided houses, small house, etc on Craigslist mostly just straight up bland apartment complexes. We will be there about 3 years, I don't want to buy.
*Accordingly, I am kinda thinking the City Park, Uptown, or Five Points area. I don't know! I've never been there, this is all google here!
*We absolutely don't want to live on base.
*We are hoping to spend between 900-1000/mth, but could go over if there are a lot of other places.

Man, that's a lot, but really just good, fun, easy, moderate size city living is what we're after. What do you have to say about all this?

It's like winning the lottery... almost.

fuzzywuzzysock — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:57:14 -0800

My partner and I have just been offered a large amount of money to leave our NYC apartment. Our plan is to pull up stakes and move to my home state. We have to make a decision by tomorrow. However, I've also just had a hinky breast mammogram/sonogram and am scheduled for a biopsy next week. Am I making a major mistake in quitting my job, going on COBRA, and moving cross country when I've got a potential health issue on the line? I moved to NYC in early 2001 and met my partner in 2004. I have a solid, loving relationship, and a good job with a well-known NGO. However, a series of health issues spanning 2008-2010 left me wanting to move back to my home state and be closer to my family. Now my health problems are mostly resolved (I thought), but my priorities have shifted, and I am tired of the NYC rat race. My partner came around to the idea, and we started planning. I've done extensive research on housing costs, cost of living, job market and moving expenses. We have a solid plan, and financially, it makes sense. And I really, really want to move.

Last week, our landlord offered us a very large sum of money to move out of our rent-controlled apartment. It's life-changing money. It's enough money to pay for the move, cars, and a house outright in my home state. We are in the midst of negotiations now, and it's very time sensitive deal. They want our answer by Friday. We would probably need to leave our apartment by the end of June at the latest. The plan is that I would quit my job and go on COBRA until I get a new job in my home state (where there is a decent job market for my skills). My partner is self-employed and his income situation wouldn't change much, and I cover insurance for both of us.

The Crisis: Last week, I got my second mammogram. I just turned 40, and have no history of breast cancer in my family. However, I was called back for further imaging, and the radiologist has detected a small amount (less than 2mm) of "debris" in a milk duct, and I am scheduled for a biopsy on Monday. The soonest I will get the pathology back is end of next week. It could be nothing, or it could be something requiring treatment. I currently have excellent health insurance with my job.

So what. the. fuck. do we do? We have to give an answer to the landlord before I know the results of the biopsy. My doctors say they can't give me advice until the pathology is back.

Is it crazy for me to consider quitting my current job and going on COBRA while I have this breast issue looming?

I basically see these possible scenarios for continuing with the move:

Large chance that it's nothing, we breath a sigh of relief and start packing.

Medium chance that it's a small DCIS and that delaying treatment by 6-10 weeks really won't harm anything. If I do require treatment (based on my research) it would likely be a lumpectomy and maybe radiation. This wouldn't significantly impair my job search, and I would be re-employed in 3-6 months (our move plan easily allows for this window of me trying to find a job and staying on COBRA).

Small chance that it's something that would require a more extensive surgery/recovery, possibly delaying my job search and extending the length of time we stay on expensive COBRA and I'm not contributing to the expenses, eating into our buy-out money.

Tiny chance that it's something mega bad that will require immediate treatment, but we still have to leave our apartment, I won't be able to help pack, and we start burning through our buy-out money on a sublet for an undetermined about of time, reducing the financial incentive for moving in the first place (although I would be able to keep my job and full benefits).

Things I'm not considering here? Experiences? Advice?

Short-term housing in Singapore for a Corporate For'ner (and family) ?

armoir from antproof case — Sun, 05 May 2013 19:43:45 -0800

I'm moving to Singapore for a couple months this summer for Work, along with my spouse and our young child (3-year old). Please help me find the right spot for our small family to survive & thrive for 6-8 weeks. Also looking for tips for occasional childcare. My employer will cover the cost of travel and housing (yay) but I suspect it'll largely be up to us to find a furnished apartment or condo that's available for a short-term stay. It'll be out first time in Singapore, and my wife hasn't been outside of the US as an adult, although she's quite plucky and will no doubt adapt quickly & devour the culture with enthusiasm.

Our considerations:

- My spouse would prefer to be amongst, or near, other Westerners / Expats. Not necessarily US-ians; in fact I think she'd prefer Brits or Aussies. The intention is to find some kindred spirits i.e. perhaps other moms with young children. We've heard there are some apartments that are more 'expat friendly' than others, or at least where there may be other families. Neither of us is at all averse to living near locals / being integrated with the community, as long as we're near other professionals with kids.

- Ideally we'll live within about 20 minutes' commute (via public trans) of my office, which is close to Labrador Park, just north of the West Coast Highway (wish I knew what part of town this is called!)

- Want to avoid outrageous cost. I think my employer is planning for something on the order of $4000-$6000 (Sing) a month. Realistic?

- We'd prefer an location from which my wife and daughter could easily wander for daily outings to parks, playgounds, casual dining / hawkers, coffe shops, etc. Doesn't have to be very near a dense Retail (shopping-for-shopping's sake) area.

- Are there e.g. apartment complexes with common outdoor areas (courtyards w/ swimming pools)?

Also, I am wondering what sort of day-care options exist; we'd be looking for a situation such as 1-2 days a week where our daughter can be in a safe environment with other toddlers. She's pretty adaptable and social, is almost ready for Pre-School here in the US.

Thanks for your tips!

Tell us why you love the Twin Cities

playertobenamedlater — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:47:40 -0800

You live in (or have lived) in the Twin Cities. We (two childless 30-somethings currently living in Washington, DC) are considering relocating there. Tell us what your experience with the Twin Cities has been like and what someone considering relocating there from the Washington, DC area should expect by relocating there. As a follow-up to this question, my wife and I are going to be scouting out the Twin Cities this weekend. From our research, we're both heavily leaning towards the Twin Cities being our next home, but we're going to wait until our scouting trip is complete and we've weighed out the pros and cons of the Twin Cities against the other city we're considering (Pittsburgh).

What we would like to know from you, current and former residents of the Twin Cities, is - what do you love the Twin Cities and, if you are a transplant, what made you choose it over another mid-sized city? What neighborhoods should two people that want a yard, green space (think parks and lakes), with easy access to the bike trails, that's quiet (i.e. not near fire stations/major highways) and within biking distance of restaurants and shops check out? What are some characteristics about the Twin Cities that an outsider might not notice until they've lived there a while (i.e. hotdish, sweaters at fine restaurants)? What are issues that a non-resident would need to be aware of before moving there (think snow emergencies)? How difficult is "Minnesota Nice" to deal with for someone that's lived on the East Coast the majority of their lives?

Neither of us have experienced the extreme cold of a Twin Cities winter recently (I lived in Chicago a decade ago and spent a January in Minneapolis, my wife has lived in DC for the past 12 years), so any information you can shed on what to expect during a first Twin Cities winter would be great. One of the main reasons we're considering the Twin Cities is the expansive cycling infrastructure (I ride year round in DC and am trying to ride 3,000 miles this year) so if you're a cyclist and can provide information on winter riding (or cycling in the Twin Cities in general) that would be great as well. Currently we rent a two bedroom in a high rise in south Arlington be we would prefer to rent a house (or duplex) if possible. Any rental agencies we should check out (or stay away from) would be appreciated as well.

Right now we have the following on tap for our scouting trip, but please let us know if there are things that we must add to get the full Twin Cities experience:
Friday, April 26th

Land at 11am

Downtown St. Paul

Lunch - The Nook

Highland, Macalester-Groveland, Merriam Park, Midway, Como

Downtown Minneapolis

Twins-Rangers Game/Dinner

Warehouse District

Saturday, April 27th

Al's Breakfast

Dinkytown and the Nordeast

Midtown Greenway [Bike Ride]

Lunch - Midtown Global Market

Downtown Bridges [Bike Ride]

Dinner - Nye's Polonaise

Sebastian Joe's

Sunday, April 28th

Powderhorn, Longfellow, and Southwest

Seward Co-op, The Hub

Pizza Luce (Hopkins) - Lunch

St. Louis Park

Flight at 7pm

Moving from CA, US to BC, CAN w/very limited resources.

booksarelame — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:40:43 -0800

By my searching, it seems that there hasn’t been a “moving to Vancouver” question yet this year, so I’m here to fill the gap. I am considering a move from Sacramento, CA to Vancouver, BC and would very much appreciate advice and ideas on getting immediate needs met in Vancouver for the first 1-3 months. (I have read the cbsa.gc.ca site’s “Moving Back to Canada” pages, previous Ask MeFi answers, and other sources.) Cross-country and cross-border moves are not entirely new to me. I know how to get settled in a city. But the one thing that I usually have prearranged is a contact person and a temporary place to stay until I can get setup with work and my own apartment. This time around, I would be moving to a city with no place to stay, no friends, and no job.

Some additional weaknesses are the fact that I’ll have only a few thousand dollars and a car that will have little life left in it by the time it reaches BC. (I plan on disposing of the car rather than importing it, and hopefully switching to my bike as primary transposrtation.) The main strengths I have are Canadian citizenship, a college degree (from a US institution), and a willingness to rough it. Though I would prefer to avoid homelessness.

I am especially interested in knowing about any sort of official channels of aid and specific tips on initial living arrangements and job searches. I am cognizant of the fact that this is not the best constructed plan, but circumstances are such that it’s one of my less unrealistic options, so I’d like to see if it might be possible to pull off... Plus Vancouver is awesome and I’m really keen on getting back to Canada after two decades away (I'm old)!... Thank you in advance for any and all tips and recommendations!

When is relocation a good idea?

winterportage — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:43:40 -0800

I know where I want to live. I'm trying to decide what career I want to pursue. And I want to bring my boyfriend along with me. Nothing is certain and I want to know whether I should be taking big risks at this point. And I need to pick a focus. I turned 25 a couple weeks ago. I can’t decide whether I’m in a panic over my future, or not taking it seriously enough. I have a few ideas of what I’d like to do, but I can’t help but feel like I might be floundering in delusions. I have a bachelor’s degree in classical piano and liberal arts. I am teaching lessons part time while I look for another temp job ( my last one ended two weeks ago, on my birthday actually). I have been working since the age of 16 in different places like retail, a museum and an arts theatre (ticket sales and usher), a summer program for youth, a national sports competition, canvasser for a human rights org., and a trade association related to the arts (admin assistant). I feel as though I’ve had many interesting job experiences but no focus or goal to work toward. It's probably better not to continue in such a fashion, right?

I’m currently living with my boyfriend in a city nearby to my hometown. I have a fondness for this city, but don’t see it as my final destination, and have had my eyes on a bigger city 2 hours away for a while now. The city I want to live in has great culture, affordable apartments, a really good transit system, and is big enough to be considered as a world class city. If I have a child, I would want to raise them in that city. My boyfriend knows that my dream is to live there, and he says he is willing to move with me. He is from another part of the country though ( we're in Canada), and doesn’t have any connections in this other city. I don't know if it would be a wise move for him, professionally, but he doesn't seem to really know what he wants at the moment besides being involved in his political party.

The problem with me figuring this move out is that I haven’t figured my career out either. I miss school a lot, and since I don’t have a lot of debt, I think going back to school is a good option for me. My grades are above average but not top notch. While I think grad school is an invaluable experience for many people, I don’t really think it’s a good idea for me unless it serves a particular professional goal.

Here are the options I am currently considering.

• Pursue writing/communications/journalism. Something I’ve only begun to think about recently, despite being a liberal arts major. At my last job, I got to do promotional articles for the website and really enjoyed it. I relished in the opportunity to make a mark. My plan in this case would be to get a day job to pay the rent while I pursue (unpaid or paid) writing opportunities in my off time. ( I realize that even getting a day job is hard nowadays).

• Focus on Piano: Get a day job and use that money to pay for weekly lessons. Begin practicing seriously once again instead of 2-3 times a week. Leave other musical projects behind. Continue teaching part-time and plan performances. I wouldn’t have any end goal here except that I feel complete when I study piano seriously.

• Nurse: go back to college and begin studying to become a nurse. Complete change of direction, but one that would train me for meaningful work in a field where jobs are available ( I live in Canada). I would have to prepare myself for long hours and emotionally difficult work. However, I would feel like a useful member of society and would know that I was doing important work. I have a tiny bit of experience in home care for a physically disabled person and I think Caring for Others is something I would be good at. Possibly do another university degree in this once I finish the college one.

• Aim to find work in non-profits. Either hone my skills as an administrative assistant and get in that way, or go back to school to study accounting or something useful that would make them want to hire me. Then I would get to work in an organization with idealistic goals.

So basically, what I want to know is:
Is it a bad idea to move to another city before I figure out my career?
Or, will it be easier to make a career decision once I am living where I want to be?
Second, how do I go about moving to another city? Do I find an apartment first, or a job?

Third, : Should my boyfriend have to do this? Is this asking too much of him? He is 30 now, highly educated but underemployed. He says that if I can help him find a job there, he will move with me. I don't know exactly how i would do that, but I'm sure it's not impossible.

Breaking up with him doesn’t seem like an option right now. He makes me happy and treats me like a queen, and I love him. It seems like it would be better to stick together and support each other while we both figure out our goals. However, I know that my eventual destination is not in this city. So I have to make a decision, the sooner the better.

Moving cross-country and clueless about housing.

Nomyte — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:13:17 -0800

In May I will be moving to the Bay Area for work. Where should I live? How should I look for a place? Some details:

I am set to start work in May.
I will not have a car, at least at first.
My employer is a short walk away from the Palo Alto Caltrain station.
I will not have an opportunity to fly to California to scout out living quarters, but my employer offers some resources as part of a relocation assistance program.

I've always lived with roommates, but a studio (or something) to myself would be preferred. I would strongly prefer to live within biking distance of work, but I realize that Palo Alto very likely doesn't have a lot of available housing, and pretty much all of it is extortionately priced. Then again, I will be paid an entry-level Silicon Valley salary, which is far more than I've ever made (but still, relatively low for the area).

Where and how should I look for housing?

It would be a pretty neat coincidence if you (or a friend) live in the area and are looking for housemates. I bite gently!

Welcome to Corporate Hell, have a nice stay!

f3l1x — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:56:57 -0800

Looking for lifehacks to help me thrive in a stressful high-pressure job working 50+ hours a week long-term. I am special, find out why.. I'm about to leave my cushy public sector job for a new position in a notoriously stressful industry.

In the past I've had issues with motivation to work, getting stressed out to the point of explodey head, having an unhealthy lifestyle (food / exercise-wise) and generally being a bit lazy. Sometimes I'm ill (usually a chest infection or something like that) and it won't go away for a long time, leading to time off work ill. I'm not great at deferring gratification, and it seems like a useful trait to develop, especially given that this is one of those jobs you can earn a shedload of money in if you can hack the pace/stay focussed on that goal.

New job is the kind of job where I need to be dressed professionally, physically in the office for quite long hours with few breaks during the day (50 hour week is the minimum expectation, more is preferable), with a positive attitude and a sunny demeanour (I'll be client-facing most of the time) and bags of energy.

These things do not come naturally to me, and as such I recognise this is a massive risk, but it's a good time (for me personally) to take such a risk, and the possibilities of reward are utterly amazing, in fact they are literally life-changing. So I'm going to give it my best efforts for once in my life, and see what happens! I realise it may suck, so I've got myself a reasonable exit strategy and I'm not afraid to use it if I have to.

I'd like your lifehacks please - what tips and tricks can I use to keep my energy up, myself healthy and motivated to work, my stress levels down, and also manage all of those little day-to-day life administration jobs I need to do while working 50+ hour weeks. How do I survive without a lunch break? What happens if I get ill? How do I deal with stress, rejection and workplace disappointments without staying in bed for a few days? How can I get better at deferred gratification? What haven't I thought of?

I'll have about a week to prepare myself before starting, so any big things I can do in that time would be helpful to know about.

Bonus: I'm relocating city to boot, because I like ALL the new. I have a small community in the new city, but it's a little seedling, and I'd like to put down some proper roots. Is there anything that will help me with the above stuff, and also help me build a community around me?

West Palm Beach relocation help!

Daily Alice — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:08:10 -0800

Where is a good place to live in or around West Palm Beach, FL? (My definition of "good" seems to be the opposite of the way our realtor is guiding us.) I'd like to live somewhere walkable, with interesting culture and young (or at least middle-aged - we're early 40's) people. Realtor tells us we don't want to live in "that" part of town but should instead be looking at houses in golf course subdivisions. I don't golf, I don't want to join a country club, and I don't want to live surrounded by retirees. Housing budget is roughly $500k but could stretch a bit. Anyone familiar with the area who could clue me in?

How can we get a good feel of Atlanta neighborhoods to live in?

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:27:00 -0800

I am interviewing for an assistant professor position at the Emory School of Medicine. My girlfriend and I are visiting Atlanta where we will have a rental car and most of a Saturday to look at various neighborhoods. We're less interested in seeing the inside of apartments and more interested in getting a feel for the neighborhood: what they look like and how people live outside their housing. Can you offer some suggestions on where to drive, walk, eat, drink, and visit to make the most of this day? Based on our preliminary research we would like to focus on these neighborhoods, with the ones we're most interested in at the top:

Downtown Decatur
Midtown
Virginia Highland
Druid Hills
Candler Park
Inman Park

In an ideal world someone would just give us a tour itinerary that is something like: drive from Emory to neighborhood A, eat breakfast at place B, walk around streets C and D, visit farmer's market E, walk through park F, drive to neighborhood G, have lunch at place H, walk around street I, drive to neighborhood J, have coffee at place K, visit branch library L, have dinner at place M, drive to the airport to get there by 7. That is too much to ask but if you had individual suggestions for what places we should visit to give us a good feel of the neighborhoods above that would be most helpful.

In addition my partner will have the car and will probably have time to check out some other neighborhoods at times on Thursday and Friday, so any individual places to check out in some of the following neighborhoods might help too:

Little Five Points
Toco Hills
Lake Claire
Springdale Heights
Oakhurst
Morningside
East Lake
Brookhaven
Ashford Park

We picked these neighborhoods by looking for places that tick as many of these boxes as possible: has multifamily housing options; walkable to MARTA station; accessible by non-car transportation mode (bus, bike, or walking) to Emory and downtown, can walk to grocery store, restaurants, library branch; close to parks; sidewalks have some tree cover. It's hard to pick a truly optimal neighborhood because we don't know where my girlfriend would be working yet.

I've read the previous questions tagged atlanta on neighborhood options: 1 2 3 4 5.

This is anonymous because I know that other potential employers are monitoring my online presence and knowing that I am seriously considering Emory could throw a wrench in the works. If you have any additional comments you can reach us at atlanta.maybe@gmail.com.

Buy a house from 3,000 miles away as a first-time buyer?

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:19:52 -0800

How (Should?) we buy a house on the other side of the country? We know we want to move there, but we can't go yet. My spouse and I currently live on east coast, rent, and are in well-paid but hours-intensive jobs. Our plan is to relocate to the Bay Area, close to my spouse's family, and downshift in our careers so we can have a kid and actually spend time with him/her. This will involve a very large drop in income, so we are trying to max out our years of high earnings before doing so. The upshot is we have to stay put for about the next 2 years, but after that we will move.

We have been idly looking at real estate for the past year or so but have only seen a few homes that we like, and they seem to not remain on the market long. We are tempted to go ahead and buy a house before relocating, rent it out to friends-of-spouse who live in the area, and have a wonderful home to look forward to. We have enough saved that we could put down 30-40% now, but would still need a sizable mortgage, given housing prices.

Is this a crazy idea? What do we need to do to make it happen? My not-behemoth bank, which I would normally approach for a mortgage, has no presence in that region. One of us has an error dragging down an otherwise spotless credit report; should we wait until that finally gets corrected before seeking pre-approval? Do we need a local agent to have a serious chance of getting the house we want?

Buying a car right before buying a house

glenngulia — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:34:17 -0800

How much of a bad idea is buying a car a month or so before buying a house? My credit score is very good, so no worries there.

I drive a piece of shit car by intention. It just made the ten-year mark for me (it was three-years-old when I bought it, so it's 13-years-old.) FWIW, it was a shitty car when it was new.

I wanted to drive the thing for ten years to prove to myself that I could make a sound financial decision. March 2013 has been on my calendar for a long time! I can't afford to buy the car I want outright, but after my year end bonus that I'll get soon, I can afford about half of the cost as a down payment.

Fortunately, I work in the central business district of a mid-sized city (thus park in a garage a few blocks from the office) and don't have to drive clients around, so my bad car doesn't matter much. (Except for when the EVP of my division asked for a ride home last month, which was pretty embarrassing.)

Thing is, I just got a crazy, big promotion. Hooray, right? But it's at a satellite office across the country, so the family and I will be moving, i.e. selling our house here, buying one there. All advice points to waiting to buy a car until after buying a house.

But this satellite office is small, with a small parking lot with assigned parking spots. My assigned spot will be next to the assigned spot of the head of this satellite office. I never want to drive my piece of shit car to this new job. In fact, I don't want to bring it to my new state.

Let's say the earliest I want to buy a car is Mar 15th when my bonus is deposited to my checking account. And let's say if the sale of my current home doesn't take forever, I'd be closing on my new home in late April at the absolute earliest but more likely May or June.

Should I buy a new car in March? Or should I suck it up and wait until I'm in my new house? Or is there some other option I'm not thinking of.

P.S.- My piece of shit car doesn't have working A/C. It's only a problem a few months out of the year where I live. But I'm moving to a very warm city, so driving this car at all there in the late spring (or Gold help me, summer) sounds terrible.

P.P.S.- I wear a suit to work.

Should I find an apartment without seeing it in person?

new_horizons_new_life — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:37:13 -0800

I am trying to find an apartment in a city across the country in the U.S., before moving there. I am unable to see the apartment/roommates in person before moving, because I am trying to leave my abusive family and can't let on to them that I am leaving (Here is that backstory.). So, I will be doing the one-way ticket plan. I am having difficulty finding an apartment without seeing it first, as people prefer to meet potential roommates in person and when I mention to them that I can't see it in person (and suggest Skyping or videochatting to meet each other/see the apartment) I have had limited success so far and am wondering if I am coming across as a Craigslist creep. Is this the right strategy? Is it a numbers game, and I should just keep trying? Or, should I just fly there first and then find a place? Thanks for any advice. Thanks once again for everyone's helpful suggestions about my last question (linked above the fold). I decided to get a sock puppet so that I could continue to post questions about this.

I have moved most of my things to storage, and while I am in the process of packing things up (without my family's suspicion) I decided to go ahead and see what the apartment listings on Craigslist would be like and familiarize myself with the process. I've gotten responses from about 1/3 of the 30+ people I've contacted, and most of them have been very friendly despite the distance of where I'm relocating from (2,000 miles away). However, only 2 of the people I've contacted have been okay with videochatting before in lieu of meeting/seeing the apartment in person, and I ended up not getting those places because there were others in town who were able to move before me, as I don't have everything packed yet.

I calculated costs, and it seems like it would save me at least $1000 to drive to the local UPS or Greyhound offices and drop off my items before I fly to the city I want to move to, versus paying a mover to move my things from storage to the city. I suppose the mover costs much more because it is 2,000 miles of fuel, and I hope I researched the quote correctly. So, I was thinking that it would be in my best financial interest to find a place before moving there, relying on videochatting to see the roommates/place. I also have some unique plants that I would love to take with me, and don't have anyone to ship it to me, so I was thinking after I found a place I could mail them right before I leave. (I love my plants, and would hope to keep them, but I suppose I may have to give them away if it comes down to it.)

Do you think it is a good idea to get a place before traveling there, given the financial benefit, despite the limited success rate I've had, and any safety concerns? Or do you think I should just bite the bullet and get a place once I get there while couchsurfing or hostelling and pay the extra $1000 for the mover to send my things?

I was hoping to live with roommates to have more social interaction in a new city and save money (as ideally I want to spend under $600/mo on rent, which is available in this city with roommates), but I could afford slightly more money (up to $800/mo) for a studio for two years, in case I am unable to find roommates. However, as I don't view moving back home an option should I be unable to find a job and run out of money, I would like to save as much money as I can and thus would prefer roommates. Do you think I should gravitate towards roommates or try to find a studio?

TL;DR:

The city I want to move to is 2,000 miles away. It will save me $1000 to ship via UPS/Greyhound if I find an apartment and mail my items at local shipping offices before leaving. But finding a place without being there has been met without much success on Craigslist, and I wonder if I come across as creepy when I say I can't see it in person but would be able to videochat to see the place/meet in lieu of being there in person. And I wonder if it is safe for me to get an apartment without being there in person, despite any Skyping.

-Should I get a place before moving there, or after, and therefore pay the extra $1000 for movers to drive to my new city?

-Should I get roommates, or get a studio instead, since I can afford it (for 2 years) if I am unable to find roommates?

-Any suggestions on the plant issue?

Thank you once again for any advice you may have. It is really helpful, as I am a bit confused. Feel free to ask for any further clarifications.

Should I hire a CPA for my taxes this year?

6spd — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 08:19:42 -0800

Should I hire a CPA for my taxes this year? 1. I relocated for my job this year and received multiple relocation benefits. 2. I sold off stocks that were gifted to me and I do not have any cost bases for them because they were purchased so long ago. 1. For my relocation, my company hired movers who packed and unloaded my stuff as well as a car transportation service. In addition, I received two 'bonuses' that were grossed-up for taxes.

2. For my stocks situation, I inherited a portfolio of stocks that my uncle purchased on my behalf since I was a little kid. One of those companies in the portfolio went bankrupt so that had zero value, but the rest? I sold them. The problem is I didn't get any cost basis information with them because they were purchased so long ago, and at that time, the brokerage companies weren't enforced to record cost basis information.

Not sure if this complicate things, but these stocks were purchased on one brokerage platform, and I transferred them over to my brokerage platform. I called both platforms to see if they could get any cost basis information and no dice on both fronts.

I typically file my taxes with Turbo Tax online and I don't know if I'll be able to do so this year with these complications.

Also, one minor, semi-related question: I got a letter about 10 months ago from the IRS saying I owed them around $148 in taxes from a college job where I made like $2,000 or something like that. I used one of these online services to pay that $148 and haven't heard anything since from the IRS or the likes. Am I in the clear now? Am I now on some special IRS watch list because I underpaid my taxes? Are they going to audit me now forever?!

Tips for a family-wide reset?

stickwithjosh — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:34:48 -0800

My wife (27) and I (30) are moving our small family (+2 year old son, -anything that won't fit in 6 suitcases) across the country to Portland, Oregon. In large part we're leaving all of our (supportive, loving) local family and friends looking for adventure and to consciously decide the sort of people we will be (Along with a serious upgrade of location from suburban Central Florida). Have others done a similar reset with themselves or their entire family? Any recommendations on how to be loving and charitable to family and friends while you are leaving and enjoying the next phase? Or pointers on how to meet and embrace a new set of friends and "family"? My wife and I are sort of recovering fundamentalist (still christian) people that have grown up in small towns around Orlando, FL. We both participated in the leadership of our local church (I was the worship leader / music person for 6-7 years), both of our parents live within 20 minutes, we're a 10 minutes drive to the small private school we both graduated from etc.

We're also moving into our thirties and at some point last year started asking ourselves mid-life crisis style questions, "Who are we?" "Who do we want to be?" "If we could live anywhere, where would we live?"

Thankfully my day job (I make internet stuff for a small non-profit) lends itself to working remotely and Melissa is hanging out with our kid full-time. So barring church commitments, an underwater mortgage (short sale in process, looks like it'll be OK) and our familial / friend relationships we could literally live anywhere. The idea of relocation to PDX was something we've talked about for years (we're fans of the weather, the city, the culture, and a number of things my wife has been posting about).

So... we decided to move. We're about 8 weeks away at this point and we're both filled with anxiety, excitement and doubt. In many ways we're not running away from our lives here as much as attempting to run into what we think a better version of our lives could be. After some consideration we also decided to limit ourselves to what we could take with us on the (very gracious) southwest baggage limits. Time for a reset.

The question really centers around making friends (and hopefully families of friends) and embracing this "full family mid-life crisis" in a healthy way. Does anyone else have stories about doing something drastic to reset and remake themselves or their families future? Any pointers on making new friends in a new city?

I'd also love to hear any suggestions on how to make friends and family from Central Florida feel included in our lives (we're pretty sure we'll be able to swing 1-2 trips "back home" a year—but we've got nephews and nieces and dads and moms and cousins and friends all sorts of people to stay in contact with).

Sadly, I can count on one hand the number of people that have said supportive things about our move, and it feels like our (friends and family) are largely putting their happiness and proximity to us above our own happiness—which is maybe understandable but a good reminder of the way hometowns sometimes don't let people go.

I've been trolling the "moving" and "relocation" tags on MF for what seems like years at this point, hopefully this thread will prove as useful to others as it might be to me.

Moving overseas - what not to jettison?

sldownard — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 07:34:45 -0800

I'm trying to move as minimally as possible, but hopefully not make my first six months miserable and broke while I replace important things I foolishly dumped. I'm likely going to be relocating from Chicago to London this summer. My plan for moving, such as it is, is to dump everything except some clothes, my computer, and a few personal items. The goal I'm keeping in mind is to imagine that I am driving coast to coast and I can only move what I can fit in my car (and I want to be able to see out of the imaginary windows). I plan to dump all my furniture, nearly all my books, kitchen equipment and dishware, hobby stuff, and stereo/electronics gear, keeping nothing which is easily replaced (e.g., I will keep my spinning wheel but dump my knitting yarn). I plan to put nothing into storage, with a possible exception of stashing a box of old high school yearbooks, etc., at a friend's.

My question for you, Worldly People of MeFi, is: what might I be overlooking in trying to move so parsimoniously? Have you made an overseas relo and, once you got there, realized that you really wish you would have brought some particular item? As a specific example, I'm moving with two cats, and I'm wondering if it is wise or foolish to move a bag of kitty litter and some food, in their usual brands, to ease transitioning them to new brands. But I'm open to other things, like "twelve new pairs of my favorite underpants" or "US-Imperial measuring cups."

Books about people starting over

jamesonandwater — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 07:59:00 -0800

Can you recommend any good books (or films, but I prefer reading) in which a major plot point is the main character dropping out of their own life and starting again in a new location under a new identity? Double Jeopardy, the Tommy Lee Jones film, and a certain book that sold quite well in 2012 are two that I saw/read recently, so I want more. I have long loved the idea that disappearing and starting over is an option, and good books that also describe some of the nuts and bolts of how they achieve that always interest me. Thanks for any and all recommendations, I have my library card to hand ready to go look for em!

Well, I've made it HERE, so...

showbiz_liz — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:36:18 -0800

Given this list of things I do and don't like about living in NYC, where might I want to consider moving? So I live in NYC- moved here about a year and a half ago- and though it's in many ways amazing and awesome, I'm not sure I want to live here forever. I was thinking about this recently, and an earlier question today prompted me to write this. This is a long-term, maybe-never proposition- I have things left to accomplish here before I go- but I figure it can't hurt to start thinking about it now.

I honestly have very little context for what it's like to live in other cities or regions of America. I grew up in Greensboro NC, attended school in Chapel Hill NC, briefly lived in Chicago and Beijing, and then moved here. But, this is the first place I have ever lived as a non-student adult. I don't really know how to be a grown-up anywhere else...

Things I love about living here:
Functional, all-night subway system
Awesome food from everywhere on Earth
Beautiful parks
Politically liberal/GLBT friendly
People can let their freak flags fly
Interesting and variable fashion and other forms of self-expression
Opportunities for classes in any conceivable topic
The Brooklyn Public Library
The growing urban food production movement
High relative salaries mean I can save more and pay more towards my loans

Things that I'm simply not sure I can tolerate for the rest of my life:
FUCKING EXPENSIVE RENT, and I will never be able to not have roommates unless I move in with a partner
Constantly dirty streets/sidewalks
Not enough wild nature. Locals try to tell me that Central Park counts. Nope.
Takes forever to get around the city- many of my friends live an hour away from me
The pace of life is sometimes too much for me- I can easily find myself away from home for 18 hours at a time, doing this and that with no time to rest
You can't own a car (well, I certainly can't), which makes it hard to do things like take spontaneous day trips or buy flea market furniture
It's hard to make a tiny rental apartment feel like a capital-H home, which matters a lot to me. I find myself envious of FB friends' gardens and non-Ikea furniture and frequently-used dining tables and garage bike shops and shit.
Similarly, it's hard to routinely entertain at home
Gets dark too early in winter
Smelly and humid in summer
Sometimes it seems like there's no room to have a new creative idea and implement it, because there are a few hundred unemployed people with PhDs in whatever your casual hobby is

Of the places I've lived before, Greensboro was WAY too suburban and spread-out; Chapel Hill was pretty much lovely but kinda small (and also I was in college, so, rose-colored glasses); Chicago was pretty great in most ways BUT I only lived there for three months in the summer; and Beijing was like New York but all the bad stuff (except high rent) was even worse...

I'm open to basically any climate except desert, though I prefer shorter winters and places where it rains at least semi-regularly. (I love thunderstorms!) I'm mostly looking for American cities here, because I'm not sure what paths for immigration would be available to me, but feel free to include those too!

like NYC, but not as expensive?

mirileh — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:40:56 -0800

(looking for somewhere to live) Where is like New York, but not as expensive? I grew up in Queens until my family left the country, and I've always wanted to come back. I can't afford the 1K and up rent alone anywhere in NYC, so I'm looking for somewhere else to start out. I need ideas where. Looking for somewhere similar. Similar for me: English speaking city in the US with diverse residents (religion, origin, occupation, orientation) with forward manners (up to being considered rude in other parts of the US) who are usually helpful to strangers.

ideas? (and if by any chance anyone can think of a safe affordable place in any of the boroughs, I'd love to hear about that too!)

I want to get on my own two feet. I need a plan of attack.

matticulate — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:40:44 -0800

The Short: I'm a single young adult with a college degree and student loan debt. I live in a sterile small city with limited job prospects. I want to move out and get an entry-level or temporary job in a coastal U.S. city (NYC, LA, SF, Seattle). Please walk me through the logistics and help me devise a plan, as well as offer any advice you have on making it on your own in a new city (essentially, how to be an independent, self-sufficient adult). The Long: ("Special snowflake" details below)

I'm 24 years old. I graduated from a prestigious university in California (USC) two years ago with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Musical Studies (Piano Performance). I've had a string of temporary jobs in NYC since I finished school. I'm a few months unemployed (not collecting benefits; STILL required to pay a minimum of $400/month in private student loans). Due to financial duress, I moved in with my parents in a sterile planned suburb in Nevada where they just moved a year ago (a move that fortunately worked out for them and is the principal reason I'm not struggling to stay afloat).

However, job opportunities are exceptionally scarce here. The best way to visualize where I live now is to imagine a neighborhood in The Sims, a planned residential community where anything you could possibly need is within a few minutes' reach (big box stores, shopping malls, supermarkets, and outlets are all only a few miles away). It's incredibly peaceful here, but stultifying and devoid of culture. The few friends who have visited me here agree that this is not at all a place conducive to my personal or professional growth. I want to move on with my life, and I hate to sound defeatist, but being here longer than I have to be only makes me feel more and more stuck.

Registering with temp agencies here, going in person to apply for minimum wage positions at the local rec centers, libraries, supermarkets, going to malls and filling out paper applications for retail positions, applying online to positions at Costco, filling out questionnaires in job kiosks at Target and JC Penney, replying to posts and advertising my services on craigslist have all yielded jack squat. And the city government jobs that I have applied for are all hiring for the summer.

*Before anyone asks, I should add that I've gone to alumni networking events in my area, and investigated online income streams like TextBroker (I'm a level 4 writer) and Mechanical Turk, but as someone trying to develop a grounded career, I don't regard these as primary options for making a living.

I don't intend on staying here for another 6 months. At all. Hell, if I could move TOMORROW, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Seeing as how imprudent and impractical that is, I'm convinced that the best thing to do for my career and overall well-being is to apply for work in other cities (which I am still in the process of doing) where I have connections.

The four cities I'm targeting, in order of preference:

1. NYC -- most of my professional network is here. I have friends and family here. I grew up and lived here for most of my life and last had a temporary teaching gig this past summer. It was not too difficult for me to get acclimated again to the atmosphere. I was not able to afford an apartment of my own, and had a very complicated, stressful living situation (please do not inquire for further details). I admit if I had been more proactive while in the city, I might have secured a job that would have allowed me to stay. Soon after my teaching gig ended, I decided to move in with my parents in NV to save what little $ I had left, and to see if I could get some temporary work in my neighborhood while I pondered my next move. This has been going on for almost 3 months now. I've expended my savings on my monthly student loan payments (which I CANNOT defer because I have private student loans, gah).

2. Seattle -- one of my closest friends lives here and loves it. Some other old college friends live here. Pretty much everyone I know who has lived in or visited Seattle has positive things to say about it. My only concerns are the "Seattle Freeze" and the persistently drizzly, gloomy weather for 3/4 of the year. I would love to work in Seattle and give living there a shot.

3. San Francisco -- I have family here, and I made a handful of connections with people when I visited this past year. I loved the city when I visited; it reminded me of a smaller, more relaxed, less crowded version of New York City... only just as expensive.

4. Los Angeles -- most of my close friends live here (we frequently stay in touch), my alma mater is in the heart of LA, and I had many of the best moments of my life while living in Los Angeles. I've explored most of the city and had the privilege of doing some pretty awesome things that I know I'd only ever be able to experience in LA. I have memories and friendships that will last me a lifetime. I love the diversity of culture and activity in LA, and I wouldn't mind living there, but over the past couple of years, I've grown to appreciate being in a city where I can get around without depending so much on a car (I got around much of DTLA, Culver City, Venice Beach, Silver Lake, and even South Pasadena by bike when I was living in LA a year ago, but I also learned how difficult it is to get around without a car). I've taken public transportation in LA -- the buses, the Red Line, the Gold Line -- a number of times, and as a New Yorker, I was actually impressed by the speed (and enamored with the price) of the service, but I sense it'll still be some time before public transit in LA will be a reasonable way for me to commute to work. Since I don't own a car and can't afford one, moving to Los Angeles is at the bottom of my list, though it is the closest city to where I live (I can get there by Megabus, which was recently resurrected).

I have connections and friends in all four cities (obviously, I live closer to the last 3). I've informed the people I know in those cities that I'm looking for work and that I'm VERY WILLING to relocate. Relocating is just as big a priority for me as is locating a job. At this point, it doesn't matter what job I get, as long as it pays enough to allow me to live in the city and then expand my network, hence the reason some friends think I'm "lowballing" when I tell them I'm applying for administrative positions (which I think will at least help me get my foot in the door, and work my way up) and not analyst/managerial positions that I'm not sure I'm qualified for. I'm willing to temp for an indefinite length of time and hopefully transition into a more permanent job in a growth industry from there. And I'm serious about not minding the kind of work I do. I was a middle school/high school math/reading/writing instructor this past summer in NYC, which was a stressful but enjoyable experience, and the kind of experience I'd like to have more of in my 20s. I'm healthy, I'm ambitious, I work hard, I learn fast, I love to work with people, I've got credentials, I'm willing to work whatever hours are required of me... I just want an opportunity to prove myself and get a job!

When I was still soul-searching, I had a lot of different ideas for "dream jobs" (I still do, of course), but over time, I've realized that I needed to narrow down my career options so I can tell people at networking events or through email definitively what I'm looking to do. For what it's worth, I'd like to be a project manager or a business analyst in the tech industry (at least I think I do... seriously, how many people know exactly what the hell they want to do with their lives at my age?). I have a handful of project management and programming texts and eBooks, and I recently started reading Java and programming in Eclipse just to get a basic familiarity with the language. I chat pretty regularly with friends online who keep me in the loop on things I need to learn and what they do at work, etc. I've compiled a list of skills that I'll eventually need to learn to be competent in the field, filled up entire notebooks with thoughts, lists, and plans of extracurricular and community activities, hobbies (I'm fortunate and appreciative to have and carry out so many different interests), personal projects, etc. But these are all long-term plans... and while I'm sure they will all advance my career and life in immeasurable ways, they're still not as much a priority for me as actually GETTING a job. These are all things I feel I'll squeeze into my schedule when I have the backbone of a stable job to work around. Nonetheless, with all the time I have in the world now, I am devoting a good chunk of my day towards developing and honing those skills, which I hope will (but realize might not) help me down the line.

I get frustrated from time to time, but for the most part I stay optimistic and keep my head in a good place. I eat and sleep healthily, I exercise almost daily, and I try to keep my mind sharp. Escapism isn't for me. I keep track of my time pretty well, and I do the things I love (play piano, basketball, etc.) daily. I don't need meds, I don't get depressed, and I'm generally a pretty happy guy. I worry much less than I used to, and even when I get bored, I find ways to keep myself busy and use my time resourcefully. I deal with the occasional drama at home decently well. I have to say I'm very lucky, and very thankful. But I don't like to be complacent; it makes me restless, and it makes me feel like I'm wasting the energy building up inside of me. I'm excited and anxious every day about the prospects of moving, and I would be lying if I didn't say that was my main source of motivation. I just can't wait to get out. My only "network" here is the group of passing acquaintances I play basketball with each week, many of whom are still in school. My friends all live in the cities I listed above, and I keep in touch with them via phone, Skype, Facebook, GChat, AIM, etc. I feel like an extrovert under house arrest! I don't know how I've been able to keep my spirits up, but I sure as hell hope I can build on the emotional fortitude I've developed over the past few years, even when I get a job that takes a substantial chunk out of my day.

Anyway, while I'm sending out applications and emails and cover letters and resumes and reference requests, how do I put myself in the best position for getting a job in a different city? I'm talking entry-level jobs here, too, as someone who graduated from college two years ago and has a little work experience, with no real hard skills to put down, other than basic Microsoft Office skills and the ability to type at 120 WPM with 99% accuracy? What should I be looking for to start out? I'm happy to email my resume for review. My background was mostly in arts administration at nonprofits, where I did a lot of correspondence work, marketing, a fair amount of writing/editing, administrative tasks, etc. It's an industry I wouldn't mind working in again, but not the only industry I'm looking at.

Then... how do I find a place to stay when I get an offer, especially when I have to make a decision quickly? Besides asking a friend for a place to crash for a while, which seems to me the only real solution... do I have many other options? Subleasing, hostels, craigslist, Padmapper... I'm under the impression that I won't be able to sign a lease until I have proof of income or am able to put down a security deposit or rent for the first month; is that pretty standard?

Also, when I relocate, I will be flying with a couple of suitcases and a backpack with my computer, clothes, and other essentials... how exactly do I get settled in a new city? Borrow money to buy cheap furniture off craigslist while staying at a friend's or subleasing a furnished apartment? I don't have a whole lot of stuff, and I don't need much at all. I've lived out of suitcases several times, and in 50 sq foot windowless cellar rooms that were meant to be closets for months at a time. I'm pretty minimalist if I say so myself.

What documentation should I make sure to bring with me? General checklists of things to do before/after moving, and what to bring with me are most welcome.

What else do I need to account for? My budget indicates I can live reasonably comfortably making $15/hour at 40 hours a week. I could afford to live off of less. I live below my means. I'm prepared to and would prefer to live with roommates. I've lived on my own for long stretches of time every year for the past half decade. I don't have health insurance. I don't have dental insurance. I don't have ANY insurance. I haven't had a physical in 5 years. Bad, I know, and something I intend on rectifying immediately when I get my shit together.

Also, just throwing this out there--given my circumstances, should I direct my search more towards the West Coast, or try again in NYC?

Asking these questions feels silly to me, since these are things I've managed to deal with successfully living in off-campus housing for several years in Los Angeles (then again, my loans helped with the finances and my friends helped with the logistics), and I realize I'm likely overcomplicating things, but damn, someone knock some sense into me as I'm trying to wrap my head around things?

Assume I want to move by the beginning of March, at the latest. How can I make that happen? Please don't convince me to try and make things work where I live. I'm not against short-term, temporary work here (which I don't have luck getting right now), but I'm focused on GETTING OUT, ASAP, and I need advice on logistics. Anything you can advise me on as it pertains to my particular situation would be greatly appreciated. Assume I have enough money for a flight, food, miscellaneous expenses, basic stuff, etc.

Sorry this was so long! Thank you for your help!

TL; DR: I want to get a job and place in another city. Need advice doing this.

Going back to the US and need mover recommendations

melt away — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 04:51:30 -0800

My wife and I up and moved to Europe two years ago. It's now time for us to return to the U.S. and we need help finding movers. My company shipped our furniture and items that we didn't put in storage since we ship things to Europe anyway. This time around we're looking at third-party end-to-end options due to her being pregnant and me being too busy for us to deal with the details.

Searching around on AskMe, I've found MovingScam as a good resource for company recommendations. It's skewed towards relocating away from the U.S., though. It's still seems like a good jump-off point.

Has anyone had any experience with their recommended international movers? Going from Europe to the U.S. would be extra helpful.

A few cheap towns near DC?

the foreground — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:39:34 -0800

Where should I move in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic US that is within a few hours drive or (better) train ride of both DC and NYC? I'll be working from home and have a few additional "nice to have" requirements inside... I'm currently in DC. I may have the opportunity soon to port my current position to a telecommute, work from home situation. I'd be keeping the same salary and benefits. I would love to move to a smaller, cheaper town that has at least a faint cultural pulse in terms of book shops, independent cafes and perhaps a walkable downtown area. Those things are merely nice to have and not mandatory for my search, though.

The two mandatory requirements are: (1) reachable to DC within no more than a couple of hours, as I will have at least a monthly commute to the DC metro area for meetings. Bonus points via train. Ideally, it would be somewhere approximately equidistant between DC and NYC, as I will have occasional business in NYC and most of my family resides there or north. (2) At least somewhat cheaper than DC in terms of rent and general cost of living.

I really like some of the towns I've been in north of NYC along the NE Corridor route, such as Rhinebeck and also some of the arty towns in western Mass. Looking for similar suggestions to investigate south of NYC. Any and all ideas welcome. Thanks!

Help organise my house hunting

contentedweb — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 05:48:36 -0800

I will be viewing several flats in Luxembourg later in the week - I will be there for three days. Looking for strategies for asking questions, taking notes and so on, so I that I can remember what I saw! We are in the process of relocating to Luxembourg. As part of that move I will be viewing between 5 and 10 flats later this week. I think this will be quite tiring. Has anyone got advice on how to make notes so that I can later on remember what was what and compare likes and dislikes easily with others.

I don't want to come home and notice I've forgotten everything!

Thanks.

Thinking of relocating to the Pacific NW but I've never been. Help me decide between Oregon and Washington.

iamisaid — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:43:00 -0800

I'm thinking of relocating to the Pacific Northwest USA for the climate and scenery, though I've never been before. I have 4 days to visit next month, and am having trouble deciding between Portland and Seattle as a base of exploration. I do not mean to start a debate over which city or state is best. Just need some help deciding which place I might enjoy more. I work from home, so the local job market is not an immediate concern. Cost of living is something of a concern.

I have spent some time in Austin and enjoyed the vibe there, and I've heard Portland shares some similarities with it. I'm less sure about Seattle. However, it's quite possible I'd want to live in a smaller town outside of these cities and just visit them occasionally.

I have also spent some time in California, particularly Big Sur and the Monterey Bay area and absolutely loved it for the beauty, scenery and proximity to the ocean. I'm all about scenery and easy access to natural beauty.

For those who have been to both Washington and Oregon, which area would you recommend for me and how would you compare the two?