Need Advice...Montgomery, AL

[fnkngrv]

So I have a job offer that has an expiration date/time. The job is located in Montgomery, Alabama. Can anyone tell me from personal experience what their opinion is on the area? Cost of living, schools, nightlife, taxes, laws, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have until roughly 5p.m. tomorrow (Wed, 13 Oct 2010) to give my decision. I was giving 24 hours. Thanks! :bow:

[.Kevin.]

I wouldn't move for a job period. Depends what youll be making yearly basically

[fnkngrv]

I wouldn't move for a job period. Depends what youll be making yearly basically


I hate living in Maine. I had planned on moving in the spring anyway however this opportunity popped up out of the blue. My current job has become more of a PITA and personally if I have to deal with PITA then it might as well be with the employer that I am looking to be employed with. This job has way too many perks to just file away on a whim. I have no issue with moving for a job. I was in the military for 5 years and have also spent a few years overseas contracting for the DoD so I am used to it. I love to move around. I appreciate your input. I am hoping however that some people that know the area or have been there more than once can chime in. The start date is Nov 1 and like I said, I live in Maine so that isn't just a jaunt down to Bahston or something.

[chrisj]

I've been to Montgomery is all. Nice town.

[big lo]

Come back to PR man lol I hope what ever decision you make its best for you and your family. PS I haven't forgot about you just in case

[frownonfun]

Ok I haven't been there but it would seem to me that if you do like to move around you should go for it. I'm the same way. I like seeing new places. I was in the military also and I think that's one of the best things about the military. Being able to move around. Maybe you move down to Alabama and decide you don't like it. And? From what you say you don't like Maine anyway so the situation will kinda be the same. Maybe better if the job sounds like it's got potential.

So even though I haven't the slightest bit of info to add about the goings ons in alabama I still say go for it.

[Yar Is Word]

warmer
overview including climate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery,_Alabama

[JumpmanYaris]

DO IT!

[DARK AGE 53]

if you like it hot and humid in the summer you'll love it.

[JumpmanYaris]

if you like it hot and humid in the summer you'll love it.

Here days that's everywhere

[chrisj]

Alabama is flat as a pancake. Hot and humid a lot of the year. I mean, it IS the South after all. I traveled through most of the state working on Hardee's restaurants, installing DSL for them a few years ago. I got to see a lot of the state, and it's about like anywhere else, but I sure saw a town that I wouldn't mind living in. My wife and I both agreed that it was nicest town we'd ever seen. That was Gadsden. Really nice there.

[fnkngrv]

See the thing is that if I start talking salary then I am sure everyone would say go for it. To me the salary is going to be sufficient however there is more to it to take into consideration. It is a 5 year contract and if I were to just up/leave during the contract it could very well blacklist me and with how small the field is that I work in something like that would cripple me career-wise. I guess can anyone compare it to central Texas when it comes to the heat/humidity? I was stationed for 4 yrs at Fort Hood so I could make a decent judgement call on that if someone could cross reference.

BTW, I do appreciate the useful info put forth thus far...6.5 hrs and counting to decide.

[fnkngrv]

will you like the job? is it something you see yourself doing for more than 5 years regardless of where it is?


It is a hell of an opportunity. I am not sure if I will like it or not. I am starting to get tired of being in the field that I am in however it pays really well and is challenging. It should be better than when I was in Afghanistan at least because I will be working directly with the Air Force instead of the Army. After 5 years if I stay on that long that will be the end of the road...I will need to look for something else. I am also entertaining another contract job which pays more and has a lot of travel involved. I like traveling and now that I am divorced it won't be as much of a PITA at least.

[cali yaris]

I like traveling and now that I am divorced it won't be as much of a PITA at least.

I thought you had a kid, though?

[sickpuppy1]

I did a couple of searches on weather using "yearly weather in..." Entered Ft hood and the montgomery alabama. Looks like m,al is a bit cooler in summer and a bit warmer in winter! Bonus.. Humididty is about the same (slightly higher)as Bangor maine in summer( dont know where in maine you are at)
As far as things to do? Thats too vague, cause its all in what you like to do and how you like to live your life. I'm from St louis, lived in Denver, Omaha and KC. Traveled alot of other places, every place has good and bad. It IS the capital of the state so it has to be able to entertain out of towners I would think. Course thats not always true I guess....I live in Kansas now and the capitol - Topeka- is uh, not too happening.......but that kinda describes the whole state I guess,lol

[fnkngrv]

I thought you had a kid, though?


Yes, I still have both of the kids in my life. The only way that I even considered the first job offer in Montgomery is if the ex-wfe moved too so that we could all be together. Yes, I am sure that there are a lot of people that would scratch their heads at that one, but she and I get along great. Things just didn't work out. Who knows, maybe life has it that we will end up back together again. Neither one of us are waiting around for the other however we aren't tossing out the notion either. Anyway, enough on the personal front. With the second job possibility I would be telecommuting again. Sure I might be on the road up to 60% of the year however the perks are insane to include the fact that if you have a project that is slated for 3 weeks and you get it done in 2 you can go back home and get paid for the the 3rd week and just chill with the family or do what ever you want and get paid....you have already worked the time. This would still give me plenty of time to be around the kids.

[tomato]

I know nothing about Alabama but the things about making decisions is that sometimes there is no right or wrong You just make the decision based on whatever information you have at the time, whatever your gut tells you, and then just deal.

what does your gut tell you?

[fnkngrv]

Well I have contacted the employer back and if they are willing to bump the date back to the 8th from the 1st I will pull the trigger.

[fnkngrv]

Thank you to those that provided meaningful input. The AF came back and they are agreeable with the 8th Nov start date so the final offer letter is being drafted. I am putting in my notice to my current employer on Monday!

[MadMax]

See the thing is that if I start talking salary then I am sure everyone would say go for it. To me the salary is going to be sufficient however there is more to it to take into consideration. It is a 5 year contract and if I were to just up/leave during the contract it could very well blacklist me and with how small the field is that I work in something like that would cripple me career-wise. I guess can anyone compare it to central Texas when it comes to the heat/humidity? I was stationed for 4 yrs at Fort Hood so I could make a decent judgement call on that if someone could cross reference.

BTW, I do appreciate the useful info put forth thus far...6.5 hrs and counting to decide.

Sorry man, I know this is late but I am throwing in my http://www.thedailyscrapper.com/forum/images/tds/smilies/smiley_emoticons_my2cents.gif anyway since I currently live in southcentral Texas (SA) and have been to Montgomery while I was in the USAF (for school).

Personally, I moved away from that area of the country (I am originally from NE Florida) to get away from the steaming humidity, relentless heat and bugs. Now I know that sounds funny as last year we had 59 days of triple digit temps here in SA but honestly the dryness made it much more tolerable for me.

Anyhow, while some people may like it, Montgomery wasn't fun for me. I won't go into the reasons I didn't like it as it will only insult those who do, but my short duration there was enough to convince me that it wasn't anyplace I'd want to return. Again, everyone's different and you could end up loving the place; but given a choice between it and southcentral Texas...well, I live in southcentral Texas so that should tell you something about which I'd chose!

(And I am retired, so it was my choice!)

By the way, there's lots of Air Force jobs in SA. Some Army ones as well. Have you looked here?

Good luck! M2

[fnkngrv]

By the way, there's lots of Air Force jobs in SA. Some Army ones as well. Have you looked here?

Good luck! M2


I appreciate your input. I will actually still be keeping the house rental going that I have here if I don't care for the area, etc. As for looking for employment elsewhere I really wasn't in the market. This opportunity just kind of fell into my lap so no I haven't looked elsewhere. I enjoyed Texas however I would have a really tough time living there again. The only thing about it that I really liked was 6th street and the warehouse district in Austin. I really don't like Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, or even San Antonio. I as well do not want to insult people so I will leave it at that. I have lived in many places and personally I would love to live overseas for a while as a civilian....maybe down the road I will. I have been mulling over where to move to get out of Maine for the last year, but couldn't figure out where I wanted to go. This opportunity will allow me to see another part of the country yet again so I am getting excited. So far the only place that I definitely would never live again is in the Memphis area. I could not find one single endearing quality. At least the Montgomery area will be within traveling distance to do a lot I think. If this job doesn't pan out then I will most likely go with the other other option which is the job that I would travel a lot. Hell, at least in the south I will be able to drive my car year round without having to park it for the winter!

[Yar Is Word]

Wish you well!

[Altitude]

It was a good decision.

[SAV912]

...

[fnkngrv]

I know I'm late, but I'm in the minority. I wouldn't move to Alabama if it was the last state in the nation. It is horrid. I grew up in Ft. Rucker (father was military), spent six years in Birmingham as a child with many frequent near weekly visits to Montgomery, and IMO Alabama ranks second to Mississippi as the landfill of the Southeast. Every single place I've lived since then (Hawaii, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, D.C. and New York City) have all been far and away better than Alabama. I despise it.

That said, if the money calls, answer the phone. And it looks like you've done that. Moreover, your tastes are probably different from mine, so you may like it there. Best of luck regardless.

Just don't become a Crimson Tide fan. :P

-SAV :drinking:

Not to be rude SAV however you have provided nothing useful to substantiate your opinion on the matter. You just don't care for the state which I can understand and appreciate, but when someone asks for reasons you really need to provide them if you are going to put in an opinion.


Well at this point I am going to ask the mods to lock the thread. I have come to my decision and at this point there really isn't any need to continue with the thread. Thanks all.