Work closing my site... Move to Georgia?

[frijolee]

Well hell,

Found out yesterday they're closing my work location (day job not Ronin).  I can relocate from Southern CA to Augusta Georgia with the parent company if I want to, but it's a lot to wrap your head around considering we moved 5 years ago to take this job.   Ironically a big piece of that move was the intent of putting down more solid roots.  We bought a house in SoCal (massive hurdle to overcome).  My kids have now started school.  We're really embedded in our neighborhood, active in our church etc...  I live pretty much next door to the other principal in Ronin which makes running that a great deal easier and a great deal more fun. 

On the flip side, this is probably my best chance to set up a pole barn and a proper shop instead of a mini garage based one.  Augusta is great for the outdoors and adventure.  It's certainly easier to be a car guy just about anywhere besides CA.  Soooo, big decision ahead.  I can take a decent severance package if I stay through the proper closure April 7 and then leave for something else.  I can keep my salary and move to Augusta (where that salary probably goes a lot further, thereby uprooting my world).  I could try to turn Ronin into a full time gig, however that's the riskiest proposal and may not fly with the wife. 

Anyone have opinions on Georgia and/or Augusta?  Anyone have similar stories to share?  What did you decide?

Thoughtfully,
Joel







 

[Azar]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear. I have no input but just wanted to post and let you know that I'll be thinking of you during this time!

[wickedrx7]

One thing you didn't mention is how hard to find similar gig in so cal? Do you like your job, company? Do you foresee staying with them for sometime? if you move, what do job prospects look like in Georgia besides your company?

[su_maverick]

Lived in GA for 6 years of my childhood so Im probably a bit out of date with a lot of things. GA is a pretty decent place to live but its going to be humid as hell in the summers. You will also have to deal with hurricanes. On the plus side, cars are much easier to deal with (regulation wise), they have the GA Half Mile Shootout, and you have a lot of cool stuff to go see (Charleston/Savannah/Hilton Head/etc).

[freeskier7791]

Tough decisions...I couldn't imagine having to make this.  That being said I like North Carolina, and I know Georgia isn't too much different

[frijolee]

Drew,

Thanks fella.  My door's always open and the BBQ will always be ready.


Wicked,

New gig is a massive wildcard, I agree.  I think I have a pretty good resume (Mech Eng w/ PE license, MBA, couple patents, business owner, good project roles).  I think the job market is good, but I haven't been looking either.  I'm not planning on saying yes until I feel that out.  To date, work has been good.  Most recently I've been helping design their powersports vehicles (www.badboyoffroad.com).  The branch of the parent company I work under is probably best known for making EZGO golf cars (hence Augusta Georgia).


Neal, Freeskier

I've been a few times on business trips so I at least have the flavor of it (and yeah the summers look like a sticky hot mess).   How's the culture?  One the one hand folks seem real friendly and more likely to talk to you in a grocery store.  On the other hand I get the impression there's a distinct redneck/backwoods pride kinda undercurrent as well.  I like the fact SoCal is such a diverse melting pot.  It's stupid but I find myself wondering if I'd still be able to get decent Mexican or Thai food.  Whether folks there run and/or care about fitness.  Whether folks take their faith seriously or whether being at church on Sunday is just expected of you (bible belt).  Can folks talk politics and try to understand someone else's viewpoints?  I'm sure some of this is just the specific folks you choose to surround yourself with, but it at least has me thinking...

[su_maverick]

Its been way too long for me to speak to the culture of GA.

I would think that the area is like almost any not major city in that you have a lot of the more modern/moderate folks located in and around the city and that it gets a bit more banjo'ish the more you delve into the backwoods. I lived in Macon in the 80's and found that, even then, there were a decent amount of progressive people around. The closer you are to any of the colleges, the more diversity and interesting stuff you will find.

Would your company be willing to fly you (and your wife) out for a long weekend to look at the area? Id imagine they would like to keep you so its a small price to pay.

[spacevomit]

Some interesting manufacturers there, Textron, Morgan Advanced Materials...

[frijolee]

I work for Textron.    They bought out MillenWorks about 7 years back.

Good thought on asking about flying the wife out to take a look as well.

[largeorangefont]

Joel,

I'm very sorry to hear this. Frankly you are in a reasonably good position either way. You bought your house at a good time and it has accumulated some good value. In a move you could roll that equity over to a very nice place with a notably lower payment, or a larger/nicer place with a close to equal payment. The kids are young enough I don't think it would be a huge impact to them in the longer term if you moved. Also keeping your CA salary would be helpful.

On the flip side if you stay, there is still a lot of opportunity here. I don't know that it is still a bike ride away from your house, but you are in a good location a stones throw from many different opportunities, especially in industries you may not have thought of.

Let me know if you want to chat or get a beer bud.

[frijolee]

Sounds good.  I'll holler at ya.

[wickedrx7]

Will you find the same amount of "culture" in Augusta Georgia, no.  Even moving from Chicago to the suburbs, I miss the restaurant and cultural diversity.  Augusta is a nice place and has lots to offer but it is different than SO CAL.

Having a pole barn and more space would be nice but then if you have no car-guy friends to come over and hand out in it, is it worth it? (you will probably make some but they won't be as cool....)  F

So you have some pluses and minuses... That's why I revert to how good is the job opportunity... And if it doesn't work out, what do other job prospects look like.  Worst case would be you hate living there, the job sucks and you can't find anything better.  I feel like job opportunities based on your experience will be greater in SO CAL. 

And most important, is the wife going to be happy?   

[ls3_rob]

cost of living, cost of living, cost of living did i mention..... cost of living


Yeah houses in the 500-1mil range in california are shacks compared to that price in georgia

[ls3_rob]

CA Shack for $675,000
http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Tustin-CA/25448960_zpid/27491_rid/33.798906,-117.696019,33.674139,-117.880555_rect/12_zm/

GA mansion for $650,000
http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Augusta-GA/14941283_zpid/10210_rid/500000-_price/1881-_mp/33.636631,-81.721802,33.135538,-82.459946_rect/10_zm/

[gc3]

You should have no issue finding a job in the ME field anywhere you go, but I'm not sure how much "exciting" jobs are available in GA.
That's the main reason I can't really move out of Michigan.

Come out to MI, I can get you in front of the right people at Pratt and Miller, and you can buy a giant garage for probably cheaper than GA by a good margin too.

I know there's a ton of exciting startups in SanFran area, i assume SoCal is similar.

Tough decision, good luck with wherever you decide!