Break me from this City Life!

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by Full MeTal Jack

Ivan, resume' looks great for public works depts. Not like Cooter Brown with a shovel but, Cooter's bose's boss. Director or Assistant Director of Public Works. T here are oil and gas operations companies all over. They need competent people. Isn't BP and Conoco doing a joint pipe line in Alaska?
Just how Rual do you want to go? Around Houston, 2 hours is comutable.

The FMJ suggest: "Road Trip!" Take a week off. New Mexico? Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma or North Texas

One of the fellows that got laid off with me just got transferred to working at oil rigs on the N. Slope. 10 days on, 10 off. Company pays for air travel home and back every 10 days. That could allow him to live anywhere. Good deal I say.

[ArkansasHunter]

Crazy Ivan I live about 6 miles from the city limits. Our town has a population of 23000 +. so it's a small city.
I'll suggest you limit your self to a certain size population, and if you wish to live out side of the city limits look for a place to settle down no further than 10 miles out.

If you can find a small town with a Hospital, couple of chain grocery store's, WalMart and has a pretty good industry base such as we use to have you might find a job and a home that you can afford.
There is less hustle and bussel LOL in a smaller town or city and don't expect a night life like you find in bigger citys.

I didn't read all the posts, but heres my recomendations : Go to a resume service and have them craft you a resume and mail and e-mail to locations in towns you've visited.
Don't just pull up roots and move some where or you might be spending some nights at the Salvation Army if the town has one. LOL !!!

I can just picture you at a Salvation Army trien to go to sleep on a cot and there's a wineO next to you mumbling a way LOL

[Mooseman684]

We do have people here that work 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off on the North slope, but you better KNOW somebody to get on up there...There are jobs but it is the "Good old Boy Network" !
We have an Architect working in the local Hardware store to make a living, until a job comes along in that field...If you worked in Telecommunications or Power Generation, you could get a great job with our phone or Power Company...big bucks and benefits !
Rich

[Big Tool]

Crazy Ivan,
Have you ever considered being a real estate agent???

It may sound crazy with the housing market the way it is, but land is where the money has been for my family for a long time now.

It is the easiest job on earth, you pick your own hours, you can practice anywhere in the U.S. and all you have to do to obtain a license in most states is take a stupid 2week course and pass a certification exam.

Every town has several brokerages that would probably love to have you as an agent, and your broker will take you through all the hoops of learning the business.

The paperwork is all generic and attorneys handle all the techinical stuff. All you have to do is bring Buyer X and Seller Y together and walk away with 3-10% of the total closing price.

Average Home 200,00 x .03%= 6,000 It dosen't take many sales to make a decent living. I know people who don't even have a highschool diploma who are making over a 100,000 a year.

The biggest problem with being an agent is the fact that you are self-employed and are responsible for with-holding your tax money. You can also kiss any type of benefits or health care bye bye.




If you don't like the idea of being a agent you could always give buying and selling land a try. The best part about buying and selling land is the best deals are usually in small rural towns where the market is years behind the bigger cities price wise.

Housing markets can be overbuilt which is happening in many parts of the country right now, but land is a fixed commodity and prices are only going to go up.





Like others have said if you decide to move out of the big town, your income may be smaller but the price of living will also be smaller. Everything from property taxes to food is cheaper.

[Seabeescotty]

Ivan, the biggest thing to think about, is this. Do you REALLY want to make the change? If you do, and decide you made a mistake, it'll take you years to get back to where you are now. You sound as if you're ready for the change, but think it over, and do your research. Then, see if you can find a job in the area you want to move to. As far as opening a shop, you can figure two years or more, before it's self sustaining. Unless you buy an established shop. Good luck on your quest for peace of mind, and if you find something here in OK., Let us Okies know, and we'll try to help you out a bit. Scotty

[nathangdad]

Line up a job or a business to open before you make the move.
Often the smaller towns are congested with people who think like you but got there first. Don't blow your equity/savings on the hope of finding something.
Also, remember it can get very boring in a small town as, while Mayberry looks good, it is not a center for intellectual conversation.
I've lived in each and can tell you a small town/rural life is something with which to mentally contend after living in pre-Katrina New Orleans.

[Seabeescotty]

Nathan, that's kinda what I was trying to say, without sticking my big foot in my mouth again. It takes a while to acclimate to the new surroundings, and yes, local folks do tend to look down on you until they get to know you. All things considered, I feel that MY decision to move out of the fast lane was a good one. My blood pressure is easier to manage, and I can actually sleep at night, instead of trying to crawl under the bed every time a boom box goes by. It was a healthy choice for me. I hope Ivan can do the same, a person needs to live the life that's right for them, and not just exist for the dollar chase!

[CrazyIvan]

Thanks all for your input. It is really good info.

I've been thinking about this for a few years. I tried out for the Sheriff's Dept here in the city. But, a white guy who has never been in trouble doesn't have much of a chance landing a job with the government here in Denver. Affirmative action is alive and well in this city, and it is sickening. A job should be offered to the most qualified, and qualifications should not be based upon color of skin or any other social issue.

Anyhow, the Sheriff's thing was kind of the last straw. If I were accepted, I would have decided to stay. If not, then it then became time to seriously look at getting the hell out of Dodge, so to speak.

I've been looking at PA. Altoona, College, outside of Harrisburg...places like that.

I really don't want to be a Drafter anymore. I would love to get into IT work, maybe a little custom computer shop or something. Or the gun route is good too. Even something outdoors, but not labor intensive would be nice. I've done some surveying. That would be fun.

Anyhow, I've definitely set my mind to this. I will certainly make sure I have a job or some means of income prior to making the move. I've always done that. I've never quit a job without first having somewhere else to go when I leave, and this wouldn't be any different.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by CrazyIvan

Thanks all for your input. It is really good info.

I've been thinking about this for a few years. I tried out for the Sheriff's Dept here in the city. But, a white guy who has never been in trouble doesn't have much of a chance landing a job with the government here in Denver. Affirmative action is alive and well in this city, and it is sickening. A job should be offered to the most qualified, and qualifications should not be based upon color of skin or any other social issue.

Anyhow, the Sheriff's thing was kind of the last straw. If I were accepted, I would have decided to stay. If not, then it then became time to seriously look at getting the hell out of Dodge, so to speak.

I've been looking at PA. Altoona, College, outside of Harrisburg...places like that.

I really don't want to be a Drafter anymore. I would love to get into IT work, maybe a little custom computer shop or something. Or the gun route is good too. Even something outdoors, but not labor intensive would be nice. I've done some surveying. That would be fun.

Anyhow, I've definitely set my mind to this. I will certainly make sure I have a job or some means of income prior to making the move. I've always done that. I've never quit a job without first having somewhere else to go when I leave, and this wouldn't be any different.

There are places out in the sticks where most jobs are with the school system, agriculture, and LAW ENFORCEMENT!

If you have the qualifications, apply for LE jobs where you want to live. A little education can go a long way.

[tlarkin]

Originally Posted by CrazyIvan

I am into IT and Architectural, Structural, Mechanical type engineering drafting and design. I'm pretty good with my hands, but I don't have any work experience in trade-type jobs. Mostly personal experience outside of the technical work I do.

I've thought about going into opening a gun shop or a shooting range, but I dunno.

I would say that technical work is actually a trade.

What type of IT, since it is a very broad term. There are plenty of things you can do in the IT field as an independent/sub contractor. I did it on the side for years, and my absolute minimum for any work done was $75/hour. It was side work so sometimes I could rack up 30 to 40 hours a month, and other times it would be like 3 to 5, and I picked and chose my jobs.

If you are into web development all you need is an internet connection, and you can be anywhere in the world developing web apps, sites, databases, etc.

You can start your own business and in rural areas, probably be the only game in town for technical support computer work type stuff.

There are plenty of IT jobs that require a lot of travel (flying around to meet big clients and support sales staff) where it doesn't matter where you live because you will travel a lot anyway. That is if you want to travel.

Also, for sheriff work I think you have to work up at the state's prison for a while before you can become part of the sheriffs department. If anyone can verify that, but I have a cousin or something (distant family) that I meet like once every 2 years at a gathering and he is a prison guard right now because he wants to work with the sheriffs department and that is how they do it.

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

I would say that technical work is actually a trade.

What type of IT, since it is a very broad term. There are plenty of things you can do in the IT field as an independent/sub contractor. I did it on the side for years, and my absolute minimum for any work done was $75/hour. It was side work so sometimes I could rack up 30 to 40 hours a month, and other times it would be like 3 to 5, and I picked and chose my jobs.

If you are into web development all you need is an internet connection, and you can be anywhere in the world developing web apps, sites, databases, etc.

You can start your own business and in rural areas, probably be the only game in town for technical support computer work type stuff.

There are plenty of IT jobs that require a lot of travel (flying around to meet big clients and support sales staff) where it doesn't matter where you live because you will travel a lot anyway. That is if you want to travel.

Also, for sheriff work I think you have to work up at the state's prison for a while before you can become part of the sheriffs department. If anyone can verify that, but I have a cousin or something (distant family) that I meet like once every 2 years at a gathering and he is a prison guard right now because he wants to work with the sheriffs department and that is how they do it.

Good ideas all around.

While some counties may require prior experience in the prison system, it seems to me that two factors are important to getting a job in law enforcement in rural areas.

1. Education at any advanced level - military gets priority
2. Who you know - nepotism is a way of life in small towns, This is the no 1 hurdle

[BunnyWabbit]

If you wanted to move to the Topeka KS area, Goodyear Tires and Hill's Pet Nutrition (the Science Diet people) are hiring. Might be night shifts. House is getting cheaper, and either of these jobs pay great. Both are production and they train you with good benefits. There are a lot of small towns within 15 miles of Topeka.

[One-eyed Dave]

I've lived in the coutnry, and now in the city. But I just bought a little place north of the DFW Humongoplex. Home on 4 acres with pond for less than 70K. Planning to retire there. Right now, it's a getaway.

Having lived in a small town, look at smaller cities, 50K or less in population. See if you can get on at the city, county or school. Look at your skills and see if you can do them as a contractor remotely (on line, etc).

But be sure you want to go wherever you go.

[single shot]

Seven knows his stuff. I am much better of out here in no where Oklahoma than in the city. Hospitals are the #1 employer in small town. But I have to comute to the small town. Can walk out and kill my food in the yard if i want - shoot anytime I want, fish amytime I want. I went from city chef @80 to 100 hrs a week to hospital at 40 hrs with 6 weeks a year off to round up our food. Heat primarily with wood. We are frozen in time (money wise) except for gas to comute. House and 5 acres 53,000. This was only 10 yrs ago - giving you 250 a month payment, for a energy efficent 3 story house only 14 yrs old when we purchased it. Try that in a big town. It can be very hard to get excited out here though. Unless i get that call that says- pig in yard or deer in yard or squirrel eating corn. 10 minutes to water with a great view of pine trees.
Do it!!!

[rondog]

Originally Posted by single shot

Seven knows his stuff. I am much better of out here in no where Oklahoma than in the city. Hospitals are the #1 employer in small town. But I have to comute to the small town. Can walk out and kill my food in the yard if i want - shoot anytime I want, fish amytime I want. I went from city chef @80 to 100 hrs a week to hospital at 40 hrs with 6 weeks a year off to round up our food. Heat primarily with wood. We are frozen in time (money wise) except for gas to comute. House and 5 acres 53,000. This was only 10 yrs ago - giving you 250 a month payment, for a energy efficent 3 story house only 14 yrs old when we purchased it. Try that in a big town. It can be very hard to get excited out here though. Unless i get that call that says- pig in yard or deer in yard or squirrel eating corn. 10 minutes to water with a great view of pine trees.
Do it!!!

Anywhere near Tenkiller?

[Deersniper]

The best protection is a remote location. We are in the city and will have to make a stand here. But people in the country who grow their own food and have stocked up will fair better if something big happens.