Move from DC to central PA for job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in the area. It has changed a lot in the past twenty years. It's not so insular; the new construction neighborhood near my parents is basically all transplants from elsewhere. The area reminds me of the area around Annapolis or the further out MD suburbs. It's suburban/rural, not glamorous, but totally fine especially if you want a house, decent schools, kid activities, and a decent QOL. There is Wegman's and Whole Foods and lots of local music and theatre through Muhlenberg, Lehigh, and other colleges. And it's much more like living in a further-out suburb than living in the Midwest. People even commute to NYC, crazy as that sounds. There's less money but you're unlikely to die of culture shock.

it just sounds like people giving up and waiting to die.

Wait, so wanting a nice house, decent schools, kid activities and a decent QOL is giving up and waiting to die?

[Anonymous]

Can you rent out your house? Maybe rent there for a year or two and if it's unbearable, come back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- thanks all for the feedback. I appreciate all the different insights. I guess our fear is that if he says no to this position, if he is offered it, another in house won't come along for 3-5+ years, they are really hard to come by. Also, this is not en entry level most junior in house counsel position - its lower mid level and it is at a huge Fortune 500 company which is a great, secure place to land. The culture piece and the insularity is one to think about... I honestly don't think we would go into the city much, with kids (we have 1 DD now and expect to have another) I imagine our weekends will involve sports and social things with their schools and friends. My employment situation gives me pause but what really is wanting me not to do this is the dread of selling and buying a new house.

I don't think there are THAT many Fortune 500 companies with offices in the Lehigh Valley. So one thing to consider is whether this would be the last move if you worked for this company, or if there are other potential moves if he moves up the ladder.

By chance, were you or your husband in a fraternity/sorority in college? Bc there may be a Lehigh Valley alumnae group that you could reach out to, to ask some questions and maybe show you around if you head up for a visit.

there are only two - ppl and air products.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you certainly get a lot for your money.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1062-Newgate-Dr_Allentown_PA_18103_M30265-83188?ex=PA604196869

OP here -- this is what appeals to me honestly. The commute would be sub 30 minutes and we could live in a house like this. DH we live in a dumpy house that cost close to a million dollars in order to have a decent commute, and the commute is still annoying and stressful some days. Also I am not sold on raising kids in DH. The teens in our neighborhood seem overly tutored and a ton of prep and pressure for college which is not the environment we grew up in. We are both from midwest and lived in Chicago before DC. I think I would be ok with small town life, but the suggestion to go visit for a week is a good one. I don't know the area at all.

I'm the PP who posted the link. I've spent A LOT of time in quasi-rural parts of PA, as I have two kids who play travel hockey. That said, that has probably negatively skewed my perspective of the area due to the people I've encountered that way and the places we seem to get stuck (including Allentown). I'm not fond of PA in general as a result, and I would definitely urge you to spend some time checking it out. But if you're from the Midwest, there are probably aspects that will appeal to you that I definitely disliked. (Like being out in nowhere, or feeling that way). I'm from a large city outside the US, so small town or rural Americana are not for me.

That part of PA that you are looking in is better than central (Hershey, York, Altoona) which have no redeeming qualities I've ever found. Run down, poor, high drug use, everything people like to think of WV.

hershey is a lot different from york and altoona. in fact i think hershey is way better to live in than allentown.

I'm the PP who mentioned Hershey, York, etc. I mentioned them because they are awful places. If you think they're better than Allentown and Bethlehem, I'm....puzzled. At any rate, my point was that those are all Central PA and Allentown is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you certainly get a lot for your money.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1062-Newgate-Dr_Allentown_PA_18103_M30265-83188?ex=PA604196869

OP here -- this is what appeals to me honestly. The commute would be sub 30 minutes and we could live in a house like this. DH we live in a dumpy house that cost close to a million dollars in order to have a decent commute, and the commute is still annoying and stressful some days. Also I am not sold on raising kids in DH. The teens in our neighborhood seem overly tutored and a ton of prep and pressure for college which is not the environment we grew up in. We are both from midwest and lived in Chicago before DC. I think I would be ok with small town life, but the suggestion to go visit for a week is a good one. I don't know the area at all.

I'm the PP who posted the link. I've spent A LOT of time in quasi-rural parts of PA, as I have two kids who play travel hockey. That said, that has probably negatively skewed my perspective of the area due to the people I've encountered that way and the places we seem to get stuck (including Allentown). I'm not fond of PA in general as a result, and I would definitely urge you to spend some time checking it out. But if you're from the Midwest, there are probably aspects that will appeal to you that I definitely disliked. (Like being out in nowhere, or feeling that way). I'm from a large city outside the US, so small town or rural Americana are not for me.

That part of PA that you are looking in is better than central (Hershey, York, Altoona) which have no redeeming qualities I've ever found. Run down, poor, high drug use, everything people like to think of WV.

hershey is a lot different from york and altoona. in fact i think hershey is way better to live in than allentown.

I'm the PP who mentioned Hershey, York, etc. I mentioned them because they are awful places. If you think they're better than Allentown and Bethlehem, I'm....puzzled. At any rate, my point was that those are all Central PA and Allentown is not.

Yes, I think specifically Hershey is better than allentown/bethlehem. But york/altoona are not.

Hershey, with the med center and hershey co, derry township schools, sporting culture (swimming culture and soccer culture - pa classics, the club christian pulisic played for is driveable distance), housing in in town hershey. i'm not saying it's the best place ever but i'm saying for the price it is a very good deal and i find it a lot better than the allentown area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did this once OP and moved from DC to Cleveland where my DH was from. We lasted for 4 years there and had to move back to DC. I hated the weather, the city, etc. I would advise you not to do it. There are so many more job options in DC. It may take a while to find better jobs here, but it is worth the wait.

Replace Cleveland with Detroit and that's me. We know that both areas have nice neighborhoods, etc. But if you didn't grow up there, you are at a huge disadvantage. No place is perfect, but when the great majority have never left, it is hard to fit in. Unless it is a corporate transfer where you will only be there for a few years. There is a reason the Rust Belt is losing people.