I expect to be offered a job in the next two weeks in a low cost of living area (at my DC salary)

[Anonymous]

A while ago, when things were going porely at my current job (not enough hours, etc.), An opertunity came from the blue..A SETA contract was being recompeted. My company was not bidding on the SETA program. The companies looking to unseat the incumbant wanted to use my resume; I allowed both to do so (with contingent offers); in addition, one company paid me to help on the proposal. The contract was originally awarded to in the incumbant, but the award was challenged. The challenge was upheald, and now the incumbant is disqualified.

Since there were three companies bidding, and only two remain (the two that used my resume), I expect to get an offer soon. Financially, it will be a huge boon for us -- we live in a tear town house we bought in the 90's, and have 500K of equity. Selling the house will allow me to pay off every debt, and have money put aside for my daughter's college. The work is right up my ally, should be interesting, and I know the customer quite well.

On the down side, the schools are nowhere near as good. And the state has a history of underfunding education. In addition, my unstable job is not stable. But, the thought of no more winters on my scar ridden body is intriguing.

My wife will not talk about it until the job is in hand; my daughter does not want to move.

[Anonymous]

Are there any private schools in the area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any private schools in the area?

Or is there a university town within commutable distance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any private schools in the area?

Or is there a university town within commutable distance?

There are private school,s but they are mostly religious based, which is not acceptable. This is in Florida, and there are some of the best schools in florida nearby: I could rent in a good school district (at least at first). But I do not know what good means. My Daughter is schedueled to go to one of the better FCPS schools next year.

[Anonymous]

How old is your daughter? Is she entering high school or kindergarten? We left the DC area for a lower cost of living city (although one with great schools). However, although the education is great, the insane level of competition is absent so my children are much happier. There is something to be said for that. Also, we are much more financially secure and that gives us great peace of mind. I understand your wife not wanting to talk about it until the job is in hand but I'd take it in a heartbeat once you have an offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is your daughter? Is she entering high school or kindergarten? We left the DC area for a lower cost of living city (although one with great schools). However, although the education is great, the insane level of competition is absent so my children are much happier. There is something to be said for that. Also, we are much more financially secure and that gives us great peace of mind. I understand your wife not wanting to talk about it until the job is in hand but I'd take it in a heartbeat once you have an offer.

She is in the 8th grade. She is an a-b student, but hates the competition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any private schools in the area?

Or is there a university town within commutable distance?

There are private school,s but they are mostly religious based, which is not acceptable. This is in Florida, and there are some of the best schools in florida nearby: I could rent in a good school district (at least at first). But I do not know what good means. My Daughter is schedueled to go to one of the better FCPS schools next year.

I grew up in Florida, but my parents moved from the northeast when I was a kid. I was completely unprepared for college (Ivy league) coming from such a backwater state. I know I would have been 'happier' if I had stayed in state so how would you feel if your DD goes native in FL? Or be ready to pay for a *lot* of enrichment to prepare for out of state college, and realize there will still be enormous culture shock leaving sleepy south for the 'real world' of the east or west coast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any private schools in the area?

Or is there a university town within commutable distance?

There are private school,s but they are mostly religious based, which is not acceptable. This is in Florida, and there are some of the best schools in florida nearby: I could rent in a good school district (at least at first). But I do not know what good means. My Daughter is schedueled to go to one of the better FCPS schools next year.

I grew up in Florida, but my parents moved from the northeast when I was a kid. I was completely unprepared for college (Ivy league) coming from such a backwater state. I know I would have been 'happier' if I had stayed in state so how would you feel if your DD goes native in FL? Or be ready to pay for a *lot* of enrichment to prepare for out of state college, and realize there will still be enormous culture shock leaving sleepy south for the 'real world' of the east or west coast.

You realize Florida is a huge state, right? There are many backwater places on the east and west coasts. I'm sure education depends on the neighborhood, county etc just like it does in most states. You could also live in Washington and attend a horrible school and be unprepared for college.

[Anonymous]

My friends who grew up in Florida said private school is almost mandatory to be prepped for college. I don't know how true that is now. If you can do private, that may be an easier transition for your daughter, who would be entering high school, right? That's a hard age to move, and I feel for her. But you can't pin every family decision on one member.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Florida, graduated from a Florida high school, and went the the University of Florida (now considered public Ivy). I got a terrific education, and graduated with little debt. I got a job right out of school, as did most of my friends, in the early 80s. My friends who have kids in college now or just through were able to put their kids through college with little to no debt because of the Florida prepaid tuition and the scholarships public school kids get in Florida. These kids are graduating as lawyers, engineers, doctors, accountants -- just like their parents 35 years ago.

I loved growing up in Florida. It's a wonderful, laid-back lifestyle. You can achieve without being the uber-type A you seem to need to be in the Northeast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I grew up in Florida, graduated from a Florida high school, and went the the University of Florida (now considered public Ivy). I got a terrific education, and graduated with little debt. I got a job right out of school, as did most of my friends, in the early 80s. My friends who have kids in college now or just through were able to put their kids through college with little to no debt because of the Florida prepaid tuition and the scholarships public school kids get in Florida. These kids are graduating as lawyers, engineers, doctors, accountants -- just like their parents 35 years ago.

I loved growing up in Florida. It's a wonderful, laid-back lifestyle. You can achieve without being the uber-type A you seem to need to be in the Northeast.

I am PP from Florida, and yes I agree it is a big state but it way way undervalues education across the board. Private is necessary if you want kids to leave the state.

But if you are happy with kids going native, they can work at Kennedy or McDill as engineers, entertainment lawyers or accounts at Disney, or find some niche in Miami in trade or tourism. But if their kid has aspirations for something more than finding a job and low cost of living in Florida, then they are definitely limiting their DD option. Check out 'sunshine tax'.

This is the first time I have ever hear UF as a public Ivy. I really don't see it comparing to Ann Arbor, UNC, or or Penn State. But Florida scholars can be great, though I heard it was oversubscribed?

[Anonymous]

Florida does have awful publics, but online home school is popular there. And you may have to bite the bullet and go with a religious private. What is more important to you: a purely secular but crappy education or a solid education that will include some religious instruction which your DD at 12/13 is old enough to ignore if your family is atheist or not of that faith?

[Anonymous]

Take the job, get over your hang ups about religion and send your daughter to a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take the job, get over your hang ups about religion and send your daughter to a private school.

I think you people are naive about just how religious Florida is, this is not a local Catholic school like HTS in DC. These folks take it to another level; my FB feed is filled with #blessed and all sorts of Praise the Lord posts, constantly, not to mention Trump supporters etc.

This won't just be a prayer at the start of school and a priest handing out diplomas, whole different level.

And home schooling? Are you competent to train AP level physics with lab requirement??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Florida does have awful publics, but online home school is popular there. And you may have to bite the bullet and go with a religious private. What is more important to you: a purely secular but crappy education or a solid education that will include some religious instruction which your DD at 12/13 is old enough to ignore if your family is atheist or not of that faith?

Hahaha, a 12 or 13 year old choosing to follow her parents rather than all her friends? Do you have teens?