We have an out!

[Anonymous]

OP, what is your husband's industry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've lived in DC for the past 8 years, and things have never really clicked. After about year 3, we actively started looking for an out. Unfortunately, nothing that felt right came through. Now, however, DH has found jobs with an option of which to take. Tell me about each place, please?

- one job offer in the far Western suburbs of Chicago
- one job offer in Tampa, FL
- one job offer in Pittsburgh

With the caveat that I've only lived in Pittsburgh, but spent lots of time in the other two places, here is my take. Weather in the 'burgh and Chicago area is miserable in the winter. Tampa is really hot in the summer. You are looking at extremes here. But, only Tampa doesn't have the four seasons. I think the Chicago has a high cost of living compared to the other two, but Tampa might rival that. Pittsburgh is a huge sports town and is also surrounded by mountains and rivers so you have to navigate lots of tunnels and bridges. If for some reason you are adverse to that, it's a consideration. I personally hated one of the tunnels and had to do it everyday. Nothing like an accident that gets you stuck in one.

If it were me, I'd choose Tampa but that's because I hate cold weather and don't mind the heat. Plus, I can always travel to PA to see the winter if I miss it, which I would doubt.

Congratulations on options!

Tampa COL is nowhere near Chicago's. Plus, no state income tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where were you happy before? What doesn't work for DC for you? Those are three very different places (obvs!).

We were in Philadelphia before this and liked it - that's where we went to college and lived until we moved to DC. We both grew up on the west coast. Just the general "vibe" of DC doesn't jive well - fast paced lifestyle, rather cold people, uber competitive parents, power/political obsession, materialism, SO crowded, etc.

+10000

The parents are laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want to live in Pittsburgh or Tampa. Ugh.

You've probably never lived there. Pittsburgh is a great place to live, but one problem is that the job market is only so-so. If you are considering Pittsburgh, you should make sure that the job is stable because job hunting there can be frustrating. That said, the vast majority of people who live or have lived in Pittsburgh love the town. It has one of the best records of resident loyalty of anywhere in the US. Even after moving away, most are dyed-in-the-wool 'burghers who still think of themselves as 'burghers long after they've left.

+1

I have heard this, also. Tampa strikes me as extremely depressing.

[Anonymous]

I couldn't live in Pittsburgh or Chicago because of their climates. Op,if Philadelphia was your coldest locale, either of those cities would be a big change. I'd go for Tampa, will be cheaper, slower paced, and no winter ( I don't need four seasons).

[Anonymous]

Pittsburgh is so spread out and oddly laid-out so there's a lot of driving around. Would get annoying, but way to go on the out!

[Anonymous]

I've lived in the Aurora area all my life and I like it here. I'm not a city life type of person so I'm perfectly happy being 45-60 minutes from Chicago. It's close enough to go when there's events I want to attend but I enjoy being in the suburbs. I would avoid both East and West Aurora school districts. Oswego is close to Aurora and has great schools. Naperville is a great option as well. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask.

One of my best friends recently made the move from living in Chicago to Pittsburgh and they absolutely love it. They've been there about 2 years now. I've enjoyed visiting but I'm not sure I'd want to live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you be willing to say which Chicago suburb? I know the area well and might be able to be more specific if I knew where you were talking abotu.

Job based in Aurora.

Once you get as far out as Aurora, it's pretty much bland suburbia. BUT, you could live in LaGrange, Western Springs, Hinsdale, Elmhurst, etc. and commute.

The winters suck though.

I'm from Chicago suburbs and I agree with this. You would not want to live in Aurora or any suburb west. But there is some of the same competitiveness, materialism in Hinsdale and the close in western suburbs. I currently live in the South Hills of Pittsburgh - love it. There are other threads on Pittsburgh you can search. Not everyone loves it but it's working for us. Property taxes are higher than DC (Chicago suburbs will be higher too) but the housing prices are lower.

South Hills is pretty middle to lower middle class. Real contrast from DC.

Really? When did you last visit? I didn't want to identify my exact suburb but I was referring to Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, etc. The school districts switch off being #1 and #2 in western PA. There is economic diversity (which I find nice actually) but there are also many houses that cost 1-2 million. The people I've met are just as smart as the people I knew in DC -- however they don't have an attitude. This type of post makes me so happy I moved.

What type of post? You mean the type of post where someone gives an opinion that differs from yours??? It is ironic that the very things you pretend to be trying to escape from by leaving DC (pretentiousness and people with superiority complexes because of where they live) are precisely why "this type of post" upsets you. Think about it.

[Anonymous]

I have lived in both the suburbs of Chicago and Pittsburgh. Both are great places with amazing and very nice people. Both have great museums and cities. The weather is colder than here in both but Chicago was much colder. This didn't bother my family too much. We actually know how to drive in snow. I would go back to either places with little thought. I liked both better than here by a lot.

[Anonymous]

I went to school in Chicago. It is a great city but very cold in the winter. Of your choices, I would stay here! Could not wait to come back here after Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Pgh restaurants (I used to live there):
- Union Pig & Chicken (bbq)
- Seviche
- Kaya
- Salt of the Earth (NaCL)
- Station Street (hot dog joint)
- E2
- Eleven
- Legume
- Meat & Potatoes
- Nicky's Thai
- Nine on Nine
- Alla Famiglia
- Root 174

A Michelin/Beard Award chef moved there several years ago and things have popped off ever since, food-wise.

[Anonymous]

Search this board for Tampa. I posted a question when I was considering moving there. I guess where you go depends on what you're looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pgh restaurants (I used to live there):
- Union Pig & Chicken (bbq)
- Seviche
- Kaya
- Salt of the Earth (NaCL)
- Station Street (hot dog joint)
- E2
- Eleven
- Legume
- Meat & Potatoes
- Nicky's Thai
- Nine on Nine
- Alla Famiglia
- Root 174

A Michelin/Beard Award chef moved there several years ago and things have popped off ever since, food-wise.

I am the PP who asked about restaurants. Thanks for this list! It will be great to have the next time that we visit! Kaya is with Burrito Brothers Group, right? We have been to Mad Mex.

[Anonymous]

Go for the sun! Chicago and Pittsburgh are REALLY cold and snowy.

[Anonymous]

Another plug for Pittsburgh. It has been voted 'most livable city' in US (and ranks high worldwide) for many years...and the reason is that it is cheap, and easy, but with all the benefits of a big city like great restaurant scene, great cultural stuff (from museums to real artisan vibe), great sports. It also 10 times more authentic than DC (where I live as well). This city has roots, history and a true working class spirit. Also on the up swing...getting tons of press right now...

I'm from Pittsburgh and left for a bunch of east coast cities. Pittsburgh is certainly no NYC or even Chicago in size or vibe. But if you are OK with that, it is a joy to live here. Winters do suck though. And the limited job market is a concern. But if you have a great job, hard to beat.

Good luck.