IL/GA/NC - Pls help with yr advice

[marybarbara60102]

I have been reading these boards for some time now. I have determined that even though I don’t know you, you seem to have the best advice! I will be downsized from my company after 18 years of working as an Administrative Assistant in the suburbs of Chicago. I have lived here all my life. I think that I have 3 options of what to do. Please help with ANY advice that you have.


1. IL: Stay in Illinois. Sell home and downsize (as I will be starting out at the bottom of the salary pool) and look for another job. My husband hates his job and would like to do “something” else.

2. GA: Both my husband and I have the possibility of getting transfers with our current companies. We’ve never lived anywhere else. Cost of a home and real estate taxes would be far less. Problem – moving my shy 8th grade daughter to a new school & my office would be on the north end of Atlanta. Is traffic worse than the suburbs of Chicago? Crime rate? Schools? What city would I live in? Is Alpharetta too far time wise to Atlanta?


3. NC: Move to Apex, NC, where our friends live and open our own hotdog restaurant. Wouldn’t a change in climate/surroundings be nice? Cost of a home and real estate taxes would be far less. Problem – moving my shy 8th grade daughter, only knowing one couple, leaving behind corporate life of great insurance/pension/paid sick days/set schedule/401k/stock options/guaranteed pay check, and only knowing 1 couple.

 

[Cruise04]

This post happened to catch my eye because I live in IL and I saw IL in the post. A good place to get some answers to this question might be the Community Board. There are a lot of people on that board that live in all of these areas.

Also I'd like to say that I'm sorry to hear that your losing your job. I'm an Administrative Secretary as well at NIU and I know there aren't many of these jobs that open up (unless someone retires generally or a higher positions opens and then that one opens). But I have seen many other places that are looking for Administrative Assistants.

If it were me I'd move where at least one of us could get insurance and be able to put away for the future. I like the idea of being able to be closer to people I know and starting a new venture. If you will be starting with lower pay, it might be wise to go somewhere that housing and taxes are lower. I know IL is very high as is our county and probably yours as well (not knowing which suburb).

As far as Atlanta traffic, we have driven to WDW through Atlanta and hitting it during rush hour and it is nothing, in my eyes, compared to Chicago traffic. It appears to move much smoother than Chicago. I like the fact that when a lane exits it generally really exits and when you merge onto the road the lane stays, unlike Chicago where it merges and you lose that lane and so you constantly have people moving to the left, causing accidents and congestion stops. Chicago traffic is NASTY!!!!!

Good luck in whatever you do. And check out the Community Board if you have a chance. And WELCOME!!!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I'm originally from GA, northwest of the metro Atlanta area, but I spent quite a bit of time in that area.

I've driven in Atlanta and Chicago traffic. While Atlanta traffic can be bad at times, I still found it better than Chicago. To me, the traffic is really rough when you're trying to go from suburb to suburb rather than from suburb to downtown. Traffic can be as bad on the Perimeter -- I-285 -- as it can be on I-75 or I-85.

The northern part of Atlanta -- Cobb, Cherokee, northern Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties -- have seen a huge amount of growth over the past 20 years. Very nice area, comparable to Chicago's nicer suburbs. Of course, there's been quite a bit of sprawl, and towns like Gainesville and Cartersville that used to seem so far from Atlanta are now within commuting distance.

I agree with Cruise04 -- post this also on the Community Board. You're bound to get quite a few responses there. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Unregistered]

I'd have to say GA.

Orig from So Jersey to Arkansas to Metro Atlanta
My dh and I had briefly, very briefly thought bout Chicago.
The weather here is great. Cost of living is less, ofcourse that is when you get further out from Hotlanta. the commute can be bad but for the most part bearable. Who knows maybe you'll be lucky and it won't be midtown!

We chose ATL because if he job situation changes the possibility of finding another job is better here.

good luck with your decision!

 

[BuzzandWoody]

Unregistered guest, didn't know it would do that.
Anyway that's me BuzzandWoody aka unregistered guest