I currently live in Austin. Should I move to Connecticut?

[tontod]

I'm from CT, but currently living in Boston. I never lived in Hartford, but from what Ive heard, there isnt much going on in Hartford, not much of a night life. I would recommend Boston if you can go there over Hartford.

 

[Mermaidman]

I say 'yes' because you're young and mobile. Take the opportunity to live somewhere else for a little bit. If you don't like it, transfer back to Austin.

 

[Miramonti]

I'm all for new experiences and taking risks with work, but would want to make sure the upside provides potential for both personal and professional rewards.

Since you'll have this position next year anyways and there's not much going on in hartford (and you take major cost of living hit), I'm not sure this is the life or professional experience that you're looking compared to the risks/sacrifices. I wouldn't turn down something I might regret later, but I'm not sure there's a huge 'regret' risk here if you turn it down right now.

If there is a more metro area you could transfer to which could offer a stronger social life, I'd definitely seek something like that instead.

 

[gooseman]

I am originally from Arkansas. Lived in Oklahoma for 5 years then in Connecticut for 5 years then moved back to Arkansas. CT is a beautiful place, especially in the fall. CT has tons of things to do itself as do Boston and New York which are both reasonably close. The winters weren't too bad for me. It is cold but it doesn't really get any colder there than it does here in Arkansas, it just lasts 3 times as long. The summers are milder.

All that said, CT. is a completely different world than what you are acustom to! The people are different, the politics are different and it is expensive as hell to live there. Since you are young and unencumbered it might be fun for a while to expand your horizons but my guess is you'll end up back in Texas at some point just like I made my way back here.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: Blieb
I have lived in Houston, TX and West Hartford, Connecticut ... I was not employed full time in either place.

If you have or plan to have kids, the public schools (at least in West Hartford) are 1,000 times better than schools in most places.

It's cold. Winter is depressing. Buildings and things are old, this too can be somewhat depressing.

Connecticut is an expensive state to live in. High taxes. TX doesn't have income tax! If you have a RWD vehicle, you'll want to change to AWD, 4x4 or FWD.

If you are young and light on baggage ... I say go for it, live a little, experience a new place ... it's plenty close to NYC and Boston, which is a plus IMO.

Definitely check and make sure that 35% is enough after taxes and difference in costs between locations.

I am young and I have very little baggage, really only my sister and grandmother (parents both passed away).

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
The good news is that you'll be making 35% more... the bad news is that your cost of living is going to go up at least 25% as well. Connecticut is a damn expensive place to live!

Hartford's nightlife and entertainment options are kinda tame compared to Austin's. That said, you're be able to walk outside in Summer without wanting to kill yourself.

yes, I will look forward to walking around from may - september without dying if I go for the job.

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Funny... I thought that Austin was about as liberal as Texas gets.

I agree on the taxes, though... Connecticut is one of the worst in that regard. The first time you get a $500 annual property tax bill in the mail for your new car, you're gonna be pissed!

Austin might be somewhat liberal but it's still Texas. A lot of people try to act like it's California in the middle of Hickville. That's not correct (although we do have a bunch of douchey california implants).

And I heard about the car tax, that. is. ridiculous.

Originally posted by: daniel1113

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
The good news is that you'll be making 35% more... the bad news is that your cost of living is going to go up at least 25% as well. Connecticut is a damn expensive place to live!

While Texas in general is pretty cheap, I doubt Austin is must cheaper than CT, especially if you live anywhere near UT.

I live in the burbs in NW Austin (Arboretum). It's MUCH cheaper than CT, however just like any city it depends on where you live. DT Austin is expensive, DT Hartford is expensive. There is about a 20% increase in the cost of living up there.

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
I've been in CT and I've been in TX, and it isn't even a decision for me...Texas loses. But then, I hate Texas for most everything and love the far NE for most everything, so that's not even a fair contest.

The question isn't what we'd do, it's what you want to do.

So what do you love about the NE? I am a very flexible person. I love Texas but I love life and new experiences (and I am 24 with no kids or even SO).

Weather and environment mostly. I like seasons, I like cooler weather, I love rain, etc. I also NEED green...lush forests, lots of grass, etc. The NE isn't the same as the NW, but it's almost as good.

The people are FAR more uptight in the NE though. Like SEVERELY so. The NE is closer to the NW in weather and environment, but honestly Texas is closer with regards to people and attitude. There's some love of personal freedom in some of the NE (especially Vermont), but overall there's less libertarianism. Then again, there's less God & country folk in the NE, which is a big plus for me.

 

[mikej007]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
The good news is that you'll be making 35% more... the bad news is that your cost of living is going to go up at least 25% as well. Connecticut is a damn expensive place to live!

This. Real Estate prices are a lot more in CT than Texas.

Time to worry about getting ticks and lyme disease too if you set foot outside. It's great living in the northeast. :roll:

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I've lived in CT my whole life> I will answer all your questions.

What company did you interview with.....the hartford?

Also If you decide to move I am renting out a room in my condo outside of hartford in a really nice area.(I don't live there myself because I live in New haven. )

 

[captains]

you will have to find an apartment in a surrounding town as one does not want to live in hartford.

 

[techs]

Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

 

[Platypus]

I would seriously, seriously think about moving into sales... even if you're selling to engineers. I'm being 100% genuine in my concerns about this.

Keep in mind that your average engineer isn't very bright.. I've worked in a lot of 'really big' and 'really small' places as an engineer and I can count on one hand the number of people who actually knew their asshole from a hole in the ground.

Even if they do know what they're doing, engineers don't have buying power so you're going to have to sell to their managers who are non-technical and a lot of times dumber than a bag of rocks. You will have to count on selling the engineer who in turn has to sell to his/her boss. Then you have to feel like a sleazy sales guy because you have numbers and figures you have to meet for your job and you'll have to end up selling the wrong thing to someone along the way whether you want to or not.

Texas is fucking awful but at least you live in Austin. I would never live in TX personally but then again there's not a lot going on in CT either...

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: techs
Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

I can't say I like Connecticut, but it is definitely a nice location to be able to head to Boston or NYC on a whim.

Winter's not so bad, you can take up a winter sport

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: techs
Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

yeah try windsor locks or somethin
hartford is fuckin shady
ct is state of extremes
ghetto 2 posh

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: techs
Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

I can't say I like Connecticut, but it is definitely a nice location to be able to head to Boston or NYC on a whim.

Winter's not so bad, you can take up a winter sport

Don't blow smoke up his ass. Coming from Texas he is going to hate it. He's never driven in snow!

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: techs
Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

I can't say I like Connecticut, but it is definitely a nice location to be able to head to Boston or NYC on a whim.

Winter's not so bad, you can take up a winter sport

Don't blow smoke up his ass. Coming from Texas he is going to hate it. He's never driven in snow!

yeah winter aint bad coz u wont leave ur house unless u r one of those flojo's

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: techs
Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

I can't say I like Connecticut, but it is definitely a nice location to be able to head to Boston or NYC on a whim.

Winter's not so bad, you can take up a winter sport

Don't blow smoke up his ass. Coming from Texas he is going to hate it. He's never driven in snow!

yeah winter aint bad coz u wont leave ur house unless u r one of those flojo's

flojo's? wtf?

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: techs
Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

yeah try windsor locks or somethin
hartford is fuckin shady
ct is state of extremes
ghetto 2 posh

Yeah, Windsor Locks is cool.
In fact as long as you stay away from the downtown areas of the bigger cities you are fine.
Just remember, the people who will mow your lawn for 10 buck have to live somewhere.

 

[imported_inspire]

Originally posted by: thepd7
I have an opportunity to move into sales with my company (currently in Applications Engineering/Engineering Leadership Program). I am definitely moving into sales sometime in the next year or so but right now the only job open is in Connecticut (economy is killing growth).

I currently live in Austin and grew up in Dallas, so I definitely love Texas, however I am open to anywhere.

Last week I went to Hartford and met with a member of the team I would be working for, we mesh pretty well personality wise. And my new boss would be good, too.

So the question is: do I move to Connecticut or try and stay in Texas.

Mad props if you live in Connecticut or the NE and have some good specific reasons.

Stay in Austin, man - you're not gonna like the Northeast - just trust me on that. There's simply no comparison.

EDIT - Oh, yeah - the increase in the cost of living alone will likely eat most of your 35% raise.

 

[Gibson486]

DO not mean to be racist, but do you mind being around colored people? I ask because I went to college with a friend from Texas. Every other comment out of his mouth was somethign along the lines of, "because he's black..." (talk about a conv. killer).

That aside, nothing wrong with expanding your horizons and trying somethig new. That said, you are in for one big culture shock.

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: techs
Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

yeah try windsor locks or somethin
hartford is fuckin shady
ct is state of extremes
ghetto 2 posh

Yeah, Windsor Locks is cool.
In fact as long as you stay away from the downtown areas of the bigger cities you are fine.
Just remember, the people who will mow your lawn for 10 buck have to live somewhere.

I'm in Avon, haha, Hartford definitely empties out completely after 5pm. It's like a ghost city there.

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
DO not mean to be racist, but do you mind being around colored people? I ask because I went to college with a friend from Texas. Every other comment out of his mouth was somethign along the lines of, "because he's black..." (talk about a conv. killer).

That aside, nothing wrong with expanding your horizons and trying somethig new. That said, you are in for one big culture shock.

 

[BassBomb]

My dad worked in Connecticut on contract with Pfizer for 4-5 years making good bucks while we still lived in Canada.

It was a pretty relaxed area I must say, boring to say the least.

We decided against moving to Connecticut and him getting a permanent position there mainly because we didn't want to move the the U.S. and the housing prices at the time were insane there!

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
My dad worked in Connecticut on contract with Pfizer for 4-5 years making good bucks while we still lived in Canada.

It was a pretty relaxed area I must say, boring to say the least.

We decided against moving to Connecticut and him getting a permanent position there mainly because we didn't want to move the the U.S. and the housing prices at the time were insane there!

g to trumbull/brdgport/newhaven/
scarY!

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

No, no, no, no, NO!

There are about a million reasons why you should stay in Texas, but that 35% pay raise really isn't a raise at all due to the extremely high cost of living in the North East. Not to mention the taxes...!

:Q

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: spaceman

Originally posted by: techs
Hartford is very strategically placed. You are only about 20 miles from Massachusettes and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Downtown Hartford sucks. However, suburban living in Ct. is awesome. Safe, safe, safe. Highest quality everything from schools to stores to services.
You're near Six Flags Great Adventure and about 40 miles from the ocean.
You're about 100 miles from Boston or New York.
And I've never been to Austin so I can't speak of the climate their, but I hear its brutal in the summer. So you're gonna trade Texas summer for Connecticutt winter.

yeah try windsor locks or somethin
hartford is fuckin shady
ct is state of extremes
ghetto 2 posh

Yeah, Windsor Locks is cool.
In fact as long as you stay away from the downtown areas of the bigger cities you are fine.
Just remember, the people who will mow your lawn for 10 buck have to live somewhere.

I'm in Avon, haha, Hartford definitely empties out completely after 5pm. It's like a ghost city there.

Where in avon? Did i already ask you this.

 

[Deeko]

The Northeast > The Rest Of The Country

however

The Rest Of The Northeast > Connecticut (assuming you don't count Maine as a state, they're just sorta there)

I say go for it, and use it as a stepping stone to move somewhere worthwhile, like Philly or NYC.