Question About Relocation

[soror6]

Hey Sorors, sisterfriends, and other chatters! It's me, soror6! <<soror6 waving, as if y'all can see her>>

OK, I have a question, and I would love your $19.13, 2 cents, or whatever you can give. I also posted this in the DST forum, so excuse the repetition! I have lived in the Chicago area for pretty much most of my life. I have also lived short stints in Peoria IL, Washington DC, Lake Tahoe NV, and South Beach/Miami FL. I truly like Chicago alot, but for some reason, I have always had an affinity for Washington DC. No matter what is going on in my life, whenever I visit there, I get this feeling of peace. I have remained in Chicago the last few years primarily for a relationship, as well as my business but the business is web-based so I can pretty much run it from there too. I am ending my 7-year relationship, and I am beginning to feel that my spirit/inner voice is telling me to go to DC. It has been saying this for a while, but I think I tuned it out. I might have done it earlier, but I was afraid of the unknown. What do you think of relocating as a single gal on my own? Also, if you are from the area, how do you like it? I don't have any support system/family there, although I do have a few friends still there from the last time I lived there. One person inparticular has been sending me tickets to come there almost every week to see if I feel the same way about the city, as well as trying to sell me on opening a greek shop there, since there really aren't any. I would love some impartial insight on my dilemma, what you know about the area, job market, etc., and what you think about the move. I have talked to friends, family, and sorors here, but they don't want me to leave them, so that factors into their decision. That is why I am asking y'all too. I truly enjoy reading and contributing to threads with my GC friends that have been so wonderful to me, so I would love to get your opinions. Sorry if this is long, but thanks in advance for your insight! I look forward to reading your posts or e-mails if you want to send it off the board. Don't worry, I want to hear your opinions, good or bad! Bye for now, and thank you again!

soror6



[This message has been edited by soror6 (edited April 26, 2001).]

[ZetaAce]

Hey soror6-

I relocated as a single gal on my own. I moved to Charlotte for a year, and even though I despised living there, it was a worthwhile experience to pick up and move all on my own. So try it, if you don't like it, you can always move somewhere else. lol

Anyway, I live in the DC Metro area. There are greek stroes in the area but they are hidden and their selection is.....um well, I'll just say that the greeks here will welcome another store in the area.

I love living in this area. I'm not from here originally, but I love the mix of culture, politics, and people. Plus if you want to get away it is a hop skip and a jump from a lot of other places. If you work in technology it should be fairly easy for you to find a job. I can't say I know about other fields, so you would have to ask someone else about that. Housing here is off the chain and if you move here expect rent to be a big chunk of change. If you hate traffic, this is not the best place to live, but there are ways to get around that. If you want to get around that you can always live close to work. That's what I do

Anyway, if you want to chat about it more, email me. We'll talk

ZetaAce

[This message has been edited by ZetaAce (edited April 27, 2001).]

[sigmagrrl]

I also am a DC area resident. I am sort of tired of living here (I've lived here for 4 years). I am tired of the aggressive drivers, the pretentiousness (What do YOU do?, how much do YOU make?), the status egos, the cost of living, the EXPENSIVE cost of housing, and the fact that NO ONE talks about ANYTHING else except live in the BELTWAY!! ECH!! I cannot wait to move...But that's my experience!

[amycat412]

Soror 6, I say GIVE IT A SHOT. Why not? You're young, single, free to go and be whatever you want-- which you may not be in a few years. I've also always felt the pull of D.C. and have a lot of friends there. I think its a great city.

I picked up and moved to California from my hometown (Las Vegas) 14 years ago, and it was the best thing I've ever done.

And remember, if you get to D.C. and after a year or so its not working for you-- you can always go back to Chicago. But you just don't know what kind of wonderful things may be waiting for you in D.C.

Good luck!
Amy

[prospectiverushee]

I agree with everybody else that you should just GO FOR IT! My mom did it. She moved us from Michigan to Louisiana back in 86 with out any trouble. And like someone else on the other board said, there are a lot of your sorority sisters in the D.C. area. I don't think that your sorority sisters are going to let you fall on your face. They'll be around to lend you a hand

[omicron162]

I definately think you should relocate to DC. Don't be afraid. I'm graduating in a week and a half and moving to DC, having never even visited there, with no job and only knowing one other person out there. Sometimes you have to take a chance, especially if your heart is telling you to go. I heard that the job and housing markets are really good right now. I say go for it.

[finest_alum]

Soro-
I picked up and moved from chicago (where I lived my whole life) to Denver (where I also felt that sense of "peace" you mention) 2 years ago. I knew no one - not one person. I found a job before I went, so I didn't have that to worry about.
I'm super close with my family, who all live in Chicago, so I was pretty worried about missing them.
To make it easier for me I decided that I would give it 6 months. I signed a lease only that long, and make a committment that if after that time I wanted to go home I could.
During my first six months, I met a ton of people through sport clubs and work, and needless to say I am still here.
I miss my family, but I talk to one of my siblings almost every day via email/phone and go home whenever I really need to. I have learned more about myself than I ever thought possible.
This is now home to me. I still miss my Chicago friends, who are the best, and this is a place where people come and go, but I've made a few great friends I can count on and am much more open to expanding my horizons than I ever used to be.
Sorry to be so wordy!!! But it's been so great for me.
Just be patient with yourself. Do it, and realize that you will have lonely times, and times where you think this was the worst decision ever. But you get over that and begin to realize you've done something just for YOU.
Give it six months, that's enough time to get over the "jitters" and really establish a routine and meet people. If you really hate it, move back.
Just my experience!

[USFSDTAlum]

soror6-
having grown up 10 minutes outside DC(Montgomery County) I say go for it girl! DC is one of the most amazing place I have ever lived, (and I have lived quite a few places) the city has so much flavor, the population has class and pride (which is a far cry from my current digs). There is so much to do, so much to experience, so many oppurtunites (sp?) BTW: my father works for the small business admin. if you want any info from them email me and i'll give you his direct number, he can help you out with any businesses you might want to open Best of luck.
PS don't forget that while you don't know anyone persay: you have thousands of sisters in the DC area!

[soror6]

Thanks so much for all the words of encouragement, Y'all! I love that you took time out to give me advice. Sigmagrrl, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I do agree that everyone there seems to drive like a NYC cabbie, and seeing that I also model part-time, I don't think there is a level of pretentiousness that I have not seen! For some, it's a damn art form! I also think the cost of living there is a bit cheaper than it is here in Chicago...Housing here is insane!!
ZetaAce I am concerned about traffic. If there was an impatient award for drivers, I would get an OscarEmmyGrammy all rolled up into one! From my time living in DC, I think I determined that the traffic there is bad, but the traffic here is disgusting! More space to cover in the Chi, I suppose? so everyone takes forever to get everywhere!
Again thanks everyone, and keep the ideas coming....You've got me thinking now....

Soror6

[soror6]

Originally posted by USFstudent:
soror6-
having grown up 10 minutes outside DC(Montgomery County) I say go for it girl! DC is one of the most amazing place I have ever lived, (and I have lived quite a few places) the city has so much flavor, the population has class and pride (which is a far cry from my current digs). There is so much to do, so much to experience, so many oppurtunites (sp?) BTW: my father works for the small business admin. if you want any info from them email me and i'll give you his direct number, he can help you out with any businesses you might want to open Best of luck.
PS don't forget that while you don't know anyone persay: you have thousands of sisters in the DC area!

Thank you USFStudent! I will take you up on that once I make a decision! Y'all are sooooo great!

[SilverTurtle]

I have to echo everyone else and say GO FOR IT.

I love visiting new places, and while I've only lived in a few areas of the country, my boyfriend and I plan to move to another city every 5 years or so! (Actually, that was his plan when we met... I like it so much I made it mine, too).

You'll make friends soon enough, with work, outside endeavors, and of course all of your sorority sisters that are in that area.

Look at it like an adventure... you're going to learn a lot about yourself by taking that plunge. And, as already mentioned, you can always move back to Chicago (a city I love) or anywhere else you want!

Good luck!

------------------
SilverTurtle@greekchat.com

Phi Beta Fraternity