Ever feel the need to escape your current situation? It is what I’m going through right now.
I’m going through a period of wanting to quit my high-tech blue-chip job and move to a small town and work in a 9-5 job with no take-home work and train during my free time.
Are there any good towns/jobs that are good for this?
I’m considering Boulder, Davis, San Diego, Bend, Walla Walla (WA), Ellensburg (WA) and other smaller towns where the cost of living isn’t too expensive.
Over the next year or two I am going to be ACE or ACSM certified as well as a Level I Certified Tri Coach and ASCA Level I Coach.
I may just be dreaming, but I’m going nuts where I’m at right now and want a way out.
How small is small? Do you really mean small town? I don’t consider those places small town really.
The people I know in small towns love it or hate it because it can be isolating. A place like Boulder, however, has everything you would want and is close to Denver. In terms of training, the number of athletes that call Boulder home pretty much speaks for itslef.
For coaching/training you’ll probably want to stay near a populated area in order to build your client base. Once you’re established you can re-evaluate. Some things to consider before you quit your day job:
Do you have enough of a financial cushion to get through a tough first year? Are you willing to work part-time (substitute, wait tables, Part time tech work?) until your business is off the ground?
Are you willing to downsize your expenses and “live small?” Is your spouse (if applicable)?
Consider coaching/training part time and see if it’s right for you before you quit your current job. Look for a job in your field that is perhaps less demanding/stressful.
Boulder would be an excellent town for this. The athletes there are amazing and you could probably find a tech job there that is more laid back. The only drawback is the cost of living. It is outrageous if you live in Boulder. But you could live in a suburb that lies between Boulder and Denver. That would be ideal.
There are a number of places that you could consider. Westminister, Longmont, Arvada, Broomfield, Louisville, even Golden would work. That area Boulder / Longmont is very high tech oriented. The area between Boulder and Denver is growing like crazy.
Checked out your site. Nice! Checked your schedule - GFT is gonna be my first IM distance race and I’ll see you there. I’m a writer as well, some online articles and a couple short stories, etc. I’m thinking along the same lines as BNasty, but I must say, it’s a lot of planning to do. Gordo Bryn talks about it taking a year for him to “extract from the web” of Venture Capital to become a fulltime coach/athlete, and I believe it. The questions you posed to BNasty were posed to me, and I decided that I had to wait a bit more, to get some savings and financial backup plans in place. I’m sure, now, when all is said and done, I’ll be happily asking (part-time, that is…) “Welcome to Starbucks, what can I get for you today?” I’m looking forward to the matching green visor and apron. Swank. And I’ll be free to train 15-20 hrs. a week. Ultra.
I moved to Madison a few years ago for some of the same reasons. I don’t love it here. Portland, OR is calling, I think. Madison’s cost of living is ridiculously low compared with other places I have lived. (nice-enough 3BR close-in cost 150K 3 years ago, now about 185-200)
I did live in Boulder before. The cost of living in Boulder, especially real estate, is among the highest in the country. A decent 3 BR/2BA in a good location is easily 400-500K minimum.
The problem with most of the areas in between Boulder and Denver is that they are newer (60s, 70s, & later) planned communities. These communities are not self-sufficient. They DO NOT have the charm that one would get in Boulder. There was NOTHING on Rt. 36 15 years ago. Now it shocks me to see the shopping centers (Nordstrom?) and hotels.
Frankly, Boulder has changed a great deal since I left there in 1995. Very commercial! A lot of big corporate and development dollars. Of course, it is the most beautiful place I have ever lived. But I don’t think I would move there now.
If you are sold on the outlying areas, look at Louisville, Broomfield, Arvada area. Maybe Golden, but that would be a helluva drive to Boulder in bad weather.
Are you planning to jump before you know where you are going to land job-wise? from your post and replies sounds like a lot of us are in the same or similar boats. Sometimes I think I’m nuts for even thinking about giving up a 6 figure job so I can find more perfect “happiness” in this life (short list includes a dog, miles of trails within running distance from my door, a vibrant community of athletes and intellectuals, and one attractive and athletic and intelligent and funny and beautiful woman. Beaches or lakes would be nice, too.) Wherever you (and me and the rest of us) end up I wish you (and me and the rest of us) buena suerte, amigo.
I live in Colorado now. I really want to leave. Not seeing any water or being able to open water swim (where I’m at) is really depressing. I am thinking of going “coastal” but doubt I could ever afford to live in So. or even No. California- which is awesome. I need the water. I was thinking mid-atlantic area but know nothing about it. The cost of living seems reasonable and the weather is moderate.
Anyone familiar with the mid-atlantic and a coastal city that is great? Thanks a lot.
You know, I am now starting to really believe that the perfect place does not really exist.
I will say, having given up the 6 figure 70-80 hour a week job, for a mid-5 figure 40 hour a week job - that I miss the money, restaurants, vactions in Europe, Costa Rica, etc. a whole lot.
Thanks, the site went from a class project in '99 into what it is today. There are certainly many things to think about before extracting ourselves partially or entirely from the ‘rat race.’ I believe I saw the quote on this site somewhere though, “even if you win the rat race, at the end of the day, you’re still a rat.” True 'dat. Good luck with everything, seeya at GFT,
I’ll give a big thumbs up to the Florida Panhandle- good climate with the exception of August (ugh), a very reasonable cost of living where you get a lot of house for less than $250K, a somewhat quirky but strong job market with good opportunities in financial services, construction, and defense contracting, and decent money to be made part-time/sesonal in the tourism sector. Friendly, laid-back locals and an environment where you can dictate your own pace in life. Nice-sized local triathlon community, with some not quite pancake flat land once you get inland a bit.
I’ve considered FLA, but I like the mountains and I also haven’t found too much in the tech industry that is appealing down there.
I am however completely open to switching to a new field. I’m only 26 and single so I can do pretty much anything - even Starbucks by day and bartend by night.
Yeah, yeah. I just think of it as trying to get the right type of people to move down here. Triathletes, cyclists, and active people, it’s hard to have too many of them in an area.
…and other smaller towns where the cost of living isn’t too expensive.
Forget Boulder and San Diego then. I wouldn’t call the COL low there – at a minimum, its above average to fairly high. Its been awhile since I’ve lived in those two places though.
Some mountains (although since I grew up in CO, it’s hard to call them that with a straight face) close to here in mid-north Alabama. Some of the folks I ride with are going up there this weekend for the “Cheaha Challenge.” You’re right about the high-tech jobs, though–not a large amount here, but maybe you could do it over the net?