Rec's on places to live

Triathlon Forum
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Happy new year everyone–

I’m currently a Chicago age-grouper/lawyer. My fiance is finishing up her PhD and once she is finished, the plan is to get out of here (she has lived here her whole life and really wants to move away). My 5-year goal in triathlon is to qualify and then race on the pro side (olympic or half-IM distance). I’m sure i’ll still be practicing law at that point, but would certainly cut back on the hours (perhaps be “of counsel”). In my spare time lately I’ve been researching possible places in the U.S. to move to and would love the ST-community’s thoughts on this. Essentially, here is what I’m looking for:

(1) good place to train year-round;

(2) solid triathlon community; and

(3) large enough city for me to find medium to large sized law firm (I practice corporate law).

My folks are from the Detroit-area, and while I think my fiance would love to move there, i’m not sure about #1 and 2 above (maybe Tom D. can provide some input on this).

Maybe Austin, TX? (I’m pretty sure I can not convince my fiance into any other place in TX)

I’ve looked into various places in Cal, but cost-of-living would certainly be a consideration for me.

Thanks,

T

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that would be san diego, no? or san fran? I went to law school in austin. surprisingly nice town - very eclectic w/ a good energy, although getting pretty freakin big - if i went back id live in the hills like lance and buddha. But the lion’s share of UT law grads went (got sucked into) Houston - its the lawyer capital of texas. Austin has a decent IP practice, although quite cyclical, and obviously state govt. I understand there is not a whole lot of straight up corporate law getting done there. Good luck in the of counsel route… i guess its more and more common to see part-time lawyers at big firms (but mostly women w/ kids). I thought about that route but (a) the practice of law really didnt float my boat and (b) I was skeptical about whether a bunch of partners who slogged for 2000hpy to get where there are would look kindly on my request to work part time so I could do triathlons. starbucks will do that for you, skadden won’t! Good luck, though, and see you in Kona!!!

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johnthesavage-

out of curiosity, what route did you decide to do rather than practice law with your JD?

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hmm… well i took a left at the traffic lights and drove straight off the cliff. I just handed in my notice and moved to ChCh New Zealand to train w/ Gordo and co. and to get ready for IMNZ. Now Im logging an average of 24hpw training since Sept 2004 bay-bee!!! (Also starting to speak like Gordo which is slightly disturbing. Now if I start racing like him, that I can handle!!!) Post-IM life is less clear. I am chasing a VC lead in San Diego, but only half-heartedly. But more and more I think the whole JD thing was kind of a lark - got dumped by my gf (watch out for those phd grad student “happy hours” ;)) and got a free ride to UT so it seemed like a good idea at the time. At the mo I think I will end up as a hs teacher in rural america (currently dreaming about backwoods oregon, colorado, or north carolina). I figure I can make do with less money if I just make do with less stuff (hence the P3 sale)… or thats my story and im sticking to it…

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Just west of Orlando sounds like it meets all criteria- good sized city, you can definitely train outdoors year round, and some scarily fast people either living there or passing through. Cost of living is still pretty reasonable compared to California, and you can get cheap flights to visit the family still in the Midwest.

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I’ve looked into various places in Cal, but cost-of-living would certainly be a consideration for me.<<

If you work at a big firm in California, COL wouldn’t be that much of a consideration if you got on at a big firm. What would be is the fact that you would have to take the California Bar exam since Cali has no agreement with any other state. Thus you couldn’t officially practice law until you pass the bar (given in Feb/July with results coming 4 months later and swearing in another 4-8 weeks after that.) And, the hours requirement (2,100 for most if you want to stay employed).

clm, who does risk management at one of the big firms
and no hours/year requirement

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That would be 2100 BILLABLE hours, not all hours are billable and that’s just the bare minimum. 2500 gets you the big bonus. The problem is, if you are in a deal or a trial, your 44 hours/week goes up to 60-80 quite easily. But, they get paid well for their time.

I like my 6 weeks off/year and less money. :wink:

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“At the mo I think I will end up as a hs teacher in rural america (currently dreaming about backwoods oregon, colorado, or north carolina)”

That’s the ticket. I love my life as a h.s. teacher in Montana: 90 percent of the kids are nice and respectful and turn stuff in and enjoy what we do in class … I work 45-hr weeks and get in plenty of training … And 14 weeks off a year. Of course, my budget restricts me to a 950-sq. foot home, a 10-year-old car and about $2,000 a year for tri stuff (bikes, entries, traveling, everything) … But I’m not complaining. -TB

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Asheville, North Carolina!!! visit it and you’ll be sold!!!

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“At the mo I think I will end up as a hs teacher in rural america (currently dreaming about backwoods oregon, colorado, or north carolina)”

That’s the ticket. I love my life as a h.s. teacher in Montana: 90 percent of the kids are nice and respectful and turn stuff in and enjoy what we do in class … I work 45-hr weeks and get in plenty of training … And 14 weeks off a year. Of course, my budget restricts me to a 950-sq. foot home, a 10-year-old car and about $2,000 a year for tri stuff (bikes, entries, traveling, everything) … But I’m not complaining. -TB

So can you tell us more about Montana? Where in Montana? What exactly is the climate? What’s the elevation you’re at? How about masters swim programs? Any big training groups there already? What is the cost of living like? What about the riding?

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GR Mi. ,the weather is almost as good as Chicago. Easy to train year round (or did you mean outside?). Skin cancer should not be a problem. A nice community though it is getting a bit big for me. Traffic is starting to become an issue. Why?? Because the community had to"come together" to justify the media having traffic reports way before they were needed. There is a masters swim program and plenty of Tri’s all season long! (June,July AND August).

17

I can’t believe some of the suggestions above. YUCK.

Austin would be very tough to beat. Davis, CA is good (nice college town). No one mentioned Sante Fe, NM. What about the Napa/Sonoma area (enough law work is the question there)? Denver/Colorado Springs area (make that a mountain bike for 4 of those months). Maybe one of those up and coming towns like Boise, etc.

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Ha ha - just kidding. Its all good. Gotta cut down on the coffee. Mmmm, coffee…

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(3) large enough city for me to find medium to large sized law firm (I practice corporate law).

If you practice corporate law maybe you should move to Delaware? Sorry - bad law school joke.

I think you should go where you will have the best quality of life - with or without multisport- as you may not always prioritize as you currently do. I got my J.D./M.S. downstate from you (SIU) and my wife got her Ph.D at the same time. The simple fact is that I had to follow her since it is often more difficult to land a job with a Ph.D due to the specialization. Compounding the problem are the usual funding issues behind many Ph.D positions. My wife got an offer for a tenure track position at a small New England liberal arts university and that was that. I don’t live in the best training environment for what I want to do but I manage to train nevertheless. I ended up working for the federal government in a non legal capacity as well. The money is good, so no complaints. My wife loves her job and plans to retire from this position many years down the road. I suspect she will continue to love her job long after I have turned my last pedal as well.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that it is often hard to maximize vocational opportunities for two professional spouses at the same time. I would suggest following your wife as you will be marketable in more places, and then adjust your training accordingly.

20

I grew up in Grand Rapids. It’s a nice place to live, even though the big Christian Reformed Church presence there tends to give it a social feel of Salt Lake City sans mountains. Lake Michigan is great; lots of good biking roads once you get north of about 3 Mile Road or 4 Mile Road. Active swim, bike, and run groups and a number of Olympic distance runners have come out of the area. Summers are incredible there.

The down side is that winters are pretty terrible. Lake Michigan keeps it warmer than most of the Midwest so it never really gets cold like it does in Minnesota, but the flip side is lake effect snow. Lots of snow. We’re talking about the second snowiest metro area east of the Misisisippi after Buffalo, NY. Seven months of annual slush.

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“The down side is that winters are pretty terrible”–FLA Jill

Terrible?? Sure there are a few cold days. New Years Eve was gorgeous, 54 deg and sunny!!. I bet we will see the sun again in January.

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I guess global warming must be kicking in a little. Dad said that last winter was relatively mild too. Growing up, we had multiple times where it was snowing on Halloweeen night, and one memorable track meet in May where we almost got snowed out. (on the birght side, it was really easy for the discus workers to give you the correct mark when you threw because they could see the strike point in the snow)

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"So can you tell us more about Montana? Where in Montana? What exactly is the climate? What’s the elevation you’re at? How about masters swim programs? Any big training groups there already? What is the cost of living like? What about the riding? "

OK

I’m in NW Montana (Flathead Valley), which is one of the 5-6 “populated” areas in the state: The others are Billings (most populated); Missoula; Great Falls; Helena; Butte and Bozeman. The posh/rich place is Bozeman, followed by Whitefish (near here).

We have four seasons similar to the upper Midwest. Most of the people who move here are from Minnesota, Wisconsin or the Pacific NW. I’m from Oregon. Very few Californians move here (a myth); Right now it’s 5 degrees out and 6 inches of powder covers everything.

Here and Missou are low: 3,000 feet, and mild: it can even rain in January (yuck); Butte and Bozeman are high (5-6,00 feet); Central and east MT have more sun, but more cold in winter. In western MT, spring is dreary, summer is perfect, fall is nice but short (over before Halloween).

Missoula has the best tri group: Team Stampede and the UM team. I’ve heard tales of group rides of 100 down there. Biggest one I have been on here had 15 people. In my area, I know of 6 or 7 people who do triathlons, but there are many more in Missoula, Helena and Bozeman.

Riding is good but dangerous: Some decent roads, lots of gravel; Hills and mountains are great, but shoulders are limited and trucks are many. Don’t know much about Masters swimming.

Cost of living is still reasonable (plenty of nice, $150K homes), but, then again, $15/hr jobs are coveted and rare. Montana is a bit of a welfare state: Gov. (Police, schools and the USFS) employ many of the educated folks. Economy is growing and 3-4 hotspots are booming (here is one) Lots of working poor: One of the poorest states in the U.S., but also about the lowest unemployemnet in the country: 4 percent.

25

I’m with you,

In my time in Michigan I’ve seen snow in the first week of October and the 3rd week of May. While it may not prevent you from riding, it makes it a bit tougher than the perpetual 75 degrees and sunny Orlando gives you.

-SD

26

Have you checked out Boise, Idaho?

Beautiful weather year round. We have four seasons, but the winter is usually mild in the Boise valley.

Boise has mountains, lakes, open plains, just about everything a triathlete would want. There is a high concentration of elite athletes in this area, and the entire city has a “fitness” mentality. There is a strong triathlon community here in Boise and it’s growing fast. There are dozens of classic endurance races located in Idaho, and of course you are only hours away from more races in Utah, Oregon, Washington, and even Colorado if you want to drive half the day.

I lived in Chicago for five years, and to be honest, Chicago has nothing on Boise unless you are really into the night life or traffic jams.

For your ladie, have her look into Saint Luke’s Hospital or St Al’s Hospital. Two of the most successful private hospitals in the nation situated in little Boise, ID (pop. 200,000).

Don’t know too much about law opportunities. Boise is home of some seriously large and impressive corportation, like Albertsons and Micron Technology, so my guess is you would be able to find a job. Boise is the fourth fastest growing city in the nation, so jobs may be hard to find- but business is growing as well (not just the population).

Good luck,