DH's job is moving to Atlanta

question is will we? He just found out yesterday. He works for a major news network and is head of the graphics dept. The whole dept in NY is being cut and/or moved to Atlanta. We are weighing all of our options. I'm not saying "no way" to anything until I do some research, etc. There's so much to think about.
Pros: We own our house, have enough equity in it that we could probably live in a ridiculous house down there mortgage free. His salary would be about 10% less than his NY salary (which is a big deal considering we won't have a mortgage). DH loves his job. I would also have to move my grandmother to an assisted living facility down there, but I did a quick search and there are tons to choose from. AND they will probably be less expensive, which helps her. They will give us $20K for expenses to relocate.

Cons: Although we wouldn't have a mortgage, we have other debt that we would have to still pay. I'm a teacher and have 15 years in the system and I was counting on my pension. If I found a job in Atlanta, my salary would be half of what it is here. All our friends are here (which to me, counts more than nice house, etc). My anxiety is bad enough when life is stable. This move might push me over the edge. I love NY and I can't see myself living in the south. I don't share the same values. I hate the heat.

DH is on the same exact page as I am. Being in NY, he can probably find another job without much of a problem. He might even find something that pays better. He's going to get 8 months severence (including benefits) from July, so that helps with him finding something in NY.

ugh.

Does anyone have advice? about Atlanta? Teaching jobs down there? The stress involved in relocating?

ETA: If you're friends with me on fb, please don't mention this yet.

Message edited 5/6/2011 7:45:22 AM.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Good luck deciding!

My dad and his wife live in Warner Robbins, GA, which is 2 hours outside Atlanta. They really like it there, but my dad doesn't like the cold and big cities give him anxiety. He was recently up and had a panic attack driving on the Belt.

My dd's therapist recently told me that her brother and mother relocated to Peachtree City, GA (about an hour outside Atl) and they really love it.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

What part of Atlanta?

I happen to LOVE Atlanta. I have family there and I just love the area. They are in Marietta. Tons to do and most people that live there are not from GA originally.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

My bff lives in Atlanta, the actual city, not one of the many suburbs. She is from Cape Cod and her DH is from Providence. They love Atlanta, it is called the NY of the South. Truthfully I was upset when I went down there b/c no one I met was southern or had an accent. They're all northern transplants. It's a great city, beautiful with amazing restaurants. Her daughter is only 3, but I know there are some concerns about the public schools and most of her friends send their kids to private schools.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

My sister and brother-in-law live south of Atlanta with their three girls. They moved down in 1989 the day after they got married. It was rough for the first 2 years but that was the move compounded with financial concerns.

Now they LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE it!! And so many people have followed them down! They have a ton of friends, both from the NY days and ones they've made. Because of Delta as its hub and the former military bases, there are a number of transplants. When everyone is in the same boat as you, it makes it easier to meet people and make friends.

My nieces have such a nice lifestyle. The major difference for them is the driving - you can't really walk places like you can up here because it's all spread out. That and the schools are county school districts, so your friend can live pretty far away.

My sister is actually a para-pro in an elementary school down there. I do have to tell you, they have been having tremendous budget cuts and some teachers have lost jobs. However, I don't think they're all masters+ like most of the teachers here so that plus your experience may give you a leg up.

Can you take a leave of absence from your current position so if you go and decide it's not for you, you can return to your district?

Please feel free to FM if you have any more - or more specific - questions. I'd encourage you to take a trip down and explore the area before you decide one way or another.

Good luck!!

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Oh wow, I have no advice.

DH's cousins all moved down there though and their parents quickly followed.

His cousins all have awesome jobs and live in beautiful homes. One is a nurse and one is a principal in an elementary school.

I think both of their DHs are engineers or something like that.

I agree with the idea of taking a LoA if it is at all possible.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

WOW! I don't know what to say, it's a hard decision, I don't know what to tell you..I don't know the teaching jobs are there.

I can tell you my cousin moved there three years ago, to a suburb and absolutely loves it. She has a beautiful new house, no mortage.

Good luck!

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

I wish you the best in making the decision. I think you need to know the most about all your options to make the best decision...have DH search for jobs around here and see what he finds and go visit Atlanta and see what you would think about where you might live.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

My BIL lives in georgia and he just happens to enjoy it there. Maybe you could go down there for a week to see the area for yourself, see if you like it or dislike it. Maybe it would make the decision process alittle easier.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

If I had this happen to me, I'd stay put. DH gets severance for 8 months and he will definitely find another job (similar pay or even more) in a very employer rich area like NYC.

Atlanta - I am sure its nice but being away from friends and the familiar would really impact my overall happiness.
FWIW - my DH worked for a large software company in Melville that ended up relocating to Athens, GA. He was single and opted for the severane because he didnt want to live down there and be so far from friends/family.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Unless I could somehow GUARANTEE that my teaching job down there would give me my 15 yrs and a pension (though it will probably be less) I would not even entertain the idea.

I am also an educator and my pension is super valuable IMO I would not give that up for anything less than DH's making enough a yr to make it worth it.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Hugs to all of you! All of you brought up the same exact things that have been swimming through our minds. My pension (and tenure), and friends are huge reasons to stay put.

There are really only 2 reasons to go. 1)We could live mortgage-free in a kick-a$$ house. 2) DH has a job waiting for him down there.

The house thing--ok fine, so I don't have all the bells and whistles I want. No biggie.

The job thing-- no job is ever really guaranteed and he might find something better up here. We really have until February for him to find something. I can't imagine him not finding anything...it might not be ideal, but he'll find something.

Everything else would cost the same--food, gas, clothes, etc. So it's really just housing.

We are going to go down in the next 2 weeks for a couple of days and just drive around and try to get as much of a feel as we can for it. I hope I hate it.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Visit in July/August - I'll bet you'll hate it then

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Seriously if I sell my house here and buy this tomorrow. I would go

http://homes.seegeorgiarealestate.com/idx/10142/photoGallery.php?idxID=077&listingID=2937425

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

I kind of caught a teeny bit of the convo when I grabbed my pudding out of the fridge ()

Ughhhhh - I don't envy your position at all. Just know that you are an extremely valuable member of our faculty and ANY student - no matter here or stupid Atlanta - would be LUCKY to be taught by you!





Don't go. Stay here.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Posted by scarletbegonia

I kind of caught a teeny bit of the convo when I grabbed my pudding out of the fridge ()

Ughhhhh - I don't envy your position at all. Just know that you are an extremely valuable member of our faculty and ANY student - no matter here or stupid Atlanta - would be LUCKY to be taught by you!





Don't go. Stay here.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Yeah, I hope you hate it down there too...I couldn't imagine leaving my teaching job/pension and my family/friends.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Posted by scarletbegonia

I kind of caught a teeny bit of the convo when I grabbed my pudding out of the fridge ()

Ughhhhh - I don't envy your position at all. Just know that you are an extremely valuable member of our faculty and ANY student - no matter here or stupid Atlanta - would be LUCKY to be taught by you!





Don't go. Stay here.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

I don't know if this will help.. but, my Dh is southern. I feel the same way about the south that you do. It's just not me. But, his brother lives in Atlanta. Everytime I go there I think, "this is the only southern city I could live in". It is very metropolitan. Very NY like. I think that you would like it more than you know.

On the other hand, I totally understand all your other reason..pros and cons. Good look with your choice.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

My dh's company moved down to Suwanee GA and a lot of the NY people moved down (they still have a small office up here though).

There are a lot of people in culture shock. And the conservative/religious aspect mentioned by PP is becoming a problem for DH's friend's daughter. DH and I won't even consider it.

But yes, they have an awesome house for very little and Money magazine put it (Suwanee) in the top 10 places to live a few years ago. But many are homesick.


I have another good friend who went to college there and never left.



15 years into the pension would be a big no for me too. If you could make it to 20, it would be different, but like diamond said - it's too valuable!

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

I don't know anything about Atlanta but your reasons to stay sound far weightier than your reasons to go.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Thank you thank you all for more perspective. We're definitely pretty close to saying that we're staying put.

It's true that I could possibly love it. But I have had a very tumultuous past 10 years and lately, it's been kinda nice to be stable. I don't think I can emotionally handle the move and all that change. Add to that loving my life here, having my perfect job with benefits and pension, and the possibility that DH will find something equal to or better than what he's leaving.

Another thing we talked about was that with his company, he could still go back and work for them for up to a year after his job being over and kind of pick up where he left off with seniority, etc. I don't think that goes away with his severance. So say we make it to December and he has had no leads on new jobs. Worst case scenario, he could see if anything was available at his dept in Atlanta. We wouldn't get the nice relocation package, but at least he would have something. And our decision would be made for us.

I'll keep you updated if we decide to take a flight down to look around.

Re: DH's job is moving to Atlanta

Btw, his job would be right in downtown Atlanta. If we were going to move, we were looking at the northern burbs...Sandy Springs, Dunwoody. Cobb county looked good too. But hopefully I don't have to research any more into this :)