Received a job offer in Connecticut. Good idea?

M Mobes wrote:

Pretty much the same IMO

PS- There sure are a bunch of lurking Connectikooks posting here that left CT. That says something.

More like, the grades are equally stiff in both areas, but the climbing is so different that it’s hard to compare.

M Mobes wrote: I hear Boulder, Colorado is cool.

So affordable too, right?

Gunkiemike wrote:

So affordable too, right?

I mean, there's so much climbing, and it's so close, do you know what you don't need?

A car.

Your move, Connect-I-Cut.

Ah yes, Taxes..."TJ" reminded me about the car yearly "use tax". I knew there was another onerous tax besides their 6-7% State Income tax.  Yup.. each year you, essentially, pay sales tax on the value of your car. (MA has the same tax).  They also have a nice place on their income tax form where you can graciously fill in the value of all items you purchased that year and what sales tax you paid.  If the CT tax is more (or you paid zero because you bought on the internet !!) you pay the difference.  THIS long pre-dated the Supreme Court ruling on "internet sale tax collection" of a couple of years ago. Every year around "tax time" the State makes sure you hear of the prosecution of some poor schmuck who bought a multi-ten-thousand-dollar item in NY (usually jewlery, usually NYC) on the internet or by phone and had it delivered to home in CT to try to avoid sales tax, but used his credit card (thus easily traceable) for the purchase.

The point I'm making is to be sure you have a grasp on the "financials" of your move.

That being said, all Al Rubin posted is true. New England has it's charms.  For a climber, I'd say it was WAY "above average" ( someone said above they'd ove to FL before CT...WOW !  )  While I'm sure there's rock in many mid-western states, it's probably not as easy to get to as here in New England.  I left CT when I retired, moved to NH for three reasons: 1) no income tax & sales tax, 2) closer to rock & ice & skiing, 3) I grew up in MA and always loved my time in NH since I was a kid.

It's all a trade-off.  If the job's a good one, if the after-taxes money is an increase, why not?  It isn't like "forever".

I'm grateful for my time outdoors back East, but I won't be back.

I was offered a good job.  It's not something I would be doing to get rich.  But something I would enjoy doing in a new path than I was on previous.

I've always been frugal and lived within my means, so the money isn't really a big priority, but more of a threshold thing.  My aim has always been to set down roots in an area that I can climb in and be a community member, and less about constant travel.

I've never been a skier, but I am definitely interested in good ice climbing for my winter sport.  I would love to be able to climb more regularly than I get the chance to here in Seattle.  It feels like a huge ordeal currently to get across the bridge after work for sessions at 32.  Based on this thread though, it seems like I'm not really improving my after work situation much.  The areas mentioned for weekend access all seem like I would have Leavenworth-esque drives from my home each weekend.  It doesn't sound awful, but doesn't sound great.

I'm not too stoked on TR and trying to find the secret bouldering spots, but I do boulder a ton.. So perhaps it would be okay.  I would definitely miss the multipitch and volcano access.

Based on the feedback...  I'm pretty mind fucked, haha.  Maybe I should hold out for a job with location as first priority and turn this down.

why don’t you give it a visit?

if the after work access is the most important thing, seeing it at its worst (dec/jan) in all of its short day wackness can’t hurt.
 
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/108314153/ragged-mountain

you don’t need to make 300k to enjoy connecticut for a year or two, there is stuff to do in the backyard and all directions, including the sound.

but if i wanted to really put down roots instead of finding a stepping stone, i’d look elsewhere too. 

I don't ice climb, but the ice climbing here is much less than ideal unless you are willing to travel. Honestly, I like Connecticut but I would look at you a little funny if you chose to move here. If you do decide to take the job though PM me and I can show you some of the bouldering or hook you up with people who would be better guides than myself.

Long Ranger wrote: This would be an interesting point to defend.

The winky face was there for a reason - But I will say "History" (White history) west of the Mississippi is ~ 200 years old. The history in New England is ~400 years old you see my point.

Legit after work climbing is realistic in like.... 2 or 3 cities.  Who can name them.

Noah R wrote:

The winky face was there for a reason - But I will say "History" (White history) west of the Mississippi is ~ 200 years old. The history in New England is ~400 years old you see my point.

False, even if you’re just talking about white people (which is ridiculous on its face). Oldest Christian church in the US is in Santa Fe. There have been Spanish-speaking, continuously inhabited communities throughout the Southwest for nearly 500 years.

OP, keep looking. My job has no location flexibility (I’m a resident physician, so we just match) and although I love my job I can’t wait for the chance to choose a location—and it won’t be in New England.

Other after-work climbing cities: Portland OR, Lexington, Boise, Bozeman, Provo/Logan/Ogden, Santa Fe/Los Alamos, Chattanooga, Flagstaff, El Paso, Bend/Redmond, San Luis Obispo...

Russ Keane wrote: Legit after work climbing is realistic in like.... 2 or 3 cities.  Who can name them.

Here’s a few:  SLC, Boulder/Golden, Lander, Tucson, Vegas, Bishop, Reno, Durango, Roaring Fork Valley, Grand Junction, Moab, ‘Burque. I’m sure there are many more. 

Jimmy Downhillinthesnow wrote:

False, even if you’re just talking about white people (which is ridiculous on its face). Oldest Christian church in the US is in Santa Fe. There have been Spanish-speaking, continuously inhabited communities throughout the Southwest for nearly 500 years.

OP, keep looking. My job has no location flexibility (I’m a resident physician, so we just match) and although I love my job I can’t wait for the chance to choose a location—and it won’t be in New England. 

No you're ridiculous on ur face

All joking aside that is a fair point - I think you still understand my point that New England has an older history of European settlement than lets say the PNW (where the OP is currently located).

Regardless, not a great reason to move to CT. 

"Here’s a few:  SLC, Boulder/Golden, Lander, Tucson, Vegas, Bishop, Reno, Durango, Roaring Fork Valley, Grand Junction, Moab, ‘Burque. I’m sure there are many more."

Right, most of those are small towns.  Only five/six you mention are Cities.  I'd add Chattanooga and call it a complete list.  

Noah R wrote:

The winky face was there for a reason - But I will say "History" (White history) west of the Mississippi is ~ 200 years old. The history in New England is ~400 years old you see my point.

Please no winky face. "White history"?! 

Dude, you are digging a hole, here. Here's a good book to read.

Bryce Adamson wrote: I don't ice climb, but the ice climbing here is much less than ideal unless you are willing to travel. Honestly, I like Connecticut but I would look at you a little funny if you chose to move here. If you do decide to take the job though PM me and I can show you some of the bouldering or hook you up with people who would be better guides than myself.

Bryce, the ice in ct isn’t good except for a few exceptions.  But within a few hours drive there is world class waterfall ice.  

Russ Keane wrote: "Here’s a few:  SLC, Boulder/Golden, Lander, Tucson, Vegas, Bishop, Reno, Durango, Roaring Fork Valley, Grand Junction, Moab, ‘Burque. I’m sure there are many more."

Right, most of those are small towns.  Only five/six you mention are Cities.  I'd add Chattanooga and call it a complete list.  

what are the requirements- how many people and how far a drive? ragged to hartford is 25m. 

Climberdude wrote:

Bryce, the ice in ct isn’t good except for a few exceptions.  But within a few hours drive there is world class waterfall ice.  

Thanks for the clarification. That's what I was trying to say.

Long Ranger wrote:

Please no winky face. "White history"?! 

Dude, you are digging a hole, here. Here's a good book to read.

Whatever man, I said white history to disclose that there was history and value in the Americas before Europeans were here. Maybe not the best word choice. I am sure we could have a logical conversation about this if it were not over the internet. When you walk through the woods in CT, there are several hundred year old stone walls all over the place. When I go to the Adirondacks I go through Crown Point a nearly 300 year old military fort - Anything like that in Boulder? That is really my point. Everywhere you look in New England there are reminders of colonialism and our admittedly fucked up but interesting history of how a bunch of white guys like you and me got here. That is really my point - Take it or leave it.

I'm not looking for world class cragging every night after work (although maybe I should be), but something that I can still go out to and get some mileage and project over time.