Been offered a job transfer

[Craigtheplague]

A few days ago I spoke with my manager about my future at the company where I work. The woman I am replacing is on maternity leave right now and may come back to work after August which may displace me to another position in the company or put me out of work.

My manager asked me to think about working at the branch in New Haven, CT, where I'll be a part of the team starting up the R&D sector for that branch. I'll be doing essentially the same thing I am doing now except with more responsibility.

I just want to know what New Haven is like from people that have visited or lived there. I've lived in Portland, OR most of my life and hardly know anything about the east coast. I need some input from you guys: Is New Haven a cool place or Dullsville, USA?

[Urizen]

New Haven is nice enough. Had a friend born and raised there who turned out awesome. You could do worse and there's a lot do in a 3 to 5 hour driving radius.

I say take it.

[pomeroy]

I would assume it'll be a little slower than Portland. And you won't have a pro basketball team to watch.

But a job in this economic climate is something to hold onto.

[JRR006]

My aunt and her family live in New Haven. It is a very nice area! It's a pretty typical medium-sized city. Actually, it houses Yale University, there are sections of it that are a college town. I haven't been to Portland so I'm afraid I can't compare, but NYC is about an hour and a half away by car. Unless you're my uncle's passenger, then it's like an hour, and you arrive shaken in body and soul. Plenty to do there.

[Johan]

You'd be pretty well positioned there for trips into NYC. I Lived in CT for five years and it's actually a pretty nice state; never lived in New Haven, however.

You'll be within just a few hours at most from NYC, Boston (further than NYC), the beach, a major CT casino, a ferry ride to Long Island and lots to do there (if the ferry is still running. I don't know if it is), West Point (go see a football game at Michie Stadium. It's consistently rated one of the best venues for football in the nation. Amazing experience. Go ARMY! Beat Navy! Some day, they will...some day. They're on a bad streak.), and lots more.

There's lots to do in that whole area. Great place to live.

[Banacek]

I really liked the New Haven area. And, in this economy, taking the job is the way to go :)

[Craigtheplague]

Thanks for the replies guys. Now, I just need to make the comparison with the small town I'm living in right now. The worse part about moving is not knowing anybody and starting at zero. I guess if I managed to make a lot of friends in France, then I should be able to do it in New Haven.

Other things that would bother me:
1.) Stop serving alcohol at 2AM vs. no stopping time.
2.) Having to drive everywhere vs. being able to walk for food/see a friend/get really drunk and not worry about DUIs.
3.) America if pretty much finished. I can see the value of the dollar plummeting when other countries are able to stand up to the fraud of the government printing bills that only have artificial value.

[Johan]

America if pretty much finished. I can see the value of the dollar plummeting when other countries are able to stand up to the fraud of the government printing bills that only have artificial value.

This is true. But, we're still partying, around the financial corpses.

I wouldn't come, for this very reason, actually. Exchange rates are a valid concern. I know it hurt me badly when I lived in Korea and tried to get dollars when the dollar was going up...back in the dark ages of a dollar that was a step above toilet paper.

[Craigtheplague]

This is true. But, we're still partying, around the financial corpses.

I wouldn't come, for this very reason, actually. Exchange rates are a valid concern. I know it hurt me badly when I lived in Korea and tried to get dollars when the dollar was going up...back in the dark ages of a dollar that was a step above toilet paper.

I guess as long as it doesn't an arm and a leg for a pint of beer at a non-hipster bar, everything should be okay. It already costs me quite a bit right now.

Right now, the exchange rate is pretty stagnant between the euro and dollar. I wouldn't mind the dollar tanking as long as the euro goes down with it. If I'm back in the states, that is. :D

[Everyone vs Dinosaurs]

I would say take it.