Columbus, Land of "Sucking You In"

[judecorp]

Jen recently (like, today) learned that her old job in Columbus is available again, and heard from a reliable source that her old bosses liked her a lot and would hire her back in a heartbeat. It kind of makes you think, just for a second, about the land of $150K houses, cheap car insurance, and the columbus gang. Money? Who needs money? I could forget about going back to work and just be mayna's full-time nanny, yo!

It's so weird to think about life. When Jen was in New Jersey, she was working retail, hating it, and swore she would never EVER work in retail again. When we were in Columbus, Jen didn't like her job and was always aggravated about her bosses, couldn't wait to leave and move on to something else. Here, she's back in retail, hating it, hating her asshatty boss, and thinking wistfully about her crotchety old bosses and how honest they were. It's all relative.

For me, this job here is way better than my child welfare gig. But I wouldn't mind stealing hopemcg's j-o-b. And letting rebasayre be our realtor and find us a sweet house. :)

Comments

[kieron.livejournal.com]

It sounds like I am never satisfied;)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Just be satisfied with me!

[shadist.livejournal.com]

Eh everyone hates just about every job. Its just a matter of what they hate of it.

[folkyboy.livejournal.com]

well i agree with you when you say it's all relative. i think in time you'll either become crotchety and bitter about the current situation or see more the sides that you can take or leave. nowhere, i've determined, is perfect...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I was never really bitter or crotchety about my time there. I wanted to try something else, but not because I hated Columbus. Hated the politics of Ohio? Yes.

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

OMG, when we were in Ohio last year, I picked up a couple of real estate magazines...and, after I shook my head several times to make sure I wasn't dreaming...and, after I nearly fell over from lots of giddy laughter...

...I actually, for a split second, thought about moving to Ohio.

$150,000 won't even buy a condo here...oy.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Dude, $300,000 won't even buy a condo here.

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

Haha! A bit of an exaggeration...but it sure seems that way sometimes, doesn't it?

Actually, my friends just bought a 2 bedroom condo in JP for around $260k. If you're willing to living in Dot, Roxbury, or Hyde Park, there's even better deals to be found.

As for Gloria and I, we're looking further out in the burbs. We need/hope/plan to stay within a half hour of Waltham.

[smurfbrother.livejournal.com]

I know I've been away from New England for too long, but the idea of a $260k closet makes me almost vomit. That much would probably get you a nice 3-4 bedroom house down here, and hell, if you wanted to live in the boonies, 10-15 acres of land.

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not New England so much as it is the Boston area. I could easily move out to Western Massachusetts and buy a one family house for $150k with a nice parcel of land included in the deal. Personally, I could live in Western Massachusetts...but I think my girlfriend would go crazy.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Depends where in Western MA... I mean, sure, if you wanted to be in one of the little townships. But if you wanted to live in Northampton, Amherst, or one of the trendy towns on 91, you're still looking at $200K for a nice place.

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

Agreed. But, to me, $200k to live in one of the cool little towns of Western Massachusetts is totally reasonable.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Definitely.

If I could afford $200K. :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I'm not really exaggerating. I've seen MANY 2 and 3BR condos here in the Dot that are over $250K. And many in JP and other up-and-coming places that are over $300K... for less square footage than we have in our apartment right now.

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know they're out there. Our best friends just bought a 2 bedroom in a desirable section of JP for well under the $300k mark. Still, housing prices here are absurd.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but how big of a 2BR? Do you know the sqft?

(Keep in mind, we're currently living in a 1400+sqft apartment, 2BR plus office.)

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

There's is about 1000 sq. ft.

[bellabooks.livejournal.com]

My father lives out in the middle of nowhere. Seriously. He's got 18 acres, a 5 bedroom house, a 6-car garage, and lives across the (dirt) street from a river. His house/property is worth about 115-125k His street is 2.8 miles long, and there are only 3 houses on the street. I'm serious that it's not paved. There's nothing but cows in the area.
It all depends on what you want. My father wants to see animals and stars and isn't terribly sociable. It's perfect for him. I HATED it.
True story: We moved to this town when I was 16. My first day in that high school, my social studies teacher asked "who here is related to someone else in this room?" The only 2 hands that did not go up were mine and the teacher's. I was/am terrified.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Dude, spend some time in one of the little neighborhoods of Dorchester or Southie sometime. Everyone there is related, too. ;)

[gabriellag.livejournal.com]

I've been away from Columbus for nine months. And I want nothing more to go back. Of course, I'm no where as cool as Boston, and I'm still in Ohio.

Today was 70 degrees. And if I was in Columbus, 5 o'clock would have seen me enjoying my friends on the patio at Estrada on King, experiencing the first sit-outside-and-drink-margaritas-while-noshing-on-the-best-chips-and-salsa-in-Columbus night of the year.

There are always drawbacks. I mean the food at Estrada really sucks. :-) But my friends, my city, and my happiness are a draw. Columbus may not be cosmopolitan, but an afternoon wandering the Short North, grabbing lunch in the North Market, going home to Clintonville to wash up, and then to some lame dive bar with friends sure beats the life I have now. And have you seen the new restaurant on the Cap? Yummy blueberry mojitos!

Do what you think will make you and Jen happy. But don't discount C-bus just 'cause it's not on the East Coast.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I agree with you entirely about Estrada - the food is terrible but it's so cheery to sit under the fake palms on a warm and sunny evening. I miss those first days of spring that bring everyone out onto their porches to drink beers and stuff. Here I only see my neighbors when I'm either a) almost running them over with the car, or b) shoveling snow.

Columbus may not be the most metropolitan place, but I never felt like I was missing anything (besides the ocean). I saw all the shows I wanted to, caught all the art I wanted to, and had time to run into people wherever I went. I live in a big city here, but I never ever see it, because I spend so much freaking time working that the hassle of getting into the city proper to, like, DO stuff just never happens. I loved the spontaneity of Cbus.

[whirledpeas.livejournal.com]

doooooooooooooooooooooo it!
we'll raise babies together...
...and be able to afford it.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not, that is pretty much our #1 reason to even ever consider it... raising kids with you guys.

Seriously. We've already talked about it.

[whirledpeas.livejournal.com]

I know -and that's why I'm ever so serious about all of this. We keep talking about how it would be great to have other queer mamas to have a playgroup with...to have as support. We've been talking about how we keep looking for queer friends like yall, who we identify with, who we can trust....

...but we really can't replace you...nor do we want to.

I'll support your every decision, I might pout a bit, but I'll support it. I just love you and wish you were closer.

I don't want you to be an online auntie jude...or more than one zip code number away. :(

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I agree. I want my kids to be raised with Auntie Peas and Auntie Sarah! I totally want to be the person you leave your kids with in an emergency... and i want you to be mine!

Sulk.

[whirledpeas.livejournal.com]

I want to be your version of Patti's neighbor Michelle. :(

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Okay, that is the best idea I've ever read.

Seriously.

[shadist.livejournal.com]

This is a tempting place.

:)



No matter what, do what will make you BOTH as happy as you can be.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I'm horrified to say so, but it IS tempting. What the heck is up with that?

[shadist.livejournal.com]

In the end, politics aside, it isn't a bad place. Yes the people, overall, are stupid. However the individuals can be pretty cool.


Plus less $$ to do stuff.

[00solstice.livejournal.com]

you should totally move back.

then I would read your journal more often!

:-p

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Lies! All lies! You got SO busted.

[00solstice.livejournal.com]

yeah, I did... :-)

[rebasayre.livejournal.com]

let me know what you want, and i'm on top of it. like, YESTERDAY! seriously! like, totally rad dude! :) (i don't know why i used "like" so i had to go with it!) so, tell me when, when when! did you know payments on a 150 house here are like 750-800 TOTAL payment for this loan i did yesterday, and 638 after the tax benefit? yeah, compare THAT to boston! that's with NO MONEY DOWN! keep your savings and buy some furniture and decorate, and then go on a really cool trip! xoxoxx

[mayna.livejournal.com]

Huh? Our total payment (no PMI) on a $138k loan is almost $1200... once you add in taxes and insurance. 5.75% fixed 30 yrs.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Does that include insurance and taxes??!??!? Because, crap, I already have a 20% downpayment for a $150K home.

[laserkitty.livejournal.com]

I want choo back here.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Now I have an image in my head of you singing that song "Back For Good" by that weird British boy band... Take That? I think that was their name.

Weird.

[mayna.livejournal.com]

Yeah!!! be my nanny. :-D Of course social work pays better. :-)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Ummm, not much...

In Columbus, I think I made $14-something/hour. By the time all the taxes were taken out and everything... babysitting under the table probably comes damned close.

[kieron.livejournal.com]

Before you all get too excited - there are no job openings at my job right now.....there might be some in the future....but not now. Near future even.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Don't tell me, tell THEM.

[meglett.livejournal.com]

okay, okay, so you're not moving back tomorrow. but if you do, you should come live on our street! too bad it's in the hood. you'd make the 4th girly couple. we /can/ take over!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You know, for the great neighbors, it would CERTAINLY be worth some consideration!

Miss you.

[riggeronfire.livejournal.com]

i'm wondering this too.... see, it's been at least two weeks for me.... or maybe even three, i don't remember... and i have an erg test tomorrow..... i'm in debate. to shave or NOT to shave?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

When in doubt, don't. Personally, I adore that first shorts-wearing event of the year... that first time in ages when you feel the wind through the hair on your legs.

It's heavenly! :)