Help Timbo Decide...

[marc at getty.net (Marc Getty)]

In 2002 I almost moved to Pittsburg, PA for a job and earlier this year I
considered moving to Albany, NY for a job. Both times I declined to continue
living in Philly. It is my opinion that Pittsburg is probably a nicer city
then Philadelphia, but the city is not why I stay in Philly, it is the city
plus then 10 zillion things that surround it that appeal to me.

Philly is expensive. That is a fact. Given the way you describe your current
financial situation life will be tough. Perhaps tougher then you would think
because of how many cool things nearby that are just dying to have you spend
your hard earned money on.

Free rent is terrific and is a good start. If you get classic tags for your
Scirocco (I did!) you can ignore the inspections and annual registration
forever, but this is a lengthy process and can only be done on cars in good
shape. However, insurance can be VERY expensive. Don't be surprised to pay
$3,000+ a year per car to start off. We have a huge problem with uninsured
drivers here and thus the very high rates. Get a quote now based on your
potential address to compare. Keeping the cars registered and insured in CO
is another option. My former Mk1 had CO plates I bought on eBay (the plate
color matched the car color) for a while and I never had a problem.

Rent and taxes are expensive. I pay $965/month for a nice 1 bedroom
apartment 12 miles from the city. I'm considering a small row home 3 miles
from the city and everything is $225k and up. Actually living in the city
provides low school and property taxes but a 4.5% income tax is a real PITA.
Just outside the city expect taxes in the range of $4k to $15k a year.

If you want to go back to school there are over 100 different schools to
choose from. Community colleges to Wharton to 3 Carnegie Research I schools
are in the area.

If you move to PA be prepared to be frustrated by a bunch of things (Ben and
Anson hate the roads near my house which nearly ate Ben's Mk1) but also be
prepared to be amazed at the possibilities. NYC is a 90 min drive. Lancaster
is a 75 min drive. Atlantic City and the rest of the NJ shore is a 75 min
drive. The Pocono mountains are a 120 min drive.

-Marc who does not think he will ever leave the megalopolis

 
-----Original Message-----
From: scirocco-l-bounces+marc=getty.net@scirocco.org
[mailto:scirocco-l-bounces+marc=getty.net@scirocco.org] On Behalf Of Timbo
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 6:01 PM
To: Scirocco list
Subject: Help Timbo Decide...

I can't decide. I am stuck between staying here in Denver (aurora) and going
to Philadelphia (Glenside, near Jenkintown)

So - I'm gonna list out pros and Cons, and see what you guys think.

Philadelphia...
GOOD - new job opportunities, less crowded (yep), more small businesses
(that I can design websites for!) Less walmarts. I can live in an apartment
in my Grandpa's house for free till we get jobs and can pay really low rent
(like $2-300). His house is old (1885) and has lots of neat projects I can
do. It's also right next to a train station.

BAD - I will have to replace some stuff on my car to make it pass
inspection, insurance will go way up, new license, new all that crap.
I'll have to get new windshields for both the scirocco and the Santa Fe. The
big bad thing is that it will cost $280 in gas alone to get the Scirocco and
the Santa Fe there. Also - I will have to get rid of one of my sciroccos.
and leave my parrents and my wife's mom behind.

Denver:
GOOD: we live for free here - we give my mother in law $200 a month when we
can. I can find work easy as a car salesman. I have all my VWs around, and I
know where the good salvage yards are. That's pretty much it though.

BAD: Denver is crowded and filled with crime and it sucks. We live right
next to I-225 and it is LOUD!! Did I mention the crime. Also - Jenny has
been looking for a job here for more than a year, and she's struck out so
far.

So - that's it. I have almost no money - but enough to get to Philadelphia.
Either place I go - I can easily get a job at whatever car dealer. I would
have more good stuff to do in phila though. I could also go to college for
stuff that I really want to - when I started out of high school - I wanted
to be an architect.

If I stayed in Denver - I would get a job as apartment maintence. Fix
toilets and such. Payoff some school bills and finish my crappy managment
degree at DeVry.

If this goes in favor of philly - I gotta see how close the nearest good
pick'npull is for Scirocco parts!

Wow - that's a lot of crap to read there.

tl;dr option: Stay in crappy denver or go get a better life in philly?

I cross posted this on the Vortex -
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2366530 it has a poll there too.

--Timbo

--
Early 84 Scirocco 8v Alpine White
Early 84 Scirocco 8v Pewter Metallic
1/2 Early 84 Scirocco 8v Plain ol Black (sawzall!)
_______________________________ www.vintagewatercooleds.com/tech

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