<p>So we have this other thread going, where the so-called, “Go-nowhere generation” is criticized for among other things being unwilling to move to North Dakota for work.</p>
<p>Coincidentally, I just read an article in a AARP newsletter about the economic boom in North Dakota and how many 50+ year old folks have moved there for work. Some relevant excerpts:
and,
</p>
<p>So, would you move there for a job if you were running out money, losing your home to foreclosure and unable to find work where you are? I would, although my wife is not quite as enthusiastic about the adventure. Fortunately, we are not quite at that point yet.</p>
<p>My son went through North Dakota last summer (on his cross country bike trip). In Minot, he met some migrant workers who were doing flood cleanup work for $10/hour but were hoping for something better, so I am just a little skeptical about the real economic opportunities, ie how easy is it really to make $42/hour or $120,000/year. In Williston he was fortunate to find a cycling enthusiast to host him, because all of the hotel/motel rooms were full of oil field workers. The roads were packed with trucks, making cycling not a whole lot of fun. </p>
<p>I hear the housing can’t even meet up with the demand for the workers. And imagine on a college perspective how much that geographic diversity would help - lol! </p>
<p>If we hit difficult financial times and needed to move to where we could work and thrive - I’d move just about anywhere.</p>
<p>If I were running out of money, losing my house, and unable to make a living here, I would move to North Dakota, if there was a good, interesting job there. Sure. Disclaimer – I grew up in South Dakota . . . Still, though, there are places in North Dakota that would be easier to adjust to than others. Fargo, for instance, is a college town. I could live there. I’m not sure how I would be about living in a more isolated area, but if I was losing everything, I would probably give it a try.</p>
<p>* would you move there for a job if you were running out money, losing your home to foreclosure and unable to find work where you are?*</p>
<p>Wouldn’t get to that point.
We have had lengthy periods of underemployment- having to make ends meet through babysitting- mowing grass & using our truck to help people make dump runs. move- etc.
We could always do that again.</p>
<p>Yes. We need money to eat, pay rent, etc. so being unemployed for a long time would be untenable.</p>
<p>However, I would try everything else first. I live in an area where I do not like the geography, weather or politics. North Dakota would be more of the same of that. It’s tiresome to always feel out of place. I hope to someday live in a place where it doesn’t take so much time and effort to make it feel like home.</p>
<p>Sure I would. When I lived in the Twin Cities I traveled to North and South Dakota occasionally for my job. I would have no problem living there if I had a reason to.</p>
<p>BCEagle, as far as my moving to Maine goes, it IS nice, but you have to remember that the people who live here aren’t on vacation all the time, like the tourists! It can be hard work getting through the winter here! Also, being from Texas, the culture shock for me was (and still is, even after 26 years) extreme. And I’m 2,100+ miles away from my family. I’m still glad we moved, though! It has been an adventure.</p>
<p>My mom’s family moved from west Texas to North Dakota in the 1930s, because my grandfather was an agent on an Indian reservation. They lived there several years before returning to Texas because of my aunt’s poor health.</p>
<p>Depends on where you are in Maine. Southern seacoast doesn’t seem that bad to me. I’m in New Hampshire and winter can be hard here too. I have relatives in Bangor and used to visit them when I was much younger.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>We had considered moving our son to Singapore for work if things didn’t pan out here as they have been in an economic boom time for several years now even as we were in pretty bad shape.</p>
<p>ND? For starters, I don’t think there are jobs in all industries or in all parts of ND (eg, the more “urban” areas such as Fargo), they are primarily in areas where the oil is (Williston) and in limited fields related to the oil industry or that can provide services to oil workers. </p>
<p>Yes, it could definitely be an “adventure” - just not exactly my type of adventure:</p>
<p>If I was 26 yes, absolutely. I’d probably fall in love with the sky, which is enormous in that part of the country. I’d probably learn to love the extremes of the weather and the wide open spaces.</p>
<p>But I’m almost 30 years older than that. I’ve lived in the north (Wisconsin) as a kid (loved it) and as a 40 year old (hated it). I’ve also lived in north west Florida, Hawaii, Omaha, Oklahoma, San Diego, and the mid Atlantic. At this point in my life I know what I, personally, want, and the Dakotas aren’t it. But there are a lot of places in the west and south and up and down both coasts that I WOULD move to. But the winters in North Dakota would be a deal breaker for me, at this point in my life.</p>
<p>No. I’ve lived in Michigan the majority of my life. I am NOT moving somewhere colder and far more conservative. I am just not really a fan of the midwest in general. I’m sick of flat land. </p>
<p>If I move out of Michigan, I’m going somewhere more LGBT friendly. ND doesn’t fit the bill.</p>
<p>Of course. If I had a job offer in ND and did not have a better (or equal) job somewhere else, I would go there. What else would I do?</p>
<p>If I had a lesser job (liked it less, paid less, lesser future prospects) elsewhere and ND didn’t appeal, then I might not. But it would involve soul-searching on relative rank of career satisfaction and prospects vs. other life-satisfaction elements.</p>