The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think we ought to go visit. what do you think? up for a trip?

Adventures? - I don't even like to go to town! ;~D

[RMDupree]

Bye Corin!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

I'm back! Drove 905 miles yesterday. Not going to do that again...ever.

Trip ended up being something of a dud. Went and interviewed in Boise on Monday. Knocked 'em dead. Turned out though that they only wanted to pay someone at a level I made over 17 years ago. We were 45-50% apart on salary. They wanted the earth, moon and stars...but were only willing to pay pebbles, wood chips and ashes. Essentially, they wanted full PR and media services, a legislative representative, publications and constituent relations and even someone to write federal grants for them. But they wanted to pay the going rate for clerical help in western Washington. Oh, and they didn't want to commit to anything past September. Oh, yeah, and I pay for the move entirely.

My thoughts were: What's in this for me? I thought slave labor was only legal in Indonesia!

So I went off to Salt Lake and Park City where I had a better time, but nothing's going to come from there for some time (if at all).

So it's back in unemployment-ville for another unknown period of time. Alas, I'm getting used to being a man of leisure. It's getting to be a bit of a pattern...everything sounds good and promising at first, but nothing much ends up being workable.

Just glad to be out of the car!

[Wneighbor]

Gee, either you listened. or you do that too!

LOL

[Wneighbor]

I don't even like to go to town!

I forgot. The Riverdaughter never leaves.

Well, the elf wants to go.

[HairOfTheDog]

Did you check the differences in cost of living between there and here? You might live well there on half the salary of living here, really!

Sorry it didn't turn out exactly like you wanted, because I would rather see you go to Boise than SLC... SLC is just not a pretty place.

[RMDupree]

OK everyone! I searched on google for the pic, but came up empty. :(

I got to get home and on the way I have been requested by my 5 year old to pick up a Pzone from Pizza Hut for her because "it just looks so tasty, Mommy!"

*sigh*

Be back later, I hope!

FWIW, I typed "gimli" in the search box under images and got to page 20 before time ran out! If so inspired, do the same search and start on page 21!

[ksen]

Glad you made it back safe Scott. To bad about Boise though.

[Wneighbor]

Scott I'm sorry that Boise thing didn't work out. Know you were really excited about that one. Sorry.

And the Salt Lake one, You didn't sound as hopeful about it in the beginning anyway even though you said you'd like the skiing. So, I hope that's okay. We were all just pretty sure that you were coming back with great news. But, we're glad to have you back anyway.

[ksen]

I'm outta here too. Have a great weekend everyone!

[RMDupree]

Oh Scott, I'm sorry it didn't work out! :(

All it means is that it wasn't the "right one". I'll keep praying for you.

Gotta run! Bye!

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, the weather is hot and the box fan has been brought out of the closet.

Environmental comfort or home security measure? - You decide.

Kitty #8 approves.... (the fan is actually on high, though the shutter speed stopped it)

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Everything in Boise seems to cost MORE than here, except real estate (which is a lot lower, but I live in a paid-off house here -- you don't get much lower than nothing). Food is higher, gas is higher, even the Starbucks charges more for a cup, books and CD's at the Border's were higher. I wasn't impressed.

I actually thought that the physical geography around Salt Lake is much more interesting than the Boise area. The Wasatch Mountains are spectacular and Park City is my favorite place in the world to ski. But that's not going to happen...I'm just going to have to scratch and claw (or get lucky) here, I think.

[Wneighbor]

FYI starting on page 20.

[RosieCotton]

Scott,

I'm sure you've thought of this already, but...is there a big difference in cost of living between the two places? That makes a huge difference.

If I told friends who got out of the military at the same time as I did and who are doing a similar type of job what I'm currently making, most of them would be shocked! Seriously! But it's a pretty average salary for around here. And most local places couldn't afford to pay me much more than I'm making where I am. A little, but not much.

But my house is costing me less than $50k (it's tiny, but that's still pretty inexpensive), taxes are low, and general costs are also low. So it works out.

[RosieCotton]

Well...that answers that. Oops!

Well...good luck to you.

[JenB]

Sorry about things, Scott. Hope things work out well for you.

Pennsylvania's a nice place to live, the western parts at least, if you want a real change.

[AnAmericanMother]

OK -- how do I sign on to help? The guys in the field really love to receive 'care packages' - I know my husband did back in the 70s!

[Lil'freeper]

I'm just really bummed over all this stuff today

A big, belated *hug* for ya.

[Lil'freeper]

He's basically any home-owning female's worst nightmare.

Agreed! Give me Frank the Garden Gnome any day!