Monte Hayward's Rootlet ~ The Relocation Blog

Into the Sunset

2007-12-21T18:14:00.001-08:00

I hope that people relocating to a new city continue to find my resources helpful. I've unearthed books on relocation, career resources, and information on housing affordability, and Austin business networking. I compared city climates, cost of living and transportation, political climates, city economies, singles in cities, sought-after technologies, and tech jobs by city. Relocation Complete

Airborne Attack II: The Mintening

2007-07-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

A dozen wasps were rebuilding this morning, in the balcony light socket. I had read that mint oil repelled wasps, so I put several drops of peppermint oil on the window washer pad, and daubed it on the area of ceiling around the light. The wasps vacated. More were hovering under the eaves, where I had seen some before. I discovered a fourth nest there, and scraped it down. I daubed more

Airborne Attack

2007-06-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

One evening last week, I stepped out onto the balcony, with a chair an a novel, ready to relax for awhile. I had scarcely cracked the book when I noticed a number of wasps swooping and buzzing around above me. I went back inside. The rest of the evening consisted of a ground-to-air assault. I distracted them with a bright light from a window. I would dart out, spray them with some Simple Green

The House that Went Away

2007-06-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

As close-in Austin neighborhoods fill in, the only construction sites left are ones sold as tear-downs. At the end of May, I was encouraged to see signs that this one near me might depart.May 30, 2007 Nothing happened for a week or two, then I saw yellow tape and muddy tire tracks. June 12, 2007 I'm so glad to see this one ease on down the road. I hope something nice goes in. June 13, 2007

Pigeons Relocate to My House

2007-06-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

Some pigeons took advantage of poor workmanship and penetrated the plastic screens under my carport eaves. I grabbed a ladder and cleaned out the nest under construction. Fastened the edges with a staple gun. Within twenty minutes, the pair of pigeons pictured here were back, having found another gap. They had stopped building and seemed trapped. I loosened the screen with a broom stick, and they

Animated Map of House Construction, 1850 - 2005

2007-06-01T20:53:00.001-07:00

Trulia uses house construction records and Flash to animated the growth patterns of cities. Compare the growth of Austin, TX with that of San Francisco, Bay Area. This appeals to many of my interests: real estate, city growth, data visualization, and user interfaces.

Where's the Triple Play?

2007-05-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Google for the earliest mentions of "Triple Play phone tv internet", and you'll find a timeline of press releases going back to 1995. So, now, a dozen years later, there must be several bundle deals, and an intuitive search engine to help you choose, right? Heh, heh. Getting Connected in your new location, with an ISP, home phone service, and TV is still not a simple task*. Are you ready for

Ah, Hell Yeah!

2007-05-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

Reunited and it feels so good... You really can't expect a better move-in. I had help from one new friend and one new coworker. Unpacked the storage cubes before noon Saturday. Today (Sunday), I packed up the hotel room and checked out for good. Goodbye, Studio 6. I unpacked Claientita, then started up a load of laundry. Then came the highlight. I popped into the new jacuzzi tub for my first soak

Cloudburst

2007-05-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

Can you feel the change in the air? It's electric.

Flavor Slice

2007-05-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

I'm at Halcyon, sitting on a funky couch this Sunday afternoon. Across from me are two girls who could be sisters. Both are reading gilt-edged books (Bibles?), both are very alternaretrochic, and both are marking their copies of the good book as they study. Halcyon serves both alcohol and caffeine, so perhaps this venue offers dual opportunities to save souls. Both girls have ankle tatts. One is

Google "My Maps" Proves Useful in House Shopping

2007-04-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

After looking at a dozen or more houses in a short time, the memory of what I've seen often blurs together. Google's "My Maps" feature helped me to keep the locations and vitals of houses in perspective. I've heard complaints from many consumers that the various MLS Web sites are antiquated, and buggy. In my experience, they are black holes that suck Time and provide little organizational value

Glad He Relocated

2007-04-14T05:17:00.001-07:00

I sat down to lunch with "Sam", who moved from New York City to Austin a few years ago, and is happy with his relocation. Sam is an easygoing guy who greets people with a smile and a tap on the shoulder. He keeps an electronic picture frame on his desk, with revolving pictures of his family. Monte: What were some of the milestones that you passed in getting established in your new town of Austin

Barneys New York Comes to Austin, TX

2007-04-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

Just click the photo if you want to, um, see it larger.

Barton Creek Gander Rage

2007-04-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

Perhaps out of rage, spite, or just plain hunger, this knob-headed gander aggressively pursued my friend's tender toes. Scaring away the fowl took several tries. He then chased small children.

Santa Was Here

2007-04-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

A local tree is pressed into service as a makeshift lost and found.

Barton Creek at Sunset

2007-04-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Did You Ride the Zune Bus?

2007-04-03T05:38:00.000-07:00

I snapped an opportune shot of Microsoft's Zune Bus sitting behind chainlink fences in a budget hotel lot on the north end. No doubt it was in Austin for the purpose of cashing in on the SXSW cache. See? Cool people like Zune. If you give them free stuff. Now, I'm no fan of iPod. In fact, you could call me antipod. iPod helps ordinary people, who are in actuality grinding their way through

Keep Your Wong Long

2007-04-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

[You can] Keep Your Wong LongNothing says "fashion" like Northeast Austin's Wong Long Fashion Design, LLC. That, and candy-cane beribboned pillars on a 1950s rambler in April. Go to St John's Ave and Rufus Street and see for yourself. But go at night the sign lights up!

Best Austin Business Networks -- LinkedIn Members

2007-03-31T09:18:00.001-07:00

Members of the professional networking group LinkedIn.com shared the names of their favorite Austin networking groups. Chris Garigues, President/CEO of Trinsic Solutions, asked the question, "What networking groups are worth attending in the Austin area?" The list of responses includes: Texchange Austin Technology Council International Hospitality Council of Austin Steve Harper's "Ripple Effect

Fire Ants on the March

2007-03-29T20:18:00.001-07:00

In my walks around Austin, I've noticed mounds of soil appear overnight. I figured that Austin's famous fire ants had bailed out of their burrows to avoid drowning. It turns out that temperate, wet weather in the Spring and Fall are conducive to their brooding.

A Big Kiss Good Morning

2007-03-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

I should have been suspicious when I heard the heavy diesel truck back up last night. This morning, I opened the door to find this pair of love birds parked right outside. Their heads were twelve feet high, and they looked like supermodels. I blinked, held my breakfast down, and walked around the giant mobile billboard on my way to work.

How Rare is Your Car?

2007-03-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

I'm shopping for a car in my new town. I'm noticing the models on the road that match ones on my short list. It sure seems like there are a lot of Porsche Boxsters on the road. Am I simply noticing them more? Time to look at some stats. Porsche only made up about 1/3 of 1% of the cars sold in February. Figures are thanks to AutoData and AIADA.

Crash: Were You at I-35 & US 290 Wed, Feb. 21 7pm?

2007-03-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

I've been away from blogging for awhile, trying to heal up from a neck injury. That's because a hit-and-run driver rear-ended me and a friend. She was behind the wheel of our rental car, and had yielded in a right turn lane on the northwest corner of 290 E and IH-35 frontage roads in Austin. A large black pickup truck with tinted windows slammed into our silver Chevy Cobalt. We pulled over to

Austin Named one of Fifty Hottest Cities for Business

2007-02-21T10:28:00.000-08:00

Eighty site location consultants polled by b2b publication Expansion Management ranked Austin in the 50 Hottest Cities for Business, reported The Daily Texan.

Sons of Hercules - Easy Action

2007-02-14T19:51:00.000-08:00

San Santonio garage punk band Sons of Hercules belt out a cover version of the tune "Easy Action". Veteran vocalist Frank Pugliese is in rare form at Austin's legendary Continental Club. Watch it on YouTube. The original video is about 105MB. Compressed, it's a 20MB avi. YouTube would not accept the 105MB version.

Which Technologies are Sought After in Austin?

2007-02-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

Have you wondered which technologies are associated with more job openings? I did, back in June. I also did a quick search today of postings that mention some popular technology skillset keywords on theladders.com*. Search parameters were as follows: Sector: Any City/State/Region: TX - Austin area Job Function: Technology Posted Within: 6 weeks Technology Mentions in Austin Job

Sons of Hercules at The Continental Club

2007-02-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

Dave, Kim, Jeannie, Renet, MonteMy friend Renet took me to The Continental Club in Austin, Texas, to see Sons of Hercules and a few other bands. We arrived in time to hear Big Balls, an AC/DC tribute band. Lee Scott screeched out the AC/DC sound. Was it my imagination, or did his voice begin to give out after the first half of their set? The audience revelled in sing-alongs of Dirty Deeds and

Neo Faucet Coffee

2007-01-31T11:54:00.000-08:00

From the moment I began drinking coffee in Austin, TX, I was suspicious. This stuff tasted "off", but not as bad as instant coffee. My first cup came from the continental breakfast room at the (not-so-) Super 8. You push a button, the machine makes a pumping sound, and hot coffee flows into your cup. No pot, no grounds. If you watch closely at the end of the stream, you might see a brown viscous

FUBAR at the DMV

2007-01-30T16:58:00.000-08:00

If you are relocating, please remember to keep identifying documents with you. Keep driver licenses or ID cards up to date. Otherwise, you can get into a Catch-22 really quickly. If your out-of-state license is expired, guess what? You have to take a road test, too. Road test takers must supply the vehicle. You cannot rent a vehicle without a valid drivers license. Beginning to get the picture?

Austin "Median" Prices Did Not Add Up

2007-01-28T16:48:00.000-08:00

I was a bit too exuberant about the low median Austin home price. You'll recall that my plan was to sell my Seattle house, and use the proceeds to buy a home in Austin for cash. Well, the median prices I saw for Austin included a wide range of neighborhoods, and a lot of houses that were tiny or in disrepair. The plan may have worked back in May when I first visited Austin, but prices have

Austin Day One

2007-01-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

After much delay, I moved to Austin, TX January 24, 2007! By "move", I mean brought myself and my remaining possessions via one-way airline ticket. Most of my possessions, in storage pods, beat me here by a month. I first found refuge in a not-so- Super 8 Motel. $50-75/night for a smoking room. Get up early, or the employees and their various relatives will have eaten the "free breakfast"

Sold!

2007-01-12T17:42:00.000-08:00

In September, inventory of homes was up 25% from the prior year, and the market was slowing. Would the rennovated 1908 Crafstman home, the focus of many months' labour, sell for a good price? Why yes. It received multiple offers, and sold for $25,000 over asking price, in under 10 days! :) It's difficult to compare a home to its peers, since no two are alike. However, these success metrics

Hiatus at an End

2007-01-12T17:38:00.000-08:00

I've not posted here in ages. I hope that the reader will forgive me, as I have good reasons. A family member was terminally ill. The past four months have been been filled with the sale of my house, the move-out, caregiving and hospice, and the holidays. Now, I'm able to turn my focus back on relocation to a new city.

150 Cheap Places ... telecommute... Forbes.com

2006-09-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

150 Cheap Places To Live - Forbes.com

MONEY Magazine Real Estate: Austin

2006-09-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

MONEY Magazine Real Estate: Austin Note the section "Worst Historical Decline". It claims 27.4% for Austin! Guide to other cities: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_realestate/states/

HistoryLink Essay: Seattle Neighborhoods: Ravenna - Roosevelt -- Thumbnail History

2006-09-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

HistoryLink Essay: Seattle Neighborhoods: Ravenna - Roosevelt -- Thumbnail History The Ravenna neighborhood is where I lived in Seattle.

Ravenna Renovation, Part 1

2006-08-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

This will be just a quick post while remodeling is going on. My front stairs are torn out and the cement is being repoured now. I have every door in the top floor off its hinges. One is sanded down, and stained, seven to go. I bought a new front door, and have stained it. In all, nine newly finished doors will greet the new owner. Deck painting, some new oak flooring, touch-up paint,

Final Summer in Seattle

2006-07-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

The most difficult part of Seattle to give up, aside from close proximity to great friends, is Seattle's spectacular summers. I've decided to make the most of this one, and so have bought a digital camera and gone kayaking, hiking, and blading, among other things. You can view my photo albums at public.fotki.com/rootlet. Camera geeks:The full-size original images with EXIF data are available

San Diego Excursion, Part 1

2006-07-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

In preparation for this trip, I did not get any guest-room offers from new friends. I'm even more certain that the hospitality in Austin was a miracle of good will. In making my San Diego plans, by contrast, I made a series of mistakes. Welcome California's Strongest Man CompetitorsI chose a San Diego hotel using a method only slightly better than a dart board at ten paces. Having struck out on

House Price Forecasts Diverge Widely on CNNMoney.com

2006-07-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

Two different authors at CNN Money used similar data sets on home prices, yet came up with very different answers. I noticed that the predictions for Seattle were very different when reading these articles. Article Hot home markets to cool down... how will your home fare? By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer May 1, 2006 Home forecast: Where the growth is... and isn't By Tara

Venture Capital: Austin Places in Top Five

2006-07-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

In 2001, Austin ranked third in venture capital strength1. 1 Robert D. Atkinson, Ph.D., Paul D. Gottlieb, Ph.D., THE METROPOLITAN NEW ECONOMY INDEX, April 2001.

FSBO Company Connects Google Earth and Real Estate Listings

2006-06-25T20:48:00.000-07:00

Real estate search is a good effort, but needs clearer instructions, more listings, and a better user experience. A site called For Sale By Owner Center has published what they call the "first 'FSBO' real estate website that allows you to search real estate listings directly in the Google Earth." I tried it out, beginning on their download page. At time of writing, one needs to email the site

High-Tech Employer Neighborhoods: San Diego

2006-06-23T21:17:00.000-07:00

High-Tech Employer Neighborhoods: San Diego I began the evening by focusing on identifying neighborhoods in San Diego with clusters high-tech employers. When I choose a place to live, I like to be near the tech startup action, to minimize the commute and maximize opportunities. In the end, my focus turned more toward critique of map search tools. First, I used an old favorite, Verizon SuperPages

TownScores™ Tech Job Market Survey

2006-06-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

TownScores™ Tech Job Market Survey How do Austin, San Diego, Seattle, Atlanta and San Francisco compare when it comes to high-tech jobs? I conducted an informal survey to find out. I performed searches for jobs with the following criteria: Keyword chosen from list. Each search used one of these keywords:javaajaxxmljavascriptJob posting was no greater than seven days old.City and State were

The Shape Diet™

2006-06-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Shape Diet™ I was in line at Whole Foods, picking up a few provisions. I set the divider bar down on the conveyor belt, plopped down yogurt, cottage cheese, a tub of peanut butter, and a bottle of vitamin water. The woman in front of me remarked that I had what looked like a healthy dinner. "I'm on the Shape Diet," I said. Mustering a deadpan expression, I added, "I can eat as much as I

Impromptu Rain Wear

2006-06-01T23:34:00.000-07:00

Puddles to dodge along the route to the $3 parking lot. After work surprise shower, Seattle, May 31, 2006. April showers brought May torrents in sunny Seattle, WA. Caught unprepared, I grabbed a mailer from the DHL bin as I left work.

TownScores™ Housing Affordability

2006-05-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

TownScores™ Housing Affordability A friend from San Diego complained that salaries were not keeping up with house prices in her city. I decided to punch up the numbers myself for comparison. I suspected that Miami would prove worse off than San Diego in terms of house affordability. Percentage of Monthly Budget Devoted to Mortgage Payments 76% 28% 38% 124% 73%

Atlanta Campaign "Dicey"

2006-05-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Campaign button from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of CommerceI was delighted to find this promotional graphic. Does it make you want to move to Atlanta? Before I read about the campaign that this graphic represents, I'll share my impressions based soley on the graphic. Moving to Atlanta would be dicey Atlanta city fathers are gambling with its future Atlanta must be run by old-school fat

Blogthing's American Cities That Best Fit You

2006-05-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

American Cities That Best Fit You: 65% Atlanta 60% Austin 55% Honolulu 55% Washington, DC 50% Chicago Well, at least the top two are on my list. i have lived in Chicago, and would not care to weather the boiling summers and freezing windy winters again. While taking the quiz, I wished that some questions offered a middle-of-the-road option. Most choices were very important versus not at

"Moving to San Diego" thread on Tribe

2006-05-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

Amber over at Tribe.net began a thread entitled "Moving to San Diego". It's been getting a fair amount of follow-up, no doubt because it also mentions lesbians, belly dancing, and bi girls. Chuckle. I found it through Blogger's blog search dashboard, searching for the keywords "moving san diego". Honest. Amber, you write that you are "from Seattle" and "in Georgia right now". Would that be

Blog Repaired, Apologies Given

2006-05-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

For some reason, Internet Explorer 6 began to crash when my blog pages load. If you are interested in the technical mystery behind the fix, read more. Otherwise, Welcome back, IE users.

Austin IRL: Music Scene

2006-05-11T20:39:00.000-07:00

Austin IRL: Music Scene John Vanderslice photo shot with camera phone Austin is known for its music scene. My friend Renet and I ended up at Emo's, to see a good collection of artists. It was great to see them in a small venue. I noted the lack of posers in the crowd. On the bill, in the order we saw them, were... Oceanus - Korn-like thrashing and gutteral screaming. Lyrics

Austin IRL: Real Estate Tour

2006-05-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Austin IRL: Real Estate Tour Austin in Real Life, Part 2 How can one digest and evaluate a city in under six days? A bit dazed by the challenge (and the antihistamines), I sat down to write out some goals for the trip. This was contrary to the Zen approach, but part of me would not rest until I had broken the trip down into manageable pieces. I came up with a very short list: Hands-on real

Austin IRL: Wheels Down

2006-05-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

Austin IRL: Wheels Down Austin In Real Life, Part 1 I arrived in Austin Wednesday May 3, 2006 around 5pm. My initial impression of Austinites is that they are straightforward and friendly. The woman managing a local CVS drug store will start up a conversation with you (and tell you how she yearns for quitting time). A light dinner at El Sol y la Luna proved tasty. Sangria and beef quesadillas

TownScores™ Singles in Cities

2006-04-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

TownScores™ Singles in Cities Are you looking for a mate? What is the female-to-male ratio in your new city? Here are some figures on the single populations of select cities. Marital Status by City

TODO List

2006-04-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

TODO List TODO list and work shoes await...My posting frequency has been down, because I have been chewing away at a pre-move TODO list. So far, I have hung a medicine cabinet, moved a towel bar, installed base shoe, painted trim, and distributed attic insulation. The flapper valve in the main floor commode gave out, so the list grows as I chip away at it. This reinforces the idea that I would

Austin Reality Check

2006-04-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

Austin Reality Check: Conversations with a Real Live Austinite On 03/31/2006 11:53 am PST, Luna wrote: Welcome to Austin. You'll love it, if you haven't already been here. I knock around in my home, and have a spare couple of rooms, if you need a place to stay until you get settled. Also if you want to read my profile, we could chat if I seem of interest to you. I work as Luthier, repairing

Sucessful Relocation: An Interview

2006-03-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

Successful Relocation: An Interview Or, "How Joe Sold the House Himself and Saved a Bundle" Update: Second Buyer Comes Through Update: The first buyer has dropped out, and has lost $15,000 in earnest money. "Joe" was able to repeat his selling process. He put the property back on the market for a week, with the announcement that bids would be taken on Saturday. His number two bidder from

San Diego's Downward Trends?

2006-03-25T22:30:00.000-08:00

San Diego's Downward Trends? The success stories in San Diego's technology sector seem to cluster around biotech and defense technology. If, like me, you are more interested in the software business, there is less good news. "It's difficult to get ahead financially" is among the top ten complaints from San Diegans. I culled a few stories about life in San Diego, to begin to paint a picture of

TownScores™ Political Spectrum

2006-03-25T19:04:00.000-08:00

TownScores™ Political Spectrum Do you care about the political leaning of your neighbors? Your city? Your state? Before you relocate, it is worth checking on the voting climate of your prospective new home. Note that these figures come from voter registrant party affiliation, not voting records. Voter Registration Percentage by Parties Seattle Democrat 64.95% * Republican 33.69%

kens-meme-deflector-xblogthis-extended

2006-03-25T00:22:00.000-08:00

Top stuff: Ken's Meme Deflector: XBlogThis!: An Extended BlogThis! Button Technorati tags: bookmarklet

The Dream of Relocation

2006-03-24T21:56:00.000-08:00

The Dream of Relocation Why would I give up a prosperous job position, proximity to my good friends, and a wonderful Craftsman house that is appreciating rapidly as it nears its hundredth birthday? Sun Moving to Seattle a dozen years ago was a good decision, but I underestimated my need for sunlight. I did not realize how much the Southern CA sun had to do with my energy and sense of well-being.

TownScores™ Real Costs of Transporation

2006-03-24T00:58:00.000-08:00

TownScores™ Real Costs of Transporation Let's compare transportation in some U.S. Cities. Statistical data can be dry, so I will add in a wet Seattle commute and stir vigorously. My Commute home begins near downtown Seattle. Average Hours Commuted per Year Seattle 216 hours Austin 191 hours Atlanta 243 hours Miami 259 hours San Diego 209 hours Tucson 188 hours

TownScores™ Cost of Living Comparison

2006-03-22T23:21:00.000-08:00

Cost of Living Figures are shown as a percentage of the National Average. I was surprised to see that all cost differences in the group were incremental, except housing. Seattle, San Diego, and Miami had housing costs at or near twice the national average. Overall Cost of Living Seattle 146% Austin 91% Atlanta 96% Miami 136% San Diego 157% Tucson 96% US Average

TownScores™ Housing Comparison

2006-03-20T16:32:00.000-08:00

TownScores™ Housing Comparison Median Years Since a Home Was Built Seattle 45.7 years Austin 21.8 years Atlanta 36.9 years Miami 35.8 years San Diego 27.4 years Tucson 26.8 years US Average 27.2 years Median Home Cost Seattle $459,800 Austin $167,900 Atlanta $185,100 Miami $387,800 San Diego $491,000 Tucson $175,100 US Average

The TownScores™ Method

2006-03-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

TownScores™ Method After spending hours pouring over several statistical resources on metropolitan areas, I wanted to make the data more easily scannable. The data were displayed in various tables, maps, graphs and charts. Units were in dollars, percentages, per capita ratios, and some scoring systems. For some scoring systems, a higher number is better, and for others (usually ranks, not scores

City Resources, Career

2006-03-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

City Resources, Career Research the employers — private and public — in your desired town Employment listing feeds from your relocation city Get a "My Yahoo" account, and add feeds to page Hoover's Online Company profiles Jobtrak.com Company profiles www.thomasregister.com 150K US/Canadian company profiles www.ebri.com Employee Benefits Research Institute www.homefair.com

TownScores™ City Economy Comparison

2006-03-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

TownScores™ City Economy Comparison Employment Rate Seattle 95.4% Austin 95.7% Atlanta 93.7% Miami 95.0% San Diego 95.6% Tucson 95.2% US Average 95.0% Recent Job Growth Seattle 2.61% Austin 3.67% Atlanta 2.12% Miami 4.12% San Diego 2.98% Tucson 1.68% US Average 1.30% Projected Job Growth Seattle 12.08% Austin 24.15% Atlanta 11.18%

Wizard: Bestplaces

2006-03-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

Wizard: Bestplaces.net "Your Best Places" After filling out the bestplaces.net questionaire, my top ten cities for relocation looked like the list below. While I admire BestPlaces' coverage and systematic approach, there are cities on this list that I would never choose as relocation spots. San Francisco is too expensive and crowded, Boston is too cold, and Minneapolis has brief winter sunlight

2006-03-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

Geographic, Demographic, & Economic Profiles www.locationguides.com www.ajb.dni.us America's Career InfoNet. Geo. profile www.runzheimer.com A cost of living index www.pathfinder.com/money/bes tplacesMoney Magazine Best Places www.bigbook.com www.datamasters.com www.city.net

TownScores™ City Climate Comparison

2006-03-18T20:21:00.000-08:00

TownScores™ City Climate Comparison Dryness Seattle 35% Austin 49% Atlanta 22% Miami 14% Tucson 80% San Diego 79% US Average 42% Freedom From Snow Seattle 90% Austin 100% Atlanta 99% Miami 100% Tucson 98% San Diego 99% US Average 78% Dry Days / Year Seattle 58% Austin 77% Atlanta 69% Miami 100% Tucson 98% San Diego 99% US Average 78% Days of Sun / Year Seattle 42% Austin 62% Atlanta 59%

2006-03-18T14:55:00.000-08:00

Choosing a City for Relocation Primary Considerations Climate Number of days of sunshine per year Winter day lengths Days of precipitation each year Temperature and humidity extremes Median home price <= Seattle High-tech job market Diverse economy Single people Health of population I'm using Seattle as a baseline, because it is the city that I'm giving up for something "

2006-03-17T13:10:00.000-08:00

Relocation Resources Cities Ranked and Rated: More than 400 Metropolitan Areas Evaluated in the U.S. and CanadaBert Sperling, Peter Sander, 1st edition Insider's Guide to RelocationBeverly Roman and John Howells, 2nd edition Greener Pastures -- How to Find a Job in Another PlaceAndrea Kay Sperling's Best PlacesCompanion site to Cities Ranked and Rated. Interesting article on cities ranked by

2006-03-17T11:52:00.000-08:00

Rootlet Relocation Blog Forty million Americans relocate each year. Publishers offer scores of titles on where, why, and how to move to a city that will make you happier. "Best Towns List" articles are a perennial favorite of magazine readers. Where are People Moving, and Why?Trends are moving toward smaller, cheaper, non-coastal towns, and with good reasons. High-speed Internet has made it