I'm not really sure how to break this news, so I guess I'll just say it...

[missroserose]

We're moving to Arizona.

I have to admit, this is a particular turn I didn't see our life taking. We've been planning to move out of Juneau pretty much since we got together five years back, so that's not a particular surprise. But our plans were always centered on the Pacific Northwest - Washington or Oregon or some such. Obviously, the job situation there (and pretty much everywhere) has been awful for some time now, so we'd pretty much decided to stick around here a while longer, and used our savings to get married and have a honeymoon (both of which were fantastic).

Then Adam, whom longtime readers may remember as my friend who came up here to work for a year, told us there were openings at the company he works for, specifically the Arizona office where he is. Very cool, although Arizona wasn't quite where we were headed, but we make a note of it anyway, thinking we'll maybe look into it when we have money to move.

And suddenly Adam's supervisor is asking for Brian's resume, and giving him a phone interview, during which Brian mentions that we can't really afford to move right now. But apparently they really want his skill set on their team, because they're sending him a job offer with a bonus attached for moving expenses, and even though he doesn't have the alphabet soup of certifications necessary he already has the knowledge so they're going to hire him at his current salary and put him through the certification process and through school to get a degree and then rehire him for half again what he makes now, all at two-thirds the current cost of living of where we're at now.

Yeah. Apparently they really, really want to hire him. Not that I'm complaining. :D The very cool thing is, if we end up not liking Arizona, there are all kinds of other places we can go - the company's a government contractor, and has branches everywhere from Washington DC to Naples, Italy. And even if he doesn't like the company, he'll have a pile of certifications, government security clearance, and all kinds of experience for his resume, which should make it easy to find another job pretty much wherever.

I'm not quite sure yet what I'll be doing while we're in AZ. I can be an admin assistant anywhere, obviously, but I've become increasingly disillusioned with that lately. We'll be about fifteen minutes away from Tombstone, which is a huge tourist attraction/Wild West reenactment spot (surprise, surprise), so I might be able to get something acting oriented. I could deal with a job where I had to wear a corset every day. Beyond that...I guess we'll see what happens.

I know we're going to miss Juneau. In a lot of ways, it's been like a nest - small, enclosed, safe, where we know pretty much everywhere to go and have friends and steady jobs. But it's also been incredibly confining, what with the high cost of living and plane tickets out being upwards of a grand for two people. Leaving the nest is a big step, but a necessary one and hopefully one that will make us happier in the long run.

...Yeah, I'm scared shitless. Wouldn't you be?

Comments

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

**HUG** It sounds like my plan to get you out of Alaska before winter is progressing nicely.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

We'll see if I'm equally depressed when I get early wrinkles from too much sun exposure. :P

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Nonsense. Phase Two is 'Getting them moved to California where it is always lovely'. You won't be there long enough to get sunburned. (:

[borismarkovich.livejournal.com]

Now you know how I felt moving to Alaska :D
Moving to Colorado wasn't nearly as scary, despite me not having a job when I left. Moving to Arizona was...easy.

But I'm really glad you guys are coming down. I knew this would be a huge opportunity for Brian, because he likes to tinker and learn as much as I do, and people like that *always* do well in this industry (hell...I've almost doubled my paycheck since I left Alaska and with one more cert, I might be tripling it). I am seriously excited. It's great having friends to go do stuff with. I missed it, and am looking forward to having you guys down here.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, having you down there is a big help in terms of keeping the jitters down. The hardest part of moving to any new place is that adjustment period where you miss all your friends and the familiarity of the old place but don't have anyone in the new place to talk to about it. So having a good friend there already is a major plus. (And after all, fair is fair. :)

I think you're right about it being a great opportunity for Brian. I think it'll be a good opportunity for me, too, if only to get my arse in gear and figure out what I'm doing and how I'm going to go about it.

Looking forward to seeing you too. :)

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Of Arizona? Hell, I'd be terrified.

Short of maybe Hawaii (and I'm not sure of that), there's not another takeoff/destination combo in the US that's more disparate, and while it's true that there are a ton of perks being in the continental 48, my personal compass is always pulled toward true north, and anything less just doesn't seem right. But that's probably just because I'm Frankenstein's monster. You'll probably love Arizona. (You're just excited about the corset potential, aren't you?) And like you said, Brian's job gives mobility and options, something most of us can't say, so hell yes, grab that brass ring and play the options. Yes, scary, but exciting and engaging the imagination in a fantastic way, too.

I'm only a tad envious. I've moved enough times in my life I could handle never doing it again. There is a life beyond cardboard boxes.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Hee. Yeah, it's pretty different, but I figure - I've moved (and adapted) to the frozen ends of the Earth before (you want to find Dr. Frankenstein, Barrow's where it's at), so I can probably deal with some heat for a change. It also helps that Sierra Vista is less awful than Phoenix - daytime highs in the summer tend to be 90 or so, which with the lack of humidity isn't too bad. (Which isn't to say we're going to take an apartment without air conditioning. :P)

Moving's not anybody's favorite thing to do, but this has been a long time coming. It's nice to feel like we're actually making some progress towards our goals, you know?

[alexmegami]

Wow, I think that sounds amazingly awesome. I totally understand the terror, but yeah, it sounds fantastic :D Clearly that energy in the universe thing is working out for you, so start demanding that acting job now ;)

*loves* Congrats!

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks. :) So will you come stay with us for a couple of weeks so we can fatten you up, now?

[tygenco-x.livejournal.com]

Alright, email away. Anything I can't answer right off the bat, Lief can answer for me since he lives in Sierra Vista proper, and I'm technically 3 hours north.
In the way of jobs, well, landing civilian positions in the military offices isn't a bad thing to look for, because they're always in need of a good person at that first desk you see when you walk into an office. Yes, yes, yes try for a job at Tombstone, but be aware of the heat before you do--they are, to my knowledge listed in the register of Historic Places, so it's well kept and all.
Either way, go ahead and send any questions you have.
And really, scared as you are, it's still quite the adventure. Grats to you both :)

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

My biggest question is more of a social-psych one - what's the zeitgeist like down there? What are the big issues on people's minds, what do they care about? I'm figuring immigration's probably a much bigger issue, given that it's right on the border, and environmental conservation a less hotly debated one (although I could be wrong). Are the people laid-back, or more driven? Clean-cut or counterculture? That kind of thing.

[borismarkovich.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I've yet to hear anyone talk about the environment here. The desert seems to have less appeal than...ohhh, crystal mountain lakes in Alaska. Or even leech infested pools of venomous swill in Alaska. It's an army town, and most people tend more to the conservative side of the fence, but it seems to be more middle conservative than anything else (Realistically, most people tend to avoid politics around here altogether). But yeah. Immigration is a hot button topic here.

[joyfulleigh.livejournal.com]

You'll find a little of everything. Sierra Vista is smaller than Tucson, where I'm from, and a bit more conservative from what I understand. There are lots of ranchers that want the government to leave them alone. And yes, immigration is a huge issue, as is immigration-related crime and drug-trafficking in particular. Environment-wise, water conservation is an issue. You'll find living in the desert is like no other place on Earth. I think most people either love it or hate it. I hope you'll get out of Sierra Vista as often as you can and come up to Tucson. Tucson is really just a large college town so you have plenty of thinking folks, cultural events, college sports, restaurants, shopping, whathaveyou.

If you don't yet speak Spanish you should learn. You'll find it helpful.

When do you move?
I'm so excited for you!

L.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Hey, neat! I didn't know you were from Tucson. From what I've read it does seem like a nifty place.

We're aiming for the end of October to move. I'm disappointed 'cos it means I have to drop out of the production of The Mikado I've been rehearsing for, and of course we're going to miss our friends here, but I can't say I'm sorry to be going. :)

I'd kind of figured water conservation would be an issue. I haven't lived in the desert before, but I've lived in the frozen North (which has more in common with a desert than you might think). It'll be interesting to see what the similarities and differences are.

I'll keep that in mind about Spanish. It's something I've been thinking I should do for a while now.

[joyfulleigh.livejournal.com]

As soon as you get there, go to the Desert Museum and memorize all of the flora and fauna. You'll need to get up to speed on the landscape, stat, because when people come visit you they'll point to things and go "what the hell is THAT???" and you'll need to have an answer.

Also, in the summer, shake out your shoes before you put them on. Scorpions. Ditto for comforters and sleeping bags and anything that's been hidden in a closet for a few months.

About snakes: Red touch black, him friend of Jack. Red touch yellow, him deadly fellow. And anything that rattles? Also a deadly fellow.

And javelinas aren't pigs. They are peccaries.

Wheee, I'm so excited for you!
L.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I kind of like Brian's plan: say in a knowledgeable voice, "Oh, that's a reticulating spline. It's related to the ham-hocked jarvis, but you can see the differences in the patterning on the toes and tail." And perhaps go on in this vein for a few minutes until people got sick of it and stopped asking questions. :)

Good advice on poisonous critters, though. I'll try to remember...

[jamesd.livejournal.com]

Little known fact: I played mandolin accompaniment to several school productions of The Mikado. However, I stopped playing at the start of my teens, before I'd discovered the joys of female mandolin players, me being the only male player...

[my-aerie.livejournal.com]

...Arizona? Uhm, okay...


Sounds like an awesome opportunity...but, Arizona? 0.o I hope you can enjoy the heat...I'd die. In, like, .2875 seconds. :P

(massive congrats to Brian--and to you both for being able to escape here)

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Actually, Sierra Vista doesn't seem to be much worse than Fairbanks in the summer. It'll be an adjustment, but we'll manage.

Don't congratulate us yet - it seems like moving out of Alaska is only the first step in escaping. The second step comes after a year or two, when it seems like a very large percentage of folk move back. :P

[likable-lemur.livejournal.com]

The heat actually shouldn't be too much of a problem - well, for me, anyway. My mum used to take the whole family down to Eastern Washington every summer, and once you've spent a few years broiling in the 105-degree desert sun, you sort of get used to it.

It's kind of like riding a bike...with weather.

Er, or something. I haven't had enough coffee yet.

[my-aerie.livejournal.com]

I donno man, I used to go to Texas every other year during the peak of "ZOMG HOT SUMMER"...anything over 80 still makes my tummy all sick from the heat. Anything over 90 and I feel too sick to move. I adjust--give me three days of 90 and I'll be able to function fine in it--but I still won't be happy. At all.

Glad the heat won't be a problem for at least one of you though!

Awwww shit...

[onionhead.livejournal.com]

...I mean, I'm happy for you guys. Yeah, that's what I meant. I'll miss the rare occasions I get to see you both.

Re: Awwww shit...

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Awww. :) We should have dinner someplace before we all go. Just name the restaurant and we'll figure out a date!

[strand.livejournal.com]

Congrats!

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Hopefully it'll be a little easier to get to PAX next year. :)

[gracewanderer.livejournal.com]

You must be moving to Sierra Vista, and your husband is going to be a DOD contractor doing something relating to computers, unmanned flying things or intelligence.

I'm at Ft. Huachuca right now :) I think you might be surprised at how pretty it is here. I was. It does get hot during the day, but only if you're in direct sunlight for a little while (more than 20 seconds... >.>) and there's almost always a good breeze. There are a lot of things to do in the area, and if you can get access to things on post (you should if your husband works here) they usually have fun things going on. Also if you like hiking and/or birds, there's a lot to do in that area as well.

On the flip side, if you plan to go hiking, you should either buy and know how to use a pistol or bring someone who has one and knows how to use it. We are about ten miles from the Mexico border here and it is not uncommon for "illegals" to attack people they come across for whatever reason. (Dead bodies can't really explain why they got attacked.)

So umm. *cough* don't be scared! It's great! Really.

When are you going to be getting here?

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

*laughs* See, and here I was all amazed at your psychic powers, until your second paragraph. :D We're aiming to be there at the end of October. Brian's going to be working in Ft. Huachuca, maybe you'll run into each other. (Or maybe it's a much bigger place than I'm imagining...my experience with military bases is pretty limited.)

[gracewanderer.livejournal.com]

If he's working with UAVs at all then there's a good chance we will. Of course, we don't need to leave it to chance =)

In response to your comment on my post - I'll be here until the middle of November.

[one-bat.livejournal.com]

From my limited understanding of US geography, can someone say "polar opposites"? Wow, big step. I am sure you will love it tho. I went thru something akin to this moving from a state capital with 3 million people to a remote indigenous community of 300 people hundreds of miles from any other civilization. Look back fondly now, but temember being terribly uncertain at the time. Go live it up.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Hee! I moved from Anchorage (state capital with a quarter-million people) to Barrow (also an indigenous community, surprisingly bustling at 4500, located quite literally at the ends of the earth) back when I was 17, so it's not quite like I've never done this before. Which doesn't make it that much less nerve-wracking. Ulp.

I'm sure it'll be awesome, though. And even if not, it'll be a learning experience. And that's all we can ask in the end, really...

[jamesd.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! My relocation some years ago has worked out very well for both quality of life and income. I'm far happier now than I was just before my move.

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

Congraturation! A winner is you!

Hmm...Arizona is somewhere I can visit without too much trouble...

[decibel45.livejournal.com]

You trying to work through the states alphabetically? Otherwise I can't think of a much bigger change... ;P