Starting over, need advice on new job / life

[alikair]

Been in the commercial HVAC business for over 20 years, last 12 self-employed.

I am certified to work on Trane centrifugals but haven’t seen one since I started my own small business. Also I’m no stranger to refrigeration.

I’ve lived in a beautiful, but extremely small town where the weather is always hot and the women (if you can find them) are fairly cold. House prices have just recently gone up so high I can’t afford even the cheapest termite infested house.

I don’t want to throw a dart on a world map and just move, but I really have no idea where to go.

Ok, so here’s the question.

Any of you fellow HVAC guys recommend a great town / job?

I’m a somewhat partial to Seattle and Miami because I have some friends there.

So come on folks, if you found paradise share the wealth!

[coolwhip]

I live in S.E. Mich. Sometimes the weather is not the greatist but there is alot of wealth around these parts and alot of HVAC companies. Good luck.

[alikair]

Thanks for the input Coolwhip, brrrrr it most be freezing over there now.

PS money is'nt my biggest concern, but no mater how friendly the town folk, if i cant afford a home its a pass. I also dont care for nightclubs either if that helps.

[air1]

Just don't move to Oregon.

[Linden Swanson]

One mans heavan is another mans hell! Kinda sounds like you're in the south now (just a guess). Do you have a preference on equipment type? What kind of weather do you hate? San Diego has a great climate but the cost of housing is high. I love Virginia if you don't mind the humidity.

Take a look at the Trane employment web site. Maybe you'll get some ideas.

[alikair]

Air1,
you say not to move to Oregon,how strange. Oregon
is voted best state to live. More $$ in your pocket and low crime rate. Plus the people who I met from there (tug boat crew) think it many times more easy to meet women there. what is there not to like but Oregon?

Linden Swanson,
I enjoy working on VAV rooftop package units, chillers, recip stuff. I dont know what its like to live in snow, only played in it twice in my life. Wouldnt mind getting away from year round hot weather. I once saw a job offer in the florida keys, the pay was low (8/hr) but one of the bennies was the free diving / boating with the crew.

Ever wonder what it would be like to work on the a/c for Disney World? oh and I worked at Trane for 7 years. Great company.

I have a friend who use to work for me. He now works in seatle making almost union pay but hates his job. likes seattle but he is now a full time filter / heat pump checker.

[ch47mech]

Well, forget most of CA. I live in Port Hueneme, just north of LA. Here the home are very high. This is from the paper today, "Ventura County's median sales price for existing single-family homes was $595,910 in November, up 25.5 percent from a year ago and 1.9 percent from October's $584,950 median".

I am ready for a move or better job myself!


Good luck

[Linden Swanson]

I daydream about being a tech at Disney World fairly often. It's gotta be a fun job.

So you prefer the heavy commercial. That will keep you close to the larger metro areas. Seattle is a nice area. People I've talked to lately claim work is slow, not a lot of jobs right now. You have to like rain and gray skies for Seattle. Ch47 is right about Cali. The price of housing here is much higher than where you are now and it doesn't matter where you are now. Jobs are real tight in Oregon. Always have been. Oregon is a very liberal kinda place. They hug trees and shoot republicans LOL. Aside from that Oregon is an inexpensive and nice place to live.

Have you given any thought to the Caymen Is. I don't have any first hand info. There's a poster with the handle Carnak that might be able to give you some info.

[stockfleth]

Southern oregon here, beautiful scenery, decent weather, nice people. houses start at 165 thou. for a cardboard shack, 250 thou. for a shack big enough for a family 300 for a decent home in a decent neighborhood. More hvac contractors than pizza joints and average wage is 15 an hour for experienced hard workers though 20 an hour can be found at a couple good companies, but obviously they dont have a high turnover rate. Now if you head up to portland area the average wage goes up to 20 an hour, cost of living is about the same, but it rains A LOT more and is much colder climate, but more to do and see.

[air1]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by alikair
[B]Air1,
you say not to move to Oregon,how strange. Oregon
is voted best state to live. More $$ in your pocket and low crime rate. Plus the people who I met from there (tug boat crew) think it many times more easy to meet women there. what is there not to like but Oregon?





We try to discourage people from moving here to maintain our quality of life. Republicans are especially discouraged.

[stockfleth]

maybe that is our problem. These republicans are wanting out of this highly taxed, badly schooled state.

[air1]

I'll help them pack.

[alikair]

stockfleth,
I'm glad to see there's a least one friendly person in Oregon : )
Any towns in particular?
And I havnt see many jobs out there.