Hatrack River Forum: The Ketchups are moving to SoCal!

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Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

So*, Jeff has a good enough offer that it's official. We're moving to California! [Party]

(He may not take this offer, actually, if he gets a better one; he's waiting to hear back from one more potential employer.)

We've still got to find housing, and we've got to find a way to move (total costs will probably end up being somewhere in the $2,500 range), and we've got to pack, and all. But we're going to do it. And we'll even be able to scrape by on just Jeff's salary, which is a good thing.

We'll be in driving distance of all the shindas; I'll even be able to sneak over and spy on rivka while she washes her hair! (Just kidding, rivka. [Razz]

) I'll be near my family, and we'll actually have health insurance for the first time since 6 months after we were married! Jeff will be able to work a straight, 40-hour work week, and once we settle in, to go to school. There's plenty of room for promotion and raises, and we'll be able to pay off some of our debt and eventually improve our credit again instead of getting into more.

Thanks, Hatrack, for all your help, prayers, and good wishes. We love you! I'll miss the Jatraquera/os I've met out here, especially katharina, Coccinelle, Boon... You guys have kept me sane sometimes. And I'll try to make it out to visit as often as I can, and I'll still be on Hatrack. Now that we're actually moving, I'm realizing how many friends I've made and how many things out here I'll miss! Plus, I had a baby out here, and all our "family" memories-- pretty much everything after the honeymoon-- is out here, so I feel I've kind of put down roots. But I think we'll be happy, and be able to make a good life.

We'd appreciate your continues prayers, love, and good wishes. Also, please don't get offended if I'm snippy until the move is over; it's going to be a stressful month. I don't mean it, and apologize in advance. [Group Hug]

You are all the best!

[ June 29, 2005, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: ketchupqueen ]

Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :

Best days ever ahead of you!
[Party]

Posted by Mama Squirrel (Member # 4155) on :

Welcome (back) to CA!

Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :

*grins* Good...ahem...job! [Big Grin]

-Trevor

Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :

[Cry]

I'm happy for you, really I am.

I still feel like I've met a long lost sister and she's leaving.

Thrilled for your family, that you'll be doing better financially and all...but sad for me.

Carp, too sentimental.

Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :

Congrats on the job offer KQ!! [Smile]

Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :

[Party]

Hope the move is painless!

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

"They said 'California's the place you ought to be',so they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly"

"Hills, that is. Swimming pools, movie stars" [Cool]

(<--movie star)

Mazel Tov! [Party]

Shvester Esther

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :

I'm so happy for you two that it's worked out this well! Good luck with moving and all that that entails, and may your snippiness be light!

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :

[Smile]

I'm glad for you and your family kq.

Posted by Lucky4 (Member # 1420) on :

[Cool]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

[Party]

Posted by KetchupPrinceConsort (Member # 8047) on :

Thanks, everyone. I feel so much better actually having a solid job offer we can live off. I can finally get some sleep-- barring Emma waking me, that is. [Wink]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Oh, you think you get to sleep after news like this? [Wink]

Posted by Coccinelle (Member # 5832) on :

Congratulations for all of you! I know this is a greatly desired move, but we'll miss you here!

Yay! [Big Grin]

Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :

I must have missed it, what city are you moving to?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Well, that all depends on the housing we're able to find. But we're aiming for Tujunga/La Crescenta/Montrose/Glendale (north of Pasadena, for anyone unfamiliar with the area.)

Posted by Risuena (Member # 2924) on :

But I just met you all! 'Sokay, though cause I knew you were hoping for this. I'm glad everything is working out and good luck with the move (I don't envy you that - I hate the process of moving. Teleportation can't come too soon for me).

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

quote:
(I don't envy you that - I hate the process of moving. Teleportation can't come too soon for me).

Amen to that! We're going to have two garage sales, to get rid of as much as possible before we have to haul stuff halfway across the U.S.

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Congrats on the job Jeff, and I'm happy you guys are moving back to CA.

I suppose this means I'll have to cough up that Wenchcon commemorative shot glass for Emma now? [Angst]

Or was it a tea cup, kq?

quote:
Now that we're actually moving, I'm realizing how many friends I've made and how many things out here I'll miss!

Isn't that always the way? You only realize how good things are when they change.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Shot glass or miniature mug. And maybe you should wait until we move; one less thing, especially breakable thing, to pack is always good! And we can probably even send you the postage to cover that.

I'm getting better, though; I remembered to pick one up at the Tulsa Zoo on Monday. The nice thing about shot glasses as a collectable is that they're usually under $5 (Disneyland, of course, being the exception.)

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

That's what I meant, that after you moved I would ship you the glass or mug.

So you hope to move in July, or when?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

We're going to give our 30 days' notice and be out of our apartment by July 31. [Smile]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Hey! We can be moving buddies! [Big Grin]

Posted by Rember (Member # 8273) on :

Congrats, Ketchups! Hmmm, armed with this valuable info I'm wondering if I should spill the beans. Here's my favorite expression of the day, "A multiplicity of blessings to you!"

Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :

Congrats guys! best of luck out there...

Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :

Congratulations! Moving is a pain, and I can't imagine doing it with a toddler (the dog was bad enough), but I know people do. May your moving headaches be small ones.

Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :

This scepter'd isle,
this other Eden, demi paradise,
this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this...

Los Angeles.

Welcome to our fair city. [Smile]

A good way to apartment hunt is through a rental service called Westside Rental. It is a paid subscription service, but you can purchase someone else's subscription at a discount through Craigslist. Just go here and search for "westside rental."

Best of luck!

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

[Party]

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

Congratulations! I know this is what you wanted. [Smile]

Posted by Jay (Member # 5786) on :

Congratulations

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

quote:
Hmmm, armed with this valuable info I'm wondering if I should spill the beans.

You're welcome to, especially since I'm not posting over there any more.

Beren, thanks for the info; my dad had mentioned that, but the Craigslist info is very valuable help.

Thanks, everyone else, for the congratulations. Now, to find a place to live and a way to get there...

Posted by Rember (Member # 8273) on :

Hi, KQ, why? The tone has improved considerably of late, don't you think? And I wasn't going to share your news, just a little ribbing to go along with my good wishes for you.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I'll e-mail you.

Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :

Posting over where?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

The forum I first met the person who posts as "Rember" here on.

Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :

Ah, how specifically vague.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Sorry, I don't feel like sharing with you right now.

Especially after your comments about men who don't serve a full-time mission. I married one, and I'm not taking it well.

Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :

Pfft. Get over it. I asked some serious questions and then started goofing around with JB. Nothing in there can be construed as an attack on you or your husband.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

You get over it. It's none of your business who I know or from where, and I am not in a good mood right now.

Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :

Eh.

Posted by Rember (Member # 8273) on :

Everything's comin' up roses. A dozen red ones for KQ.

Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :

How exciting! Good Luck!

((((ketchupqueen))))

Posted by johnsonweed (Member # 8114) on :

Good luck KQ, I hope you will be able to buy house someday. The prices there are OUTRAGEOUS! Perhaps you will be able to find something after the bubble bursts.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Maybe rivka and I will have to build a giant bubble-pricker.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Ok, but it has to wait until the place I-still-co-own-don't-ask sells.

Which it's in the process of doing. Maybe. Sort of.

Don't ask.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Well, it will take us time to construct this pricker, anyway. So you'll have time.

*doesn't ask*

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Awww, I'm sorry you're still stuck in that legal morass [Wall Bash]

, Rivka.

I'm not asking, I'm commiserating. [Cry]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Thanks. [Smile]

Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

[Hat]

Congratulations and best wishes for a painless move.

Posted by KetchupPrinceConsort (Member # 8047) on :

As it turns out, it will be less painful than I had originally thought...

The company has agreed to cut me a check for moving expenses. [Smile]

They will at least pay most (if not all) of the cost and get a tax write-off later!

w00t!

Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

[Cool]

That's very nice of them.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I am so excited! I just went through a ton of baby clothes finding ones I can part with for a garage sale (and cutting out a whole box worth of clothes from the move) and pricing them. [Big Grin]

Posted by Exploding Monkey (Member # 7612) on :

Me leaving Cali, KQ moving in.

Health care is EXPENSIVE here (not to mention everything else [Wink]

). I'm moving to Portland, Oregon, and to cover my family up there will be 1/3 of what it is here (not to mention everything else [Wink]

).

I am a health care provider and my employers here in So Cal can barely keep their business in the black. Their annual disability insurance premium last year went from $50K to $500K!!

The air quality here is awful. I live in the valley which gets the lion's share of the pollution, but the LA basin ain't no picnic either. Hope you like the color brown: Brown skies, brown trees, brown everything... [Big Grin]

All I can say is I hope you're making a boat-load of cash, 'cause that's the only way living the California lifestyle pays off IMHO.

Good luck either way. At least with me leaving and you coming in we are keeping the force in balance. [Big Grin]

Hope your move goes smooth.

Posted by johnsonweed (Member # 8114) on :

Yes Monkey, California is expensive. The folks there don't realize it for some reason, or they figure the weather makes it worth the expense. When I think that we used to have to budget to pay our license and registration for our cars each year...yikes. I remember paying over $400 bucks just for tags on my minivan! And insurance? fuggetabutit! I know Chicago is not el cheapo-land, but it is better than So. Cal.

I'm not really all doom and gloom, KC. Just hadn't thought about living there in quite a while.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

My whole family lives in CA. I love it there. Jeff will have full coverage at work, and our insurance will come directly out of his take-home pay (and it's not too much.) Plus I don't have to go to the doctor for little things; my dad's a doctor and my mom's a nurse.

I grew up with LA smog, but my biggest problem is going to be my allergies. They are much better since moving to a completely different ecosystem, but I'm sure they'll blow right up again once I'm out there. Oh, well, that's what Allavert's for...

And we don't intend to "live the California lifestyle"; we intend to live modestly and frugally in a way that allows us to pay off our debt and save money, which will eventually be possible there, and would not here. Cost of living is something like 4.6% higher in the community we're moving to compared to the one we're in now, but employers out here tend to pay 6.7% less here than there, so we'll be doing better out there!

Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :

Did your research, eh?

Well, congrats on the move. Now I just wait on mine to happen.

Posted by Exploding Monkey (Member # 7612) on :

That's cool KQ. Hope it's a good move for you.

Sometimes we need a change. Looks like you and I decided this is the time. [Wink]

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

Next Shinda at KQ's house. We'll call it a housewarming.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I already said that, Papa Moose...

We'll have one as soon as we're unpacked. [Big Grin]

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

Yes, but it doesn't count until a California resident says it.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Well, Jeff says I can't have one until I'm unpacked. [Frown]

So I guess that's my motivation to unpack. [Big Grin]