lippy 918 #1 December 21, 2002 When I started at the job I have now, over a year ago, it blatently stated in my job offer that this was a training position, and I should expect to be transferred within 2 years. I wasn't too pumped on moving here, although I'm glad I did, cause I probably wouldn't have ever gone to my now-home-DZ if I wasn't living here, but I digress. 5 months after I started they fired the dumbass who was doing my job before, so now I'm the guy in our shop...Indefinitely. I want to get the F$%K out of town, and am considering some options. One of those options is a transfer to the company's Ft. Worth, Texas shop. I know there's at least a couple of Texans in here (Dave, Amber), and am wondering what it costs to live around there...You know, rent, food, taxes and guns. Everybody in Texas has a gun, right??? And the most important piece of info of all. What's the jumping scene like around the Ft. Worth area? I know nothing, and am going to see my bosses boss on Monday. I'd like to know a little about where I may be asking for a transfer to.I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moodyskydiver 0 #2 December 21, 2002 Well, I hope you like "warm" weather jk.I'm not sure just what to tell ya concerning the cost of living situation.There are alot of factors to take into consideration there.(hell I'm a college student,"cost of living" to me means how much Ramen I can afford.) As far as jumping goes,there are some good DZs in the DFW area.If you want a smaller 182 DZ theres Eagle Flight,which is a short trip from Ft. Worth.Dave and freaksister both did their student training there and I made my first tandem there.There are some great people to hang out with at EF. You can also come visit me at Skydive Dallas. The facilities are super nice and the staff is great!SD has a 182, Caravan and an Otter.Its about an hour-hour and 1/2 drive from Dallas. Theres also and a number of other nice DZs if you ever feel like taking a road trip around TX...Skydive Texas,Skydive Aggieland,Skydive Houston,Spaceland etc etc). None of this probably helped answer you questions, but here it is anyway.(sorry!)I'm sure Dave will add his input too. "...just an earthbound misfit, I." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IronMike 0 #3 December 21, 2002 What are your other choices? I grew up near Ft Worth and actually worked in Ft Worth for 3 years. It is hot as hell in the summer, cold as hell in the winter and they have plagues, and I mean plagues, of grasshopprs then crickets every year. They pile up when they die and stink to high heaven. There are lots of nice restaraunts, movie theaters and malls because that is the only thing to do. The traffic sucks, and there is no reason for it. There are no moutains or large bodies of water to contend with. The city planning sucks. They will build 10,000 houses off of an old farm road then take 10 years to realize it. (121) Friggin loop 820 is 4 lanes wide West of I35 and 2 lanes East of it! It would take you forever to get to Skydive Dallas. The cost of living is cheap but property taxes are high 3-4%. The people are nice and there are many more hot chicks there than in CA, believe it or not....Depending on the alternaives, Id lean against Ft Worth. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 December 21, 2002 Ft. Worth isn't quite as bad as IronMike made it seem, honestly I rather think its a nice area. I'd rather live north of the metroplex, like around Gunter, but that's just because I like it just a little more north, then south of the metroplex. Oh, Ft. Worth isn't right next to Dallas if you're thinking that, a lot of people actually think they're a stones throw away, its more like a 45 minute drive away. Texas doesn't have a state income tax, so that more then makes up for the property tax. Other then that, the cost of living is fairly low, especially if you live in one of the suburbs of Ft. Worth. Downtown Ft. Worth has some nice bars, not too much on the dance scene, but you can skip up to lower Greenville for that (although that'd be an hour-plus drive). As for DZs, as mentioned there is Eagle Flight which is a very unique 182 DZ, there's SD Dallas and SD Texas. SD Dallas has a happening FF scene and some damn good RW people too. SD Texas and SD Dallas are a decent drive from Ft. Worth though. If you move to that area, you might want to consider living on the north side of Ft. Worth, maybe even the north east side, near where 35E and 35W come back together, that'll give you a better spot to hit the rest of the Metroplex and you'll be hella closer to some turbine DZs.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #5 December 21, 2002 Expect to spend $500 for a decent gun. I recommend the S&W 640 5-shot 2-3/8" revolver for a beginner. First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #6 December 21, 2002 $500? For something nice you'll spend more then that. You can get a Ruger cheap, but why? Get a Kimber, they'll run over $700 but they're worth it. Seriously, though, Texas isn't as bad as a lot of liberals make it out to be when it comes to guns. Crime rates in Texas have dropped quite a bit since '95 and the area you're talking about moving to, is a nice area with a moderate (not scary) crime rate. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #7 December 21, 2002 Dave, my S&W 640 was $450 and was perfect for my small hands and complete lack of confidence and understanding at the time. It's simple to use, sturdy, easy to clean, and with .357s in it, completely effective for home defense. Now that I've got more experience I love my $700 Kimber 1911 Ultra-Carry, although some of its 90 year old design features are a bit user-hostile. I also love my $200 Taurus .22 semi-auto. It fits in a pocket and you can't beat that. You can spend $700 or $200 or $2000 and get something just right, depending on your needs. First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #8 December 21, 2002 Fort Worth is going to be a haul from Skydive Dallas, which is by far the best dropzone in the area. I'd guess around 2.5 hours from downtown Fort Worth. I love Texas, but Fort Worth isn't a place I'd recommend moving to. There's nothing wrong with it...it's just...I dunno. Something about it. It does have a world-class art district and some good restaurants, but those aren't going to fill all your time. The traffic is bad, but then, it's bad everywhere. Summers are hot...but I'm running around in shorts under a clear blue sky in the middle of December here in South Texas. Fort Worth is not too expensive, but it depends on your frame of reference. Check a cost-of-living calculator. Oh, and not all Texans have, or even like guns.Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 918 #9 December 21, 2002 Thanks for the info guys. It sounds like there's a few mixed opinions of the area here, but so far it's the only place I may have an option for that's jumpable year round. Otherwise, I can keep looking for work back east, but their season there is even shorter than it is here.I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #10 December 21, 2002 What are all your options? Some seasons might surprize you...Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #11 December 21, 2002 Check out the city reports available from www.homefair.com. They ask for addy/ph# stuff, I just put in fake info. The reports are very detailed, and provide an overall assessment of cost of living, population density, schools, avg housing etc. Good stuff.. So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #12 December 21, 2002 Quote You can spend $700 or $200 or $2000 and get something just right, depending on your needs. Yup. --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 918 #13 December 21, 2002 Not so much options as places I'll look for work if the Texas thing doesn't go through. Mainly the East Coast. And I grew up there, the season is short. On the plus side, a short season leaves more time to save for new gear in the off-seasonI got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #14 December 21, 2002 QuoteOn the plus side, a short season leaves more time to save for new gear in the off-season You know, that actually is sort of a backwards plus. My midwest friends jump their asses off all summer long, then pay off the credit cards in the winter. It doesn't seem to be all THAT bad.Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luna 0 #15 December 21, 2002 The East Coast stretches pretty far south, and depending on how well you take cold, pretty much Maryland/Virginia on south will jump year-round. I'm in Virginia and they scale down to a King Air at my DZ for the winter because there is a drop in business, but they still jump all year. I'm walking a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Click Here for more information! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 918 #16 December 21, 2002 Sorry, I should have specified East Coast of Canada. When I went home last May there hadn't been a load up yet I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #17 December 22, 2002 Quote ..it's the only place I may have an option for that's jumpable year round..... Au contrere mon frere...have you thought about Sunny Southern California? So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floormonkey 0 #18 December 22, 2002 Texas rocks, Ft. Worth sucks. Metroplex is muggy and has lots of pollution. Now if you could get down to the Austin area... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #19 December 22, 2002 Austin? That's for hippies and liberals! Ok, honestly, Austin is one of the few cities in Texas that I can't stand, it really is a much more liberal city when compaired to the rest of Texas. I even thought this long before I was an Aggie.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #20 December 22, 2002 AWWWW come on...your just saying that because they don't let Aggies in the Austin city limits "It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #21 December 22, 2002 Quote your just saying that because they don't let Aggies in the Austin city limits Yeah, apparently they don't let people who actually live with some sort of moral convicition and standards into Austin. That's probably why the capital and t.u. is there too... hehe--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #22 December 22, 2002 Quote Quote your just saying that because they don't let Aggies in the Austin city limits Yeah, apparently they don't let people who actually live with some sort of moral convicition and standards into Austin. That's probably why the capital and t.u. is there too... hehe Spoken like a typical Aggie "It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weid14 0 #23 December 22, 2002 Quote Texas rocks, Ft. Worth sucks. Metroplex is muggy and has lots of pollution. Now if you could get down to the Austin area... I thought the saying went.... Oklahoma is windy because kansas blows and Texas sucks.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #24 December 23, 2002 Narci - I just want to take this opportunity to apologize for anything bad I ever said about you. Even if it could in any way be misconstrued as bad, or slightly offensive. guns Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #25 December 23, 2002 Quote Narci - I just want to take this opportunity to apologize for anything bad I ever said about you. Even if it could in any way be misconstrued as bad, or slightly offensive. Who was it that said an armed society is a polite society? First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
