I need your advice, suggestions, etc.

What work would you be looking for?

What work would you be looking for?

The last 4.5 years I have been adminstrative help to a CPA firm. I am really open to anything that would be stable.

That was the hardest thing for me when I was living there. Finding a constant, steady job.

That was the hardest thing for me when I was living there. Finding a constant, steady job.

That is what I have heard. That is the main thing scaring me away.

Wow!! What a great idea. I can imagine that you might be a little apprehensive. But I'd say if you have nothing holding you back, I'd definately go for it. If you decide it was a wrong move after 1 year, you can always move back. Start subscribing to the local papers, even online subscriptions. Start Googling CPA firms or other administrative positions, just to see what's there. You might even change careers. Search Monster.com, too. You should take a couple of extended trips to look at the area in a different frrame of mind, not a vacation. If it was me and 2 little dogs, I'd do it in a heartbeat! But I'd be a little scared too. But there's nothing wrong with that!! (Sounds like you've been thinking about this and that it might be something you've always wanted to do!)
Good luck and keep us posted ~

I uprooted and moved here 10 years ago from Atlanta and have never regretted it! If this is something you really want then you can make it happen. I don't know about any admin positions for CPA firms but there are always positions available in the real estate firms..office manager, etc. Check the Walton Sun or the Daily News. Good luck!

You should be able to find an office manager position at a small company - CPA, law, real estate, developer, etc. - the pay may be lower at first but quality people will be paid what they're worth.

I subscribe to the Walton Sun online just to stay in touch with what's going on in the area. So, you may want to do that to get a sense of the local news and read the want ads to find contacts. Good Luck and keep your options open where you are in case you move to SoWal and decide to move back for some reason. Always good to keep options open...

That is what I have heard. That is the main thing scaring me away.

I think it's doable. I'm just super young and need to feel like I'm accelerating fast to a high position.

I didn't have patience...or savings.

If I remember correctly, classifieds may be viewed free of charge in the Walton Sun, and can include any range of area including Panama City and Destin. Kurt is correct about the quality person getting good pay with a little time, especially once you prove your worth. A good employee is hard to find and businesses fight for them. Just today, I received letters from two different businesses asking me to come work with them. I get them fairly often. If there are not good employees who are unemployed, employers look to steal them from other companies. I don't think my accountant is looking for anyone at the moment, but if you want, I will be glad to ask him if he knows of anyone looking. If you are looking to move at the beginning of the season, you are sure to have success in finding good employment. Good Luck and keep us posted.
EDIT:Also, rentals which allow dogs are difficult to find, but let me know when you start looking and I may be able to find you a connection. You should expect to pay a min of $1,000 per month.

Thanks for your replies everyone. I am sure I will have plenty of questions if this all works out for me!

Thanks for your replies everyone. I am sure I will have plenty of questions if this all works out for me!

I wish you luck!!!

Thanks for your replies everyone. I am sure I will have plenty of questions if this all works out for me!

Go for it! It is something I have talked about doing and am almost in a postion to make it happen. Let me know the good and the bad.

What Kurt said. In my former life, I was constantly looking for good, qualified help and I know that most other businesses including but not limited to banks, accountants, property managers, developers, etc. were in the same boat. There is so much more opportunity now than even 3 or 4 years ago. I can't imagine that you would ever look back and if you did, its easy to move back to Atlanta. I meet tons of people from Atlanta, Memphis, Dallas and other regional cities that are jealous that they do not live here but i don't think that I've ever met a local yearning for the city. Good luck.

We moved here with our school age children about a year and a half ago from Memphis and have NEVER looked back or regretted the move. We spend so much more time outside, just enjoying life.
Our friends and family come to visit us, and we do make the occasional obligatory trip there.
Housing is, of course a lot more expensive, and while jobs are plentiful, the wages might not be as high. That's offset in a large part due to a few things - 1st your home will (in all likelihood) be smaller so you won't need, and certainly won't buy as much stuff; 2nd - you'll be living in Paradise, so won't need to go on expensive vacations; 3rd - it's easy to make friends here because so many people are new, and 4th - you may find yourself like me, and wake up happy every day.

Feel free to PM me if you would like -

Sunshine

Sunshine...I see you are still spreading sunshine everywhere!!! You are indeed a happy and lucky gull!!!

We moved here with our school age children about a year and a half ago from Memphis and have NEVER looked back or regretted the move. We spend so much more time outside, just enjoying life.
Our friends and family come to visit us, and we do make the occasional obligatory trip there.
Housing is, of course a lot more expensive, and while jobs are plentiful, the wages might not be as high. That's offset in a large part due to a few things - 1st your home will (in all likelihood) be smaller so you won't need, and certainly won't buy as much stuff; 2nd - you'll be living in Paradise, so won't need to go on expensive vacations; 3rd - it's easy to make friends here because so many people are new, and 4th - you may find yourself like me, and wake up happy every day.

Feel free to PM me if you would like -

Sunshine

:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:

moving here was the smartest thing we ever did! we moved from ATL almost 3 years ago and had the same concerns that you do. i have been amazed at the opportunities that can come your way when you live in a community like this. there are more jobs out there than you may think, especially with valuable experience. you will also meet some pretty incredible folks. COME ON DOWN!!

Gosh, now I want to move, NOW, not in 4 yrs. when our son starts college!! Is there industry for a Motorola electrical engineer that designs cell phones? If there was more technical industry, we'd move in a heartbeat!!

Gosh, now I want to move, NOW, not in 4 yrs. when our son starts college!! Is there industry for a Motorola electrical engineer that designs cell phones? If there was more technical industry, we'd move in a heartbeat!!

Then it wouldn't be the beach. We deal in sand, not silicon.

you have the right idea - rent! that way if anything happens to it then it is the property owner's problem

best bet - be an assistant office manager to a real estate firm (don't sell it, just work in the office)

try American Realty of Northwest Florida, Inc - another friend of mine worked for them as a temp and said they were really nice

JohnRudy;

Kurt is correct that not much work for technical people in our beach area. However, sometimes their are job openings listed in the newspapers for technical engineers available in Fort Walton area. There are several companies there that do high tech contract work for the government. Also, go online and search for GSA government jobs openings at Eglin AFB and the other military bases. I have seen some local job openings listed there for the government. Good Luck. SouWal is a great place to live.

the hutch

JohnRudy;

Kurt is correct that not much work for technical people in our beach area. However, sometimes their are job openings listed in the newspapers for technical engineers available in Fort Walton area. There are several companies there that do high tech contract work for the government. Also, go online and search for GSA government jobs openings at Eglin AFB and the other military bases. I have seen some local job openings listed there for the government. Good Luck. SouWal is a great place to live.

the hutch

Thanks for the info. I pretty much knew the answer already. When we do decide to take the plunge, he'll have to "retire" from his technical career. And I don't think he'll be unhappy with that!

Tamara, everyone here knows I love SoWal, so it's a foregone conclusion that I'd say go for it!

If you have no attachments other than your pets, which you will bring with you , then what's to hold you back? When I was young and single I took my first job in Philadelphia, where I went to school. Then my brother called from Palo Alto California, saying he was lonely and would I come out there? So I did. When he decided to get his master's, I moved again to Boston to be near my family. Then I met my husband who dragged me down to Atlanta for ten years. I had the most incredible time with all my adventures and am so happy that I was willing to take the chances on parts of the country I was unfamiliar with. Believe me, when you get "tied down" with a spouse and a mortgage and kids and tuition, it's much, much harder to pack up and go. So go for it now! (Lucky you...SoWal..... )

Tamara, everyone here knows I love SoWal, so it's a foregone conclusion that I'd say go for it!

If you have no attachments other than your pets, which you will bring with you , then what's to hold you back? When I was young and single I took my first job in Philadelphia, where I went to school. Then my brother called from Palo Alto California, saying he was lonely and would I come out there? So I did. When he decided to get his master's, I moved again to Boston to be near my family. Then I met my husband who dragged me down to Atlanta for ten years. I had the most incredible time with all my adventures and am so happy that I was willing to take the chances on parts of the country I was unfamiliar with. Believe me, when you get "tied down" with a spouse and a mortgage and kids and tuition, it's much, much harder to pack up and go. So go for it now! (Lucky you...SoWal..... )

All of your encouragement is making me want to pack my bags! All of my family (small) is in Tennesee and my parents are in good health. I am not so sure I would get their support on this though. Mostly it would just be fear that would hold me back if I could find a job and a place for my and my dogs. I have always said I would retire to Sowal...but then I really just started to question why not now? I have no children....why not just go for it?