[TriLUG] Hello TriLUG

[Jon Carnes]

> Hi Haim,
>
> If you're looking here for a booming job market look elsewhere.  The
> triangle got hammered by Nortel, Cisco and the dotbomb layoffs.
> Charlotte seems to have a lot of activity and before September, New York
> seemed rather strong.  (I'm no expert this is based on what recruiters
> call me trying to get me to move wherever.)  Some areas of Virgina are
> agressively recruiting, but probably because they are in the middle of
> nowhere.
>
> That being said the lug here is really good.  If you're single though,
> the social seen won't really compare to South Beach ;-) .
>
> If you move here, I'd move to Chapel Hill if you rent.  If you buy, move
> to Durham county (houses in chapel hill cost too much).  Chapel Hill is
> where most of the arts are, and Durham is more family oriented (though
> there are good and bad parts of durham).
>
> Either way, welcome.
>
> -Andy

For the opposing POV, there is a lot of industry here and even in these days
there are still jobs, its just not as competitive as we have become used to.
The time to find a good job has grown from a few weeks to a few months, but
if you have the resources and patience (and qualifications) you will find
something you like.

Where you live depends on what you want to do.  I love Raleigh, but then I
also work in Raleigh.  If you plan on continuing your Education (or
teaching), then NCSU in Raleigh is awesome for technical degrees.  If you
are leaning more towards business then Durham/Carboro are for you.

There is always something happening around Raleigh - plays, concerts,
festivals, museums, and family outings.  If you are looking to meet the love
of your life, Chapel Hill and Durham are the place to be, but if you've
moved out of the bar scene, Raleigh and its suburbs are the place to be.

Housing values are still growing in this area, so if you can afford it,
buying a house is the way to go.  The best affordable housing is either
South Raleigh or South Durham, but some folks head out down 40 to Johnson
county.  Its a far piece out but I40 makes the commute bearable, and you can
find a decent place to live for under $100k.

Take care, and welcome to the area...

Jon