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I have just gone through interviews for a lateral job in Salt Lake City. This job has slightly better promotion potential and is extremely secure, much like my current position.

Basically it is a lateral professional move.

I am worried for several reasons:

1. I no longer practice or believe in Mormonism (in the sense of historical Book of Mormon, BY, all kinds of stuff, etc. Frankly, I do not know what I believe in...). so I am not sure how I would like being around a ton of Mormons. I grew up in the east, thus no Mormons.

2. Lack of diversity in terms of race/culture. Taking my kids from a diverse area may lead to a very insular view.

3. No other city to go to without flying or driving 7 or so hours, thus severe boredom.

4. A below average school system that is extremely overcrowded. I would be leaving the second best school district in arguably (statistically speaking) the best public schooling state in the nation.

5. Weirdness. Non-mormons and Mormons in utah are strange. I mean really strange. Utahns do not understand how strange they are because they have not really spread their wings, failing to launch. For instance, hit up a college sports message board after they finish playing Utah. Listen for all the comments about the weirdness to come in, this is not the typical reaction of posters speaking about opposing fans.

6. Weather, Utah has winter or cold weather for the vast majority of the year. Very depressing.


Things I like about Utah:

1. Cost of living is very little compared to where I live. I likely could have complete college savings for all kids after 8-10 years of living in Utah.

2. Inlaws (although I dislike more than half of them some are cool).

3. Less crime

4. Pretty outdoors, although I call this a wash because I like the beach and the beach is very far from Utah. Different strokes for different folks.

5. Knowing DCP and Wild Bill Shyrvrerererer are closer to me so I can feel and be a part of their thoughts developing in a metaphysical sense.

Not sure what to do? Would you move to Utah if given the chance?

The Salt Lake City area is no longer monolithic. Stick to that area and the Blue Meanies from Provo shall not prevail.

Since Blixa has gone the other direction (out of Utah), I think what she'd have to say might be spot on.

moksha wrote:The Salt Lake City area is no longer monolithic. Stick to that area and the Blue Meanies from Provo shall not prevail.

I am thinking the same thing. Stick around the city and not trail off into some area like daybreak, lehi, provo, etc.

sock puppet wrote:Since Blixa has gone the other direction (out of Utah), I think what she'd have to say might be spot on.

I am highly interested in what Blixa might offer. I would like to know why folks leave and why folks return.

sock puppet wrote:Since Blixa has gone the other direction (out of Utah), I think what she'd have to say might be spot on.

I can't wait to get back to Utah. I've lived too long away from my homeland.

I love it. And Salt Lake has a much more diverse population now than when I was growing up.

Blixa wrote:

sock puppet wrote:Since Blixa has gone the other direction (out of Utah), I think what she'd have to say might be spot on.

I can't wait to get back to Utah. I've lived too long away from my homeland.

I love it. And Salt Lake has a much more diverse population now than when I was growing up.

Blixa, I feel like I read on this very board that you live in a major east coast city, and of course I could be completely wrong. If so, will you miss all the things to do in these cities and the close proximity to other major cities? Do you think if I move a family to Utah that my kids will have any interest in sticking around during their young adult years? Do you enjoy cold weather because I generally do not? Do you think the public school system is generally safe from bullying, overcrowding, and subpar teachers?

These are questions I am thinking about.

Thanks

Salt Lake may not be the backwater you assume. We have homeless people and we kill each other just like in other cities. And very few cowboy boots.

Salt Lake City (including the east bench cities of S.L. county) and Park city are great places with many options for diverse culture, food, entertainment and city life like you find in many parts of the U.S. The weather is so wonderful May-Oct, but then the winters take you to hell and keep you there for months at a time. Actually, winters are relatively mild, it is more the gloomy inversions and overcast days that get to you.

Utah county is just like Salt Lake regarding nice people and outdoor options, but it absolutely blows in every other way imaginable (one positive: it is a very low crime area). Do NOT move to Utah county. It is very insular and homogenized in culture and group think that you might involuntarily harm yourself with a razor blade or some other sharp object within hours.

Ditto for northern Utah cities (Ogden, Layton, kaysville, Brigham City, etc etc.) Move there at your own peril. People talk up Ogden sometimes. Those people are morons.

Every LDS friend that I know that has moved back to Utah county from another part of the U.S. absolutely hates it and wishes to die.

Salt Lake has its quirks and has a bit of a cliquish attitude and some group think (mostly with younger folks who haven't yet ditched Mormonism for good and in suburban areas), but overall you can go about your business unencumbered without other's judgemental attitudes.

Before you move, you really ought to visit first. See if it is a place you might like. I think you will...if you stay in the safe zones of Salt Lake county and Park City.

lostindc wrote:I have just gone through interviews for a lateral job in Salt Lake City. This job has slightly better promotion potential and is extremely secure, much like my current position.

Basically it is a lateral professional move.

I am worried for several reasons:

1. I no longer practice or believe in Mormonism (in the sense of historical Book of Mormon, BY, all kinds of stuff, etc. Frankly, I do not know what I believe in...). so I am not sure how I would like being around a ton of Mormons. I grew up in the east, thus no Mormons.

2. Lack of diversity in terms of race/culture. Taking my kids from a diverse area may lead to a very insular view.

3. No other city to go to without flying or driving 7 or so hours, thus severe boredom.

4. A below average school system that is extremely overcrowded. I would be leaving the second best school district in arguably (statistically speaking) the best public schooling state in the nation.

5. Weirdness. Non-mormons and Mormons in utah are strange. I mean really strange. Utahns do not understand how strange they are because they have not really spread their wings, failing to launch. For instance, hit up a college sports message board after they finish playing Utah. Listen for all the comments about the weirdness to come in, this is not the typical reaction of posters speaking about opposing fans.

6. Weather, Utah has winter or cold weather for the vast majority of the year. Very depressing.


Things I like about Utah:

1. Cost of living is very little compared to where I live. I likely could have complete college savings for all kids after 8-10 years of living in Utah.

2. Inlaws (although I dislike more than half of them some are cool).

3. Less crime

4. Pretty outdoors, although I call this a wash because I like the beach and the beach is very far from Utah. Different strokes for different folks.

5. Knowing DCP and Wild Bill Shyrvrerererer are closer to me so I can feel and be a part of their thoughts developing in a metaphysical sense.

Not sure what to do? Would you move to Utah if given the chance?

I live in SLC. SLC is diverse, maybe not as much as NYC or SF, but it isn't Mayberry. A psych101 prof. I had lived in West Valley City, for the very reason of the diverse population. If you go that route, get advise on the neighborhoods to avoid.

SLC proper is a right and proper city, much more relaxed and less uptight than Utah Valley, by far. Utah Valley however, is the center of the developing tech industry in Utah.

I work in Park City. People move from all the country to live there, for the Great Outdoors. It is the least Mormon place in all of Utah. It has the affectionate moniker of The Republic of Park City. Stolen, no doubt, from the Conch Republic. My coworker is a big time surfer from CA. He snow surfs now, a.k.a. snowboards. It's a two hour flight to the west coast. Easy to do any time. He likes PC for the outdoors, no crime, a good place to raise his kids and he can go snowboarding during his lunch break. Lots of well to do people live in PC, the schools are over the top funded by donations from parents. Various private schools are starting to appear. Oh, and "the temple" in PC refers to Temple Har Shalom, a Reformed Jewish temple....also has a private school.

Winters in the SLC valley blow. The valley is smothered in a dense, no sunlight, smog for weeks, sometimes months, in the Dec. to Feb. timeframe. Get above it, in Park City where the air is clean, but the temperature is abut 10 degrees colder, year round. That is very nice in the summer, but in the winter....the ice doesn't melt. Ever. Every summer I think, I want to live in Park City, then every winter I think, I would never live in Park City.