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pharmboy30

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Sorry for the stupid thread, but my girlfriend and I (both hospital staff pharmacists) are sick of living in Arizona. I have only lived in the Midwest and Arizona, and she has only lived in Arizona. Neither of us know anything about the northwest, south, or eastern US.

We have been throwing out names of possiblities to move - Portland, Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City, Nashville, etc. but doesn't necessarily have to be a large city. Not real interested in California or New York for some reason.

ANyone know anything about those areas? Anyone love where they live? Good opportunities for pharmacists?

ANy information is welcome and appreciated. Thanks.
 
Of those listed, Austin, San Antonio, and Nashville are good bets, IMO.

Check out Raleigh, NC, Pittsburgh, PA, Charleston, SC, too.

Personally, I"m torn between Morgantown, WV, Pittsburgh, PA, and Austin, TX as for where I'll wind up.

If you want a good resource, check out the forums on city-data.com.
 
In part this depends on what your looking for. What kind of weather you like and what kinds of activities you are looking for. I'll give you my recommendation after you let me know.
 
My vote is for Philadelphia. It is the smallest big city in the country. You don't have to live in the city.

  • There are a zillion hospitals, not that many but a lot.
  • There are 4 or 5 medical schools.
  • Favorable cost of living.
  • 90 minutes from NYC
  • 3 hrs from DC
  • 1.5 hrs from the Jersey shore (Ocean)
  • 2.5 hours from the Poconos (Skiing)
  • Some of the best restaurants in the country
  • Great sports town
  • Unbelievable Museums
 
Tuck said:
In part this depends on what your looking for. What kind of weather you like and what kinds of activities you are looking for. I'll give you my recommendation after you let me know.
Click to expand...

Hike and bike occasionally, but it's too hot in AZ.
We like going out to eat, concerts. I like football and baseball, she could care less. Place with dog parks would be nice; not a long commute to work.

We both mentioned Vegas and Denver area as well, but not sure.

I like sunny, some snow is tolerable, but not alot. I've lived in eastern Iowa and Omaha area most of my life. Omaha is always an option, but the job market for pharmacists is tight with UNMC and Creighton in the area.

I really appreciate the responses.
 
I've lived in Pittsburgh, PA for about 15 years and I love it here. Also, it was recently voted America's "Most Livable City." The city is extremely accessible from the 'burbs and there is a lot to do here. Great restaurants, awesome views of the city, 3 rivers, Steelers, etc. Also, UPMC is one of the top hospital systems in the nation (huge) and there are also job opportunities in West Penn Allegheny Health system. It does get a little cold in the winter, though.

We do have two pharmacy schools in the city (Pitt and Duquesne), so salaries for Pharmacists may be a little depressed due to large supply. But the cost of living is low. Hope that helps!
 
PittRXStudent said:
We do have two pharmacy schools in the city (Pitt and Duquesne), so salaries for Pharmacists may be a little depressed due to large supply. But the cost of living is low. Hope that helps!
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I saw a flyer for $105k for work in West Westmoreland Co. in retail. Like, near N. Huntingdon and ****. And that's only a short drive from Dave & Buster's.....tempting...

Salaries actually aren't THAT bad. $85-105k is the norm from what I can tell. Sure, it's 2 years behind the times, but I can buy a huge, sweet house up in Plum, Irwin, or Penn Hills for under $250k. Or I could become one of those weirdos that lives out by Moon for a similarly cheap price. I think the airport makes them all ****ing crazy or something. Nonetheless, I'd probably fit in well there.

I'd like to live in Pittsburgh. It's basically Appalachians that happen to live in a city...and somehow have that Yinzer accent that is funnier and less comprehensible than my own. "N'at" as they say. The people are cool...that's really all I want. And a Dave & Busters.
 
I would go for Austin, granted I'm from there so I'm a little biased. The weather is almost always sunny, it never gets truly cold (maybe 35 in the winter at the coldest). The cost of living is low and there are tons of parks and things to do outside. There are also tons of opportunities for live music and traffic isn't as bad as most other large cities in Texas.
 
If you are considering Portland, consider Vancouver, WA. Oregon has no sales tax, but they do have a hefty income and property tax. WA has sales tax and a moderate property tax. Many people live in Vancouver and take the train into Portland or just live in Vancouver and only venture to Portland to shop and enjoy the city. There are some really nice homes in West Portland though.
 
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aww, I miss Tucson! There are lots of things about AZ I love.

I'm personally looking at the mid-atlantic area. Baltimore/Washington metro area, Charlotte, NC, Charleston, SC, etc. I like cities with character and I don't want too much snow. A professor was telling me about a critical care guru in michigan and I was like "eww. snow."

Austin and San Antonio are very cool cities and San Antonio real estate is reasonable. If I won the powerball I'd move to San Diego.
 
njac said:
aww, I miss Tucson! There are lots of things about AZ I love.

I'm personally looking at the mid-atlantic area. Baltimore/Washington metro area, Charlotte, NC, Charleston, SC, etc. I like cities with character and I don't want too much snow. A professor was telling me about a critical care guru in michigan and I was like "eww. snow."

Austin and San Antonio are very cool cities and San Antonio real estate is reasonable. If I won the powerball I'd move to San Diego.
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I'd like to learn more about NC and SC.
My girlfriend went to undergrad in Tuscon, she said she hated it....never been there myself.

I've been to Little Rock AK for one day, anyone know much about it?
Albequerque is nice, no?
 
pharmboy30 said:
I'd like to learn more about NC and SC.
My girlfriend went to undergrad in Tuscon, she said she hated it....never been there myself.

I've been to Little Rock AK for one day, anyone know much about it?
Albequerque is nice, no?
Click to expand...

My daughter has lived in NC for 3 years & loves it. She's a CA girl - grew up in N CA & went to school in San Diego. The summers are hot & sticky - but she & the finace went camping in the mountains (she's about 1 hour away). She did a family practice rotation in Wilmington on the ocean (about 2 hours away) and cooler - so nothing is very far. Not much snow - just ice. It gets cold enough to have the ice develop on the roads, but not much precipation. But - she's compensated & as a CA kid, doesn't mind it.

Stuff to do - normal city stuff, but there's lots of outdoor activites - biking, hiking, skiing, golfing (and golfing and golfing...).

Somehow....I think she might be staying - who knows????

Now - SC......did you see Miss SC & her answers on the Miss America pagent? I didn't - but I did see the news the next day & the Jay Leno jokes which keep coming. SC may be a great place...but really....! Do you want your kids to go to school there?

I did wonder though - its too hot to hike & bike in Phoenix, but you'd consider Vegas??? I've been to Vegas in Jan & July - one is just another intensity of hot from the other, IMO. But - its growing for sure & with lots of retirees. You could get a job there. I think there's lots of mail order houses in NV too.

Now, if you want NV - consider Reno. Higher in the mountains - college town, lots of outdoor stuff and just a stones throw from CA. CA pharmacies will pay you really, really big big bucks if you're CA licensed & will do relief work in Zephyr Cove (CA side) or South Lake Tahoe.

Have fun - the worlds your oyster - or some such saying.
 
wbrown said:
I would go for Austin, granted I'm from there so I'm a little biased. The weather is almost always sunny, it never gets truly cold (maybe 35 in the winter at the coldest). The cost of living is low and there are tons of parks and things to do outside. There are also tons of opportunities for live music and traffic isn't as bad as most other large cities in Texas.
Click to expand...

I also would Vote Austin or somewhere in Colorado, however, the part about the traffic is the most untrue thing I may have ever read (no offense, I just feel totally the opposite).

I love Austin, but it probably has the worst traffic and the least sense-making roads of any city I've been to in the US (except in Florida, they don't have frontage roads 😕)
anyway, I lived in Austin for a while, and if you like Winter, don't move to Texas, but it is a great city, lots to do, good economy, lots of job opps. and great areas surrounding it, so you don't have to be right in it, but can still enjoy the conveniences, places like Buda, Kyle, Taylor, Georgetown, etc.
 
pharmboy30 said:
I'd like to learn more about NC and SC.
My girlfriend went to undergrad in Tuscon, she said she hated it....never been there myself.

I've been to Little Rock AK for one day, anyone know much about it?
Albequerque is nice, no?
Click to expand...

I would avoid Little Rock (AR) unless you move to and stay in West Little Rock/Maumelle. My wife is from there, and it's kind of a rough place if you're not in the more affluent areas (which is obviously true of many places).
There are some things to do there, it's close to Memphis, it's hot and humid as Hell during the summer, and cold and icy in the winter. there are nice parts of town, and very bad parts, I think it's pleasant to see, but not my cup of tea.
 
pharmboy30 said:
I'd like to learn more about NC and SC.
My girlfriend went to undergrad in Tuscon, she said she hated it....never been there myself.

I've been to Little Rock AK for one day, anyone know much about it?
Albequerque is nice, no?
Click to expand...

phoenix people always hate tucson, just like most tucson people hate phoenix, it's just how arizona is.

I don't care for Albuquerque. Obviously plenty of other people like it, but if your GF didn't like Tucson, it's colder, browner, dirtier, and less to do here than Tucson. Although, you all bike and run and stuff, there is quite a bit of that.

I haven't been to Little Rock but I drove through northern Arkansas on I-40 this summer. Not only did it feel like the LONGEST. STATE. EVER. I also stopped to get gas somewhere and was scared out of my ever loving mind. I don't think I hit another place as sketchy (and stopped) my entire trip. I mean, I have some stories about grody gas station bathrooms (did you know in Blacksburg, VA you have to go to the counter and ask for the roll of TP, walk outside around back to the bathroom, do whatever, and return the TP inside? WTF?)

The big reasons I'm into NC/SC are academic medical centers and I ride horses - the creme de la creme of trainers for what I do are in Southern Pines and Aiken all winter. I'm tired of driving 8+ hours to a horse show. I want to drive no more than 3!
 
I lived in Arkansas for 8 years. In Maumelle...suburb of Little Rock. Little Rock is a great town and a wonderful place to raise a family. But hospital a pharmacist job in Little Rock is hard to come by. It's saturated. But rural cities in Arkansas are suffering from the shortage still.

Could I live there again? Probably not.

It's hot and humid during summer and cold and icy in winter.

No sports other than the Hogs whom I'm not crazy about. One of the worst fans out there.
 
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njac said:
phoenix people always hate tucson, just like most tucson people hate phoenix, it's just how arizona is.

I don't care for Albuquerque. Obviously plenty of other people like it, but if your GF didn't like Tucson, it's colder, browner, dirtier, and less to do here than Tucson. Although, you all bike and run and stuff, there is quite a bit of that.

I haven't been to Little Rock but I drove through northern Arkansas on I-40 this summer. Not only did it feel like the LONGEST. STATE. EVER. I also stopped to get gas somewhere and was scared out of my ever loving mind. I don't think I hit another place as sketchy (and stopped) my entire trip. I mean, I have some stories about grody gas station bathrooms (did you know in Blacksburg, VA you have to go to the counter and ask for the roll of TP, walk outside around back to the bathroom, do whatever, and return the TP inside? WTF?)

The big reasons I'm into NC/SC are academic medical centers and I ride horses - the creme de la creme of trainers for what I do are in Southern Pines and Aiken all winter. I'm tired of driving 8+ hours to a horse show. I want to drive no more than 3!
Click to expand...



ehhh...it's not too bad. The long stretch is the Memphis to Little Rock stretch...140miles...probably one of the longest 140miles. And if you were on I-40, you didn't see Little Rock. I-70 through Kansas is much worse than I-40 through Arkansas.
 
Hey Pharmboy,

Home is where you make it. You can find things to love or hate in every city in the world. It's your choice to decide if you will concentrate on what you enjoy rather than thinking about what you don't. There is no perfect place...

Then again, my home is perfect for my family and I.
 
Portland area is nice, but the income and property taxes can be prohibitive. Vancouver might be a better option. If you like to have a fair amount of sun, and lots of outdoor activities with a low cost of living then you might try spokane, WA. They do get some snow in the winter, but have something like 270 days of sun a year. If you have kids or are starting a family it is a great area since they have good schools, the housing costs are pretty low and you can get a pretty nice place on acreage within 10 minutes of downtown spokane. I looked into the area recently since it has a lot of the things I like and I am getting tired of the high income and property taxs in oregon. You might check out the san juan islands too, I hear they are pretty reasonable and a nice place to live.
 
njac said:
I haven't been to Little Rock but I drove through northern Arkansas on I-40 this summer.
Click to expand...

Not to be nitpicky, but I40 doesn't go through any of northern arkansas.

Actually, if you (not njac, the OP) are interested in Arkansas at all, check out North West Arkansas, the Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville area. It's beautiful, growing rapidly, has lots of things to do outdoors, but also has lots of amenities, and it getting more everyday (thank Wal-mart and Tyson for attracting higher end businesses $$$)

If you can put up with Razorback fans, you'll have it made. PLUS, good ole Branson is only 2 hours away (think Vegas if it was run by Ned Flanders :laugh:)
 
Remember when you choose a place to live, there are somethings to consider.

1. Healthcare. I want quick access to major healthcare facility with level I trauma center.
2. Major Airport. I need to be able to fly in and out quickly to everywhere in the US

Small towns usuall lack both of the above.

Quick access to healtchare is one of the most important criteria to consider for yourself and your family.
 
Jbuprepharm said:
Not to be nitpicky, but I40 doesn't go through any of northern arkansas.

Actually, if you (not njac, the OP) are interested in Arkansas at all, check out North West Arkansas, the Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville area. It's beautiful, growing rapidly, has lots of things to do outdoors, but also has lots of amenities, and it getting more everyday (thank Wal-mart and Tyson for attracting higher end businesses $$$)

If you can put up with Razorback fans, you'll have it made. PLUS, good ole Branson is only 2 hours away (think Vegas if it was run by Ned Flanders :laugh:)
Click to expand...


Why put up with torture?
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
Philly is nice if you can afford it...and don't mind traffic...

I know for a fact that a retail pharmacist in Montgomery Co. can get $130k starting out...which would defray costs nicely.
Click to expand...

$130k would be okay in Montgomery county (it's way more than I make), but I still think it would be hard to buy a single family home off of that salary. If you love living in townhomes or shoe boxes and sitting in traffic, then it might be for you. Plusses include lots of museums/other cultural events and a great school system for the kids.
 
Epic said:
Why put up with torture?
Click to expand...


I did my undergrad in NWA at John Brown U which is about 30 minutes west of Fayettenam, wearing my UT gear around always made for interesting conversation. But seriously, no one hates Texas like razorbacks, and I don't just mean the school, I mean the state.

In any case, the people are generally friendly when football isn't the topic of conversation
 
sdn1977 said:
I did wonder though - its too hot to hike & bike in Phoenix, but you'd consider Vegas??? I've been to Vegas in Jan & July - one is just another intensity of hot from the other, IMO. But - its growing for sure & with lots of retirees. You could get a job there. I think there's lots of mail order houses in NV too.
Click to expand...

we'd consider Vegas since there is alot of "indoor" activities. We end up driving there once a month or so to see a show or concert. Don't really gamble.
 
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it is close to many great things...beach, nyc, Dc, etc. It is home to big pharma (GSK, BMS, Merck) and smaller companies - Lannett, URL/Mutual, Hospira, Teva, Cardinal, Medimmune, etc. It has three good pharmacy schools - PCP, Temple and Jefferson. It has active nightlife, great arts, nice places to hangout and awesome neighborhoods to raise kids. There are also great hospitals to work at - Jefferson, H of Penn, Penn Hospital, Presbytarian, children's Hospital, VA, etc. Pharmacists here have the most respect as professionals than rest of the Pennsylvania. Also, there are several new pharmacy projects initiated by pharmacy schools and pharmacy activists in progress, e.g. a program for pharmacists' active role in adherence and pharma companies' participation and involvement is under way, based largely on the one in Asheville, NC. Also, the center city is small enough so you can live there and get to HUP or CHOP by riding a bike for 10 minutes.
 
whitewasheddesi said:
it is close to many great things...beach, nyc, Dc, etc. It is home to big pharma (GSK, BMS, Merck) and smaller companies - Lannett, URL/Mutual, Hospira, Teva, Cardinal, Medimmune, etc. It has three good pharmacy schools - PCP, Temple and Jefferson. It has active nightlife, great arts, nice places to hangout and awesome neighborhoods to raise kids. There are also great hospitals to work at - Jefferson, H of Penn, Penn Hospital, Presbytarian, children's Hospital, VA, etc. Pharmacists here have the most respect as professionals than rest of the Pennsylvania. Also, there are several new pharmacy projects initiated by pharmacy schools and pharmacy activists in progress, e.g. a program for pharmacists' active role in adherence and pharma companies' participation and involvement is under way, based largely on the one in Asheville, NC. Also, the center city is small enough so you can live there and get to HUP or CHOP by riding a bike for 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

So......do you like it there?
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
Or I could become one of those weirdos that lives out by Moon for a similarly cheap price. I think the airport makes them all ****ing crazy or something. Nonetheless, I'd probably fit in well there.
Click to expand...

I used to work in Moon at this bar called "The Hangar" (due to close proximity to the airport) while in High School and I can personally attest to the craziness of some of the residents there.

But yes, Pittsburgh is still a great city.
 
whitewasheddesi said:
and awesome neighborhoods to raise kids.

Also, the center city is small enough so you can live there and get to HUP or CHOP by riding a bike for 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

Are you sure you're not referring to the suburbs when talking about great neighborhoods in which to raise kids? My wife and I lived in S. Philly last year and are glad to be out of there. I grew up 12.5 miles from downtown LA (1.5mi from the city limits) so this opinion isn't coming from a rural background, but Philly wasn't too clean or safe for me to suggest it to anyone.

As for riding your bike in center city, I did that for the entire year from S. Philly to Hahnemann hosp., rain or shine (or snow), and agree b/c the downtown area isn't big at all. But seriously, seeing as how our 1st child was born in Penn Hospital 4 weeks before moving back to CA, we were so glad we weren't going to raise her in Philly.
 
haha, some money magazine site has the Omaha area in the top 10 (Papillion) and when I did a search with criteria, Bellevue, NE came up in the top 10, that's where lived before coming to AZ.

I think we're gonna vistit Austin soon, many pharmacy jobs there?
 
well there's a school there, but from what my friends in Austin tell me there isn't any shortage of jobs either.

Good luck in Austin, it's a great city
 
As soon as I get done with school in Tucson, AZ I am moving, I might even try to move back up to Phoenix for my 4th year, and just complete my rotations in the Phoenix area. I like Phoenix, but I think I want to get out of the state soon after I finish school too.
 
Jbuprepharm said:
well there's a school there, but from what my friends in Austin tell me there isn't any shortage of jobs either.

Good luck in Austin, it's a great city
Click to expand...

Austin is a great city. Too bad you gotta put up with obnoxious long horns.

Hey..new slogan for texas..

Book'em Horns...

:meanie:
 
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Yinzer town is quite pretty, I must admit...

wtaenight.jpg
 
Epic said:
Austin is a great city. Too bad you gotta put up with obnoxious long horns.

Hey..new slogan for texas..

Book'em Horns...

:meanie:
Click to expand...

Obviously you haven't seen Sargent Bilko, "an indictment is not a conviction"

regardless, that slogan was "new" about 3 months ago

now quit threadjacking
 
Jbuprepharm said:
Obviously you haven't seen Sargent Bilko, "an indictment is not a conviction"

regardless, that slogan was "new" about 3 months ago

now quit threadjacking
Click to expand...

Nah..that slogan was new in 2002.

BOOK'EM HORNS!!!

2002
Cedric Benson - drug charges.

2003
Selvin Young, was arrested in 2003 along with linebacker Aaron Harris - defensive tackle Larry Dibbles and cornerback Edorian McCullough for marijuana possession. Those charges were dropped due to inadmissible evidence.

2003
Cedric Benson - criminal trespassing.

12.14.04
Erik Hardeman felongy possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and misdemeanor marijuana possession.

12.10.05
Cedric Griffin investigated for assault charges; no charges formally filed by APD due to impending Rose Bowl.

12.19.05
The arrest of wide receiver Myron Hardy, charged with carrying a prohibited weapon.

05.19.06
Ramonce Taylor, felony possession of marijuana.

09.04.06
Tarell Brown, was arrested with Tyrell Gatewood and former Texas linebacker Aaron Harris with misdemeanor drug and weapon charges.

02.21.07
Ahmard Howard and Brandon Collins arrested for drug possession. Both passed a drug test, and appear to have been "victims" of the Wrong Place/Wrong Time thing.

6.01.07
Junior defensive end Henry Melton was arrested on a DWI charge June 1 after being pulled over in the Sixth Street entertainment district.

6.11.07
Robert Joseph, charged with misdemeanor burglary of a vehicle

07.28.07
Former Longhorn safety Robert Joseph, charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, a first-degree felony.

07.28.07
Sergio Kindle,charged with driving while intoxicated.

08.02.07
Andre Jones, charged with aggravated robbery (should be armed robbery).

09.13.07
Tyrell Gatewood, charged with misdemeanor possession.

09.17.07
James Henry, charged with obstruction or retaliation and tampering or fabricating physical evidence. Both offenses are third-degree felonies.
 
obsessed much?

but yeah, it honestly is pretty bad, especially in the last couple months, and I can't really think of any Horns fans who are not sick of it

but lets not pretend like these types of events are isolated to UT (either of them)

If you like, I could pop over to orangebloods and come back with a similar list for A&M or SC
 
Jbuprepharm said:
obsessed much?

but yeah, it honestly is pretty bad, especially in the last couple months, and I can't really think of any Horns fans who are not sick of it

but lets not pretend like these types of events are isolated to UT (either of them)

If you like, I could pop over to orangebloods and come back with a similar list for A&M or SC
Click to expand...


Ok... I would like the lists.
 
class is over, I will deliver this afternoon

at least for A&M, I don't know if anyone will have one for SC handy, but I'll try, just for you
 
Jbuprepharm said:
class is over, I will deliver this afternoon

at least for A&M, I don't know if anyone will have one for SC handy, but I'll try, just for you
Click to expand...

Nah...just messing around. Don't waste your time...
 
Jbuprepharm said:
alright, but think Weggie McKneal and Jorrie adams
Click to expand...

Jorrie and Reggie...our latest and only blue chippers we've had in years...

what wasted talents. We did the right thing. We kicked Jorrie off the team and then we paid off the right people to keep Reggie.

But nothing compares to Big Red and Bomar... of Zero U.
 
what hospitals or businesses would i look for for pharmacist jobs in Austin?
 
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