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Posted by Melody on 4/29/05 9:31pm
Msg #34967

Should you relocate? Take a second look at your life.

Reading the thread addressed to part-time NSAs, I noticed that MANY notaries are working full time PLUS doing 2-10 signings a week.

Yikes! We Americans are such workaholics!

And so many of you have husbands and children. When do you see them?

I moved out of California a few years ago because I became tired of working 50-60 hours a week just to make a living. And vacation time is only 2 weeks a year plus the occasional Monday. Slave lifestyle, in my opinion.

If you are working 50+ hours a week just to make a living, you might want to reconsider where you choose to live.

There are lots of states in the US that do not have a horrendous cost of living. As an NSA, you have proven you are a maverick who can work in a non-traditional career. If you can figure out a different career wherein it doesn't matter where you work (such as an authoress who only needs an internet connection OR a medical transcriptionist who can find work just about anywhere due to the current shortage), then transplant your bum and get a life. I did!

If we all work ourselves to death, we won't get to retire before we die.

Reply by SusanB on 4/29/05 9:39pm
Msg #34968

A sound question, but if you have things that are keeping you where u are at (children and or grandkids) or you have no talents in to many fields you do what you have to until the right thing cames along

Reply by Melody on 4/29/05 10:00pm
Msg #34971

Children and grandchildren

Yes, I can see your argument about grandchildren keeping you in a location. You have no control over where they live. Working extra hours vs living far away and seeing them less = easy choice.

But if you have children, it is even more important to work less than 40 hours a week. They grow up so fast. Workaholics miss so much of their growing up. It would be terrific to find a work-at-home source of income.

Before anyone slams me -
Yes, I agree that families with school-age children should move in the summer so their schooling is not disrupted.

Retraining for a new career -
Medical transcription work takes around a year of training. That could be unworkable if you have little kids. But I know a few gals who make $20K+ a year selling Mary Kay or other cosmetics.

I am NOT bashing Mary Kay! If you can spend more time with your family by selling cosmetics, good for you!!!

Some good work-at-home websites for exploration:
www.BizyMoms.com
www.DrLaura.com Work at home Moms section. Hate the woman but this section is good.

Reply by Ernest_CT on 4/29/05 10:11pm
Msg #34973

Ahem. Speaking for the 19% of us who are male, ...

... I don't think selling Mary Kay (or Amway or ...) is going to be that successful for us.

A lot of us have kids that are grown and gone. It may be home ownership and family that's keeping us where we are. Also, there are a number of us formerly in fields that currently have a glut of applicants for every opening. (IT/MIS, for example.) Even though we may have years++ of training and experience, there are simply not enough openings in the fields of our expertise.

Reply by To Melody from ss notary on 4/30/05 10:12am
Msg #35027

Re: Children and grandchildren

Yes, Dr. Laura can be annoying, I torture myself daily in listing to her mean approach to others, and often can't believe the folks that call in. I'm tempted daily to send her a fax asking her to not be so mean to others. She has quite a following however and is very pro men and sons, attacks women often. Hence her family source, a son and husband only. She tends to be pro whatever her son and husband are doing. If she had been blessed with a daughter and had a successful/loving relationship with her mom she might just be less critical of females. After all, lets not forget the wild aspects of Dr. Laura's life when she was younger and that she quickly dismisses when it's convenient.

Reply by Alice/DC on 4/29/05 10:31pm
Msg #34978

Melody...that posting was really interesting, because my girlfriends and I often talk about relocating. I actually like it where I am (suburban DC area), but I must admit that it has been a struggle making a living here...and I am SINGLE with no kids. One of our girlfriends moved to Ohio (in which I'm actually from) and the other of our girlfriends just sold her home (with her husband) and they will be moving to Kentucky.

I really am trying to find ways to make more money and be able to enjoy my life. I work full time in the real estate field and work as an NSA part-time. I am really trying to get to a position where I work mainly for myself and be able to make good living for myself-in this area.

I have been looking into other work at home opportunities, so thank you for the websites. Your post was really thought provoking and right on time! Thanks.

Reply by ERNA_CA on 4/30/05 12:38am
Msg #34988

Re: Should you relocate?

I would relocate in a minute and I have done so before and I am going to do it again for all the reasons you mentioned. California is getting to be too expensive, and I don't want to work the rest of my life away, never have time to stop to enjoy or reflect. Might end up in Brazil next, my son made the choice to live there. He works all over the world but he can afford to take mounts off at a time, he could not do that if he lived here in California.

Reply by Nicole_NCali on 4/30/05 9:17am
Msg #35018

Re: Amen Sister

I have seriously considered moving to another state. I am ex military and I don't have such a deep attachment to California. I am originally from NY. I love being a NSA and I am looking into some other form of self-employment that is transferrable to another state. I have considered CT, this is where my mother in law resides and it would be great to have the children around their grandma. I have also considered N. Carolina but I have to visit to determine if I want to be a tarhill.

Reply by Claire/CA on 4/30/05 10:41am
Msg #35033

Re: Amen Sister

I would love to leave So Cal, but both sets of my kids' grandparents are here and my only brother, so that's that. My bro will move to Montana when his daughter is 18 (he's divorced), so I'll think about leaving then, probably. I grew up here, but more than housing costs (we bought ours a long time ago when prices were reasonable and now own a heck of a lot of equity) I can't stand the number of people who live here now. The freeways are always busy, and so are the side streets. Lines at grocery stores are ridiculous most of the time. On the plus side, our weather is heavenly, and I would have a hard time living somewhere that it's winter 6 months of the year, so mid-west and east are OUT. I am working on a new business that can go anywhere, and I like the NSA business, despite traffic woes.

Reply by ssnotary on 4/30/05 10:03am
Msg #35026

This is good advice, but most choose the lifestyle they are comfy with for a number of reasons, and prefer to remain in CA. May I suggest not all of CA is as fast paced as one may think, I have lived here for over 35 years, moved to the mountain resort area of Lake Arrowhead four years ago. The mountain retreat was very affordable four years ago and has only doubled in value since then. I view the lake from every window in my home. Life once home couldn't be more peaceful, in fact I seldom leave my mountain retreat once home or on a weekend. I have four empty forest lots next to me, wildlife surrounds me, and a trip to the market is 2 miles away with no lines. So there is indeed other options in CA.

Reply by Mysti_FL on 4/30/05 11:58am
Msg #35045

Sounds like heaven!

I've visited (briefly) the state from top to bottom and love California, specially the middle to upper portion of the state. Lucky you!

I live in the ever growing Metropolitan Miami which is fast becoming another New York, if you agree with folks who know. What I wouldn't do to live in the cool, comfortable climate of CA AND in the heart of trees!

Sigh!

Mysti

Reply by To Mysti from ssnotary on 4/30/05 1:46pm
Msg #35097

I know Florida well, I lived there before coming to CA 35 years, the rest of my family remain in FL, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale.
I think everyday how fortunate I am in living where I live, we made a good choice at the right time. It was simply meant to be. Don't get me wrong every location has flaws but this is indeed pretty close to heaven. We did however live most of the CA years in the city and close to freeways, long lines at the market and well you know the city life.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 4/30/05 7:52pm
Msg #35163

Melody Hi!!
I agree there's something Very Wrong when a person can't allow their body and mind to REST at least one day a week. And put their familes First! Just think what life would be without them. Money will never replace them. I work full-time and only do about 5 or 6 signings a week, that's by choice. It's a real blessing in paying the bills. You need to draw a line in the sand and know when That's enough. You can only wear one outfit at a time-drive one car at a time. Perhaps Stop Spend so much darn money on things we REALLY don't need would help? But I'm just simple country folk. I have to add I find some of Numbers of signings on this forum just a little hard to believe, but there again I go home to my little Clan at night.
Best to You Teddog

Reply by BrendaTX on 4/30/05 8:00pm
Msg #35164

After Gary died, I relocated to make it affordable to send my son to school at TAMU. It's been great for me. I have opportunities just a few hours away from my roots that I did not have five years ago.

My son will eventually get finished with grad school and move...surprisingly enough to him, I recently posed the idea that I might move to Houston in the future...just something I have thought about. Shocked him, but it is more realistic to think outside of the box than to think within confines that may inhibit growth or success.

I won't be moving anytime soon, or maybe forever...but one should not confine themselves to thinking only in the same little path every time...I did not come up with that, Einstein did.