Moving from Texas to Nooh Joysey

Considering taking a job in Rockaway, NJ that will transplant me from my hometown and all I've known - Houston, TX. I'm single with no kids or girlfriend, so there is nothing locking me down in Houston. The challenge of moving where I know nobody is one that, I believe, could be exciting and life altering. It should be made clear that the move will be about a 40% increase in salary, so it is a heavy decision that should be taken as such. The trouble is that I've never been more north than North Carolina!

I am looking for sound advice on what I can expect as far as:

1) weather: I know it gets fairly extreme, but how long are winters? Summer expectations? Coming from Houston, I only know 2 seasons: hot and hotter.

2) housing: More specifically, what is a good general area of where to begin searching? Say within 25-30 miles? 

3) cost of living: I know that I will be making adjustments that I'm not used to, which is fully taken into consideration when accounting for salary. A broad idea is all I'm looking for here.

4) entertainment, etc: If you could even call it a concern, it is obviously the smallest on the board. Just curious of what kind of trouble a 24yr old bachelor can get into.

Anybody who currently lives in or has lived in this area, please chime in with your opinion!

You're going to be working in Morris County, which is about 30-40 from NYC off of Route 80.  Entertainment will be the least of your issues b/c you have Morritown, Hoboken, and NYC all within reasonable driving distance.  Morris County is nice and you usually don't get your stereotypical "Jersey Shore" guidos in that part.  I'd like for housing in Morris County or sections of Passaic County, but I'm not sure if you're renting or buying property.  Sussex County would not be that bad of a commute.  The housing is cheap but it's very suburban.  You deal w/ lots of deer and black bears out in those parts. 

Weather may be an issue for you b/c most Southerners can't tolerate the winters months, but it's not as bad as the New England area.  The cost of living up here is expensive like the majority of places in the Northeast.  You pretty much pay extra for everything, but you also get paid more so it may be relative. 

GL with your decision.  I worked a town a couples miles west of Rockaway and the people are a lot nicer in those parts.  North, South, and West Jersey are like going to completely different states.  Just check out this map.  I live in the area of "Happy White Families" but work in the area of "Poor Minorities."

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/nj_man_puts_rednecks_hippies_a.html

 

 

Rockaway is a great area.  Far enough away from NYC but close enough if you want it.  You won't like the northern yankees at first, it's a totally different way of life up here for people, the pace is quicker.  It's not that they aren't friendly, but everybody minds their own business and is in their own little worlds.  You'll get used to it.

1)  weather - Snow is not that bad, you'll get used to driving in it.  ice is more of a problem and since nobody can drive on ice, you're even.  Gorgeous Fall foliage and hilly terrain, not flat land like you are used to around Southern Texas.  Rain and fog are two other weather conditions you'll be seeing more of in NJ.

2)  housing - A lot of options for any budget.  You can stay close to your business in Rockaway or just 30 minute drive and you are country living.

3)  cost of living - This will be your biggest shocker.  Not cheap.  If your salary is 40% more, then you can adapt after you get over the initial sticker shock of everything.

4)  entertainment - No problem.  Anything you want whenever you want it.  A 24 yr old bachelor will live like a king and I don't exaggerate.

Overall I would say go for it and don't look back. 

Oh and FYI, if you do decide to move here, you'll learn that no one from Jersey pronounces it "Joysey." 

GL buddy. 

jersey gets a bad rep. There are a lot of nice areas. NJ transit into NYC is easy also if you want to seriously party. I moved to Arizona without knowing anyone 2 years ago and its definitely been tough. I'm already planning my next move. San Diego, Chicago, or West Palm Beach are at the top of my list. Join some sports leagues, dating websites, etc. It's a lot easier meeting girls than guys imo. I feel like I'm in a scene out of I Love You Man sometimes. You out and meet a cool dude....you don't usually ask for his number. You party and part ways most of the time. It's hard leaving your best friends and making new meaningful friends. It takes a lot of time to build those kind of relationships. All of my co-workers are older and nerdy....went out with them a few times and it was painful. Hopefully, you have some cool co-workers or neighbors that you can get you started. Good luck...

learn the fist pump?

i got nothing

No one from New Jersey pronounces it like that. Only assholes that think they are doing a funny impression , which they arent

NJ is expensive

NJDevils, I am pretty sure he was just joking around man (like he said, he's never been there before)....

Im kidding but no one from NJ says it like that

NJ is an expensive place to live.Great place to live but you need some $

Winter sucks,NJ DMV requires car inspection,Insurance rates are high and NJ has state income taxes.Another cost of living issue.but you can walk in a 7-11/WAWA with a cup of coffee,newspaper folded and a bagel with cream cheese and the Indian teller has you rung up correctly before you drop the shit on the counter..nobody wastes time..

Florida takes ten minutes inand out of 7-11 sometimes..

good things to think about-

Monmouth Park and AC are at your disposal,just an hour or two drive down the Garden State Parkway..

And there is almost always a live sporting event going on in at the Meadowlands or in the City...Giants Jets..Nets Devils Rangers Knicks..

If you have nothing to lose go for it man!! at 24 it will be a great experience! Best wishes!

steady,

i live in nj and its really pretty nice. i live about 30 minutes from rockaway. anyway, i grew up in queens, moved to nj when i was about 13 and went away to west virgnia for college where i was friends with people from all over the country (ny, nj,pa,md,va,tx,ok,ar,ca, az,oh, prob more im forgetting. so i feel i know how different people are.

weather:  its not bad. you get all 4 seasons here, winter is cold, spring is wet then really nice, summer is hot and humid, fall is great.

housing by where you will be will be affordable. you could get a pretty nice 1br appartment for 800-1000 or so. and i would think that i would be nice and updated for that price in a housing complex

cost of living is not expensive. going out to eat is with my wife is usually around 50, a night at the bar might be like 60 (beers and shots).

entertainment: theres a lot to do: morristown, hoboken, nyc, ac. just gotta be careful, drinking and driving is no joke around here

as far as friends go, it will be tough. i went through it after college and am still going through it. i feel all my real friends are from wvu and have a hard time finding people to hang out with. i love you man....so true. but i think its cause i never really worked in an office where i coulda made friends, ive always been self employed.

move here and hit me up, i need some drinking/gambling friends haha  

NJ is great 

GL Bruh

DONT DO IT.

Hahaha.  I said the same thing.  My buddies and I were discussing this several months ago. 

Majority of us from North Jersey pronounce Newark as "Nork" , whereas people from DE pronounce it "New-arc". 

Steady, a small benefit of living here is that we don't have to pump our own gas, and it's one of the cheapest gas states in the nation. 

Slobbasauraus, I can assure you, Houston has incredibly cheap gas compared to most of the country. 

Thanks for all of the responses, gentlemen. From poking around online, it looks like Morris County/Morristown would be the ideal landing spot. All things considered, I'll be living comfortably with the new salary. At worst, it would be a learning experience.

gprix - I'll be in touch if/when the move happens.

 As far as the "Nooh Joysey" headline goes, I had to catch everybody's attention somehow right?

I agree with DickyR in post 15.    Don't do it.   Make a life for yourself where you grew up.   Don't even waste your time with that cesspool called New York / New Jersey.   Visit it if you want to.   You'll be a fish out of water up there and end up moving back to Texas.   

if this position opens new doors then do it.

 Are you Crazy???? Leave Heaven for Hell?????

 GL Kemosabe on your decision........

WHY????

New Jersey drivers seem vicious. Check out some of the videos on youtube, especially the red light runners.

My advice is to stay in Houston.

As a previous poster stated, you might be leaving heaven for hell.