Leaving the 73-87 scene for a bit.....

[chevychic]

Hey all,

It's been a long time. Well I'm leaving the 73-87 scene for a bit as I'm selling my truck and heading out to the midwest. I'm leaving Southern Oregon for Minnesota. I got a job in the twin cities area and am expanding my IT skills by doing so. I start Oct 1st!!

I'm planning on picking up a Blazer when I'm out there in the next year or so. Maybe the same model or I might try to pick up a decent 67 - 72 Blazer.

So lots of changes happening in my life right now but all good and all are super exciting. I'll miss my truck but I know I'll get back into it when I can. I'm going to need something to get me around during the winters. My Firebird convertible just isn't cut out for that!!

Take Care everyone and I'll check back in from time to time!!

[Ivan D.]

I have a suggestion - buy or rent a tow dolly, tow Firebird with truck. That's exactly what I'm planning on doing once I get my degree and head south - multi-axle trailer with electronic brakes, trailer on truck, Lincoln and motorcycle on trailer, all my stuff in truck and Lincoln, see y'all later

[bigblock73]

Well Heather, let me be the first to say "Welcome to Minnesota!" Whereabout will you be living, and if you want to share, where will you be working?

If you need any help with anything, you can give me a shout. I live in Coon Rapids, a suburb of Minneapolis.

[gchemist]

Good luck with your new job!!

I would sell the car before the truck!!

[72C203503ONTHETREE]

Might want to keep the truck, you wont find many trucks that old in the midwest due to severe rust issues from the overuse of salt in the winters there. Be lucky to find a decent truck more than 10 years old without rust and thats probably becuase it was either not driven in the winters or it was not originally from there.

[chevychic]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Well Heather, let me be the first to say "Welcome to Minnesota!" Whereabout will you be living, and if you want to share, where will you be working?

If you need any help with anything, you can give me a shout. I live in Coon Rapids, a suburb of Minneapolis.

Jeff: Thanks for the grats!! I'm working in Bloomington for a software company that develops Human Resource type software. Once everything is 100% solid and I've actually started, I'll feel more able to say who the company is They're located pretty close, if not just across the street from MOA.

I'm sourcing out an apartment or condo right now. A friend of a friend has a condo that's vacant in Chanhassen that I might be able to get into pretty cheap. If that falls through, I'm looking at somewhere in the Chanhassen/Excelsior/Eden Prairie area. What side of Mpls is Coon Rapids on?

I only know 1 person out there and have no family out there, so it's going to be a completely new beginning but I'm really excited about it. Southern Oregon is great if you want to retire, but there isn't much here for a small family and I want to be able to offer my 6 year old everything I can. Plus, there are an enormous amount of IT jobs out there...WOW!!!! I've had 2 offers for jobs and I still have highly interested companies calling me for interviews.

As for the truck, I was out there and noticed all the trucks riddled with rust and debated on driving the truck out, but I just can't afford what it will cost in gas and it's not running well under load. I need a new cam or have a burnt valve or something that I haven't had time to tear into yet. It's just not cost effective to bring it out. It's a gas guzzler as it is, add to that it not running well under load and towing a car out there and I might as well pay someone to buy it from me. Now with the responsibilities as a single mom, I just don't have time for a project like my truck has been so I'd like my next Chevy to be pretty square without much work needed on it. Yeah, I know...I'm cheating. My dad lives in TX part time and Alaska the rest of the time (quite a stretch, eh? )and is always driving back and forth between the two. I could have him pick me up a decent truck down south and haul it up for me in his car hauler when I'm ready. The possibilities are endless

[bigblock73]

Heather, CR is a northern suburb...about 20 min from downtown. The areas you are looking to live in are pretty expensive (if you are a home buyer), and the taxes are quite a bit higher than say the northern suburbs (2-3 times)...but then again you will be closer to work, etc..

Good luck with your move, and let me know if you need anything when you arrive, I will be glad to help.

PS - If the job you took doesn't work out for ya, let me know, my current employer has tons of IT related jobs their always posting.

[Blue82Chev]

Welcome to Minnesota from Monticello! My place of work is pretty dang close to yours...I work in Eagan, which is about 15 minutes east of where you are. I am an IT geek as well...

[78chev]

Coon Rapids, Noooooooooooooo!!! J/K I lived there for 5 years and then in Minneapolis for 6.
However, if you do find yourself in Coontown, stay away from Grumpys'.

[Ivan D.]

Originally Posted by chevychic

Now with the responsibilities as a single mom, I just don't have time for a project like my truck has been so I'd like my next Chevy to be pretty square without much work needed on it. Yeah, I know...I'm cheating.

No ma'am, you ain't cheating, you got a kid and that takes priority over everything - truck, Firebird, whatever. I'd say that's the best reason for getting rid of a nice truck like yers I've ever heard so far. Good luck with the move and the new job!

[chevychic]

Wow....quite a few board members from the twin cities area here....that's pretty cool.

I'm not going to be buying a home for at least a year. I'm keeping my home in Oregon and leasing it out for now in a lease with option deal. In the meantime, I'm going to be carrying half my mortgage out of pocket in addition to my own lease fees in MN. So although I'm making quite a bit more than I am here in Oregon, I'm taking on an extra chunk of $$ with my own lease and my mortgage. But in the end, it's going to be a good and worthwhile investment. But yeah those areas are a bit more expensive than the others I looked at but I like the communities out there and it's near work and people I know.

Ivan: Thanks for the kind words....my daughter definitely takes priority over everything I have.

Jeff: Thanks for the info. What company do you work for if you don't mind me asking?

Blue82: What's your specialty in IT? I'm currently the sole IS Coordinator, which for my company means: "jack of all trades, master of none". I run the servers (DNS,DHCP,Mail,IIS,etc), helpdesk, hardware and software support and administration, PBX, database development/design, report development/design, procurement,etc etc....it's an endless job. I'm looking foward to being able to narrow my responsibilities down so I can actually excel in one area and be part of a team.

My move date is Sept 21st and should land me in MN on the 23rd. I better go pack!! Times 'a wastin'!!!

[tkeduk8r]

Welcome to MN!!!! I am originally from the Minnetonka/Excelsior area, and as Jeff explained... the SW suburbs are about the most expensive in the region. There are a few smaller towns that are out a few miles on state highways that may provide a cheaper alternative so keep that in mind too... I got a chance to do some schooling at the UofM last fall and I do miss the cities... lots to do and if your not travelling around rush hour, most is pretty close... enjoy your time here, and there will always be new truck opportunites!!! There are also still alot of old school junkyards around that dont exist in other areas, but sometimes you have to brave the snow to pull parts!!! Take care..
--Mike