... and to SJ.com I mistakenly look for advice

[wheateater]

After almost 19 days logged in to this site, I should know better than to come here for life advice. But I'm feeling lucky!

Here's the situation - I'm 22 years old, graduated from Boomer Sooner U. earlier this year, miraculously convinced an employer I was worthy of a paycheck and am now living in Tulsa. My hot streak continued and now, after five months on the job, they're confused enough to promote me. The deal is, the new gig won't change no matter where I work, and they're giving me a few weeks to let them know what my choice is. The options are Tulsa, OKC, and Washington D.C.

The rundown:

Tulsa - Out. Period. My office here just isn't the environment I'm looking for.

OKC - As a Boomer Sooner alum, I have many friends working or going to school in the area. It would be a ton of fun to get to live the post-grad life with some of my best friends, and the cost of living is about as cheap as it gets.

DC - The positives are so obvious I won't bother to list them. Cons: Cost of living is easily twice Oklahoma, my friends and family are now a $500+ plane trip away.

I'm leaning toward D.C. for the aforementioned obvious reasons, but it's going to be a tough choice. Help me, SJ!

 

[outofplace]

Maybe you should list the obvious reasons, just so we know what is important to you. That might help.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Well, I thought Tulsa was quite lovely when I've been there a few times. Loved that park along the river.

Go to D.C. Find a cheap apartment (D.C. terms, not Oklahoma terms) near some good bars. I like the neighborhood near Wisconsin Ave, Northwest. Consider a suburb near a Metro stop. Bust your tail at work, spend your time off hitting on Georgetown or Gee Dub students. Soak in the museums. Spend a summer day lounging on the National Mall. Spend at least two years there.

 

[wheateater]

Well, shoot. I was banking on some east coast bias!

D.C. positives -- Allure of the nation's capital. The amenities of the big city - bars, restaurants, sports, museums, people. Rich history. Proximity to Baltimore/Philly/NYC. The Nationals.

My job is creative but for a political client, so I feel like being in D.C. can't help but serve to inspire a bit, too.

 

[imjustagirl]

I like DC plenty, and if I were young like you, it would be a helluva draw.

But as I'm getting older, I'm realizing the joy of low cost of living and having friends nearby. Also, the ease of seeing my family trumps everything else.

You're young. Do DC, as long as it's doable. Then, when you get old and crotchety like me, you can get back closer to the family and friends. Plus, think how awesome it will be to impress the hell out of all of them when they come visit and you know all the ins and outs.

Good luck, and congrats on the promotion.

 

[zebracoy]

What's a promotion?

 

[outofplace]

Well, shoot. I was banking on some east coast bias!

D.C. positives -- Allure of the nation's capital. The amenities of the big city - bars, restaurants, sports, museums, people. Rich history. Proximity to Baltimore/Philly/NYC. The Nationals.

My job is creative but for a political client, so I feel like being in D.C. can't help but serve to inspire a bit, too.

Oh, I understand what is attractive about DC. I just thought it would be helpful to see what you find attractive about it.

Personally, I'd stay close to home and enjoy the low cost of living and the proximity of family and friends. And I'd have done the same thing at your age. But I acted old and crotchety even when I was young.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Stop saying "Boomer Sooner" you sound like a moron.

Move to DC.

 

[Ace]

I vote D.C.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

Don't underestimate how homesick or left out you might feel when your buddies are calling you from Bricktown while celebrating a big OU win or the Thunder winning a playoff series. That said, you should probably give D.C. a try while you are young and have options.

I'm a Midwesterner living on the East Coast, and I'm generally happy. But it can be tough missing Christmas at home because you don't have the time or money to get back or when I know all my college roommate are getting together for the weekend and I'm going to be 1,200 miles away.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Move to DC. You should live in Anacostia and put your OU flag on your door. You will be very popular.

 

[BTExpress]

Ask yourself two questions:

1. If I go to DC, can I still save 15% of my income for retirement?

2. If I go to D.C. and save 15% for retirement, can I still LIVE there . . . as opposed to just existing there (or just existing in a more-affordable suburb many miles away).

If the answer to either question is no, then forget it.

DC will always be here. You have only once chance to start putting money away in your 20s so at some point you will have $1 million-plus in the bank and can live anywhere you want.

 

[dreunc1542]

Ask yourself two questions:

1. If I go to DC, can I still save 15% of my income for retirement?

2. If I go to D.C. and save 15% for retirement, can I still LIVE there . . . as opposed to just existing there (or just existing in a more-affordable suburb many miles away).

If the answer to either question is no, then forget it.

DC will always be here. You have only once chance to start putting money away in your 20s so at some point you will have $1 million-plus in the bank and can live anywhere you want.

The flip side is that you only get to be in your 20s, and live them to their fullest, once. I agree that it's not a good choice if the original poster would just be existing, and not really able to do anything. However, I don't make that much, live in a very expensive city, and yet I'm still able to put away some money (nothing close to 15%, but a little each month) and there is so much to do, and much of it is cheap or even free.

Also, I was lucky in that I was able to move to a big city but also be near a large group of friends and in the same apartment building as my sister.

 

[spnited]

Ask yourself two questions:

1. If I go to DC, can I still save 15% of my income for retirement?

2. If I go to D.C. and save 15% for retirement, can I still LIVE there . . . as opposed to just existing there (or just existing in a more-affordable suburb many miles away).

If the answer to either question is no, then forget it.

DC will always be here. You have only once chance to start putting money away in your 20s so at some point you will have $1 million-plus in the bank and can live anywhere you want.

Oh, yes, the most important thing in your 20s is to start putting away 15% of your income so you can live comfortably 35 years from now. :

 

[BTExpress]

Oh, yes, the most important thing in your 20s is to start putting away 15% of your income so you can live comfortably 35 years from now

It is. It really is.

You don't really deny yourself anything important . . . and the rewards are enormous.

You can save from age 22-32, and even if you do not save another dime, that money will almost always earn more than somebody who starts saving at 32 and continues until retirement. There are few no-brainer choices in life, but "save in your 20s" is just about the most obvious one out there.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

A possible factor in the money part of the equation: If you take D.C., you can live there without a car because the Metro is awesome. No car payment, no gas, no insurance. You'll pay for rides on the Metro, but it'll be cheaper than a car. All of which will offset some of the increased housing expense.

If the money is close to a zero-sum game, then take D.C., if for no other reason than to sample a different pace of life and see if it's for you. Plus, there's about to be a bunch of new-in-town people there, just like you.

 

[93Devil]

Go to DC.

Be sure to live very close to a Metro Stop. You might be able to leave the car in Okla.

I'm sure others know more about DC than I, but isn't Okla City a fun place?

 

[spnited]

Oh, yes, the most important thing in your 20s is to start putting away 15% of your income so you can live comfortably 35 years from now

It is. It really is.

You don't really deny yourself anything important . . . and the rewards are enormous.

You can save from age 22-32, and even if you do not save another dime, that money will almost always earn more than somebody who starts saving at 32 and continues until retirement. There are few no-brainer choices in life, but "save in your 20s" is just about the most obvious one out there.

Barely saved a nickel -- let alone 15% of my income -- in my 20s or most of my 30s for that matter. I enjoyed life, spent what I wanted (and the ex-wife could spend!) and at age 61 live comfortabkly within my means, still spend what I want, save more, have enough to think about retiring at 62 if I could bridge the health insurance gap.

Remember, BTE, you might not be alive to enjoy all that money you socked away. I'd rather enjoy it while I'm alive and young.

 

[YankeeFan]

Go to D.C. It's a great place too be young & stupid. It's a recession free city, and with all of the political websites and such, it's the one place in the country where journalism jobs are on the increase.

 

[bigpern23]

Go East, young man.

Everyone should leave home at some point, if only to learn to appreciate it more. Your family, friends and hometown will always be there. You never know if the opportunity to try a new city with a job in hand and nothing to tie you down will present itself again.