Flagstaff - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**TheJake** · 12-24-2004, 12:01 PM

Well dear friends I have a situation in front of me. I too have lost my job and now need to decide whether to stay with my parents and find another one or move up to Flagstaff. I dont have a car so that might be tricky but I do have my bike and I need to shed some pounds anyway. I called some locksmiths up in Flag and there are a couple that need another guy around, which would be bomb diggity since Flag is a college town i am thinking that locksmithing would be one of the few jobs that pays better than minimum wage.

So upsides to moving -

1. Back in the mountains.
2. Snow
3. No Parents.
4. living with best friend
5. Mountain Bike heaven.
6. Possibility of being sucked into taking Classes. (not sure if good or bad thing)

Downsides -
1. rent is 375 plus utilities
2. i dont positively have a job lined up.
3. dont have a car.
4. Going to have a hard time taking pictures for my coffee table book.

well thats all i can think of right now. thoughts?

**Sijuki** · 12-24-2004, 12:06 PM

It seems we are both at some sort of crossroads. I say go for it, give it a try. The worst that will happen is you have to crawl back to the nest bruised and beaten.

Best of luck getting a job man. Hopefully sometime early next year I will be posting to everyone in Central Time.

**TheJake** · 12-24-2004, 12:12 PM

I knew i could count on you for a positive reply sij!

you da man. Move to Chi-town it's hip. and eat lots of aurelios for me. I'll eat lots of um oh yea thats right arizona doesnt have any good food cause it blows. Oh well at least there is one big mountain.

**Sijuki** · 12-24-2004, 12:18 PM

I will find out sometime next month if I am moving to Chicago or not. I have a testing thing on the 4th and after that an interview on the 12th. I also have a job fair on the 8th. I need to decide if i should just stay in Chicago or if I should travel back and forth. I need to check out Amtrak see if they have some kind of deal for 3 RT's

**TheJake** · 12-24-2004, 12:21 PM

I need to decide by the first of the year.

**bellelass** · 12-24-2004, 12:56 PM

you're thinking of BIKING from phoenix to flag? bad idea.

**TheJake** · 12-24-2004, 01:25 PM

um no steph not biking from here to there. What I meant was I will have to bike instead of drive once in flagstaff. Though two of my housemates will have cars and I can more than likely con them into driving me places.

**worldwidemike** · 12-26-2004, 03:47 AM

Hey Jake...why not borrow the parental's car and drive up and lock down the locksmith job, first? Then, once you got it, find an apartment nearby you can bike to and from work, and your set.

And Sijuki, if you get a job in Chi-town, take the chance to finally get the Hell out of Detroit! The last thing you need is to eat into your income more with transportation expenses like that. Heck...marry one of Tecia's sisters and move in with Mom!!!

worldwidemike

**Sijuki** · 12-26-2004, 06:32 AM

I meant travel back and forth each day with these interviews and fairs. I think I might just stay in chicago for the 5 days. Looking at how much it would cost to stay.

**TheJake** · 12-26-2004, 08:39 AM

Yea thats what my parents said mike. BAH! I think I am going to end up moving there then finding a job. And unfortunately it wont be a locksmith job I dont think cause all the locksmiths are a bit too far to ride too from the house i am living in. See I did things backwards I commited to living in a house before I found a job So i kinda screwed myself but I know things always work out in the end so I am holding tight to that.

**The Monsignor** · 12-26-2004, 09:17 AM

As far as Arizona goes, Flag isn't all that bad. The town is pretty bicycle friendly and it is a college town. It's not all that huge, so other than some hills, you can get around fairly well.

The area is pretty scenic, once you get to know the place, but I'm not sure what your coffee table book is about so I can't help ya there.

Last, but not least, with no debts, you can make the rent on some pretty crappy jobs. That, to me, beats living with the folks any day.

(Snowbowl isn't all bad, but I still prefer Sunrise for skiing)

**TheJake** · 12-26-2004, 11:15 AM

are you a desert rat too monsignor?

**omisan** · 12-26-2004, 03:50 PM

I love Flagstaff... Maybe you can become one of the temporary residents at the Grand Canyon Hostel while you lock work down - everyone I met there was fantastic. And then there's Mogollon's in downtown for cheap-ass microbrew... God, that place was heaven! On top of all that, the place is f'in beautiful. I say go for it.

bahrainrocks · 12-26-2004, 04:40 PM

I would go just because of the snow and mountains. The no parents thing too, in a college town.... hmmmm... thats a pretty big plus too! I say go for it and enjoy the change!

**TheJake** · 12-26-2004, 08:12 PM

Ok I am moving up on wednesday. I am a little scared actually cause it will be the first time that I totally have to take care of myself. By that I mean work and pay for food and lodging and EVERYTHING! In brasil I relied heavy on my credit cards (which wasnt the best idea) And well my lil brother is giving me a hard time about not loving my family and always leaving and my parents are giving me a hard time about being unwise and irresponsible. GAR whats a guy to do!?!

I know... MOVE. So wednesday nite it is. Me and my bicycle tackling a city where there are more than likely no jobs to be found. Should be a crazy adventure.

**Sijuki** · 12-26-2004, 08:20 PM

"Today's the first day of the rest of my life
I'm gonna stop looking back and learn how to face my fears...
... go out on a ledge without any net
that's what I'm gonna be about."

Best of luck man, and remember if it gets bad enough McDonalds will at least give you free food when you work there.

Tell your lil bro that sometimes you just have to do things even though it seems crazy. But you aren't deserting your family. Tell your parents that now it the time to be irresponsible and unwise, you are young and have no responsibilities. So if you screw up worse thing is you have to come back home and lick your wounds. May flagstaff offer you more than the illusion of the grass being greener on the other side.

**bellelass** · 12-26-2004, 08:36 PM

Best of luck to you.. I'm doing the same thing, but I won't be within driving distance of home. Scary.

Just have a good time. Thats what its all about.

bahrainrocks · 12-26-2004, 09:14 PM

Yeah, I know what you mean by scared, I am hella nervous about going to Brazil, since I only know one person down there. Hopefully I won't drive her crazy!

But as for the living on your own thing, it may be hard at first, for a week or so, but the freedom to do whatever the hell you want to do is so worth it! And as for your parents, once your settled in, they will more than likely be proud of you and glad you left!

Mine were once they got rid of me!

**TheJake** · 12-26-2004, 09:25 PM

Yea see the deal with the parents is that I have left several times but never longer than 6 months. They dont have a problem with it they just think that I should be more financially secure before doing it again.

whatever

**bellelass** · 12-26-2004, 09:29 PM

did you go away or did you go away before? I've been away at school, and sure the freedom is great (not that my rents are particularly strict or oppressive, but hey...), but its still nice to call mom when I get sick or go home when I want, and besides it wasnt like I was living completely unassisted.

I hope everything goes alright with you Jake. It'll be grand.