Hi all

I'm a newly-unemployed software developer with a passion for whitewater
kayaking. I live in Seattle which is near all kinds of great whitewater
kayaking, but the software job market here is brutal.

So my question to all you folks out there is this:

Where is software development going on near whitewater kayaking? I'm
willing to move anywhere in the US, I'm hoping to live near lots of rivers,
near skiing too would be even better.

Suzie - who would happily write software on the river if she could...

"Ms. Whitewater" wrote in message ...

Where is software development going on near whitewater kayaking? I'm
willing to move anywhere in the US, I'm hoping to live near lots of rivers,
near skiing too would be even better.

Suzie - who would happily write software on the river if she could...

I am a software developer in Reno Nevada. It has a lot to recommend
it. The Truckee River runs right through town - I can paddle on my
lunch hour. They are developing a permanent 21 mile long "Whitewater
Park" here. Construction will begin next month. There are probably a
dozen good whitewater runs within a two-hour drive. We have an active
whitewater club. The Mt. Rose Ski area is a 20 minute drive from my
home. There are many other ski areas just slightly farther.

The unemployment rate is just over 4% and there are many high-tech
companies relocating here (mostly from California) because of the
positive business environment. No guarantees of a job but it wouldn't
hurt to include "Reno/Tahoe" in your Monster.com (or whatever)
searches.

Randy

Atlanta's not too bad. You've got all those great southeastern (warm)
whitewater runs like the Ocoee, Chattooga, Tallulah Gorge, Nolichucky,
Little River Canyon, etc, etc... all within a couple of hours drive.

And I thought I had a lead foot...Atlanta to the Nolichucky in 2 hours?! You
da man!


Jeff Oxley
Recovering aqua-holic--and relapsing again (full time)
Editor, Blue Ridge River Runners (part time)

Given future trends, you may want to consider India, Russia, China
whitewater if you want to stay in software development.

"Ms. Whitewater" wrote in message
...
. . .
Where is software development going on near whitewater kayaking? I'm
willing to move anywhere in the US, I'm hoping to live near lots of
rivers,
near skiing too would be even better.

Your list would have to include the Virginia suburbs of DC. A couple of
hours on the primo surfing sites of the Potomac (or the Falls for that
matter) can be done on week nights if you can get to the put-in without
using the beltway.

The rivers of PA and WV are easy for weekends, and the large social network
of the Potomac area paddlers rasies the likelihood you'll find compatible
partners.

The Potomac was the only good thing about my six year sojourn in VA.

HTH,
Fred Klingener

Interesting post. I currently live in Tampa, FL and have considered
moving out west for the mountains, lower humidity and less people.
Reno is high on my list. Can you tell me a little more about the
area? Any particular likes and dislikes, weather, etc. I work in the
IT field as well. You can email me if you like at
. Any info is appreciated...

(Randy Hodges) wrote in message om...
"Ms. Whitewater" wrote in message ...

Where is software development going on near whitewater kayaking? I'm
willing to move anywhere in the US, I'm hoping to live near lots of rivers,
near skiing too would be even better.

Suzie - who would happily write software on the river if she could...

I am a software developer in Reno Nevada. It has a lot to recommend
it. The Truckee River runs right through town - I can paddle on my
lunch hour. They are developing a permanent 21 mile long "Whitewater
Park" here. Construction will begin next month. There are probably a
dozen good whitewater runs within a two-hour drive. We have an active
whitewater club. The Mt. Rose Ski area is a 20 minute drive from my
home. There are many other ski areas just slightly farther.

The unemployment rate is just over 4% and there are many high-tech
companies relocating here (mostly from California) because of the
positive business environment. No guarantees of a job but it wouldn't
hurt to include "Reno/Tahoe" in your Monster.com (or whatever)
searches.

Randy

I live in Northern New Jersey and find that there are many rivers in
the area. I am only a class 1 canoer/kayaker, however there are many
serious whitewater rivers within a 3 hour drive. The Appalachian
Mountain Club is quite active here - check
http://www.amc-ny.org/rec_actv/canoe/cksched.html for their schedules.
Here is their schedule for other activities like backpacking, hiking
and bicycling: http://www.amc-ny.org/scheduleonline.shtml. Closest
skiing is at Mountain Creek, Vernon. Though it is not a highly rated
ski resort - I enjoy going there (I am a below average skier). Closest
cross country skiing at Highpoint, NJ -
http://www.xcskihighpoint.com/.

Used to be lots of software jobs, though market is bad right now.
Warning: NJ has the highest population density among all states -
crowded.

"Ms. Whitewater" wrote in message ...
Hi all

I'm a newly-unemployed software developer with a passion for whitewater
kayaking. I live in Seattle which is near all kinds of great whitewater
kayaking, but the software job market here is brutal.

So my question to all you folks out there is this:

Where is software development going on near whitewater kayaking? I'm
willing to move anywhere in the US, I'm hoping to live near lots of rivers,
near skiing too would be even better.

Suzie - who would happily write software on the river if she could...

FloridaX wrote:
Interesting post. I currently live in Tampa, FL and have considered
moving out west for the mountains, lower humidity and less people.

You're about a decade late for the latter....

--Chris

(FloridaX) wrote in message . com...
Reno is high on my list. Can you tell me a little more about the
area?

We moved to Reno from Northern California last fall.

What we like:
1. The cost of living is much lower than California - A new 2500
SF home with a big yard cost us $240K. No income tax
2. It is a "Business Friendly" state as far as the state not
highly taxing or regulating businesses. This means that many
businesses are moving here.
3. My impression is that the environment is clean. Some but not
much smog. We have some great views of the desert and mountains.
4. Recreation - Major rivers, Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada are
right here. The summit of a 10,776 foot mountain is 12 miles from my
house.
5. Big City Ammenities - All the "Big Name" singers, acts,
circuses, rodeos, etc come here. We have symphonies, multiple acting
companies, a major university, etc...
6. The city is really not huge. I think you can be anywhere in
town in less than 15 minutes.
7. One of the easiest international airports I have ever been to.
I can leave my HOME an hour before the flight and still get there on
time.



What we don't like:
1. Smoking in public places (We stay away from casinos).
2. Winter is too cold for boating (4500 feet elevation - Can snow
in most any month)
3. Not a great place for gardening (see #2 above)
4. We have always lived in rural (5K people) towns - this is a
bit crowded.
5. The wind seems to be always blowing.
6. Light pollution from the casinos interferes with my telescope
observing.

I hope that helps. Feel free to contact me at

Randy

Consider Boulder, CO...but consider also what a previous poster
said, e.g., the not-nearly-as-rosy-as-it-once-was future of software
development in the USA.

In general, if you plan (or hope) to live (or move) somewhere for
lifestyle reasons, you'd be wise to develop a flexible career
strategy that doesn't depend on one industry, even one as broad as
software engineering. That, and avoid a lifestyle where you _must_
have a really good-paying job. If you want to make something like
whitewater paddling a priority in your life, something has to give
(unless you're a trust fund kid). Fewer sushi dinners, an older
car, doing without some of the expensive electronic toys that
festoon the average American household, thinking long and hard
whether you really need something before you buy it...these are the
kind of habits the non-independely wealthy need to cultivate in
order to be able to make certain choices.

--
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Mary Malmros
Some days you're the windshield,
Other days you're the bug.