I know they live a long time, so if there is a chance they will out live you - sm

Michigan.  I live in Texas.  There is a clinic nearby me hiring MTs to work in house.  I went and interviewed yesterday.  When it came down to me asking her questions I found out that the in-house job was mainly editing speech recognition.  She out sources all the standard transcription work.  She has some ICs at home that do some things to.  I asked her if she was planning to do away with the MTSO and bring all the work in-house and hire locally.  She says her goal is to convert all files to the speech and do away with the MTSO. 

I just wished they would understand it would be better for the economy keep the money here and not outsource to places unknown.  When I worked in-house for a hospital, I referred several friends and family to the doctors I worked for, whom otherwise would have gone elsewhere.   Employees are the best advertisers there are.  Not everyone pays attention to billboards, TV ads, radio ads.  I usually tune it out myself if I am not interested in it.   The local hospitals are more capable of doing things that the locals don't know about so they drive elsewhere.  But I think they all see black and white. 

It is so beautiful down there in the fall with the leaves changing.  Fall is my favorite time of year.  We don't mind that Gatlinburg is too comericial, we have kids and it's fun for them.  Always do Dollyworld when here are there!  The kids love it.  We always rent a chalet when we go.  This year I think we are going to go into North Carolina and see the Trail of Tears drama Unto These Hills about the Cherokee Indians.

I'm just in love with the Smokey Mountains!

I go to my mom's and flip through and don't miss it at all.  All of her stations and hardly anything on to watch.

All local wages are low. I tried the school district, $6.50/hr; the local banks, around $7.50 - $8.00; and even considered traveling 45 minutes to the nearest industrial area but it wasn't worth it for the $9.50 an hour they wanted to pay. The hospital in that area paid the whopping $8.50/hr for MTs.

I ended up lucking out and getting a job with the DoD, Army. Luckily, they have put us on the same pay scale as New York City, so I get paid well for the area. I don't know how families here do it, my salary alone is more than what most families with 2 people working locally make, and I have much better benefits. Got paid fairly well for the area when working MT from home, but DH is also self-employed and we needed the benefits desperately. My benefit package is probably worth 2/3 - 3/4 of my salary if I add it all up.

So far, our little town got over 10" of rain last night and it is supposed to stop today. They expected another 3-5" before this is over. They evacuated parts of "my"  town. At least 5 other towns have sectioins that have been evacuated. They closed the main roads into the 2 towns that we use to get around. Dive teams are being called in from the surrounding counties.

I live on a hill too, but without the main roads being opened, I can't get out. The only info I can get is from the scanners. The TV stations we get are too involved in their own local flooding problems.

Today is my husband's first doctor appointment after his open heart surgery 2 weeks ago. I don't think we're going to make it.

Gee, to think if I worked outside the home, I'd have a day off. LOL I'm looking on the bright side, though. NO TRAFFIC.

I am so deeply angered upon hearing that this group of wacko's will be coming to this area to protest.  The Amish are a very peaceful group of people who have never caused any harm to the outside world.  (as you know they do not use such things as tv's, cars, and do not like to have their pictures taken, or be on TV)  It is bad enough that the recent tragic events have concentrated the public/media eye so greatly on them, and disrupted their everyday lives.  But, to have these people come to the funerals angers me more than these typed words can say. Right in my own backyard! I have come to the conclusion, that you are not safe ANYWHERE!! Can they not be stopped?!?!?! What is the name of this group?

Please say a prayer for all of the Amish families, and also all of the brave first responders who had to witness this awful event first hand.....

You posted that you "do without."  So, why now are you saying you have all this money in the bank?  I thought you live below your means?  Come on...  I knew I'd get a rise out of ya'...  Phillychick - you've got a lot to learn about just plain "living.." 

This OP only asked if people were feeling the crunch.  She didn't ask your opinion about whether you have money in the bank or credit card debt!  So, I guess I got your goat!!! 

I've been working since I was 16 years old, and I have never relied on my husband's income!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's nice he works, don't get me wrong.  We've been married for 18 years; we've had our ups and downs financially, but for you to come here and act like you are "above" anyone that has a credit card with a balance on it is just plain uppity!!! Get a life!

Southwestern family who moved to the Northeast.  Could be a considered a similar change, of climate at least.  Do you have teenage children?  If so, GOOD LUCK!  We moved a 15yo girl and it was hell on earth for about a year.  As God as my witness, I will never move a teenager again unless I havef no other choice.

The first winter was a definitely an adjustment, but after the first year your blood "thickens" and you get used to it.  I'm running out the door in a light jacket at 35 degrees now.  That isn't even cold anymore.  Have you investigated the cost of living?  There's a great website call Homegain.com and you can do all kinds of investigations on an area including crime rates, schools, etc.  If you have kids, try greatschools.net.  You can use that to help narrow down what school districts you might want to live within.  Good luck.

It would be helpful to know where you live because many of us MTs know other MTs who might be able to help you. We were all new once...  Also check county temp pools in your area.  Sometimes you can get on as a temp and gain experience that way.