Looking: Engineering in Greater Boston/NH Area

[movingToMA]

Bump. Had a few phone interviews so far, but still on the hunt for some solid leads.

[schuss]

When are you moving? I'll be back in the area in August, so I can look around.

[movingToMA]

Thanks schuss. I'm actually ready at any point now. The girlfriend is in temp housing now up in Woburn and all of our stuff is in storage in the area. She'll be moving into an apartment at the end of July.

I'm staying in NJ at my current job until I find something up there. I didn't think the gap in my resume would be wise at this point in my career.

[movingToMA]

Put an application in for a place out in Stow MA. Seems like a good mix of rural and suburban and has some nice areas. Have a few on site interviews coming up, but still on the hunt for opportunities in the area.

[systemoverblow'd]

Put an application in for a place out in Stow MA. Seems like a good mix of rural and suburban and has some nice areas. Have a few on site interviews coming up, but still on the hunt for opportunities in the area.

Stow is pretty great and accessible. Don't speed on 117 in Stow.

[movingToMA]

Yeah, we spent July 4th weekend driving all over the area. Generally liked the Stow/Acton region the best. Decent accessibility for her job in Lexington, good access to 495, etc, and a great rural feel. We're saving about $1200/yr over our place in NJ and have about 50% more space. Should be a great place to stay for a year or two while we save up a bit more to buy a place.

...now I just need a job! (this long distance shit sucks!)

[Natedogg]

Did you ever give Cantabrigian a shout? I was just at his new shop today--apparently he has more work than he can handle...

[matoco]

Possibly more pricey than your looking for, but have you checked out the North Andover/Andover area? Andover in particular has exits for both 93 and 495 in the town making commute a bit easier for the mountains as well as work/Boston. Taking 93 to 128 to get to Waltham can be long-ish, but do-able if you time it right. Nice little downtown as well. Some big companies in Andover/Wilmington/Tewksbury that could be looking for work as well.

Groton/Westford area is also nice, has a more rural feel which it sounds like you are looking for. Easier commute to Waltham, but likely not too much within the town boundaries.

[steved]

Grab a vehicle that gets okay mileage but operates well and can take a hit without you worrying about it's looks and get insured comfortably.
Just don't waste any time by paying attention to the immature, morons with their head-games...tons of bumper-riders and accordian-style drivers. That #128 and #495 speed-up then stop, accordian style of driving...just don't do it. Drive safely....(duh). Stow...Bolton(sp?)...like those areas...

$.01

[Skirotica]

My neighbor is a mech engineer. Just left to move to Seattle (7/19/13ish). I'll ask him about the vacancy.

[movingToMA]

Sorry for the lack of update, everyone. Quite a few phone interviews so far. Had two on sites early this week, both of which went well and want to have me in for a second round. (Kind of frustrating since I made it clear I was travelling up from NJ, but to be expected I suppose). Have another on site in southern NH tomorrow and another in Fitchburg on Monday. These two really interest me, so hopefully they go well. The one in NH is about a 60 mile commute each way though, which would definitely be draining. I'm willing to endure it because the company/position are very prestigious and it would be a great career move.

Nate - No, I did not...sending a PM to you now.

Matoco - Thanks for the suggestion. We settled on a great place in Stow for now. Hoping to avoid a position in Boston for now. Worked in NYC for a while and would prefer to not be in a city again.

Steved - Thanks for the tips. I come from NJ, so I know the driving style you speak of.

Skirotica - Thanks for the offer. Any word?

[systemoverblow'd]

Dude... Fitchburg sucks.

[JayPowHound]

Dude... Fitchburg sucks.

Yea, but Stow doesn't and it's a reasonable commute.

Interview at GE?

[Natedogg]

The one in NH is about a 60 mile commute each way though, which would definitely be draining. I'm willing to endure it because the company/position are very prestigious and it would be a great career move.

I do a 48-mile commute each way, and surprisingly it's not too bad. I get to wake up (not a AM person), listen to NPR (since I don't read a paper), listen to the jackasses talk sports on WEEI, get some music in, and think about what I need to do that day. Don't get me wrong--I'd love to have those two hours back every day, but there is something positive in it. That's in addition to the great career move...

[schuss]

At least MA->NH is a reverse commute. Though it would suck, probably wouldn't be too hard to find a place with a better commute for both of you.

[movingToMA]

Dude... Fitchburg sucks.

Yeah, I noticed. But, as JPH pointed out - the commute from Stow isn't bad.

Yea, but Stow doesn't and it's a reasonable commute.

Interview at GE?

Yes, had to say, I loved the drive from Stow to Fitchburg. Took 117 most of the way and it was a great drive.

GE's plant in Fitchburg closed down in the late '90s. The place I interviewed with is still related to that industry. (Sorry to be tight-lipped...for now)

I did have a phone interview with GE Lynn (aviation) a few weeks ago for a position in their jet engine test lab, but I don't think it's the right fit for me.

I do a 48-mile commute each way, and surprisingly it's not too bad. I get to wake up (not a AM person), listen to NPR (since I don't read a paper), listen to the jackasses talk sports on WEEI, get some music in, and think about what I need to do that day. Don't get me wrong--I'd love to have those two hours back every day, but there is something positive in it. That's in addition to the great career move...

Normally I wouldn't consider the drive, but the position was/is too good to pass up. It would open alot of doors for my career. I think I could handle it for now and make the decision to move closer in the future, if needed.

At least MA->NH is a reverse commute. Though it would suck, probably wouldn't be too hard to find a place with a better commute for both of you.

That was one of the main reasons I considered it. Although I drove in a bit later in the day, it was an "easy" 60 miles with little to no traffic. Coming back in the afternoon (on a Friday) was pretty rough though.


We'll see how it goes. Two great prospects right now. Should hear back late next week...hopefully one of them plays out. We've loved Stow so far. Lots of great farm stands and seems like some good hiking and trail access in the area.

Is Nashoba even worth visiting for some after work turns? Or should we just head to Wachusett? Nashoba is only 10 miles away, but 240 vertical vs 1000 is a big difference. Is it relatively easy to find discounted tickets to Wachusett throughout the season? Not sure I'm going to want to swing the $425 for a twilight pass.

[systemoverblow'd]

Is Nashoba even worth visiting for some after work turns?

No.

Or should we just head to Wachusett?

Yes. It's really not that long of a drive.

Is it relatively easy to find discounted tickets to Wachusett throughout the season? Not sure I'm going to want to swing the $425 for a twilight pass.

WTF? That Nashoba Twilight Pass is almost as much as a Wa-Wa unlimited pass! $249 at Wa-Wa for a weekday and every night pass. If you can't have $249 worth of fun for a fiull season at Wa-Wa you don't know how to have fun. It's tiny but for a couple hundo, it's worth it for laps after work.

[movingToMA]

WTF? That Nashoba Twilight Pass is almost as much as a Wa-Wa unlimited pass! $249 at Wa-Wa for a weekday and every night pass. If you can't have $249 worth of fun for a fiull season at Wa-Wa you don't know how to have fun. It's tiny but for a couple hundo, it's worth it for laps after work.

Yeah, my bad. I was looking at the wrong website. I saw the $450 twilight pass and thought that was for wa-wa. $250 is solid. Sold.

Now the question is should we do passes as Magic again this year or use our new homebase to: a) get a pass somewhere else or b) do daily tickets at other resorts based on conditions. I'm leaning towards the latter but that For20's pass at the 'bush is tempting.

[Natedogg]

You don't want to ski either of those places. Not to sound like a Debbie Downer, but it's really not worth it. Unless they have a bump run or a decent park, you will HATE it (I haven't been to either in years, so I don't know what they have). Unless you're a beginner or low intermediate--they are just NOT fun at all. There are better hills in Jersey and Pennsyltucky than those two bumps. I would NOT NOT NOT buy a pass until you ski there first to see how bored you will be after the first run.

[systemoverblow'd]

You don't want to ski either of those places. Not to sound like a Debbie Downer, but it's really not worth it. Unless they have a bump run or a decent park, you will HATE it (I haven't been to either in years, so I don't know what they have). Unless you're a beginner or low intermediate--they are just NOT fun at all. There are better hills in Jersey and Pennsyltucky than those two bumps. I would NOT NOT NOT buy a pass until you ski there first to see how bored you will be after the first run.

You're honestly telling me you'd have no fun farting around a couple hours after work at Wa-Wa at night? What happened to you man? This isn't the gnar, but to get some grooms in your legs 20 minutes away to chill after work, it is pretty damn good to have close by. If you're into park, it has actually made leaps and bounds improvement. I'd rather do that than sit in front of the tube after work or go to a bar.

[Natedogg]

Honestly... I'm almost ashamed to say that any skiing is good skiing to a point, and these two are below that threshold. I guess that makes me a snob, and I don't love it, but it's the truth.

I'm not a park skier--maybe that's fun there. Trying to get enough speed to carve one decent big turn and then spend the next 10 minutes riding back up to the top to do it all over again is not fun.

[schuss]

Honestly... I'm almost ashamed to say that any skiing is good skiing to a point, and these two are below that threshold. I guess that makes me a snob, and I don't love it, but it's the truth.

I'm not a park skier--maybe that's fun there. Trying to get enough speed to carve one decent big turn and then spend the next 10 minutes riding back up to the top to do it all over again is not fun.

Still better than watching TV or the gym.

[JayPowHound]

Still better than watching TV or the gym.

Right?!! I tried to do the Blue Hills thing and the turns were definitely fun that I otherwise wouldn'ta had...

Unfortunately the commute just wasn't worth it for me since I was already driving Malden-> Watertown every day. ..

[nfaust]

Wanted to come out of hiding and officially say thanks to everyone for their help here. Lots of awesome information that's been a huge help.

I was recently offered and accepted a position in Fitchburg. Gave my notice in NJ and will have some time off before starting the new position. Really looking forward to getting up there. Always wanted to learn how to fly fish, so may use the time off to pursue that. (Anyone have any experience with the shop in Concord? Trying to find a semi-local place to get some lessons.)

Our new place in Stow is super rural and exactly what we were looking for. Great price, fairly convenient location and plenty of space. We're hoping to spend a few years here, get to know the area and then hopefully look into buying.

Wa-wa is <10 miles from the new job, so I'll probably pull the trigger on a nights pass. I'm happy taking a few runs after work, even if its in less then ideal conditions. In NJ it would've been 100 miles round trip for similar conditions - this is just too close to pass up and will help tie me over between weekends north.

Casually starting to look at shares for the GF and I for the season. If anyone has any leads, please shoot me a PM. Haven't settled on a location yet, but leaning towards going for the 'bush pass + a pack of tickets to magic + checking out some other places as needed.

Thanks again everyone.

[systemoverblow'd]

Honestly... I'm almost ashamed to say that any skiing is good skiing to a point, and these two are below that threshold. I guess that makes me a snob, and I don't love it, but it's the truth.

I'm not a park skier--maybe that's fun there. Trying to get enough speed to carve one decent big turn and then spend the next 10 minutes riding back up to the top to do it all over again is not fun.

When I got bored at Wa-Wa back in the day I learned switch. Rode days on end nothing but switch. When I got bored with that I was butter 360ing every little bump on conifer. Boosting the second road at mach looney to flat on Smith. Jumping the rock on Ralph's.

Shit, some of the funnest days I have ever had was spring slush riding there. Seriously, it doesn't make you a snob, it makes you not knowing how to have fun. We all love days choking on powder, riding the steeps, but saying there is no fun to be had is outright ridiculous.