Seattle is fantastic...coming from sunny Australia, it will be a change but it is beautiful - so green and even though it does rain a lot, it's a very outdoorsy city - beautiful parks and very, very family friendly. And according to my sister (who lives in Seattle), great 2nd hand stores for children's clothing - some of which seems as if it was never worn. Also, great quality of food - Seattlers (or Seattlites...not sure what they call themselves) are very green (meaning all for organic, growing/eating local etc.) - great farmers markets and a large number of top quality supermarkets...I don't know if you are one to get excited over supermarkets, but the US has some fantastic supermarkets (whole foods, trader joes to name a few).
Seattle also has a decent public transport system - where you live will be key in terms of how convenient it is for you (or your DH if he wants to commute to work).
If you have any questions about Seattle in particular, I can ask my sister - she'll definitely know a bit about schools and areas as she's been there for over 10 years and has 2 young boys.
Oh wow! You're really selling it! I had heard it was outdoorsy and it is in a great part of the states for access to national parks. I will return and ask you for more Seattle tips if my H gets the job and we decide to take it
If you move and you need that vegemite or tim tam hit, pm me. My sister runs a business that sends aussie food overseas, everything from vegemite to maggi casserole bases.
Well, my H's phone interview with the HR lady is finally this Tuesday. This is the overview of their benefits and relocation assistance. Looks good overall in terms of health care and relocation costs... but 2 weeks of holidays??!! Any more alarm bells/questions you would ask?
Health Care:
* A choice of three medical plans designed to meet your individual needs (several in-network and out-of-network options), with domestic partner coverage
* Dental plan
* Vision plan
* Company-paid basic life and accident coverage as well as optional coverage at a low cost
* Company-paid short- and long-term disability plan
* Employee assistance program including dependent-care referral services and financial/legal services
* Health-care and dependent-care flexible spending accounts
Time Off:
* Salaried employees earn two weeks of vacation time in the first year, three weeks of vacation in the second
* Six personal days every year in addition to six holidays
Savings Plans:
* Every full-time employee receives Restricted Stock Units
* 401(k) savings plan with a company match
* Several employee discount programs
Relocation Assistance:
We have partnered with a world-class relocation service provider to make sure your relocation is as stress-free as possible. Our service provider will assist you with real-estate and destination services to find just the right new location for you.
* Packing, unpacking, and moving of your personal goods and car
* Fully furnished, temporary housing, which will include maid service, utilities, and parking
* Storage for your personal items
* Rental or real-estate tours to assist you with finding a new residence
* A rental car until your personal car arrives
* Relocation allowance to assist you with incidental expenses
* Payment of part of the tax liability incurred with most of your taxable relocation expenses
So my H received his job offer this morning and the salary looks good so we think we'll take it. Still need to chat about it over the weekend but I think it's looking likely.
Soo... just bumping this thread again in case there are any more hints and tips for moving with a young family Thanks!
Another thing to ask would be if he is tied to the company if you take a relocation package and what are the penalties - for example (and not saying this will happen) if you guys decide that you don't like living there or your DH hates the job. It something to consider as we have friends who moved over here, took a $13000 relocation package and then he hated the job so left and they had to pay that $13000 back.
Sounds like everyone is giving you great tips. I'm very jealous, I love the States!
Make sure you go to Starbucks! Isn't it Seattle that the very first Starbucks opened?
Congratulations to your H!!!! that must be a big boost for his confidence!! (although i am miffed that he is taking you away...here i was going to tempt you to hang out with me at various cafes LOL!).
have you had a squiz at the rental market in the town your moving into? sometimes gives a good idea of housing stock and areas that might seem nice.
moving the cat shouldnt be too tricky. we moved with our cat back to Australia and that was a PITA $$ and time wise as we have really strict quarantine procedures, but friends that have moved to the UK (for example) said that it was nowhere near as full on...(we paid almost $2000 to relocate the cat). your local vet probably has a relocation service that is worth asking about as they then take care of all the admin etc...
moving is madness whether you have kids or no kids and i dont believe age is really too much of a factor, especially before they start school. we have moved every 2 years in the last 10 years and you get through it. DD1 has moved 3 times (of course not OS...yet lol!), and her first time was when she was 3 months old (we moved interstate to come to melb). it actually wasnt too bad at all! my only really big tip is to get their room with their stuff sorted out ASAP when you get there. even if you are in temporary accommodation, get their porta-cots etc set up with the bedding (my tip: use their old bedding, unwashed from home....i found this REALLY helped...). get their routine in order as much as possible. i have found that DD coped quite well with the jet lag as the excitement etc of the journey (she was 2 at the time) really helped to tucker her out. we arrived during the day, so we tried (without too much insistence or focus) to keep her awake as long as possible (went for walks, bought snacks, watched DVDs). then when she did flake out in the late arvo, i let her sleep until just before dinner time and got her up for the dinner, bed, milk and storytime routine. it helped us get into a rhythm...
although it's a big move, it will be a fun experience for you and the kids! think of it as an adventure!! (oh and we might need your tips and hints soon in any case, my DH is off...with us in tow...in March next year to test the waters in LA...oh boy).
Congratulations to your H!!!! that must be a big boost for his confidence!! (although i am miffed that he is taking you away...here i was going to tempt you to hang out with me at various cafes LOL!).
have you had a squiz at the rental market in the town your moving into? sometimes gives a good idea of housing stock and areas that might seem nice.
moving the cat shouldnt be too tricky. we moved with our cat back to Australia and that was a PITA $$ and time wise as we have really strict quarantine procedures, but friends that have moved to the UK (for example) said that it was nowhere near as full on...(we paid almost $2000 to relocate the cat). your local vet probably has a relocation service that is worth asking about as they then take care of all the admin etc...
moving is madness whether you have kids or no kids and i dont believe age is really too much of a factor, especially before they start school. we have moved every 2 years in the last 10 years and you get through it. DD1 has moved 3 times (of course not OS...yet lol!), and her first time was when she was 3 months old (we moved interstate to come to melb). it actually wasnt too bad at all! my only really big tip is to get their room with their stuff sorted out ASAP when you get there. even if you are in temporary accommodation, get their porta-cots etc set up with the bedding (my tip: use their old bedding, unwashed from home....i found this REALLY helped...). get their routine in order as much as possible. i have found that DD coped quite well with the jet lag as the excitement etc of the journey (she was 2 at the time) really helped to tucker her out. we arrived during the day, so we tried (without too much insistence or focus) to keep her awake as long as possible (went for walks, bought snacks, watched DVDs). then when she did flake out in the late arvo, i let her sleep until just before dinner time and got her up for the dinner, bed, milk and storytime routine. it helped us get into a rhythm...
although it's a big move, it will be a fun experience for you and the kids! think of it as an adventure!! (oh and we might need your tips and hints soon in any case, my DH is off...with us in tow...in March next year to test the waters in LA...oh boy).
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that must be a big boost for his confidence!! (although i am miffed that he is taking you away...here i was going to tempt you to hang out with me at various cafes LOL!).
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