Hubs signed the papers on a new job yesterday!!!! And we paid our daughters tuition. Thank God.

[Demsrule86]

He had two good offers in the end. We were unemployed for 22 days (second offer came in on Saturday). I don't know how people survive months or even (in my brother's case almost two years) of unemployment. I felt embarrassed that I whined about it when so many have it so much worse. The new job pays more than the one he lost. We will move to Cleveland as an hour is just too long to commute long term. The job is in Cuyahoga Heights if any DU'ers can recommend a good neighborhood or suburb, I would love to have some advice. We go up to Cleveland quite often and really like the city.

[FSogol]

1. Congrats. n/t

[Demsrule86]

7. Thanks so much. We also will have good health insurance for the first time in 10 years.

We had through GM retired...a 6000 deductible and 8000 out of pocket-the same as when we came to Ohio in 08...they paid nothing until the deductible was met. It cost us thousands these last 10 years. Hubs started there right out of college at 21 and retired in 15 after 30 years. I was glad to have any insurance but it will be nice to have the old type with $25.00 office visit etc.

[Trust Buster]

2. Solon - Twinsburg.

[Demsrule86]

8. Thank you for the suggestion.

I will go on realtor.com.

[Sanity Claws]

3. I wish you so much luck!

Everything sounds like it is falling into place for you and your family. A raise! Best of luck.

[Demsrule86]

9. We are very fortunate. Hubs is over 50. Ohio tends to have an older demographic which worked in our

favor. You know hubs told me...every time he lost a job two since 15 due to declining profits in the company, he wonder if he would ever work again ...some don't. very scary.

[ehrnst]

4. Fantastic!!!

[Demsrule86]

10. Thank you.

I appreciate your good will.

[dsc]

5. I haven't lived in that area for ages

but Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights were both very nice in the 1990's and early 2000's.

[Demsrule86]

12. They are still designated as nice places...I checked area vibes.

I like both neighborhoods. I have lived in the burbs for years with kids in school and all. Now my youngest is in college so I thought it might be nice to walk to a coffee house or what have you. Cleveland has improved tremendously since the days it was called the mistake by the lake. I wasn't here for the worst. They had already done Playhouse Square and some other improvements when I arrived. We buy season tickets to the broadway series every year. It cost us less money for 7 or 8 shows than for two tickets in New York. Ohio City is like a non-stop foodie paradise. Many of the museums are free because the robber barons who started them put it in the deed or trust ...whatever you call it that they can't charge admission. I usually donate. I like this area.

[flygal]

6. Great! We also went through this

Not fun at all. We have had a plan for this and good thing, he went right into "look" mode and found time for stress-maintenance as well. That helped. And we feel better off for all the upheaval. I hope you are as well.

[Demsrule86]

13. He is making more money at this job and has better insurance and three weeks of vacation.

So in the end it all worked out. He was working for a temp agency the last couple of years. This is a direct hire. He stayed on two weeks at his former job even after he knew he would be laid off...and they gave him a party...pretty unusual for a Temp. I drove him to work the last day. He worked nights so I picked him up at 6:00...didn't want him driving home alone. I got out of the car and hugged him, and told him before this is over...you will feel that this was the best thing to happen to you. We will get through it...he started looking immediately and in three weeks had two offers...both were good. It was scary. We have a child in college and the usual expenses. The amount of interviews you have is unbelievable. He interviewed four times for the one job and three times for the other job. This was a regular occurrence. My brother had five interviews for one job and didn't get it. The process kind of sucks. He had had some jobs where he interview multiple times and didn't get the job.

[flygal]

15. Wow - it sounds great!

And yes, the process takes forever. And we had to switch states which cost us and extra $1000 to register our cars - but it's still a relief!

I hope your brother finds something soon.

[Phentex]

11. Continued good luck to you!

Must be stressful. I am happy to hear that things are looking up for you!

[Demsrule86]

14. Thank you. Honestly, I think this job will be better for us.

He hasn't had a vacation in three years being a temp and all.

[Hortensis]

16. Fantastic! The job interview process sounds terrible.

A rather grim reminder that we once had what it would have taken to compete, but no more.

The new job and the move to Cleveland sound wonderful, a really nice kind of adventure. Have you checked City-Data's Ohio and Cleveland forums yet? Surprisingly, I notice it's not a secure site for all their traffic but full of a lot of info people moving there look for.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/ohio/