My girlfriend (from Michigan) and I are looking to relocate to somewhere warm in the US that has a marine industry. Donna is an electronics engineer with a background in the automotive industry with (by the time we move) an masters in science and engineering management. I’ve been a liveaboard and long distance cruiser for 16 years and make my living fixing stuff on boats, preferably electric and electronic stuff. I presently work for Electec in St Maarten. My preference (and special skills) are in radio communications (ham and marine SSB) and renewable energy (solar panels and wind turbines). I also play the tin whistle of course and dabble in making PVC whistles.
We are looking for suggestions of places in the US, preferably Atlantic or Mexican gulf side that would provide jobs for both of us, a warm climate, reasonable living costs and a secure and reasonably priced berth for our 36 foot Cheoy Lee ketch. A nice friendly yacht club to join with a cruising- rather than racing crowd would be the icing on the cake.
Any ideas?
PS. Posting this on the whistle forum because people here know me.
I’ll make a plug for Research Triangle Park, NC. It’s got a good bit of electrical
engineering going on, particularly in the telecom industry (we have R&D for
Ericsson, Cisco, Qualcomm, among others). The market’s somewhat tight, but
there are jobs to be had, especially if you’re willing to start as a contractor. It’s
2 hours from the coast, and many people live further east so they can get to the
ocean quicker. Optionally, some live on the western side and go to the lakes.
I think you’d also do pretty well in Maryland or northern Virginia. There’s
plenty of research going on in and around DC, and if you swing a job in the
right place, you’d probably love living on the peninsula. The climate is
surprisingly similar to NC, though it does snow more in the winter. Caroluna,
emmline, et. al. could probably give you a better idea of that area.
Oh! I just thought about it, and Tampa, FL, might be even better. There aren’t
tons of electronics, but it’s certainly around, and it’s probably closer to the
yachting side of things…
San Diego certainly meets your employment criteria, with high tech and aerospace and a strong commercial and pleasure marine industry. Warm climate, fairly high cost of living. Wrong coast, though.
P.S. Added Off Topic to the thread title to keep things cricket.
