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Post by christina on Mar 2, 2016 10:09:59 GMT -5
Although i can comment on Anchorage as well as i have a dear friend who lives there. Anchorage is actually quite cool(and not just from a weather standpoint).
it's a nice area, nice people, and there's plenty to do. Summers are awesome and you figure out a way to make winters work. Vacation time to the South for example!! Alaska has a bit of an independent streak so if that's your thing, don't rule Anchorage out....
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Post by christina on Mar 2, 2016 10:10:26 GMT -5
exactly what i was thinking!!!
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Post by christina on Mar 2, 2016 10:12:06 GMT -5
Albuquerque looks amazing to me. i doubt i'd end up there but i'd be just fine with that happening. Real estate seems on the high side though...
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Post by skyview on Mar 2, 2016 10:41:49 GMT -5
Can anyone tell me what a "wide open GAL" is as opposed to a "narrow GAL"? I have 11 states on mine with a total of 55 cities which I thought was pretty wide; however, I am thinking I may need to expand if I receive a favorable NOR.
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Post by Gaidin on Mar 2, 2016 10:45:58 GMT -5
Can anyone tell me what a "wide open GAL" is as opposed to a "narrow GAL"? I have 11 states on mine with a total of 55 cities which I thought was pretty wide; however, I am thinking I may need to expand if I receive a favorable NOR. Typically when we say wide open we mean all or almost all locations. I'm not sure how many people are willing to go and live for 15+ months and maybe much longer everywhere there is a potential ALJ opening. In fact based upon last years data I think most people have a pretty small GAL. I will post a new GAL poll once NORs come out but until then its a waste of time. aljdiscussion.proboards.com/thread/3378/2015-gal-size
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Post by christina on Mar 2, 2016 10:50:48 GMT -5
Can anyone tell me what a "wide open GAL" is as opposed to a "narrow GAL"? I have 11 states on mine with a total of 55 cities which I thought was pretty wide; however, I am thinking I may need to expand if I receive a favorable NOR. You can't expand more at this point but yes, 55 cities is pretty wide. narrow would probably be 10 or less, and by wide open, that means pretty much willing to go anywhere, as Gaidan noted above. if you make a cert and want to scatch any of your cities off, you can or i should say, you have been allowed to do so in the past, however, once you remove a city, it's off future lists for you too and you may not get another chance to add it back on down the road.
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Post by skyview on Mar 2, 2016 11:07:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the information...that makes me feel a little better!
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Post by sealaw90 on Mar 2, 2016 11:26:37 GMT -5
I beg to differ somewhat - 55 cities is not automatically considered a "wide open GAL". When you can choose approximately 180 cities, if you choose greater than half then maybe you could consider that "wide open".
Many of the current ALJS selected from this register checked off each and every city on the entire list. THAT is a "wide open GAL".
However Skyview, 55 cities should provide you enough opportunities, assuming your score makes you eligible to be placed on a certificate for one or more cities. Good luck!
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Post by christina on Mar 2, 2016 11:30:51 GMT -5
actually. i said 55 was pretty wide, not wide open. We're saying the same thing sealaw just wording it differently.
someone with 55 cities and a decent score has a reasonable shot of getting picked up within next 2 to 3 years, maybe sooner imo assuming other key things fall into place(eg final interview, refs). it depends on the cities too but that's enough places imo.
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Post by Administrator ALJ on Mar 2, 2016 12:52:12 GMT -5
I got the following website from this discussion board, and it proved helpful for hubby's matrix. Newbies may not have seen it yet, though, so I'll post it again. m.state.gov/md79700.htmIt's a link to the State Dept.'s list of online resources for cost of living and relocation around the country. As I said, it's got some interesting info.
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Post by Administrator ALJ on Mar 2, 2016 12:56:42 GMT -5
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Post by Gaidin on Mar 2, 2016 13:01:34 GMT -5
Albuquerque looks amazing to me. i doubt i'd end up there but i'd be just fine with that happening. Real estate seems on the high side though... You do get $21 more a year though so its not like you can't pay for it. Is property that much higher than Atlanta?
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Post by christina on Mar 2, 2016 13:21:57 GMT -5
Oh I'm sure it's less than Atlanta. But probably one ..... of a lot more than Middlesboro
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Post by tripper on Mar 2, 2016 13:53:04 GMT -5
You do get $21 more a year though so its not like you can't pay for it. Not always. if you are a mid-range SAA with decent locality pay the increase is only 15 the first year. Although granted it does got up much faster than the GS schedule. Hopefully the 15 can cover a crummy apartment in crapland.
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Post by Gaidin on Mar 2, 2016 14:07:03 GMT -5
Oh I'm sure it's less than Atlanta. But probably one ..... of a lot more than Middlesboro This is the only house on Zillow in Middlesboro for sale over $200K. www.zillow.com/homedetails/200-N-30th-St-Middlesboro-KY-40965/2101850725_zpid/?view=publicThere are 1,042 in ABQ. This next part isn't aimed at you christina but at everybody who is thinking of a wide open GAL. I am not saying everybody should put Middlesboro on their GAL because it is cheap to live there. Think about living in a place where there is nothing for sale at $225K or maybe you get lucky and one house is for sale at that amount. Middlesboro has a Walmart and a JC Penneys but the nearest Target is over an hour away. If you have never lived in really rural America a place like Middlesboro might feel like the Moon. Seriously, If you think a city like Kingsport is a tiny village you need to really examine the small places on the GAL list and figure out how rural you are willing to live. Conversely, if you think a city like New Orleans is a big city you need to really examine the large places on the GAL list and think about how urban you are willing to live.
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Post by Gaidin on Mar 2, 2016 14:09:37 GMT -5
You do get $21 more a year though so its not like you can't pay for it. Not always. if you are a mid-range SAA with decent locality pay the increase is only 15 the first year. Although granted it does got up much faster than the GS schedule. Hopefully the 15 can cover a crummy apartment in crapland. I wasn't clear. The locality pay for ALJs in ABQ is $21 a year more than Rest of US. That is 21 not 21,000 or 2,100. So basically a cup of coffee at a fast food place extra a month.
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Post by christina on Mar 2, 2016 14:16:24 GMT -5
Fair point. I like rural America but mboro might be too remote for me. I'm aware of what u noted g. However the commute would be fantastic!!
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Post by tripper on Mar 2, 2016 14:18:27 GMT -5
Ah ha, thanks for clearing that up. And wow, you can really get a lot of house for the dollar in Middlesboro!
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Post by aljwishhope on Mar 2, 2016 15:02:44 GMT -5
In all honesty target whole foods and Barnes and noble are my litmus test. I can walk to all 3 now. Doubt I could live an hour drive away.
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Post by Gaidin on Mar 2, 2016 15:15:22 GMT -5
In all honesty target whole foods and Barnes and noble are my litmus test. I can walk to all 3 now. Doubt I could live an hour drive away. I think that is a pretty solid litmus test. It should be verifiable without to much effort and at the same time ensures a minimum "quality of life".
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