Another mid-west transplant, from MI

[dentedvw]

I am quitting my life in Michigan, because my job and my wife quit me. It's been a hell of a year already!

I am driving into Utah after a short stay in Colorado for a motorcycle get together (ADVrider anyone?), an even shorter stay in Moab (don't want to get too comfortable) and I will be living in my motorhome until I find more permanent digs. And a job, you know, that other important thing. I have been pounding the internet pavement working on that one, but it's not as good as getting in front of people.

I am really looking forward to putting my tires onto Utah rock for the first time. It's been a dream of mine for a dozen years at least, to live in Utah. I am not getting any younger, and I only have one reason to stay here, and she is going to come out shortly after I do, hopefully. Well, that's the plan anyway.

If anyone in the Salt Lake City area has a room to rent, I am looking. I haven't got much, My jeep and two motorcycles (DRZ and Triumph Tiger), some tools, clothes, and a laptop. That about sums up my possessions that will fit in the motorhome, for which I will need to find a rental place to store it too.

I'm a snowboarder, geocacher, kite flyer, dual sport rider, movie watching dog lover. My wife and daughter are keeping the dog though. :sick: I hope to have another dog, someday, when I get my own place again. It's as fresh a start as I figure I can get. Circumstances could have been more favorable, but what the hey, it's not too bad. If I have to live in the motorhome for a few months, at least I won't freeze to death, starting in June. Hopefully.

I may be on the lookout for a boondocking location too, so if you have one of those to offer up, I am very tidy and respectful. Shouldn't need it more than a month or two. I am also quite handy, and come with a few tools, I am willing to trade work for boondock location, if need be.

So, ah, hello!

 

[Greg]

Welcome! You've come to the right place, 4x4's and motorcycles... sounds like you'll fit right in.

Michigan is nice, but with your hobbies, you'll love Utah, it' hard to beat... 2nd only to Colorado.

I love your choices of bikes, a DRZ & a Tiger... sounds like you've got the bases covered! I think I've seen your username on ADVrider, I'm Greg@RME over there. We've put together a handful of rides on here, if you're headed to Moab, post up and we'll try get together.

 

[jackjoh]

Welcome on behalf of RME and the U4WDA.
Be sure to read all the instructions in "Introductions & using the Forum".

U4WDA believes the four wheeling community is best served by:
1. Education thru the use of classes, pamphlets, and films to teach responsible conservation.
2. Use Auto Dealerships and suppliers for the distribution of information.
3. Support Utah Counties in obtaining Quiet Claims to roads within their jurisdiction.
4. Stays informed and work closely with all Government Agencies and local law enforcement.
5. Where practical uses peer pressure to keep OHV use within the law.
6. Inform local agencies and law enforcement of illegal OHV use.

We promote the following: BRC/UFWDA: National legislation, action alerts, lobbying, etc
USA-All:- Local legislation, action alerts, lobbying, etc
U4WDA: On the ground actions. Service projects, education, club training, broadcasting the needs of Usa-All, UFWDA & BRC to its member clubs. Require clubs to be members of Usa-All, UFWDA & BRC, tie it into dues.
Member Clubs: Rides, education, hats, jackets, newsletters, raffles, etc. Require membership in U4WDA
Individuals: Join a club and promote responsible use amongst fellow travelers.
BRC:- National legislation, action alerts, lobbying, etc
Usa-All:- Local legislation, action alerts, lobbying, etc
U4WDA: On the ground actions. Service projects, education, club training, broadcasting the needs of Usa-All & BRC to its member clubs. Require clubs to be members of Usa-All & BRC, tie it into dues.
Member Clubs: Rides, education, hats, jackets, newsletters, raffles, etc. Require membership in U4WDA
Individuals: Join a club and promote responsible use amongst fellow travelers.
http://delalbright.com/index2.html

http://www.sharetrails.org/recreation-toolkit

http://www.nohvcc.org/education/education.asp
http://www.u4wda.org
http://www.usaall.org

 

[sixstringsteve]

Welcome, best of luck making the transition. It sounds like you've got a great attitude about it, which will go a long way.

 

[TurboMinivan]

Welcome to Utah and welcome to RME. I don't know how you found this forum, but I'm glad you did--we'll make a good support group for you.

What kind of work are you looking for?

 

[Herzog]

Welcome to the land of adventure.
Like others said, post up what you do, what kind of work you are interested in. Hopefully we can get you settled in.

 

[dentedvw]

I have been an electronic A/V technician for over 15 years, I have specialized in security, card access, and electronic surveillance technologies mainly, but I have experience in IT, and microwave transmission equipment, hydraulic operator maintenance, welding, average mechanic work, and am a serial comma user. I installed high dollar home entertainment and automation systems for seven years a while back, but it was rather limited in earning potential. Fun, for sure.

I have been emailing integrators in the SLC area for a few weeks, but nothing has come of it yet. Soon I will begin making some phone calls, and when I arrive, I will be beating the streets and putting my face in front of people at the places I have applied.

I even applied at Union Pacific, for a field tech position, working on their communications network out on the rails. That would be interesting work probably, I have some tower experience, and am a climber too, so it's not so far out.

Most of the work I have done in the last ten years is for government, high security buildings, airports, and large corporations.

I have repossessed cars and houses in the past, and while it's depressing work, it paid the bills. I was a Realtor for a few years, but it was unrewarding, I don't like pressuring people to make emotional decisions. And lets face it, buying a house is emotional for most people, investors excluded. Property management would be more up my alley, as far as that line of work is concerned.

I even worked in an outdoor outfitters here, and that might have been the most fun I have ever had, while simultaneously making the least amount of money ever. Enabling other people's adventures was very rewarding, but I nearly lost my house and my Jeep in the process, so I had to leave. I entertained the idea of owning my own store someday, but there is a lot of life left to live and it's not in the cards right now.

Thank you for the welcome, I feel like my heart is already in Utah, so it's best that my body follows before too long. Every trip I make there, it's harder to leave. After my last trip there, I had a smile glued to my face for weeks. I came to ski, but smashed a knee on an exposed boulder at Brighton, the perils of early season skiing. So, we headed to Moab, rented a Rubicon and thrashed it for a day. First thing I did was Hell's Revenge, and after not being behind the wheel of a 4x4 for about three years, it all came back in a second. I ran the entire thing, we were the only vehicle out there, and it dumped snow the next day, so it's a good thing we got there when we did, or else I might have been stuck at the bottom of escalator. Heh! It was foolish, in retrospect, but worth every minute.