Life Style v. Standard of Living

[highpeaksdrifter]

Every skier/rider always says they would love to live in a ski town, but they don’t know how they’d make a living. Except you locals of course.

All our households take home X amount of dollars. What percent less, if any, would you be willing to make if you could have a job you like, in a ski town of your choice and the job let you ski 3 or 4 times a week?

I’ll say 35% less. We’d have to watch every dollar we spent and live in a modest house, but I’d be down with that. My wife, well that might be a different story.

BTW, if 2 years I can retire on a pension that will be about 65% of what I make now, soooo, we’ll see.

[riverc0il]

Next to family and friends, the drop in pay is definitely the biggest sacrifice to be made when moving closer to the mountains. Though even up here, you'll be lucky to find a job that lets you get out 3 to 4 times per week without taking a vacation day. Depends how much of a pay cut you want to take for those extra days I would also submit that the lifestyle change is much more radical than even the average hard core skier would be willing to make. The commute gets radically reduced, but at the end of the day, you are still skiing the same mountains for generally the same prices for five months of the year and what do you do the rest of the time? If other outdoor pursuits are your pleasure, hiking, kayaking, fishing, climbing, boating, swimming, etc. then you are all set. Want to hang out at the mall, movie theatre, bars/clubs, pro sports events, etc... go fish.

I'll take my pay cut and I'll take almost no street lights, lots of trees, no traffic, more pleasant people, open space, fresh air, proximity to the mountains, and sense of community. Worth every lost penny, unless those pennys matter to you.

[SkiDog]

Good topic...

I now personally live in a ski town...now I dont think my new company would like it if I skied 3-4 days a week, but I will be skiing considerably more than I would've if I didnt move..

So far I like it here in Sandy UT....ask me again in 10 months....

M

[Warp Daddy]

Thats what i did at 51 pulled the plug and said "time to make a life not a living"

For next 5 yrs i consulted only 2 days a week during the college year and i controlled when, with whom and for what price. Made more $$ than when i was working fulltime in the University business. BEST DAMN MOVE I EVER MADE . I started skiing 2-3 days a week since that time.

[kingslug]

Pretty simple for me. If I sold my house I could prolly buy another one for cash somewhere else. Since my company is worldwide I could just move to a state Like CO or Utah. Hell, they have a place at the bottom of LCC. Some day.

[kbroderick]

As someone who lives about 20 yards from his office and about 25 yards from the closest lift, I think that the pay difference is worth it. I could definitely earn a lot more with a similar title and responsibilities in another industry, but I'd also be dealing with a lot more stress and a lot less skiing--I've got over 100 days this season and have skied the past 52 days straight. As long as I can make my student loan payments, afford groceries, and buy necessities from SAC (perhaps not in that order), I'm okay with not having a big margin sitting out there. I'll admit, though, that I'd have one heck of a time if I was trying to contribute to a family's well-being on my salary, and I'll probably have to figure something out in the next few years if I want to retire. It's not for everyone, but it works for me (and a few of my coworkers who also live on the hill).

If you just want proximity to good skiing, but you also want some cultural opportunities and the ability to stop at traffic lights on a regular basis, there are places you can do that. Burlington and SLC both come to mind, although they have vastly different cultures (and different skiing opportunities), both have many of the amenities that make city living desirable while being only minutes from world-class skiing. I do know people around here who make decent money at "traditional" office jobs but still have enough flexibility (a boss who skis or rides may be necessary) to get 4+ days a week when the skiing's good.

[OldsnowboarderME]

I can retire in 7 years. I plan on moving to some small town in the back woods of Maine close to SR, Saddleback and the Loaf.

[gladerider]

this is a topic that i often talk to my co-worker about.

i got excited for a moment. i told my wify about the topic and immediately she brought me down to reality.
i've got 2 kids hitting college in 10 yrs. i don't see myself in that picture unless i win a lottery........

[cbcbd]

I'm single, my company is making me telecommute by fall, I have some cash saved up...

I'm looking into moving closer to the mountains this year... why not.

[MonkeyBrook]

It is called Sales / Sales management, get a sales job with ski areas in your "territory" and you have it made. It has worked for me for many many years. And I have a family.