Moving to chicago, advice
- Thread starter GoSTATE71
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I went to ISU with a girl from Rockford who told people she was from Chicago. There's like 90 minutes of corn between Aurora and Rockford, let alone Chicago and Rockford.
I thought it was funny when I was an Iowa kid going to ISU, when I moved to the Chi I got an even bigger kick out of it. Would be like someone from Sioux City saying they grew up in Kansas City or Minneapolis.
I'd say I live in "Detroit", but so does 80% of those living in the metro area. And "Detroit" is much nicer than the vast majority of Detroit.
I've lived in Chicago for about 7 years and if there's 1 or 2 things I could do to make my life much easier and more enjoyable is:
Live closer to work or find a job where I can take public transportation.
I live in the city but work in the North Shore. Apartments in the North shore are either non-existent or cost as much as owning a nice house. My commute is 10 miles each way, which equates to 30 mins in zero traffic and up to 1.5 hours in heavy rush hour.
So my advice to you is:
Either live near your place of employment or live next to a train or something you can easily take to work. Sitting in traffic for a minimum of 1 hour/day and up to 2-3 hours/day (5 days a week) will drive even the most patient man insane.
Live closer to work or find a job where I can take public transportation.
I live in the city but work in the North Shore. Apartments in the North shore are either non-existent or cost as much as owning a nice house. My commute is 10 miles each way, which equates to 30 mins in zero traffic and up to 1.5 hours in heavy rush hour.
So my advice to you is:
Either live near your place of employment or live next to a train or something you can easily take to work. Sitting in traffic for a minimum of 1 hour/day and up to 2-3 hours/day (5 days a week) will drive even the most patient man insane.
Okay as you can tell for some of us that have lived it, being in your 20s in Chicago is a great experience. If you have a GF, you need to ask yourself a question. "Is this the woman I want to marry?" Because if it is not, then you best be single when you move out here unless she is going to move with you. I don't know one couple that made it through it, and honestly, I don't know how you would. Chicago is a great land of opportunity and fortune.
Man to have a time machine and be able to live that part of my life over again.
You have made a good choice and anyone that tells you different sat in their apartment and didn't experience the city. Other than a 40+ hour work week ahead of you, it really is an extension of college, only with way more things to do and more money in your pocket.
Man to have a time machine and be able to live that part of my life over again.
You have made a good choice and anyone that tells you different sat in their apartment and didn't experience the city. Other than a 40+ hour work week ahead of you, it really is an extension of college, only with way more things to do and more money in your pocket.
lol we were from the Dubuque area and Rockford was considered "halfway" to Chicago. Sure as hell wasn't considered Chicago!
and my only advice is don't become a fat cow with easy access to Malnati's. Cause that's what would happen to me if I lived in Chicago.
Thanks everyone! I won't be working directly in downtown, mainly north side. I'll likely end up in Lakeview or Wrigleyville. Other than visiting chicago as a tourist Im not super familiar with it. I'll need my car for my job as I'll have some travel once or twice a month. Definitely excited, but a little nervous about the whole traffic thing. Is the train system difficult to get used to?
I have no advice, just wanted to say I'm extremely jealous. I'm now 31 and will probably start a family soon so Chicago City living is outside my options now, but one thing I wish I always did in my 20's.
Traffic and city driving you get used to very fast. There's no getting used to parking issues and the hoops you have to jump through. Since it was fully privatized the meter rates are through the roof and it's almost 24/7 365 days a year (yes parking tickets on Christmas day), higher rates than Manhattan. Just something you have to suck up because even if you have your own spot you have to head out places. I drove less every passing year I lived there and was happier for it. Final year I just used Uber and ZipCar car sharing when I needed a car.
The guy who said minimize your commute or work it into CTA trains and busses nailed it. That said parking and winter were the only things I didn't absolutely love.
If you're within walking distance of the Addison, Belmont, Wellington or Diversey stops in Lakeview you'll be fine getting downtown very easy. Belmont is best because you have both the brown and red lines stopping there, unless you want to be closer to Wrigleyville. You'll most likely love it. I grew up in that neighborhood and it has seen a lot of changes over the years, but is really set up well for singles in their 20s/30s right now.
THIS!!! I moved to Bucktown in September. I love it but good lord, my rent is just eating up my bank account. We haven't even reached baseball season yet where I'll be at 20 Cubs games (I hope).
There really isn't a "bad" place to live if you're on the north side. The south side is a different story but I'm guessing you won't be looking around there anyway.
I was kind of thinking this too. So many great neighborhood places with amazing pizza when I lived there.
Not at all.
I'm not sure where you're working, but if it's within walking distance of a red line or brown line stop, you're golden. In that case, it would definitely be worth looking for a place to live near a stop on the same line. And there are plenty of places in Lakeview to look as there are ~9 different "L" stops spread around that neighborhood.
Trust me, save yourself the headache of traffic and parking and just ride the train. And those two trains run every 5-10 minutes or so throughout the day so the wait isn't so bad.
Oh we could so make this a pizza thread...but I feel like there is a thread we could resurrect where I already went ballistic. Going back for work in May and I've already started debating which pizza I'm hitting up.
When I first started taking the L to work I thought the "Chicago" stop just meant that was the exact geographic center of the city, not Chicago Avenue. Felt like quite the idiot when I realized "oh....Chicago AVENUE." Leaving 14 years later this November I probably could have gotten around it blindfolded.
don't care, better than anything here. And I'm there so rarely I don't want to take the chance trying somewhere else and disliking it.
