Moving Soon

[JOliver]

Hello All!

My name is Josh and I currently live in southern Michigan. I will be moving to The Woodlands in late August with my family. I am 19 years old and living with the parents while going to school. I am just trying to get an idea of the area and what there is to do. I plan on getting a job soon after we move down there as well, any ideas on the job, recreation, etc.

Any Help is greatly appreciated!

[baby duck]

Anything you have experience with?

Lots of restaurants in the area, you could wait tables? But maybe you have experience in another area?

[JOliver]

I have worked at an Ace Hardware for close to 4 years now. I run the entire service desk and registers. I know there is an Ace that has opened recently (I think) in Spring, TX and I may try going there just because of my experience with the company and the procedures. I would like to try something other than retail, but since I am still in college, I may have difficulty finding something that would work around a daytime school schedule.

[IndianSpringsGuy]

There are plenty of jobs here for a 19 year old. You going to college or wanting something full time? Most of the jobs are part time for students at the mall and other small businesses.

[JOliver]

I plan on taking a semester or year off when I get there. But once I start school up again, I would like to possibly get a full time job (part time if I can't find something that fits). Depending on the college, I may be able to do a 9-5 desk job AND go to class in the evening. I would really like to get out of retail. :rolleyes:

[11Linda11]

Where in Michigan? I am originally from Bloomfield Hills.

[JOliver]

I currently live in Clarkston.

[LarkinJoanna]

JOliver, you will really like The Woodlands if you can take the heat/humidity and the mosquitos. It's a great place for singles and 20-somethings.

[JOliver]

JOliver, you will really like The Woodlands if you can take the heat/humidity and the mosquitos. It's a great place for singles and 20-somethings.

I think I can handle the heat and humidity, but I didn't know there was mosquitoes. Are they really bad?

[Wilson]

Not as bad as the Minnesota Monster Mosquitos, imnsho.

I lived in Grand Rapids as a kid. Welcome to TOTW and soon The Woodlands!

[11Linda11]

In August we're going up to Birmingham for the Woodward Dream Cruise. :)

Have you gone to it?

[11Linda11]

The amount of mosquitos are probably about the same as in Michigan, if I recall correctly.

The only difference is that these are larger and easier to swat. :D

[JOliver]

In August we're going up to Birmingham for the Woodward Dream Cruise. :)

Have you gone to it?

Yes, I usually go every year, and have even participated a few years. It is a good time. :)


The amount of mosquitos are probably about the same as in Michigan, if I recall correctly.

The only difference is that these are larger and easier to swat. :D

Yea, I hear everything is bigger in Texas. :P We have some up here, I don't think they are mosquitoes though. Some I have seen are 2-3 inches across. Kind of creepy.

[11Linda11]

This will be our 5th WDC. Really looking forward to it.

[FamilyGal]

Welcome to the board, JOliver! If you go to the local community college (Montgomery College), there is a Lowe's practically next door to the college. There is also a Home Depot nearby and a Sears Hardware in the area.

What are your interests? Golf, disc golf (there is an awesome course in The Woodlands), skateboarding? There is a lot to do around here and if you don't find something locally, there is always Houston to go to. (Only 20 miles away or so.)

[JOliver]

Welcome to the board, JOliver! If you go to the local community college (Montgomery College), there is a Lowe's practically next door to the college. There is also a Home Depot nearby and a Sears Hardware in the area.

What are your interests? Golf, disc golf (there is an awesome course in The Woodlands), skateboarding? There is a lot to do around here and if you don't find something locally, there is always Houston to go to. (Only 20 miles away or so.)

I was planning on doing Montgomery for a year or so. I have already taken about 17 credits here that should transfer. I plan on going to a 4 year college after that though.

As for interests, I like to play frisbee (ultimate and recreational) quite often, but have never played disc golf. I would imagine that would be fun to try out. I don't play any contact sports or skate or anything. In the area I live in now, there is pretty much nothing to do. We have a mall, and that is about it other than things like going to see a movie. I don't usually have money to work with due to my horrible pay at my current job, so I try to find things that don't cost money. :P

[msucowboy97]

Josh better save up the women around here will milk you dry. They love to shop and love flowers and like the word money money. :)

No....there is alot to do around here. Baseball and Minor league hockey all very cheap. Plus there are park, also if you bored we can TP family's house and then the next day go across the street watch her husband clean it up. Dont worry her husband is a very small man.

[FamilyGal]

I don't know what you make at Ace, but I know that Office Depot starts you off at $8-$9/hr. which for retail, is pretty good. And, they give great raises. I haven't worked there, but I have watched my brother-in-law start working there at $9/hr and work up to $15/hr in 18 mos. (No prior experience.)

[JOliver]

I don't know what you make at Ace, but I know that Office Depot starts you off at $8-$9/hr. which for retail, is pretty good. And, they give great raises. I haven't worked there, but I have watched my brother-in-law start working there at $9/hr and work up to $15/hr in 18 mos. (No prior experience.)


Well dang. I think I will be trying to get a job there. I have almost 4 years of front end management experience in retail, so I would image I would start out fairly high compared to what I am making now. I have come to realize that Michigan has a horrible economy, and that is why I am not that upset about having to leave.

Also, FYI, I am making 7.80 an hour at Ace. Horrible pay, but nowhere else in the area will pay more. :/

[Wilson]

You're going to love Texas for the COL vs. Michigan, that's for sure!

[FamilyGal]

Most retail around here start at $8/hr. nowadays. (That is what I am being told anyway by my daughter's friends.)

[msucowboy97]

Most retail around here start at $8/hr. nowadays. (That is what I am being told anyway by my daughter's friends.)

I am getting robbed i am making 5.75 an hour

[Wilson]

I think that's probably what dh's hourly wage works out to as well :eek:

[TXrose]

I know my kids have gotten anywhere from 6.50-10.00 in retail/grocery stores plus benefits at some places for the ones that work full time. From ages 16-25.

[FamilyGal]

I was looking at jobs for Juvenile Probation Officers recently and they start out at $8/hr!!! And they require a Bachelor's degree. Sheesh. I would be taking a major paycut from my part-time church office job to go do something that would, in my opinion, be a very stressful job.

[rusti]

I make pretty good money for what I do (which is hardly a lot). I get to do a lot of my personal things, ie. pay bills, work on scouts, bring my kids to work when they are sick or I don't want to pay a week of day camp in the summer, etc. I come and go as I want and leave every day at 2:30 so I am home when my kids get home from school during the school year.

The only draw back is that it is really far from home, but I have been there 13 years. I have looked for jobs in The Woodlands, but even taking a huge paycut, I could never work the hours that I do now especially with the perks. The closest thing I have found only paid $10 an hour and that was with a degree.

[Sysgoddess]

$8.00 an hour for retail? What a ripoff. I think it's the Valero on Sawdust that offered my daughter $10.00 an hour to work as a cashier and I understand Starbucks is no slouch for pay either.

[Wilson]

And doesn't Starbucks offer even parttime employees health coverage? I think you have to work 20 or 30 hours a week, but still..

[JOliver]

And doesn't Starbucks offer even parttime employees health coverage? I think you have to work 20 or 30 hours a week, but still..

Thats the thing too. I don't need any benefits. I just want enough money for my skill level.