I am a native North Dakotan, born in Bismarck. My family was forced to move to Nebraska in 1983 because my father was transferred. I attended the University of Nebraska and moved to Denver after I graduated. I thought that I was getting older and wiser. I continued to inch farther south and farther west thinking that warmer was always better.
Denver has been good to me. I met my wife, who is a Denver native and we started to raise a family. My career has flourished. Earlier this year I was laid off from a director level position at what used to be a Fortune 500 company. I was blessed and was able to find employment fairly quickly and continue moving forward with my career.
During my time off, I was able to do some soul searching. While I have started my own family in Colorado, all of my extended family is back in North Dakota, including my parents and my sister. We frequently make the trip to go visit and my wife has started to learn what I've always known to be true. There is no better place in this country than North Dakota.
Throughout my career I spent a considerable amount of time on the road. My travels took me to about 35 different states, spread out from coast to coast and border to border. I knew that I would not reside in Denver forever, so I was always quietly absorbing my surroundings. Trying to feel the communities and evaluate the quality of life. I always came to the same conclusion: there is no better place in this country than North Dakota.
Not long ago, my wife and I made the decision that we were going to make the move and relocate to Fargo. We had quite a rude awakening when we discovered that the road to Fargo is much less traveled by professionals in their thirties. Lack of opportunity and extremely low wages seem to be the common theme regardless of where I search in the area.
ADVERTISEMENT
I realize that the economy isn't exactly rosy, especially here in Denver. I took that into account and adjusted my search accordingly. I conceded to the fact that I would have to take about a 40 percent reduction in salary to obtain our goal, which is to be part of the better quality of life found only in North Dakota. This is a big concession, considering that all of the cost of living adjustment calculators that I find on the Internet only show the difference between Fargo and Denver to be about 10 percent-12 percent.
I'm writing to seek advice and maybe get some statistics on the availability of executive level positions in the Fargo area. The city seems to be growing ... What sectors of the market are experiencing the most growth or have the most potential to grow?
Our desire to get to Fargo grows more intense everyday. Every day, that I'm stuck in traffic for an hour to go about 15 miles. Everyday, that I open the paper and read about the terrible things happening in my backyard. Every day that I take my family out to dinner and get put on a two hour wait list. The quality of life, the spirit of the community and the sense of pride are second to none in Fargo. This is where I will raise my family.
We will eventually find the road to Fargo. Even if the ramps of opportunity are littered with obstacles or are still under construction. We will find our way. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Faith lives in Nothglenn, Colo. He can be reached at DaFaiths@aol.com
