Welcome to the first day of our study of Rebecca Ryan's "live first, work second." For now, we will start at the beginning... (If you still need a copy of the book, you can download an ebook/mp3 file from Ryan's website www.nextgenerationconsulting.com/store .)
Ryan opens her book with a research finding she published first in 2001: “Three out of four Americans under the age of 28 said a cool city is more important than a good job.” First, do you agree with her that the “work/life calculus for the next generation has shifted?" Second, I am interested to know if this is true for you -- If work were not a factor in the decision, where would you live? and why?
I definitely agree that there has been a shift. I base this on my own observations and conversations I've had with young people. I also think that this is a good shift. Where you live has an enormous impact on who you become. It helps form your personality, tastes, values, etc., especially if you live there while you're young. And at some point, the people that live in a particular place can begin to redefine the character of the place itself. So, I think it goes both ways like that.
ReplyDeleteI've always said I'd work for basic survival wages just to live in Key West, FL. Of course, I have other responsiblities such as raising a family right now. But the character of the place is so relaxed. The people are so unique & creative (a quality I feel exists elsewhere too, but the character of certain locations doesn't always allow that to show in people). For example, I could go to a corner on the street and just start playing guitar and singing to passers by. In Key West people would stop and listen. If I were to do that say, in Dalton, GA, people would lock their car doors and wonder about my sanity.
If I had my choice of places to live without financial worries, I would live in Sarasota, FL. I love the people, the sunshine, the beach, the outdoor cafes, and being close to my parents. A thirty minute drive is close, but not too close if you know what I mean. I believe that young people look for aesthetic conditions of a community or the proximity of those amenities. When I interview new applicants I stress the benefits of living in Dalton and the closeness to Chattanooga and Atlants without dealing with commuter issues on a daily basis. The applicants seem genuinely interested in these factoids.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, the younger generation picks a place and then finds work. My youngest son, Matt, moved to Chicago because it had a reputation of being theatre friendly and then found a job.
ReplyDeleteI on the other hand, found a job and then moved.
The Air Force gave me the opportunity to travel when I was younger, and I've lived in some very interesting places (Up-state New York, Arizona, Taiwan, Norway, Egypt, South Carolina.) I still like to travel and visit other places, but when all is said and done, I'd rather be here than anywhere else in the world. When the time came to settle, I moved back home and worried about finding a job after I got here. I've been teaching in Dalton ever since and things have worked out great. I love this community and believe that this is where I am supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteI think Dalton has a lot of Potential to be a cool community that would attract young people. The location is rather good between Chattanooga and Atlanta. The climate is good. What it really needs is to diversify its economic base. The downtown area also has great potential to be a "stroll" area as Rebecca Ryan puts it. However, currently there aren't enough funky shops, galleries, cafes, restaurants, etc. within the pedestrian vicinity to spend the day down there, but the layout is great for it.
ReplyDeleteMost of my students mention that there's nothing to do in Dalton. They go to Chattanooga on the weekends and such. However, I remember when Chattanooga was the same way back when I was in high school, and now look at it. The book talks about communities that are in close proximity joining together for mutual benefit. I think Chattanooga and Dalton have a good opportunity for that kind of communion.
“Three out of four Americans under the age of 28 said a cool city is more important than a good job.” First, do you agree with her that the “work/life calculus for the next generation has shifted?"
ReplyDeleteIf the premise that technology makes it possible to live anywhere and still earn a living is correct, then location is not as important to survival as it once was. Thomas Friedman's The World Is Flat speaks to this issue. The shift of technological advancement along with outsourcing certain services makes the shift to living where you want more plausible. Those under 28 are more likely to be the ones to take advantage of this offer.
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Second, I am interested to know if this is true for you -- If work were not a factor in the decision, where would you live? and why?
If INCOME were not a factor, I would be on a Caribbean Island, ready to depart in the event of hurricanes. However, I enjoy it here. Not just for the Chattanooga/Atlanta proximity, but because of the Interstate system, we are within 24 hours of nearly 35 states (according to the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce). The opportunities to be at the ocean, in the mountains, or in a major world city within a few hours is appealing to a mid-western transplant of 18 years ago. My family has what it needs, and much of what it wants by living in this area.
As the parent of two young ladies in their twenties I have watched as many of their friends have followed the location first scenerio. Our eldest was following this trend as well living in Atlanta until she started a family of her own and then she and her husband hurried to move back to Dalton and then looked for work. We have a strong extended family newtwork in the area which is what makes Dalton "cool" for us. Our youngest, a recent college graduate" is in the job search phase and she actually has a list of desirable and undesirable locations. She doesn't apply, even in this economy, for jobs on her undesirable location list. So from my experience of watching kids grow and leave the nest, I tend to agree with the shift for the next generation. I have former students all over the country, and several in other countries, living and working (or looking for work) in "cool" places and many doing "cool" things.
ReplyDeleteDalton is home and if I could move I would not for many of the reasons stated by others. Now travel is another thing. I would love to travel, learn, return, share, repeat... Dalton has all of the bones to become a cool community. It could happen here.
In my opinion she is dead on. Dalton, even though I have lived here for 40+ years, is still a rather "rural" area. There is not a local attraction to bring in the surrounding areas. Maybe the college adding dormitories will help, maybe we need to develop a community interest group to pull people into the area. Diversity is definitely key. We have that culturally but not for entertainment purposes.
ReplyDeleteTodays young adults view lifestyle as a priority and the longer cities ignore that the longer it will take them to become economically viable.
I agree with that which has been said before but I would also add that we should look to the college and its students for input into how Dalton can provide what is wanted/needed. The economy will always play a part in how people live and the closer those opportunities for entertainment are to opportunities for work the better for all of us.
ReplyDeleteWill this calculus swing back toward work first given the current job market? Even the coolest city is a drag without cash.
ReplyDeleteAs a Baby Boomer (barely) I feel a real sense of loyalty to my job, church, and community. This is home to my children. So, I will stay in Tunnel Hill on my 2 acres of trees, excellent well water, and drive to the cool spots - Bluff View Arts district, Riverbend, etc. in Chattanooga; Atlanta, Athens, and Nashville; Dalton's Creative Arts Guild Festival...cool things to do are available when you look.