May be moving to San Jose area from Tualatin, OR advice !!!

I had one job that I went to specifically to work for the boss, and he left 6 weeks after I started. The new one totally sucked. So the boss is definitely a factor in my decisions now, but just one of many.

What I usually do is start the "pros and cons" list. By the time I get halfway through it I can usually throw it out, because my "gut" has kicked in and I can tell I'm now consciously rooting for one or the other....LOL!

I may be following my own advice before too much longer----we just had a big layoff, and my really great manager gave notice too. It's been a rough week reviewing my colleagues' resumes, trying to put them in contact with people I think may be able to help them, and figuring out how to handle their workload in addition to my own. Wish I could afford to retire, but not yet....sigh.

My best way to make those kinds of decisions is to pick one and decide to go there. Then if you feel terrible you know that one isn't for you. :-)

sorry to hear that pigeon, that's terrible.

we went out looking for a wii today - thought playing games would help "unwind" of course we can't find one, went to Target & Best Buy, all sold out. oh well, guess I won't play tennis and bowl and ride a cow today. I am so not a video game person, but we played with one at a Christmas party it was very fun, and I like the active part.

I think that house looks like a good deal. Even if the yard isn't as enormous as you'd hoped, it's a good-sized yard for the area. The rest of the house sounds and looks good too. Of course there may be something wrong with it, but you'll never know unless you check it out. If you haven't called the listing agent yet, you might want to do so. Some of them will be honest and tell you if something major is wrong with it over the phone to keep people from wasting their time if there is something major. If it's just cosmetic (carpets, paint, etc.), that can be changed relatively easily and without as much expense as the major structural things. I'd definitely check out the local schools, too.

any decisions yet, Tootsie? Anxiously awaitin'!~~

hi ! well, he has said no to Best Buy ( IN MINNEAPOLIS, BRRR it was -9 when he was there Monday) It is between ebay and Intel offers at this point, which they have given him details over the phone, but we are waiting to see it in writing.... especially the moving expenditures, etc. I'm anxious, too - I want him to be able to quit his job, which he won't do until he gets these offers in writing - and so we wait.

But, we are definitely moving !!!! Yeah, I am so excited, ordered moving boxes from Costco and should get them in the next few days.

Re: moving boxes..... I see them for free all the time on Craigslist

thank you, good idea. These were a good price & free shipping, but next time I'll look there.

You may not need to order moving boxes--I've worked for 2 largish companies now in my career, and both provided full service movers as part of the relo package. Back when I did both of those moves, companies were doing more full service moves where they arranged everything, now I've noticed some places are doing a lump sum deal instead where they give you a chunk of money and you arrange everything yourself. So I'd wait to see which type of relo package he gets before you spend any more on moving supplies.

Also, from my little experience.... we moved with Schwab from SF to PHX.
If you allow the movers to ship the boxes you have packed and the contents is damaged or lost, you're not insured. You're only insured for what the movers pack in their containers. When we moved with SCH I packed and shipped in our SUV only the stuff my granny passed on to me that was down right priceless. One really funny experience.... They wrapped in packing paper and packed an empty roll of toilet paper............ Guess they have their rules.

If they don't include "relocation" in their offers, he should counter and ask for it! Can't imagine that they wouldn't pay for it---I know ours does for anyone who's moving from one state to another to accept a job. And Aguane's right---don't get carried away packing unless it's stuff you don't care if they lose, or they pack it inside another box. When DH was in the military, we moved 6 times in 5 years (shudder) and making sure the movers are FULLY responsible for anything they pack and lose or destroy is critical!

lol - you are all great being concerned for me, yes they all offered relocation offers including packing everything and moving it for us, storing it and moving it again when we buy a new house (also, they will buy points down on our next mortgage). I am just packing up things to give our house that "super clean" look you need for selling. I know if I pack up all my shoes the master closet would look a heckuva lot better. So, that's all I'm doing.... plus kids stuff we don't need every day, "Kill the Clutter!"

Thanks for the caring thoughts !

HE QUIT TODAY !!! whoooo - hooooooooooooo

Looks like he'll go with Intel, but that's not totally official yet. I am so excited to be moving to California and can't thank all of you enough for all of your fabulous advice ... and for representing California !!!

Can't wait, and I have so much to do within the next month. : ) I get to shop @ Annie's !

Well, welcome and we're glad that you're coming. Glad that you aren't going to Best Buy too. Brrrr... is for sure.

WeeHaaaaa!!!

Santa Cruz has a fave nursery of mine that carries Annie's stuff, too, in case you decide to pick a place further south than Richmond and need an "Annie's fix"....LOL!

Congratulations! That's so exciting that you're making the move!

We'll try to get the sun and warmth going for you by the time you get here!
Congrats and may everything go smoothly.

A Bay Area traffic welcome, taken this evening LOL!

Red means stop... and drivers there know it very well... They see red tail lights ahead and traffic comes to a stop...

ha ha nice picture of the traffic, I will definitely show DH that one! and yes, please get that sun started up, I am desperate for some. Real rainy (per usual) and windy here. May get some more snow later.

I ordered a couple of books one Mediterranean gardens and Beth Chatto's drought resistant planting ... anyone have any California publications or books they really like. I do subscribe to Garden Design and thankfully have saved the last years issues, I will definitely re-read them .....

Pigeon, what is your nursery in Santa Cruz, do tell !

Congrats! Now that DH has quit, you're on your way!

Of course, there's the Sunset Western Garden Book, but my favorite book is: "Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates" put together by East Bay MUD (Municipal Utilities District) - a big thick book, about $35, but a wonderful resource specific to this area.

I think you'll find that there are several local nurseries that carry Annie's - once you decide where you live, it should be easy to find them.... you can always ask Annie!

Liz

P.S. Has anyone else had problems with this particular thread - it seems to lock up, for me, since last week, but I'm not having that problem with any other threads.

I haven't had any problem with this thread but I sure have with some others. I've tried it on two browsers too and both have been a problem.

2nd what doss said, no problems with this thread but others have completely stalled on me.

Thanks for the book suggestion lizzipa, I will definitely get "Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates" sounds like a winner. Sunset is always handy, but its fun to get something new.

Sue, that traffic looks pretty darn LIGHT for 280 at rush hour----but then it WAS a holiday on the 28th, so that could explain it!

Toots, the place I mentioned in Santa Cruz is reviewed here. I should add to the review that they carrie plants from Annie's.....
http://davesgarden.com/products/go/view/2607/

I also like the landscapes for summer dry climates book, it was very helpful. I also have a couple books on CA natives that are really good--if you think you'd be interested in growing some natives let me know and I'll dig them out and post the titles later.

It was a holiday on the 28th????
Oh yeah, take your pick...January 28 is . . . . National Kazoo Day, Clash Day, Rattle Snake Round-Up Day

21st was a holiday, maybe the 28th was too but not one that many people would have had off work for! (I sure didn't!)

I don't know about CA, but we had teacher workshop on the 28th, definitely less people on the road. just a thought.

I'm off to look at that link pigeon... my neighbor used to live in San Jose, she was telling me about a garden near Gilroy, thats like amusement park/gardens ? Like for kids.

You mean what was originally Bonfante Gardens, and is now Gilroy Gardens.....Michael Bonfante sold it to Paramount, and the City of Gilroy just did a deal to buy it last week---it was set up as a non-profit.

Yes, interesting place. I did a couple of summers there as a docent when it first opened. The nursery where I used to work when we first moved here had picnics there while it was being built. It's great for younger kids---doesn't have the thrill rides and stuff that Great America in Santa Clara does. The gardens are gorgeous. My favorite duty was running the wee carousel in Claudia's Garden.

http://www.gilroygardens.org/gardens.html

Yes ! She did call it Bonfante (but she's lived here 7 years now). It looks like fun, my family would love that. **I personally am not a thrill-ride person , I am easily exhilirated ha ha ha - my dh loves all those crazy rides, it gave me heartburn and anxiety attacks when he took our then 6 year old daughter on the Tower of Terror... and that is "tame" to him. craziness!

Thanks for the link, it does look beautiful.

I LOVE Bonfante Gardens or whatever it is called nowadays. My kids do too, even though they're older than most of the kids who go there. It's the only theme park I can stand, actually. One of the water rides takes you past what I think must be tree peonies; I'd never seen them before but they were just beautiful. It's a great place to go with grandparents too; my folks liked it a lot. It's hot, but there are places where you can get misted or squirted with water, which helps (and is fun too).

Awesome, maybe we can see it during Spring break, I think we'll probably spend the week having fun. DH will have to work of course, but that sounds like a great day for the kids & me !

I know they've had some challenges with personnel and volunteers. When I was a docent there, we were required to know all about the plants in the area where we were working, and we had books available to look up information. Not sure that's the case any more, but I think they've labeled more plants. I know Michael's concept was to have fewer labels and more volunteer staff to interact with visitors, but I think that became impractical to manage.

The tree peonies are something that the horticulture staff was told "couldn't be done", but they tried it anyway. I love them, too, and have been inspired by that area to try some peonies in containers in my front courtyard. My first white bloom opened yesterday!

Michael and his staff developed new ways for transplanting mature trees, and when he was building the park, he rescued many beautiful specimens that would have been lost from construction sites. He put the word out early on that people should contact park staff if they were planning to take out a tree. He moved a huge oak (I think it's still the biggest mature tree that's ever been transplanted) and in the peony area there's a massive red one that was also a rescue from a local yard.

It was a really neat place to volunteer; wish I still had the time, but I decided after the 2nd summer that I had to work on my OWN garden....LOL! It will be interesting to see what the city of Gilroy does with it, now that "we" own it.

How fantastic that he saved those mature trees, I will think of that when we are there. Congratulations on your tree peony !! They really are beautiful. ... I have a peony my sis-in-law gave me last year for my bday, I should try to bring it with me, and give it a shot.

Mine aren't tree peonies----they're just regular bush ones I got from my friend in Sacramento when she had to move. But in spite of a horrible 3-hour trip in an open trailer (we covered them but all the covering stripped off by the time we got home, as well as every leaf from one plant) they are recovering beautifully. Along with them were several mature potted azaleas and a purple rhodie that I'm delighted to say has a few buds on it. They all need pruning, but I thought I'd wait till this year since they were so traunatized last year.

I was always afraid it would be too darn hot here for them, but I figured if these could thrive in Sacramento heat they'd be OK here. I have them in a sheltered, shady corner in the front courtyard, and they seem very happy----so am I!

You may need to get a certificate for any plants you decide to bring, though. As I recall from nursery days, there may be regulations about transporting from Oregon to CA. Since you have time, you might want to contact both states and see what you would need to do, if anything. Could be the regs only apply to commercial operations, but you don't want to go through all that and then have something confiscated at the border!!!

Confiscate my Peony ! NEVER !!!

lol - I'm surprised about the rhodies and azaleas, too - I always think of them as PNW plants - because of our 40" of rain per year. I'm mainly bringing bulbs (that I will pull after they bloom) but I do have some potted things. I will check on it, I'm glad you mentioned it.

I would definitely check--CA is really picky about plant material coming into the state. I know I've seen posts from people who've cruised across the border with a trunk full of goodies and not had a problem, but it definitely wouldn't hurt to find out the rules so you don't get surprised and have your things confiscated! And I know there are some mail order nurseries that won't ship here because they don't want to go through all the trouble.

The trouble with peonies here is most areas don't get enough winter chill most years for them to bloom well. The plants themselves will do fine, but you may not get as many blooms as you're used to. Same goes for tulips--I'm not sure what sort of bulbs you're bringing, but if it's tulips you'll have to prechill them every year if you want them to bloom.

Here are the rules for bringing in plants to California
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pe/
See the featured links at the right. The list of fruits and vegetables has a list of garden plants and the states that it's OK to bring them in from.

French late tulips do best here and even they need to be replaced every year. Daffodils though do just fine. Grape hyacinths grow out of control. Crocus don't do well at all.

This message was edited Feb 2, 2008 2:16 PM

Nah, I won't bother pulling tulips - just my long lived stuff. I have alot of daffys (some great ones from Brent & Beckys Bulbs) crocus I won't bother, but I WON'T leave my crinums here, they are my favorites. I don't have any grape hyacinths, I don't like how they spread around. I'll bring amaryllis, tho and probably the alliums. The cannas are too big, I'll just leave them, they are common anyhow. I can't decide on the lillies, I'll probably take some and leave others - but they won't bloom before we move, so we'll see. These should be fairly easy to dig up and pack.

I'll check out your link now, hmmmmm, wondering if I can bring my potted kumquat ?

I don't think you're ever allowed to bring any citrus into CA from anywhere else in the country, ever, for any reason, so I'd leave the kumquat behind. Even mail order nurseries who have all the right certificates, etc to ship most stuff here aren't allowed to send citrus here. But you can find citrus trees at pretty much any nursery you go to here, so you shouldn't have any trouble replacing it.

No no no kumquats! lol, I don't care, no attachment to that plant. I think I'll be ok, don't want to break any laws.