From: mb@smsc.sony.com (Michael Burg)
Newsgroups: misc.jobs.misc,misc.rural
Subject: responses - Living in a rural area and having a 'high-tech' job
Keywords: follow up, responses
Date: 19 Nov 92 16:32:50 GMT
Organization: Sony Microsystems Corp, San Jose, CA

I've had several requests to post the responses I've received.. 

Thanks to ALL who replied!






>From: "Rick Jenks" <Rick_Jenks@lumbre.ta52.lanl.gov>
Subject: telecommuting..

Dear Michael Burg (mb@smsc.sony.com),

In reply to your misc.rural newsgroup posting of Nov. 10, 1992:

>1) How did you find the job(s)? (headhunter, newspaper??)
<
   -->I went to work for Los Alamos National Laboratory ~9 years ago using
      traditional application, interview, etc, procedure, then
      transitioned into a "telecommuting" situation.

>2) Do you commute to a urban area for work?
  a) Does your company allow you to 'telecommute' or work at home?
<
  -->Actually, Los Alamos is a relatively small town (~30,000 or so), but my
      family and I have decided we want to live in Eastern Oregon, so I
      am "pioneering" an effort to telecommute to work at Los Alamos.  It
      has been an effort that has had limited success, but I am slowly but
      surely moving to a full-time telecommuting position.  (Right now,
      I work ~50% of the time "on site", which requires that I drive ~1100
      miles periodically to sit in my Lab office.  The balance of the time
      I spend on the "ranch" with wife and 6 kids.)

>3) How does your pay compare to a job in a urban area (after adjusting
   each for the cost of living in either area)?
<
  -->I have not had to make any salary adjustment in going to the telecommuting
     option, and the pay is similar to what I would get anywhere else (except,
     perhaps for major consultant firms in NY, DC or CA).  There are some extra
     transportation costs, right now, because I am not 100% telecommuting, but
     I am willing to absorb these until I am allowed to telecommute 100%.

>Now a more general question...

Just how many computer companys are there in area mention above (i.e. Pacfic-
Northwest) that are located in rural areas???
<
   -->"Joby" from Ind. U. has posted some ideas for local companies (though I
     disagree with the comments made regarding ~people staying put in urban
     areas...)

     I am presently pushing for establishment of a Telecommuting Research
     Institute and have been communicating with President Bush (and soon, with
     President-elect Clinton) on areas where telecommuting research can benefit
     energy, environment and family values.  Hopefully, this effort (along with
     efforts of many other people seeking work from home) will help move us
     forward a little faster towards telecommuting as a widespread employment
     option.

     If telecommuting becomes a widespread option offered by many companies,
you will be able to select where *you* want to live, *first*, then shop around
     for a company you can work productively for.  I am encouraged by responses
     I have received thus far from the White House.

Best regards,   -Rick Jenks, Telecommuter-

>From: Eric S Fraga <eric@chemical-eng.edinburgh.ac.uk>

In article <1992Nov10.171549.23644@smsc.sony.com> you write:
: 
: I would like to here from people who have done (or are doing) this (living
: in a rural area and having a high-tech job). And I would like to know...
: 

it all depends on your definition of a high-techjob, of course...
I work at a university;  does that count?

: 2) Do you commute to a urban area for work?

yes, 1.7 hours (1 on train, .3 on bus, and rest walking) each way.

:   a) Does your company allow you to 'telecommute' or work at home?

yes, but what with meetings to attend and lectures to give, I end
up having to be at work at least three days a week and typically
four.  I do work at home sometimes but not as much as I would
have liked.

: 3) How does your pay compare to a job in a urban area (after adjusting
:    each for the cost of living in either area)?

pay is the same;  cost of living is significantly lower;  but
cost of travel is quite high.  At the beginning (2 years ago),
the difference in mortgage was exactly balanced by the cost of
transportation.  With inflation and the reduction in interest
rates, I now pay much more than I would if I were living in the
city. 

On the other hand, quality of life is hard to quantify.  I am
glad I am living in a small town although I do miss some of the
big city things.  I'd hate it if I had to drive in every day as I
wouldn't be able to work on the train like I do at present.

--
........oo...ooo..o..o.o...o.o....oooo..oo...o.....o.....ooo..o..............
 Eric S Fraga, Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Edinburgh
 phone: +44 (31) 650 5065/4866, eric@uk.ac.ed  or  na.fraga@na-net.ornl.gov

>From: tdj@bbt.com (Todd Johnson)

In article <1992Nov10.171549.23644@smsc.sony.com> mb@smsc.sony.com (Michael Burg) writes:
>
>(This is cross-posted between misc.jobs.misc and misc.rural)
>
>Hello all...
>
>
>The next job I would like to take is one which would allow me to live in
>a rural area of a state (right now I have my sights set on the Pacfic

How rural is rural to you ? 

I moved to Raleigh, NC from Charlotte NC. I thought Raleigh was rural compared
to the size of Charlotte.
Now rural to me is living out where there are pickup trucks and 
farms everywhere.:)
Of course that's a city boy's perspective.
It's never been this peaceful and quite before.

>
>I would like to here from people who have done (or are doing) this (living
>in a rural area and having a high-tech job). And I would like to know...
>
>2) Do you commute to a urban area for work?

	YES, about 30 miles in 36 minutes.
	
>  a) Does your company allow you to 'telecommute' or work at home?

	NO

>3) How does your pay compare to a job in a urban area (after adjusting
>   each for the cost of living in either area)?

	I work in an urban area.
	Live in 'rural' area.
>
>Now a more general question...
>
>Just how many computer companys are there in area mention above (i.e. Pacfic-
>Northwest) that are located in rural areas???

	Research Triangle Park, NC ..... LOTS
>
>
>Thanks much in advance,
>
	Todd


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Michael Burg @ Sony Microsystems, 651 River Oaks Parkway  San Jose CA 95134
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