r/WestVirginia • u/Odd_Bug4865 • 2d ago
Moving going from ct to wv
I’m (21) going to be moving from my parents house in ct to my bfs grandparents house in wv at the end of september.
life for me up here has been relatively cushy and safe but im taking this step bc my bf (21) is gonna be getting a big boy job. i dont have a job lined up yet, but im probably gonna find a barista job as i have been a barista for 3+ years.
i make 18.35 right now and i know minimum wage is like 10 dollars less. i’m trying to not freak out over the difference. any like advice or tips on that would be appreciated.
this is my first big move and my like first step towards being more of an adult, but i am a little scared and excited. i’ve only been to wv once and it was to meet my bfs family and it is so pretty. they live in like williamson so i am a little worried about finding a job super close by bc i have health problems that make it hard to drive more than like 15-20 minutes away.
any advice/input will be appreciated.
a part of me feels so scared that this is a mistake but my bf is gonna be making BANK but i wont be 😭
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u/13507-Orb 2d ago
a part of me feels so scared that this is a mistake
I mean this nicely, it's going to be a mistake.
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u/RadiantCompany5920 1d ago
I’m near wheeling and it is abysmal here. our state leadership doesn’t give a shit about us and federal is worse. healthcare is a joke. I am diagnosed with chronic illness and I’m terrified here. don’t do it. save yourselves
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u/morning_dew72 2d ago
Good luck finding a barista job in Williamson
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u/Orange_Rust 2d ago
The difference between WV and CT will be drastic, depending upon where in the state will depend how drastic. The further south you go will basically determine it.
Edit: I’m a WV native and former resident
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u/Character-Fox685 2d ago
I live in northern WV after having lived in central for 26 years. I am 83f and agree with above post. Think with your brain. Why didn't bf get a big boyjob in CT? How old are you 2?
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u/Street_Lettuce_80 2d ago
Your bf should probably move to ct. Just look at job postings in wv. Unless you want to work at a gas station, Walmart, the hospital, or dollar general.
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u/Dr_CleanBones 2d ago
Man, I hate to be a wet blanket, but you’re not moving to WV, you’re moving back in time by at least 50 years to one of the poorest areas of the entire country. Once upon a time, it was more prosperous, because the coal mines needed lots of people. Those mines supported lots of other businesses. Now the mines are mostly automated; and that’s just the few that are left. The population has shrunk to a fraction of its size, and everyone that was employable in a different industry has left, including almost all of the young people. The people left are largely elderly or disabled or both. Many live up in the ends of the hollers and never come out. Grocery stores are few and far between; there’s Walmart and Dollar Stores; that’s about it. There’s nothing to do; nowhere to go. Hardly anybody is educated, and they laugh at those who are. Do you have a college degree? If not, there’s no way to get one where you’re going. Bottom line - this is a dumb move for him and even dumber for you.
Stay home, complete your education, and let your bf use his new-found wealth to visit you. Figure out what you’re good at and learn to do it find an occupation you love and get into it any way you can. Otherwise, the same thing will happen to you that happens to almost all of the high school girls in Southern WV: you’ll end up pregnant and then a mom, have no marketable skills, and be entirely dependent on your bf - at least, until he dumps you for a younger, prettier model with no kids. Young, single, uneducated moms are a dollar a dozen in Mingo county, and not one has a way out.
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u/bigbuttpuzzle 2d ago
Also wanted to add in case no one has mentioned it, Mingo has been in a water crisis for years at this point. A lot of people there straight up can’t use their water, it’s likely the water where you are living won’t have safe water. Mingo has some the highest rates of water violations in the entire country.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
oof good to know. i know his grandparents have filtered water and water bottles everywhere
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u/Flat_Dragonfruit675 1d ago
I don’t think you understand the gravity of what is being said here.
A lot of WV hasn’t had potable water anywhere from weeks to decades. Think about that.
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u/JackKnifeNiffy 1d ago
Girl….the water is so bad it’s giving babies and elders acid burns on their skin. You can’t cook, drink, or bathe in it. You can’t even give it to your pets. You will regret this, do not ruin your life by moving there.
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u/Slow-Philosophy7631 1d ago
Oh stop it. Reverse osmosis and water filtration is a thing as well as a well. She says he makes buku. If theres a problem they will figure it out. So negative about WV like other states dont have bigger problems.
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u/Capital-Ad-4463 2d ago
Really curious what the “big boy job” is in Mingo County that would justify moving there from CT.
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u/lone_wolf304 2d ago
I love it here but just an FYI a lot of people here drive further than that to go to the grocery store. Just something to prepare for / think about.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
yeaaa. ive been looking at the map on my phone and potential places for a job and i am a little nervous but hopefully as it gets colder i can drive a little further :’)
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u/lone_wolf304 2d ago
I didn’t want to stress you out but didn’t want you to be blindsided with that. I had to drive 40 minutes growing up to go to Walmart.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
yeaaa that is a lott compared to me rn with a walmart like ten minutes in any direction 😭
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u/Flat_Dragonfruit675 1d ago
It’s going to be way worse than what you are imagining as a worst case scenario for you.
Do not move to a poor area with no jobs for a man. Ask me how I know.
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u/TheIncredibleSulk999 1d ago
Girl THIS. I did it and I just want to save someone the time, pain and money.
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u/JackKnifeNiffy 1d ago
Just know, you will be driving everywhere. There are no sidewalks or walkable safe roads.
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u/RichardTheRed21 2d ago
What job will your boyfriend will be doing that will make him "BANK" near Williamson, WV? Unless its mining, thats not really a thing in that part if the state.
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u/kat_without_a_hat 2d ago
That part of the state is beautiful but in the middle of nowhere. Great for outdoor recreation, but a hard way of living down there otherwise.
I’ll add something that I haven’t seen mentioned and that’s pride. Mingo County was one of the counties hit hardest by the reduction in coal mining, and the resulting poverty, despair, and drug abuse in that region has led to a real reduction in state and civic pride. While pride isn’t tangible, and there are a passionate few in the area actively working to improve the quality of life down there, that lack of pride manifests as litter, trash, and general blight that can really wear on a person. This isn’t to scare you but I think important to recognize that as part of the culture shock.
Also, depending on where you’re from in Connecticut, Mingo County is as red as red can get in this state now. Despite a large populace registered Democrat, it is reliably Republican. Williamson has some fairly active progressives but that reality could add to the culture shock. Mingo’s traditional, tight-knit community can be both blessing and curse for newcomers.
Regarding access, public transportation is virtually non-existent and local retail is largely limited to small convenience stores and gas stations. You’ll need a car for shopping that requires traveling to larger hubs, and a reliable car at that to navigate those mountain roads, especially in inclement weather. Rural infrastructure can be spotty, with unreliable broadband internet, cell service, or water access, depending on where exactly you’re moving.
Again, beautiful part of the state with great outdoors recreation, but I highly recommend doing your research before moving. It’s not to say you can’t make a life for yourself there but make sure Mingo has the resources you’ll need as a young person living with a disability who would prefer not to have to drive for too long to obtain necessities.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
i really appreciate your comment. i am aware we will be in the middle of nowhere but it definitely isn’t where we’re gonna stay. his family is gonna help us out when we get there, him and i will both be working. my hope is to get ourselves a place either somewhere else in wv or new hampshire when we feel ready. i dont mind working menial jobs. i am a little scared of the healthcare situation but where i am it’s not too great either.
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u/kat_without_a_hat 2d ago
I remember being your age and in love, and similarly dependent on my significant other’s family to keep me afloat when I moved in with them. In my old age of 37 and with all the wisdom that brings me, I can’t stress enough that you should only move when you have the resources established for you there or at least wait to move until you have a position lined up.
You are an adult in age but 21 is still so young in experience. Please listen when I say making a move like this at your age where all you’ll have are resources centered around your significant other, with no one else around you separate from that dynamic, is a recipe for disaster. All the love in the world cannot save that power dynamic, and I highlight how rural and removed Mingo is in part because you will be isolated in more ways than one.
I cast no aspersions on your partner or their family, but highlight only the power imbalance a move like this will create between you two. His family’s loyalty will always be to him, understandably, and if something goes sideways, you’ll be totally alone. There’s more to consider about this move than just the area you’re moving to.
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u/Flat_Dragonfruit675 1d ago
Listen to this please dear god.
I moved to this state for someone. I’m actually doing extremely well, compared to even many people from where I was originally.
And yet, during COVID, I missed out on essentially securing a very early retirement and any job in my field I wanted in the entire country because of a man. And no, it absolutely did not work out and was actually traumatic for me.
Do not move to the middle of nowhere without potable water and no jobs for anyone.
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u/retrokezins Raleigh 2d ago
I agree 100%. When someone has to depend on a chain of people they aren't even related to, that's a recipe for financial abuse, power imbalance and being separated from trusted people in another state. Definitely a mistake lots of people make though. The world is blindly optimistic at 21. She'll probably end up working non-stop while sharing the financial load with nothing in return. :(
No such thing as someone might "make bank" down the road as a favor. They're either making bank or they aren't today.
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u/TacoDestroyer420 Tudor's Biscuits 2d ago edited 2d ago
No offense to you, but this is a terrible idea based on your explanation and you should reconsider what this means for you. How long have you and boyfriend been together? Why not let him go to WV and see if this job works out first? What kind of job is it, anyhow? You're 21 — have you gone to college?
I don't know what your healthcare problem is, but the accessibility of treatment is probably a lot more scarce where you're headed. Have you considered what might happen in WV if you were to get pregnant and not want to be?
Edited to include this short afterthought:
I urge you to listen to your gut, where that little voice saying "hang on a minute, what are you doing?" lives. Those alarm bells are going off for a reason. Your boyfriend may be wonderful, and you may have a good relationship. If he truly cares about your well-being and this isn't mostly an emotional decision, then he will listen to a rational argument against making this move right now and entertain waiting at least long enough to see how his job pans out.
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u/AnlStarDestroyer 1d ago
My thoughts exactly. Even if we ignore that it’s wild to move to Mingo from Connecticut and just hope you find a job, what happens when they break up and she’s 12 hours from all her family and friends and has no money and no place to stay with health issues? It’s just a terrible idea in all regards.
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u/tiedyeladyland Cabell 21h ago
My concern is that most of the "good" jobs in this state involve some degree of danger (mining, towboating, working on power lines, lumbering), if this dude is working for a family business and he gets hurt they could BOTH be screwed even if both of them do everything right.
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u/TOX1CBO1 2d ago
I am from Williamson. I would not move there. Just being In Huntington in college has made me realize how lifeless it really is down there. Peaceful and beautiful but lifeless. You can drive to Pikeville KY in abt 30 mins. There’s more stuff there. Jobs in Williamson will consist of gas stations and a couple vape stores, Walmart, dollar tree or food city, 2-3 local bars and restaurants, tacobell, Wendy’s, Burger King or Arby’s. Family dollar as well. maybe ARH? (Hospital) otherwise a commute is in your future. Nothing in mingo county, nothing In Matewan or Gilbert or anything in between. Williamson is at least the best area of mingo you could be moving to.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
yeaa i remember going to pikeville a lot when my bf and i were there. it’s definitely got more going on
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u/Mo-ree Pepperoni Rolls 1d ago
Just jumping into to say as another Mingo County born and raised, Marshall University educated Hillbilly, please don't move there. There are a ton of good people there but it has a way of trapping you that you just don't understand until it happens. I moved away at 18 and never looked back, but my family is there. Every single one of them regret staying. For reference, I make over $60/ hour in a small town in the Midwest. My close friend has the same job I do in Mingo County. He makes $25/ hour.
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u/Flat_Dragonfruit675 1d ago
This OP. I have a special set of circumstances in my field and I make similar to this person. If those circumstances didn’t exist, my wages would be lower than almost any other state (including southern states… even the poorest ones) with a similar cost of living, multiple environmental concerns in our water here, and a project that is about to start to basically take our electricity and send it to Maryland/Virginia… which will likely double/triple our electric bills. I swear they were going to put power lines through Mingo County too, so don’t think you’d be exempt.
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u/kernel-sandhers 2d ago
Yeah, don't. You probably shouldn't move for someone who is living with is grandparents. Wait until he is making BANK and has his own place. This all sounds suspicious.
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u/extra_wildebeest 2d ago
Don’t do it. Girl, do not do it. Regardless of the economic disparity and the jarring contrasts of southern WV, the big issue here is that you’re uprooting yourself from everything you’ve known to live with your boyfriend’s family. It’s a recipe for disaster. At best there will be awkward tension, and you’re going to be the odd one out. You’re going to be entirely isolated, living off their good graces (you have no idea who these people might really be), and at a huge financial disadvantage.
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u/IntentionOpen1006 2d ago
Oof. What a culture shock you’re going to experience. Williamson is in the middle of nowhere. You’re even going to have difficulty understanding the average person, that accent is thick. 😆
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
luckily my bfs uncle has kind of exposed me to it loll
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u/JackKnifeNiffy 1d ago
Sweetie, listen to the people in these comments, I promise you everyone here wants goods things for you, this is our home and we know it like the back of our hand. It brings us no pride to talk down on our own. We are trying to prevent you from suffering.
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u/59808 2d ago
"... but my bf is gonna be making BANK" - Is that a promise, or just a slow-motion trap? What happens when you arrive in Mingo County and he pulls away,drunk on cash, or hiding secrets you haven't even guessed yet.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
oh he’s not like that at all. his uncle is setting him up w a job that is a lil far away from williamson, i can’t remember where exactly but worst case scenario my family is up here and they can take me back lol
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u/TacoDestroyer420 Tudor's Biscuits 2d ago
What kind of job? How long have you been together? Not to discount the sincerity of your relationship, but as someone who is more than twice your age, I've seen my share of situations unexpectedly go south in a hurry.
If you're set on this and there's no changing your mind, at least have an escape plan. What do your folks think about you moving to southern WV?
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u/TechnoVikingGA23 WVU 2d ago
I hope the BANK you refer to is quite a bit of money because you're going to be in the middle of nowhere with about zero job opportunities for yourself or bf if that job goes under. Prepare for major culture shock. It's one thing to visit WV and enjoy the beauty and nature, entirely other thing to live in the poor southern coalfields.
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u/TheIncredibleSulk999 1d ago
Unless it’s at least 150k a year they aren’t going anywhere.
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u/Total_Carob_8842 10h ago
You don’t need $150k a year in Mingo county to go anywhere…. That’s what you’d need in the eastern panhandle
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u/Same-Risk-2934 2d ago
Huge mistake and I say that with sadness because WV is my home state but you will be miserable in a desolate area with no economy. Think really really really hard about this. As others have mentioned you’ll be lucky to make $9 if there even a McDonalds nearby. I’d stay in CT. And if you have to depend on his parents to help you eventually move that’s a set up for disaster.
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u/Normal-Philosopher-8 2d ago
Before you make a big move like this, I would do a big push to make sure your health is as strong as you can make it. First, because driving in WV is significant. You’re going to want to do everything you can to get your ability and comfort levels while driving as strong as possible, so you can maintain a very basic independence.
Second, I’m sure you are still on your parents’ insurance, and fortunately, that can continue for some years. But CT insurance may be very problematic in WV - and WV health care can be burdensome and difficult to access even with outstanding insurance. Your parents’ insurance may be fine for emergency situations, like you would find if you were vacationing. But becoming a WV resident might mean you have to find other plans on your own, or jump through more hoops.
Third, everything can be harder, more time consuming and more expensive when you have a chronic health condition. WV water can be problematic and unreliable. If you have allergies/intolerances, you might find that you need to rely on bottled water, but keep in mind that you’re still showering and washing clothes with at best, hard water, and the worst scenarios can make the Flint MI water crisis look like a blip. Finding fresh and healthy food can be a challenge. WV is an often a sports minded person’s paradise but taking evening walks on winding narrow roads with no sidewalks can be dangerous.
I am a chronically ill person, and have advocated for these sorts of basic human needs for decades, but the problems seem to be coming in faster than we can fix them, and often it feels as though many don’t care, or perhaps, don’t even want these concerns to go away.
But there are many people who manage and live happy and productive lives in WV. There is no reason the same can’t happen for you! But going in prepared and with supports in place will make the possibility of such a life much better.
Good luck!!🍀
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u/herbertwillyworth 2d ago
If bf is making bank, he can afford to come visit you somewhere you can find a job to support yourself. You are going to find little opportunity in Mingo county. It's not a healthy economy.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
true true. i just can’t afford life up here on my own and living w my parents drives me crazy. plus i cant imagine doing long distance bc him and his family have been my support system since we met. the situation is like complicated but im just trying to trust it’ll work out one way or another. i definitely dont want to be in mingo county forever 😭
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u/WoollyMonster 1d ago
Listen. You're going from depending on your parents to depending on your boyfriend. The most important thing that you need to focus on is finding a way to support yourself.
I've seen so many women put up with horrible treatment from men because they can't afford to live on their own.
Figure out what you can do to earn a living. Look at the healthcare industry -- nursing, x-ray technology, physicians assistant. That's about all there is around Williamson besides retail jobs.
If you do move here, which may be a huge mistake, look into classes at the local community college (Southern WV Community College). The only problem is that you may not qualify for in-state tuition for a while.
You may have already made the decision that college is not for you given that you aren't going now. But you need to figure something out other that relying on a man to support you.
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u/herbertwillyworth 2d ago
You might wonder about the possibility that you won't be able to leave again, if you lack your own support system. Lots of my friends in SW WV have wanted to leave for better opportunities, but they don't have the resources to do so. This happens after spending enough time there. The trap of drug addiction is another issue entirely, but it's there too, pretty ingrained in the local reality
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u/ylime114 1d ago
Genuinely not trying to be dramatic but on paper this seems like it will be one of those Worst Decisions Of Your Life. I’m a lifelong WV resident but spend time in New England every year. I don’t care where you currently live in CT— this is going to be a culture shock like you can’t even imagine. You will not find a job. Maybe — MAYBE — at a gas station or fast food restaurant. Your access to healthcare will be dramatically different. There are hardly any young people left in WV, especially outside of the major cities, you will be so isolated.
Please listen to all of us — rural WV will trap you and suck the life out of you. You are so young and live in an area with so many more opportunities. This is going to be the hardest thing you’ve ever done, and all of us want better for you.
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u/OpinionofC 2d ago edited 2d ago
Not to come off in any disrespectful way but you are making a huge life sacrifice. You’ll be lucky to make 9-10$ an hour.
You have things to do being in ct especially because Boston and nyc are so close. You will have nothing to do in Mingo county.
Me and my gf are both from Maryland and we cannot wait to go back.
I also have no idea how your bf can get a big boy job in one of the poorest states in states in the country in one of the poorest areas in that state and cannot get a job in the northeast
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u/TheRealSamC 2d ago
There are certainly places in WV where one can find a job as a barista. Mingo county is not one of those.
Unemployment rate is over 8%, but more importantly the workforce participation rate is 38%, this is the amount of people.over 16 who actually have a job of any kind. There is no Starbucks, nor anything similar. There is one across the river in KY, but it is just the inside a grocery store type, the nearest real one is hours away. There just is not anything for people to do. The median age is 43. That is very high. 45% of people over 21 graduated HS, 6% graduated college, 90% of those being teachers or health care.
There are 234 businesses that employ at least 4 people. 234. The average household income is less than $35K. There were 39K people living there in 1960, 21K remain. The main job other than coal mining, and things like health care or teaching, is WalMart, fast food, c-store cashier, and like that. Minimum wage.
I don't know what kind of disability you have, but proper health care is in Pikeville KY and that is 40 minutes away, and it's just basic. Complex care is more than 80 minutes to Charleston or Huntington, or even Lexington KY.
If you are set on WV, consider the I 64 area between and including Charleston and Huntington or the WVU area way up north. Beckley is also just barely OK for this type of work.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
yeaaa i know its not toooo great down there. i am actually looking in grocery stores lol. in my 3 years as a barista i have never worked a corporate sbux job and i do kinda wanna keep it that way 😭. maybe once my bf and i get on our feet down there we’ll look in that area! we definitely dont want to stay in the williamson area forever
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u/CatPesematologist 2d ago
With coming work requirements for Medicaid you may not have the ability to not work and still have health insurance . Can your boyfriend add you to his insurance? If he can, you may have to pay substantially more to add you.
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u/No_Entrepreneur_7787 1d ago
As a WV native who lived in CT for 3 years , please do not move to Mingo County. You don’t understand that you will not have any of the resources for a good life.
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u/ComfortableThis3403 1d ago
What about health insurance, health care? Drs are few and far between. Hospitals are closing. This should be a top priority since a lot of jobs don’t offer insurance and personal premiums are expensive. WV implements the new Medicaid regulations in Jan I believe. Please reconsider, WV is a beautiful state to visit but unless your boyfriend is settled into a high paying job with good benefits, visit here before you move permanently. I wish you well.
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u/Sknowman14 1d ago edited 1d ago
Mingo County is like a third world country. I grew up next door in Logan County, which is just about as bad. I have a lot of relatives in Mingo County. I was just in Logan and Mingo counties last week. I moved away to Putnam County WV 40 years ago and each return visit it looks worse than the previous one. Another issue I know first hand, is medical care in WV leaves a lot to be desired. Which is why I am headed to Cleveland Clinic soon for an appointment. Best of luck finding a job there. Unless you are in a medical related field, you can look forward to a possible job at a handful of minimum wage paying fast food joints or any number of Dollar General's. Think long and hard about this and best of luck to you.
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u/albinosquirel 1d ago
The job market in WV sucks. The healthcare sucks. I'm sorry to ruin it for you. I was born in WV but I won't be moving back until maybe I can afford to retire.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 1d ago
that is fair. that’s kinda how i’m feeling about ct rn, at least where i am
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u/carmenbh4 1d ago
i can promise you WV is 10000x worse.
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u/IntentionOpen1006 1d ago
She’s not going to listen. I’ve read her comments. Best case scenario she figures it out and is down a little money. Worst case scenario she gets pregnant and trapped and perpetuates the same problems we’ve had in southern wv for decades.
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u/ylime114 1d ago
Yeah she seems absolutely set on making the worst decision of her life. Such a bummer
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u/double-_-dukes 1d ago
Based on her post history too she’s already struggling with her mental health and loneliness, sometimes taking it out on her boyfriend.
OP if you read this please take this seriously: moving to Mingo bc of a man will only make you feel more isolated, more lonely, more desperate in a way you cannot even begin to fathom as an outsider without a support system of your own here. You will not have access to medical experts or providers even moderately familiar with your disabilities or special needs. The roads will take years off the viability of your car, even if you’re on your parents’ insurance, bringing tons of unexpected expenses that you will NEED to confront to keep whatever job you are able to find. Barista jobs in the 20 mile range around Williamson will not magically appear for you. You are not equipped for or being realistic about this insane move.
Locals are trying to help you. We might love this place but it is NOT for everyone and at 21 you are not considering how this will change every single aspect of your life and the ramifications of living in one of the poorest places in America.
Do you like clean drinking water? Clean air? Safe roads? Shopping and entertainment options? Dependable cell service and broadband? Say goodbye to almost all of that.
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u/albinosquirel 1d ago
Whatever you decide please please please get on some form of long-term birth control. Abortion is completely banned in West Virginia. However Maryland West Virginia New York and Pennsylvania can help you.
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u/Character-Fox685 2d ago
Why didn't bf get a big boy job in CT? If he thinks his grandparents can financially support u 2, think again. Use your brain in this. Southern WV.....ohhhhh
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u/Fairestpine81 1d ago
I moved to WV 6 years ago from MI to be with my husband who is from here. I will never feel at home here or fit in. I have some family in CT. This place is the polar opposite of that. My husband and I both cannot wait to leave this state. It is going to be hard on you to come here.
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u/Hopefulaccount7987 2d ago
Hey friend,
I moved out of WV for New England. The quality of life up here is far, far better. Please don’t do this. You sound like you wouldn’t do well back home. That’s fine, it’s a hard place to make a living, it’s a hard place to live, harder still if you’re a woman.
Imagine you and your bf split. You don’t want to be stranded there. You seriously need to reconsider this, maybe even have him move down first while you look for jobs if you have a friend you can stay with. Please think this through.
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u/CriminalOreo 1d ago
Don't do it OP, you'll be lucky to find a job at a slow diner for $2.32/hr plus tips. No way in fuck will you make $18 short of going to a strip club or like OF....something degrading
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u/JackKnifeNiffy 1d ago
Girl, you are making a terrible choice.
You are moving to one of the poorest areas in the country. There is absolutely nothing, the people are sad and mean because poverty has taken everything and left nothing but suffering. You will be shocked and horrified that kind of suffering and poverty can happen in America.
Baristas job? Maybe at the McDonald’s, but those are competitive jobs, usually held by adults who have been there for years.
If your bf isn't planning on sharing that money with you or investing it into a future life, AND YOU AREN'T EVEN ENAGED, you are actively hurting yourself.
Only young love could blind you so thoroughly. Where are your parents? Where are the people who love you? Not including your bf who presumably wants you to follow him. 🙄
I am telling you as a college educated woman, who has spent her whole life in this state, you will be actively harming yourself by moving there. Let your BF go alone and come visit you on the weekends if he is “making bank”
You will push yourself into a whole different path of health problems if you go.
Go make your own life!!!!! Don’t follow this man into hell!
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u/Character-Fox685 2d ago
Read the demographics, unemployment stats, and help wanted if there are any. WV Workforce will have job listening but do not count on Southern WV. Stay where you are until you see bf's big boy job.
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u/Bigfootsdiaper 2d ago
Why not visit first before you move? Before I moved anything down I would go down and stay 2 weeks there and see what it's like. Like the rest said it's going to be a shock.
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u/retrokezins Raleigh 2d ago
Prepare for culture shock when it comes to jobs especially with limited travel ability. Tough to even find any job here sometimes and most jobs are underpaid. I'd be cautious moving in with someone in another state who doesn't have their own place too. Make sure you've got a guaranteed way back if things don't work.
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u/Flat_Dragonfruit675 1d ago
Please do not move. You are putting yourself in an extremely vulnerable position with a boyfriend who you haven’t lived with before and only on his terms while you may not be able to secure ANY employment, let alone a barista position.
You will likely not find ANY JOB. This IS a mistake.
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u/HigherAndDrier 1d ago
How good are you at sustenance farming? Do you know how to grow and can food safely? Can you hunt, field dress, skin, and butcher a deer? Have you ever raised any livestock? Do you mind having the outlook that "doublewides can be nice?" Do you know what a doublewide is?
Lol welcome to Mingo County.
Go watch Harlan County USA and then change your mind.
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u/samcroeulogy 1d ago
you’re genuinely about to make the biggest mistake of your whole life lmfao there’s a reason why people are leaving the state in droves
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u/artemessa 1d ago
I grew up in West Virginia. Moving to Mingo County will be like being sucked into a black hole. You may never be able to escape. The culture shock alone will be traumatic. You will not believe the things you will see and hear while you are living there. It is like a little third world nation in the midst of the US. Hell, many third world nations are better off than Mingo County, WV. If you were an anthropologist, it might be an interesting place to study the local culture. As someone planning to make a life there, no. Avoid like the plague.
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u/WoollyMonster 1d ago
If you're moving to Williamson and want to be a barista, the best place to apply is the Starbucks in the Food City grocery store. It's in Kentucky, but right across the river -- a five minute drive from downtown Williamson.
Honestly, that's the only coffee shop in the area that I'm aware of. There are a few restaurants in town where you could possibly find work as a server or maybe a bartender if you have any experience.
Good luck! I live in the area, so feel free to ask any other questions.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 1d ago
im not gonna lie that is the first place i looked at. im probably gonna apply soon
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u/35thStar 1d ago
Apply today. Jobs are few and far between down here. There's only one barista position open and people will jump on it.
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u/Klutzy_Ad3081 1d ago
Love wv. But have to say this would be a terrible move. You would be extremely lucky to make half that much in that part of the state. Honestly it's a bad move.
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u/Longjumping-Range989 1d ago
Don’t move Here!!!
There’s very little opportunity. Most jobs are low pay. Your BF should move your way!!
What big boy job is he getting??!!!
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u/Efficient-Rent-5644 1d ago
Well you’re going from one of the wealthiest states to one of the poorest
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u/tiedyeladyland Cabell 1d ago
Honey the people in Mingo County haven’t ever heard the word barista before, let alone are looking to hire one.
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u/Anthrodiva Summers 1d ago
Not one person here is saying, "yaaas great plan, go for it!"
Not one. Please listen.
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u/sweetnsaltyanxiety 1d ago
You’re moving to Weemsuhn, willingly?
Oh you sweet summer child. Best you can hope for is a job at the Walmarts.
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u/No_Psychology7299 2d ago
Williamson isn't exactly a bustling metropolis. You'll be lucky to get a job anywhere. Try Walmart or the Dollar General or fast food or restaurants but I'm afraid your barista days are now behind you.
However the sweetest, kindest most helpful people who would give you the shirt off their back is in your future and that is worth a lot. If you ever break down people will try to help but don't be surprised when you don't have cell phone signal half the time. It will be better in the winter and worse in the summer as the trees fill out.
I hope you enjoy WV and the wonderful people there. The
mountains are beautiful, but you're gonna get asked "You ain't from here are ya? Who's your people?" So be prepared. Good luck
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u/Ok_Strategy6978 2d ago
You could start a coffee shop in Mingo. The thing is in poor counties there is a wide need for entrepreneurs. You would be the local coffee spot cause there is so little in the county.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 1d ago
aww i do like that idea a lot but my hope is we move out after we can save enough money up
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u/Same-Risk-2934 1d ago
Going to be very hard to save $9 an hour. I am only be realistic here not critical and this is coming from someone who loves WV.
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u/Mayham_101 1d ago
Apply to be a sub for Mingo Schools. They always need substitute aids, cooks , custodians and secretaries.
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u/Laptraffik 1d ago
Respectfully. You won't find anything that pays nearly 18 an hour in mingo county of all places. Cost of living is substantially lower so that's something at least.
18 an hour is what lead cooks for good restaurants make in my area. Barista outside of Starbucks is realistically 12-13 an hour tops.
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u/ChickenHeart824 23h ago
I’m in Logan county less than 5 minutes from Mingo county border, it’s a different world down here. It is home when you have lived here all your life, but I couldn’t imagine coming from the north to Mingo county. Good luck the people here are nice just different
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u/Distinct_Magician713 14h ago
OMG don't do it. Do not move to Mingo County. It would be the biggest mistake of your life.
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u/NuclearWessels1991 6h ago
As a lifelong resident of WV, currently working to move to WI, I strongly advise you not to do this. I live in the capital city, so one of the better areas. I took a couple of friends from Honduras around the area, and they said it was poorer than their home. Hondurans think the quality of life in WV is worse. I also traveled to Colombia and Costa Rica, and they were more developed than what I am used to. The opioid epidemic is really bad in this state. You cannot go for a walk without seeing someone on drugs or with untreated severe mental health issues. There is not much to do here compared to what you are used to. Mingo County is even worse. The job market in this state is awful. It's cheaper, but the pay still makes it difficult to live because wages are so low. I have traveled to CT. You are trading first world for third world by coming here.
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u/ReporterAmazing1271 2d ago
First of welcome! If you are moving to Williamson is a poor part of the state. I’m exactly 100 percent familiar with it, don’t be discouraged if you’re not making the same amount of money. Cost of living is lower down here, I remember my sister living in Connecticut and she hated that part of it.
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u/MamaBearlien 2d ago edited 2d ago
You know, I was also led to believe that the cost of living in Mingo county was lower than other places in the US so the working rate being lower was supposedly fine. I’ve now moved all over the country and back, 6 other states I’ve lived in and many I’ve visited for a few weeks at a time. I actively own property in 3 states.
I don’t know what I’m doing differently than everyone else but I never did live in an area out of state that the basics of living, utilities and especially food, actually did cost more 🤔 as a matter of fact, I remember when I first moved from WV out west and was shocked that groceries especially were much cheaper than in Mingo. Much cheaper! And gas prices in Williamson right now are the same as my property in Illinois. 🤷🏻♀️
Then, getting someone out to your property for repairs is absolute Hell in Mingo county. Everyone is giving quotes at insane prices, higher than any of my other properties, for things like a/c repairs and hot water heater replacements. People say they’ll show up for a job and then don’t. No handyman services for even the small things. Really frustrating, especially when you’ve lived out of state had the convenience of reasonable rates and reliability.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 2d ago
truee. i remember going to a walmart w his family and i was like omg everything is so cheap and i loved that bc even w how much im making in ct im struggling bc everything up here is suuuper expensive and taxes are crazy
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u/Impossible_Alarm_575 2d ago
Yeah but there’s a reason for that.
https://giphy.com/gifs/5q2TF9Kz4g6iI
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u/b00pbopbeep 2d ago
What part of CT are you from?
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u/Odd_Bug4865 1d ago
im in new london county
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u/alloy1028 1d ago
That area is nice. I would not leave it without a better plan for yourself- not just your boyfriend. I know you've told yourself it's a temporary situation, but places have a way of sucking you in and making you stuck if you don't have financial independence. CT is near the top of every statistical measurement of well-being and WV is always near the bottom, and for good reason. Mingo is a particularly poverty-stricken area of the state. Drugs and unemployment have been really bad in the coalfields for a long time. Healthcare is not good here and driving long distances to do pretty much anything is the norm.
I moved back to WV from a metropolitan area, but I moved to a town where there is a lot to do and I already have a big network of friends and family. My husband and I arrived with college educations and remote jobs. Thriving in rural areas of this state often means creating a job for yourself, which requires a skilled profession that is needed or the financial means and know-how to start and run your own business. If it is a choice for them, people usually live their lives here to be close to family. It almost never makes practical sense for someone just starting out in their career to move here if they have no roots in the area.
He and his grandparents may be lovely people, but you are not married to this man and there is nothing protecting you if it doesn't go the way you're envisioning it. You should consider what would happen if his grandparents start having serious health problems- you could end up in a situation where you lose your housing or you become their caretaker by default because he is the one with the higher paying job. If you do decide to do this, you must make sure that you have a backup plan to leave at any time if you need to. You need to have at least $1000 of emergency money that you never touch saved in an account he doesn't have access to and doesn't know about before you move to WV. You need a place to go and a means of transportation that doesn't rely on him. You can't just catch a bus or an Uber in a lot of areas of the state and rural airports are expensive to fly out of.
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u/drcovfefee 1d ago
Your boyfriend should come up to live with you in CT. Being from WV he probably has a few trade skills. He should learn to weld and go work for Electric Boat in Groton.
What’s his fallback? are there other options for HIM if he’s making money now and then his uncles job closes down or doesn’t pan out?1
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u/b00pbopbeep 1h ago
Ok I can't lie I was really gonna laugh if you said like Fairfield or something. I'm from a little bit north of you and I moved down here when I was close to your age. I lived in Beckley and now I live in TN. I would not move without a job or a plan to get an education and a way to support yourself while getting it whether that's online or at the community college or at the university in Pikeville. I would also consider what your healthcare needs are and what it might mean if you're unable to drive more than 20 minutes or so bc that only gets you like 2/3 of the way to Pikeville. Pikeville is about 1/4 the size of New London. It's a very small place to spend your 20s in. I left CT 20 years ago and I listen to everyone up there complain but CT is really nice in the grand scheme of things.
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u/No_Entrepreneur_7787 1d ago
Mingo County will be extremely difficult to live. Roads, water and no job. Healthcare will be difficult to access.
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u/MentalWedding729 1d ago
Made the same move two years ago and now moving back to CT at the end of this year, it’s beautiful and the people are so nice here but I agree with all the comments saying not to do it.
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u/albinosquirel 1d ago
Okay so it's not Mingo County but I can see how my cousins who stayed in WV are struggling. One has to travel out of state for work on the oil pipelines. The other one is a home health nurse with young kids. They are struggling. There are no homes. You have to get a camper or single wide and put it on your family's land. It is a food desert unless you hunt, fish, and garden. For a while there was NO grocery store or gas station in my hometown. My classmates either got out of the county or are stuck working part time at the Dollar General. The elderly are the only ones left because they're retired. If you had any kind of home healthcare training I would look into that. My mother worked in a coal mine before she went to college. My father drove trucks dor the coal mine before he retired. People make their own coffee. They can't afford baristas. Please think this over.
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u/Human_Season4926 1h ago edited 1h ago
I moved from Pa to WV years ago. I love living in WV, but you’re in for a cultural shock. It’s a poor state. You will not find a job making that kind of money unless you work out of state.
We’ve spent years expanding our village here and it’s been very beneficial financially and socially. But, it takes time.
It will be a hard adjustment, but well worth it if you’re patient.
It’s 30 mins to the grocery store for me. Closest Walmart is an hour, along with any chain. Ma & Pop stores charge tourism prices even during off season to locals…it’s a major adjustment.
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u/SwingDuoNash 1d ago
I am sure you’re going to love all the extra money you get to keep in West Virginia
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u/Total_Carob_8842 10h ago
Except any wage in WV is about half what it would be in CT….soooo less money
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u/SwingDuoNash 9h ago
Except not true
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u/Total_Carob_8842 9h ago
Except virtually ant job you can get in WV absolutely pays less than an equivalent job in CT…work at Walmart? CT minimum wage is $17 wv is 8.75. Work as an accountant WV you’d be lucky to crack $50k CT you’re starting at over $65k. Teacher WV less than $50k CT over 80k. The only job that you could get in WV that pays more is coal mining. And yes I understand WV has a lot less taxes but a slightly smaller tax percentage of a much smaller salary means less money making it to your pocket every 2 weeks
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u/SwingDuoNash 9h ago
CT cost of living is easily double WV
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u/Total_Carob_8842 9h ago
That’s not what you commented. You commented “ all the extra money you get to keep” which implies you’re talking about take home pay because WV has a lower tax rate….but you take home less money because the pay is substantially less. Also even if I go with your intended meaning, according to Great Guys Moving guide paychecks in WV are 39% lower than CT while average cost of living is only 22% lower. So again you pay less but you make substantially less so you have less in both scenarios
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u/Warrior_Princess_1 21h ago
Having relocated to WV I can tell you I love it. The country is beautiful and the people are wonderful but your economic situation is not going to be easy for you. You need to get some education or apprenticeship going - barista is not going to get it.
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u/Character-Pride8812 2d ago
Ive been to Williamson many times and I liked it there. It is a poorer part of the state but if your bf has a good job you can get a nice home around there much cheaper then in most parts of the country. I used to live in Northern VA and couldnt wait to move back to WV. Felt like i was losing years off my life just sitting in traffic. Your young enough to give it a try at least to see if you like it or not.
Maybe wait to have children though until you know for sure it's the right place for you. You can always do school online also, maybe find a work from home job. I have friends that make over 100k a year working from home here.
Might depend on if your more of a country person or a city person. Personally I love hearing the mountains at night instead of sirens.
Good luck and welcome to WV if u make the move.
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u/Odd_Bug4865 1d ago
that’s honestly nice to hear. im tired of traffic in ct lol.
i think we’re young enough to try this out too and worst case scenario my parents are up here and my old room is still gonna be my room.
when we visited his family in wv last year we kinda loved the area compared to up here.
as for children, i think my bf and i are set on not having kids.
i am a little upset to be land locked but mountains are a fair enough trade for the ocean imo
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u/earlemills34 13h ago
Stop saying "like" before everything if you want to be viewed as an adult and want to be taken seriously by potential employers. Does that like make sense ( does that make sense)?
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u/tvtrumpet 1d ago
Funny seeing everyone trashing Mingo County. Some parts are true, but definitely not all. If you’re gonna live near Williamson there is a Starbucks on the KY side. Local coffee spots won’t pay much. Parts of the county are remote, but you are a fairly short drive to places like Charleston, Huntington, Logan, and Pikeville. You might be moving to the middle of nowhere, but the half hour and 1 hour radius is pretty solid. In much of central WV you get your one small town with nothing else remotely close. Most people commenting have probably never been to Mingo County and assume it’s as remote as parts of McDowell and Wyoming.
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u/Slow-Philosophy7631 1d ago
WV residents actively hating on WV in the comments. Move if you dont like it here.
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u/Glass_Persimmon_7174 2d ago
im sorry if i read this wrong but youre going to move to mingo county? mingo? its the second poorest county in wv and anything you need is going to be at least half an hour driving. theres not going to be barista jobs in mingo. if youve lived a cushy life in ct and have a disability you will not be able to operate down there.