The hubby and I are thinking of relocating back to AMERICA from California, specifically the Dallas/ft. worth area of Texas. I was born and raised in NC, and CA is a little too crazy and out of control for my taste. We want to get out while we can.
Anyway, is there money to be made by a little ole' optician out there?
Any areas to avoid?
Any advice would be appreciated! :D
Have you ever been to this area? Do you have school aged children?
The nicer areas of Dallas are in the north and the suburbs with the best schools include Coppell, Flower Mound, Southlake, and Frisco.
Fort Worth and Dallas are very different, Fort Worth is more old west feeling. Dallas is modern with lots of shopping and restaurants.
The weather is nice in the Fall and Spring. Winters vary, we get some "northerners" that will drop the temps into the 20's and 30's but they don't last long. We have many days in January and Febuary that are in the 60's and 70's. The summers are very hot with most days in the upper 90's. We usually get several days over 100. It isn't as humid as Houston, but it isn't extemely dry either.
Texas is not a license state which means anyone can call themselves opticians. Check out the local Craigs List for an idea on local jobs. I think what people make are all over the board. Two of the present listings mention pay and I make more then either of them offer.
Sarah, i moved to Ft. Worth from Palm Springs 3 years ago for similar reasons. I have 3 young children and needed a reasonable place to raise them. I live in southwest Ft. Worth which is by and large mid to upper middle class living. Big change but I think you'd love it here. I know I do. There is a posting on the Jobs Forum by shellygirl for a job here in Ft. Worth. It sounds like it may be worth investigating. If you'd like any more ideas please let me know.
I've lived and worked in both Houston and Dallas. Both are nice places to live. Housing and most expenses are less here in Texas, no state tax. Pay varies GREATLY. You can make more than top licensed states, or barely over minimum. Houston tends to have higher pay than Dallas. There's more opticians in Dallas simply because of all the mega labs there. (Many lab rats go into retail when they top out their pay in wholesale.)
If you're interested in Houston, here's COAT's job bank for the area. Good Luck!
http://www.coat.tv/Job%20Bank.htm
I moved here from south Florida in 1988 and came back in 1992, I've been here ever since no matter where you live, most people are very friendly. In other words the cashier at the grocery store will smile and wish you a great day, your waitress will greet you and converse with you, a rarety in Ca. and Fl. I work for an Ophthalmology practice and they tend to want certified opticians so that can up the pay a little. Happy lady is right. It just depends where you work, private practice will pay more, but benefits might not be available.The bigger Ophthalmology practices like I work for will, just like anywhere else. There is alot of opportunity to get your CE'S the Two major labs are here, Hoya and Essillor, there is also ROATX. and organization that is pushing for liciensure in the state. They have an annual Meeting in San Antonio and great classes, and so does the buying group First Eyecare, they have a big shindig and classes here in Dallas where you can pick up alot of CE's as well. Lots of stuff for our industry. The main thing I love is even though there are two big citys there is alot of open spaces right within the citys.
My best to you and your family, when you get settled we will all have to meet somewhere. Ginny:D
Thank you for leaving California. We've suffered an influx of outsiders here for far too long. All you others, heed the above poster and never, never move to California, and if you do, make sure you stay south of Santa Cruz. By the way, you can move to Palm Springs as this is not part of real California.
Fine focus, you belong in California. Enjoy.
Haha! My thoughts exactly...and why I want to leave. If it werent for the Air Force I never would have went there...Darn husbandOriginally Posted by melvilletim
I am a misplaced southerner and I feel the need to be back around my own.
Being in California has threatened to make me less polite and "mannerly" as I am tested by rude people on a daily basis. I need to get out while I still can!
Thank you ALL for the wonderful advice. It will be a big move but worth it not only for me, but for my baby boy's future as well.
I love Texas! And I don't even live there!
I especially liked the hill area.
Only problem with Texas is that you can't find any decent opticians!
(couldn't resist, 24/7, Bob, and the rest of y'all!;))
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
Spoken like a true rock in a hard place person, I think your just jealous.:cheers: :cheers: There building my gas well, royalties are a comin, :cheers::cheers: Yee Haww...
Jealous? You bet!:cheers:
When it's -15 below here, I dream about Bandera, Houston, and Round Rock. I can't wait to hit the Palo Duro Canyon again and pull cactus thorns out of my bike tires. We've got a standing invitation to stay as long as we want at a ranch in Brady, and more friends still in San Antonio.
What I thought was really cool about Texas is that it is a country w/in itself. There is pride of state, as well as country. Folks aren't afraid to tell you what they think, regardless of whether they think you'll agree or not.
Jealous? Yeah...
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
This may be a oppurtunity for FezzJohns Inc, to expand its product line!
I am envisioning a whole line of FezzJohns, Inc. Cowboy hats and lassos!
You would have some luck in Ft.Worth but not so much in Dallas Fezz.
Its more urban retro in Dallas, Ft.Worth is still Cowtown. But bring it on and when you open your Country Beer bar, and need a singer for the band I'm your gal for the job. YeeHawww... :cheers::cheers:
Hubby and I agree that Texas is just really American. I mean, we stick out like sore thumbs out here in the LA area...I drive a BIG diesel Ford Excursion, we like guns and target shooting, and we are republicans...Everyone that lives in TX seems so proud to be there and I want that! I am not very proud of the state I live in currently....It is an absolute mess.
There ya go!:cheers:
Now Sarah, how many more reasons do you need to move to a real country?
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
In texas, I hear you can actually own ammunition for your gun.
There's a gun store across the street from my office. They get their ammo delivered on Wednesday mornings. They open at 8:00AM, and they are sold OUT by 10:30. Some Wednesdays there are folks waiting outside for them to open.In texas, I hear you can actually own ammunition for your gun.
The price is going up steadily, and I purchased a lot more than I usually keep on hand purely for speculation purposes.
Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry
Fezz, you owe me a new keyboard, just spewed coffee all over mine.....
Texans wearin' yankee cowboy hats! Now that's funny, i don't care who you are!
:D:cheers::bbg::cheers::D
A better idea
Think North Dakota
Low crime, low taxes, low real estate prices, excellent schools, freindly people, jobs. :D
Good, you're moving further away from me...Please be sure to take them with you.
-Tony
What's the saying? "Why not Minot? The Freezins' The Reason!"
Yep. That one hill they have is sorta impressive. Looks like the leftover from a WM construction site.:bbg::cheers::cheers::D
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
I don't think they want my family there since my dad and his brother burned down the state Capitol building long ago.
By accident. So they said.
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
Great! That is the kind of reaction that we want! We are ready to turn the retail world upside down, twist it, wring it out, flip it back over and smack it around a bit!!!!
I will e-mail you our prototypes of our new line of ostrich, crocodile, lama, and beer label inspired, pointy toed, cowboy boots! You Texans may be interested to hear that the matching frame line is in the works as well!
Off to the BeerSlide!
:D:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::D
Just talked to a lady from Fargo and found out the job market there is crazy, not enough workers for all the jobs. May need to check it out.
Also, they like guns there. Coyotes and prairie dogs all over. Phesents, grouse, ducks, geese, deer and a few antelope in the west.
P.S. Don't let people fool you!! It gets pretty d---d cold in Texas too.
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