PING: Lexington, KY Residents/Knowledgeable People

[Ksyrup]

For circumstances completely out of my control, I'm in the process of looking for a new job. The search has been progressing slowly for the past couple of months, but has produced one offer in town (Tallahassee) which I am holding off on while I pursue some other opportunities to see whether they might lead to offers as well.

One of those other opportunities kinda fell into my lap about a week ago as a complete surprise. I met up with an attorney I just recently began working with as co-counsel on a Florida matter, and he and I started talking about my "situation" and offered to either give me a recommedation or, if I was interested, to talk further with him about an opportunity with his firm. He's based in the Lexington office of a multi-state firm, and that's where I would be as well.

So, I'm looking for some info/opinions, etc., on Lexington and Kentucky in general. The extent of my travels in Kentucky have been up I-75 to Detroit. That's about it. Info on cost of living, housing prices, nice areas to live, places to avoid, school districts, etc., would be greatly appreciated. I'm still not sure if I'm going to ultimately make such a huge jump, which would require uprooting the family, selling and buying a house, and taking another state's bar (ugh), but for some reason, I feel strangely compelled to take this more seriously than I otherwise would. It may come down to taking a safe job here in town with a single-office firm where I would be one of several experienced associates (which may not bode well for the future), or saying "fuck it" and taking this opportunity in a new state with a bigger firm and more opportunity.

Any thoughts from the attorneys on the board who have made a big decision like this and (especially) had to take another bar exam after so many years? That's really my biggest concern - re-learning the multi-state stuff and getting back into the swing of studying after 10 years. And of course the whole uprooting the family thing. Until we got married, my wife and lived in the same house in South Florida for 25 years. Although I've spent 13 years here, I used to move around fairly regularly, so I think part of my interest in this is getting the old moving itch I used to scratch quite often when I was growing up.

Thanks in advance.

[SFL Cat]

Louisville is a great town. Lexington is nice too, but a little small for my tastes. As for cost of living, it's a lot less than Florida, let me tell you -- even though you do have to pay state income tax.

[Ksyrup]

You get to deduct state income tax from federal income tax, right? So even though I'd be paying it over the year, I'd still have it factored into a federal refund I guess.

[Ksyrup]

It looks like Lexington is roughly the same size as Tallahassee - somewhere around 250K I think. Plus, it looks like Cincy is fairly close. By comparison, I'm 2.5 hours from Pensacola and Jacksonville, 4 hours from Orlando, 5 hours from Atlanta and Tampa, and 6-7 hours from Ft. Lauderdale/Miami.

[amdaily]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=40899&highlight=lexington+kentucky

[SFL Cat]

Yes, your state taxes are deductable from federal income tax.

Lexington has a very small town feel to it, which you may like...or if you're more urban minded, you may not. Personally, I like Louisville better, but Lexington's not a bad place. It does have lot's of nice scenery, and it is centrally located in the state.

[Ksyrup]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=40899&highlight=lexington+kentucky

Thanks!

[Hawglaw]

Thanks!


KSyrup...

I made this exact same move. I was recruited out of state, had to take another bar exam, and moved to a new legal market not knowing a soul.

PM me. I can probably help you...

[Buccaneer]

I lived in the Lexington area before moving to Colorado and pretty much the only good thing I can say is that the Bluegrass region is very beautiful. Had no experience with the housing market there, though.

[Ksyrup]

KSyrup...

I made this exact same move. I was recruited out of state, had to take another bar exam, and moved to a new legal market not knowing a soul.

PM me. I can probably help you...

Cool. When I get some time later, I'll PM you.

[Ksyrup]

Does anyone know a good site with general demographic information for certain cities? Median age, income, census numbers, etc.?

[Draft Dodger]

Does anyone know a good site with general demographic information for certain cities? Median age, income, census numbers, etc.?

wikipedia usually has some quick and dirty info

[Buccaneer]

I have always liked to play around with this

http://www.moving.com/Find_a_Place/Compare2Cities/

[cougarfreak]

I live about 90 miles north of Lexington, I'm a high school teacher and baseball coach.............PM me if you want school info, or some opinions. I travel to Lexington often for games, meetings, etc.

[GrantDawg]

No offense to anyone that loves Kentucky, but it is a boring little city in the middle of a boring state. Lousville is pretty neat, though.

[Ksyrup]

I live a boring life. Sounds like a match.

[Poli]

Maybe you can hang out with my uncle in Berea. Okay, maybe not. :)

[amdaily]

Does anyone know a good site with general demographic information for certain cities? Median age, income, census numbers, etc.?


http://www.city-data.com/city/Lexington-Fayette-Kentucky.html

[Craptacular]

Does anyone know a good site with general demographic information for certain cities? Median age, income, census numbers, etc.?

Maybe too obvious, but ... census.gov

The QuickFacts selection on the right side of the homepage is a good place to start.

[TargetPractice6]

I live in Lexington, but I'm not sure how helpful I would be.

[WVUFAN]

Maybe you can hang out with my uncle in Berea. Okay, maybe not. :)

I went to school at Berea College. Nice little town.

[Ksyrup]

Anyone else have any further feedback on the Lexington area? I just had a serious discussion with the guy I'd be working for and things are looking pretty good. I may be visiting in the next week or so.

Aside from having to take the bar exam, my biggest issue might be having to deal with a crappy college football team and a great college basketball team. It's like doing a 180 from what I experience in Tallahassee. As far as housing goes...wow. It looks like, given what we'd make on our current house, we could end up with twice the house for about the same mortgage payment. With some cash left over.

[Swaggs]

How is your family taking the news?

[Ksyrup]

In terms of immediate family, not bad. And I've still got an open offer to stay in Tallahassee, so it looks like it may come down to one extreme or the other. My parents are in Texas, so moving to Kentucky wouldn't be a big deal to them. My wife's parents, on the other hand, live in Jacksonville and I suspect they would be pretty much devastated.

I just came from another meeting with the Tally firm and they're making it an even more difficult decision. Assuming the Lexington thing comes to fruition with an attractive offer, I have no idea what we're going to decide.

[Tigercat]

I know how that is, going to Lexington as a football fan more than a basketball fan. But the city and the people love sports enough that I think you will be ok. Much better than living in a town that doesn't have any sports at all. And it can be fun to laugh at all the new ways UK finds to lose football games. Although after the bluegrass miracle my LSU gear gave me evil looks around town.

[SFL Cat]

In Kentucky, football is that game they play until basketball season starts.

[Ksyrup]

In Kentucky, football is that game they play until basketball season starts.

I guess that's an improvement from what they think of basketball here. It's basically football season 12 months a year in this city.

[scooper]

In Kentucky, football is that game they play until basketball season starts.

This is true, but they still pack their stadium on saturdays and the tailgating and atmosphere are enjoyable. The team stinks, but it's an SEC program, with big programs coming in. If you look past the scoreboard, football Saturdays in Lexington is enjoyable.

Besides, you'd be just 1 1/2 hour from the Bengals on Sundays. :D

[scooper]

If it matters, that area of KY is pretty country, and you don't have to go far out of town to find some open space.

[Ksyrup]

This is true, but they still pack their stadium on saturdays and the tailgating and atmosphere are enjoyable. The team stinks, but it's an SEC program, with big programs coming in. If you look past the scoreboard, football Saturdays in Lexington is enjoyable.

Besides, you'd be just 1 1/2 hour from the Bengals on Sundays. :D

Or more importantly for me, 1 1/2 hour from something closely approximating major league baseball.

Come to think of it...the Wildcats football program might be the equivalent of the Reds, without the history.

[TargetPractice6]

In Kentucky, football is that game they play until basketball season starts.Cute sayings aside, football is more popular here than many people give it credit for.

[Ksyrup]

Well, I may officially be accepting a job in Lexington by the end of the day tomorrow. This is, without a doubt, the biggest risk I've ever taken in my adult life. It's very exciting, but also scary as hell at the same time. The next six months are going to be difficult - adjusting to a new job and city, selling and buying a house, and studying for and taking another bar exam. Not to mention the whole moving thing. I think I'm about to pass out.

[wade moore]

Well, I may officially be accepting a job in Lexington by the end of the day tomorrow. This is, without a doubt, the biggest risk I've ever taken in my adult life. It's very exciting, but also scary as hell at the same time. The next six months are going to be difficult - adjusting to a new job and city, selling and buying a house, and studying for and taking another bar exam. Not to mention the whole moving thing. I think I'm about to pass out.

Based on the situation you just got out of, it seems to me that a change of scenery could really do you and your family some good.

[Ksyrup]

There may be something to that on a subconscious level. Just looking at it from a professional and personal perspective, I think the move will be win/win - we'll be able to roughly double the size of our house in an area that's not that much different from where we are, and I'll be with a solid firm in a good situation to grow my practice.

[Swaggs]

Bump... any news on this?

[Eaglesfan27]

There may be something to that on a subconscious level. Just looking at it from a professional and personal perspective, I think the move will be win/win - we'll be able to roughly double the size of our house in an area that's not that much different from where we are, and I'll be with a solid firm in a good situation to grow my practice.

I'm also making some huge moves in my professional and personal life (but not quite as big.) I hope it works out well for both of us.

[Ksyrup]

It's not the end of the day yet.

I'm not sure if it will be official today or tomorrow, frankly. But I think it will get done.

[INDalltheway]

It's not the end of the day yet.

I'm not sure if it will be official today or tomorrow, frankly. But I think it will get done.
Good luck with everything! I will be playing baseball in the Louisville area Friday through Tuesday if anyone wants to see some high school baseball. :)

[FrogMan]

It's not the end of the day yet.

I'm not sure if it will be official today or tomorrow, frankly. But I think it will get done.

hey, I just got caught up with this here, sounds good and I agree, a change of scenery could do you much good.

Good luck!

FM

[Ksyrup]

It'll be official in the morning. We're driving up next Thursday and spending 4 days house-hunting and getting familiar with the area.

[FrogMan]

sweet, good news :)

FM

[Craptacular]

Good luck!

[SFL Cat]

Cute sayings aside, football is more popular here than many people give it credit for.

I'm not saying football isn't popular. I've always liked football better than basketball and I was Kentucky born and raised. Heck, I was much better at playing football than basketball (Although I seem to play basketball better now in my 40s than I ever did as a kid in HS, so go figure). But you can't deny that Kentucky, first and foremost, is a basketball state.

[Ksyrup]

OK, so about the only bluegrass I'm comfortable with is Nickel Creek. I hope that doesn't cause a problem.

In other words...it's official!

[Eaglesfan27]

Congratulations Ksyrup! :)

[Butter]

Congrats, and good luck on the move! I'm through Lexington all the time on my drive to South Carolina to visit the in-laws, so I'll be sure to wave.

[JeeberD]

Congrats and best of luck!

[FrogMan]

congratulations!

FM

[Swaggs]

Congrats on landing back on your feet so quickly.

I hope you enjoy the new locale.

[Ksyrup]

Thanks, guys. I'm guessing you won't be seeing me as often around here for the foreseeable future. I might need someone to pass the torch to for the child molester thread.