My research has shown that the cost of living is significantly lower than here in SW Florida, which is rapidly moving up the list of the most expensive places to live, if you're a working man, that is. Apartments here are getting close to an average of a grand for a one-bedroom, which is onerous if the going wage is around $10/hour. McDonald's costs the same everywhere, and gas here seems to be about ten cents a gallon higher than up north. If wages are even slightly higher in Vegas, then this is a positive move.
Apartments there are available for >$700/mo for a one-bedroom. This is from online info, which is normally higher than one can find on the scene. Home prices, from people I've talked to, may be considerably less than here. Not surprising as the price for a house has risen nearly 300% in the past five years and shows few signs of slowing.
I don't know about wages. It can't be worse.
As for playing pro, that's a goal, but not the biggie, in my mind. I'm going there because I can play for higher stakes than I can in Florida. As a "part-time" job, I'd be better off in Vegas--or any other place where they have REAL casinos. With a maximum $2 bet in Florida, a realistic expectation of more than $2/hr is certainly possible given the poor play, but who wants to play for those stakes? Even a $10/20 or $15/$30 game at 1/2BB per hour would be a positive move up.
I'm not going to have the bankroll I'd like to take, but my plan is to work my way up. One thing I've promised myself is I will, absolutely WILL, take 10% of any win and put it aside, for future investment outside poker. I'm solid on this. One needs to think of this as a sole-proprietor business which requires capital and long-term planning. Keeping 10% would help me keep an eye on the bottom line, require me to play solid poker, and give me some long-term security.
Only those of us who really understand what this is all about, who have a professional attitude which includes making a solid game and working toward improvement know that it's not as much of a risk as it appears. My apprenticeship must end at some point and I become a journeyman. My goal is to become a master, no different than a master plumber or carpenter. I have to go where the customers are and charge them, accordingly, while keeping the competition from eating into my profits.
I have no family anymore. No "rake" or debt. I have little left to take with me. The truth is I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The greater risk is staying here, as there is absolutely no future where I am. Right time and right place. No one wants to be in the position I am in, soon to be homeless and knowing my earning time is coming to an end with the end of winter, but as Kris Kristofferson wrote and Janice sang, "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." I've got the freedom. Now, do I have the balls?
Thanks for the support, guys. Who knows, maybe I'll be successful and have a place where I can let my fellow BTP-ers crash when they come to challenge the Grande Dame of Poker, Vegas. (Expect Spartan accomodations and BYOB.)
CJ
mvp
That is not easy here in DR. I dont know ANY guy of that age doing that kind of money here, except a couple friends who inherited 124718493483204302USD and even getting 6% a year of their money would give them more than 120K.
and have always set high goals so I dont feel awfully bad when I get to 1/2 of them. Anyway, I am still 3.5+ years away from 30 and I really think it s achieveable for me. Now Poker has made it evenn easier because I know I can add 2500/month without it being a full time job.
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![[Js]](https://www.pofex.com/images/smilies/Js.gif "The Jack of Spades")
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