Time to start a thread about bringing your family to the oil patch.

I don't want to be putting down someones home state. If I was from north Dakota I would be really angry reading a lot of these posts here. I've been in north dakota for 10 months because I have a mortgage in a state I was born and raised in therefore a place dear to my heart. I can't say I dislike north dakota, its just not my home. I've met some great people from north dakota. The people who are native here are living here for a reason, they love the lifestyle and the land. Its a good thing to be proud of where you come from. I'm not going to say this state has no culture or things to do. I'm sure a native north dakotan would be offended and disagree. There are plenty of things to do here if you are set up with land and extended family. Just hard to enjoy it here living in a trailer alone working 80 hours a week with no end in sight

 

That'd all true, I loved Texas when I ended up in DFW or Houston or another major town but out in west, I thought it I would be too risky for them IF I was working 17 hours away from them. ND - sorry I just didn't like the idea of the types of people who are like the people I ran into up in the great north west, desperate hard living people. It isn't about culture, Texas has Michigan beat on that but it is about safety.

 

I grew up in Fargo/Moorhead. There are reasons that North Dakota is a fly-over state.

In most instances, North Dakota is 20 years behind the rest of the country. It has a major out-migration issue. Family members are LEAVING North Dakota faster than they are coming back. To get a decent paying job, you must first leave ND and THEN come back.

I left in 2005 and won't go back. It was built on the backs of bonanza farms and the mentality of it is still there.

 

Wife and I have talked about it if I/we felt that it was right for us. I have a good gig for now, and we wouod have to sell our home though. We are just getting ready to start a family so I don't have children that have roots. I/we will do whatever I/we have to do to provide for our family, when the time comes.

 

I moved my wife and son with me to Midland. It worked out well because it's a decent size town with good schools and plenty of stores and restaurants to suit most needs. Out here everybody works in the oilfield, or they have relatives that do so we don't run into the discrimination I've heard about in ND.

After 14 months here my wife has developed asthma due to the dry and dusty air. Her doctor recommended a moister climate so we're moving to south TX. My company has a yard in George West with a man camp I can stay in for free. They work a 4/2 schedule so my plan is to find a place for the family in San Antonio (80 miles north) and I'll be home every four days. Most of the oil work is in small towns where it's very difficult to find homes. We should be able to rent a place for a little cheaper than what we're paying in Midland, plus we'll be able to enjoy the city on my days off.

My main concern is in trying to explain to a 6 year old that Daddy won't be home every night. I know some of you are apart from your kids for much longer than that, but I still worry about how he'll adjust.

 

He will adjust just fine I am sure. You have to do what you do to support your family.

 

Your little boy will be fine Ben Gunn. My daughter was 10 when Daddy left to go to ND...and on her birthday too! It was hard in the beginning...but kids are very resilient and they adjust. It still is a bit of a cry fest when he leaves, but not as bad as it was in the beginning. (He comes home every 4 weeks). You guys can always skype too. Communication is key. Even if it's just a quick text. He'll be fine.

 

You should be able to find housing much closer then San Antonio. George West is nice town. Beeville 19 miles away. Mathis. Three Rivers not so nice. Plenty of others.