Pros
The place and people are extraordinary here at First Federal. I wanted to work close to the mountains, forests, and ocean, and I wanted to work with capable, nice people. I got both. I knew I would be rewarded with summits and the sea after working on the Olympic Peninsula for much of my adult life. I chose First Federal over other banks because I knew from customers that my coworkers would be good, capable, and wholesome people. Working with nice people was certainly a priority in my job search, and I was right to choose First Federal for a fantastic set of colleagues. I am proud to work for a community bank that is close to the people it serves and motivated to stay close to our home towns instead of exporting people and profits. I have two master’s degrees and have found as much intellectual challenge working for this bank as I am willing to take on. I am very happy to live where millions of people every year visit Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest, the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge, the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and many other spectacular destinations between them.
Cons
I went to school in New Haven, Connecticut, and New York City. I love the city. I lived in Manhattan and was in love with the subway, night life, and spirited conversations to be had all over the city. I miss all of this, but Mount Olympus has replaced the Empire State Building as the highest summit around. Mountains, rivers, and the ocean are closer to my house than taking the A train from my apartment in Manhattan to Times Square. The trip from my house to Seattle is comparable to taking a Metro North train from New Haven to Grand Central. Living here makes financial sense: rent on my house on an acre of land is $775 a month, and my commute is 7 minutes. That’s the equivalent of a big compensation bonus in light of what have become outrageous rents in the cities. My friends in Seattle and other cities have significantly higher expenses which equate to a pay cut. I spent $1400/month on my one-bedroom in Manhattan in 2004-2005, so I appreciate the instant salary bonus of rural life, suburban work, and urban play. In real economic terms, it makes sense to work for this bank. Furthermore, I can be in forests in 20 minutes and climbing a mountain in 30 minutes. In real recreational terms, it makes sense to work for this bank.