(made this thread in "Around the Nation" too, but thought this might be an equally relevant place to look for advice)

I have an opportunity to simply leave my current rented home in Sacramento anytime in the next couple months and move to the nearby Tahoe ski area, so I thought I might go ahead and do it while I'm young (will be 25 this month). I was actually already offered a part time ski instructor job at Northstar last weekend, and am working on finding a waiter or bartender job now to make sure I'll have enough to cover my expenses. My rent and overall cost of living should actually be going down by several hundred dollars a month compared to downtown Sac and considering the free time spent using my free ski pass, equipment, and other discounts.

I've heard from some friends a few things to keep in mind and make sure of as a seasonal person moving up there for the first time (like health insurance, getting hours in case snow is bad since I'm PT, etc), but I figured since I always run into a million Texans on the slopes in Colorado and Cali I'd ask if anyone else has any advice on making this transition for a season (or longer!).

I just got a job offer from them to be a snowmaker in Keystone. I wanted to do it but I dont think I am going to be able to get there by the start date. I am bummed.

I worked winters in Vail when I was done with football and had a blast. I spent what I made, but I enjoyed my trip also, we treated it like a vacation. Ski Instructor would be different, as your pay is higher plus the tips you receive. I know a lot of the ski instructors and ski patrol that worked at Vail were full time and rotated between USA & Southern Hemisphere countries, so they did it year round.

I was offered an assistant manager job once I got out of school and had the same dilemma as you, but compared to the offers I got the money wasn't even close, and after supporting myself through college I needed to get into the working world and get debt paid down. It's one of those things that on one hand I wish I would have done, on the other, I'm glad I am where I am today. I can say during those winter breaks up there I met people from all over the world, some I still keep in contact with today, and that was 15 years ago.

I would say if money isn't a concern to you, go do it because it's an experience of a lifetime.