To ALMOST quote BUTT REYNOLDS "a place to visit, ..but you wouldnt want to live here". I grew up in NW Iowa. Friendly people, once you get to know someone. After the Military my plan was to get a degree from the Univ of Iowa and then get the hell out. Got marriend and the wife wants to stay here. I see a lot of people move here from California, get bored and move back. If you move to Iowa expect things to be a bit slower. Trends usually get hear two or three years after they've hit the coasts. Many of the stores you take for granted aren't here yet. And the ones that are close earlier. After four years in the Military in North Carolina it took me almost three years to mellow out and get back in the Iowa groove. I'd say if you do move here Des Moines is the place to be. Knoxville has some cool dirt track racing. The winters can be damn cold, wind chills are the killer. When it comes to cars, rust is your worst enemy. It is a good place to raise kids. I grew up in a small town, 2000 people, and my parents knew where I was 24/7. Not because I told them but because family friends would report back to them, even if I'd been 8 towns over. The sea food here isn't great but the steak and pork chops are. Pro's and Con's, depends on whats important to you. I do miss the oceans, the mountains, auto parts stores with stuff I want, bikinis at the beach. Oh, if you move to Iowa and are single beware of what I call "Iowa Camoflauge". That's a big baggy shirt or sweat shirt that goes down to the knee's. It hides more than you think.
Well if you really want a change in cost of living....South Dakota is where to go ......actually not a bad place to live, but the winters blow....and there is occasionally the lack of stuff to do....
I thought Lukejivetalker was moving to Austin.......??? FONZI.....I'm contemplating moving to the midwest myself. The wife can't find a job here, and she want's to move. I'm doing a masive public relations campaign for the Midwest.......I just need to find a job out there.
I moved to the gulf coast in 99 from so-cal. I lived in Orange work in San Pedro and grew up in Alta Loma. I am here to stay I got on a plane meet a real-estate agent and bought a 2000 sqft house on an acre for 110K. As far as work goes, don't know much about the market out side of the marine industry. I am a big bore and marine propulsion mechanic. Lots of work for me here. We have about 3 huricanes every 100 years but we know when there coming unlike earthquakes. Car scence sucks it's a bunch of shiney fuzzy dice lost in the 50s fucks. They think black primer is bare metal. When you gonna paint it? tim
SamIYam is telling you true about NorCal, and much of what he says applies to the rest of the State. There are a wide range of living environments and costs, depending on your needs and interests. But please don't move anywhere in California even if you already live here and are looking to relocate. Move back to where your parents and grandparents came from, those places where you spent family vacations. How long has it been since you enjoyed the outdoor-sauna Summer experience of any place located east of the Continentlal Divide? In general terms, California is 'spensive, and particularly so in some of the really gay areas (wonder where all those "Californians" picked up those northeast, Great Lakes, midwest, and southern accents? Hmmm . . .) California is also a pricey place to live where it's trendy and hip, like the coastal counties north and south of San Francisco. Part of that has to do with the fact that the area enjoys some of the finest year-around climate on the planet. The remainder of the appeal comes from the incredible beauty of the area. But, if you don't already live in this locale in a comfortable situation, now's not to time show up; with two-bedroom/one-bath fixer-uppers selling for upwards of a quarter-million dollars it's no place to look for affordable entry-level housing. Just some observations by an old Californio . . .
There's a "tool shed" on a 1/8th acre lot across the street from me that's offered for just under $500,000.00 Ive traveled a lot and when I go to a place I contemplate living there... I've decided that the reason it's so expensive here is because it's the best place to live, simple as that!
[ QUOTE ] What about Spokane, pretty nice from what I have seen. [/ QUOTE ] Shhhhhh....that's supposed to be a secret.. I lived in L.A for 13 years, Now back in Spokane and glad I am, I do miss the weekly trip to Disneyland, but am makin a house payment instead of payin rent! No snow here, yet!!
Hey Fonzi Know you from "Doughnut Derilects" I'm the guy that didn't bother changing my "TEXAS" license plates to California tags for a reason..., I knew I was going back to Austin!! Lived in northern CA, Seattle WA, Sedona AZ, southern CA, Austin TX, and found myself back in Wisconsin! But I plan on moving back to Austin when I finish with some issues up here. I guess it's just personal preferance because I did enjoy the "Caleefoorneeaa" (as Schwartzeneger would say it) desert side. But I like the fact I don't have to take a loan out to fill up the tank! When I first entered Texas..., I saw a bumper sticker that said..., "DON'T CALIFORNICATE TEXAS"!!!! So I recommend that you trade off your Cally plates for the Lone Star brand as soon as possible! Good Luck in your decision, and watch out for the "Longhorns"! Mark P.S. say hi to Dave and Cathy for me!
Radshit-an Fonzi...I have lived in Mo all my life and I get a lil bummed o it too -but in reality it is a nice place to live and work and raise a family in many ways- use the site the guy listed at the first of this post to compare cities in your state to missouri and you will see. I believe Columbia [center state] is one of the top 5 cities to move to to work and live.....we have been having lighter winters over the last ten years and the taxes and cost of living and work available is not a problem. I have visited many ares of this country and like some but seriously wonder how the others deal with the congestion and overpopulation/crime etc.....it would be hard to relocate and actually improve your situation without giving it some serious planning......but it IS TEMPTING!
This is important. Nobody move to Kansas. It's way too quiet and friendly for you. There are so little traffic that even here in the biggest city, you can get from anywhere to anywhere else in no more than 30 minutes. Of course that means the sky is that ugly blue color, too. You can hardly find anything but cheap houses. There's all those thunderstorms, tornados, hail - I'm surprised we survive. The weather is horrible summer and winter and the wind only makes it worse. I'm holdin' down the fort out here in the flatlands so the rest of you don't have to.
[ QUOTE ] Don't listen to Rashy...OKC has jobs. Tulsa doesn't. [/ QUOTE ] <font color="green"> I didn't say OKC has no jobs, I just said OKC sucks. Well, I guess I didn't say it sucks, but , yeah that's pretty much what I meant. RASHY </font>
A few guys have mentioned Austin, but if you want to live well, I say move to Houston. Good points: This is a HUGE city with an incredible variety of employment and fairly low unemployment. Houston has had unemployment levels below the national average for ages. Housing is extremly cheap even in the "good" areas. I live in a 4000 square food drive-in studio at the edge of the ritzy downtown area and I only pay .22 cents per square foot. That includes my water, my dumpster and the yard maintence. I don't have a college degree (but do have a lot of education) and recently took a job with Boeing making more than Sam's teacher's pay. Texas has no state income tax. Owning and enjoying cars is incredibly cheap in Texas. Registration, insurance (except Harris County) and gas is very affordable. Houston has the cheapest gas prices in the US. Because Houston has had years of industrial history, machine equipment, metalworking equipment, metal, tools, and other shop equipment is easy to find new and used. Need a wierd tool in Houston, you won't have to drive more than 20 miles to find it. As bad as some think our politicians are, we haven't started to approach the corruptness found in Colorado, California, Lousiana, NY or Florida. Houston has a mature Old-Guy hot rod scene and a burgeoning Young-guy scene. Houston has a HUGE number of restraunts. The art and Arts scene is great. And, it's only a couple hours to Austin and the cool scene going on up there. The bad side: Houston has humidity and for about three months of the year, it's miserably hot and muggy. Too much to go outside. Houston has a deserved reputation for bad roads. If you choose to live in the outer suburbs, you can expect a slow commute into town. There aren't any BIG car shows in Houston. The Dallas area has a few including a GoodGuys and a KKOA show. Austin now has the roundup.
Hey Modernbeat, I'd like to hear more about: "...as bad as some think our politicians are, we haven't started to approach the corruptness found in Colorado..." As someone that lives in ColoRODo, I definitely want to get a Texan's view... an "outsiders" view of corruptness. R-
Every thought of Utah? I know it's probably not high on your list, or not at all! Lived most my live in SoCal as well and always said I'd stay there, but being married now and looking at the cost of living, housing, etc plus with traffic, crowding, it just wasn't for me anymore. Salt Lake City is actually pretty cool. It's big enough for a city, but also not extremely over crowed. Cost of living is lower therefore job pay isn't as much, but it all evens out. Just bought my first home for $129,000 with 3 bd 1 bath and a BIG 2 car garage! Plus you'd be closer to Bonneville if that's your thing... anyway, for what it's worth. Good Luck!
Fonzy, I've been all over the states in my 56 yrs on earth the main thing to do is make a list of likes/dislikes and as you mentioned you have lived in SoCal all your life, can you handle 5 mo of snow? tornadoes, flooding and all the other headaches? Im not trying to confuse you but I suggest that if you can spend some time in your potential new area before commiting to a move it will give you an idea of whats its like, unlike being on "vacation" mode where everything looks beautiful, only later realizing that you made a mistake I purhased a lot in AZ 2yrs ago I'll be selling it soon because even though I thought I did my homework the area has gotten out of hand as far as builing a house on it, sky high increase in 2 yrs!( I got to blame the Califorians who get there and think $250K is cheap!)Best advise, look, around and if it feels good it will be right for you
i grew up in kansas and lived there until i was 30. the summers are hot as hell, and windy, except for august then there isnt a breath of air the winters are cold as hell, and windy, oh did i mention wind? much slower pace of life, property value in out lieing area's are quite good especially on older homes. traffic, whats that in kansas, you may drive 30 miles and see 4 or 6 cars some days in most parts. pace of life is slower, much slower. snakes? at least 5 poisonous ones that come to mind. spiders? i can think of at least a few of those. bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, etc,, very carnivorous they will seek and sting you. chiggers, tics and other pests are always a lot of fun. misquitoes that will take a pint of blood if allowed, and believe me after dark they will try. stickers, sand burrs, and cockle burrs, to name a few things that hurt like hell to step on and flatten the kids bike tires. long dry spells, followed by intense rain, one place in south central kansas last week got 12.5 inches of rain in 15 minutes... killed 8 people!! intense lightening storms, and exceptional tornado's for those that like stormy weather. miles and miles of small dieing towns, few jobs outside the cities, but folks manage to buy homes, raise families, buy cars, have hot rods, and grow old just the same. there is an old saying, "folks didnt come to kansas, it was just where the wheel fell off the wagon" i have lived and worked in the seattle area for the last 17 years. seattle cost of housing rivals california these days in a lot of places. weather is beautiful and temperate, although in winter of 98 it rained for 93 straight days. if you are planning a luxo rod, forget driving it here, I5 is a shit hole, with pot holes, exposed rebar and assorted other problems, and there isnt enuf money in all of america to fix all the traffic problems here, so if you move here get work close to home, commuting is a nightmare on a clear day, impossible on dark and rainy days. no poisonous snakes in the area, and the spiders are mostly small and non aggresive great car shows, and a high density of rodders in the region. hmmmmm ,,, where am i headed to live.... let me see KANSAS!!! i know i am stupid bob
Don't move to Texas unless you spend some time here in July or August. (Except you Kustom55. Ya'll better be here sweatin' by next summer) Also, I wouldn't show up without a job. The Austin economy has been killed by the high tech downturn. There are lots of umemployed Californians here already that came out for jobs and got laid off.
For God's sake don't come to Ohio...Cars rust,it snows,it rains,the wind blows,the sun shines,we only have 3 major lakes and a river or two to play in,just a couple of ski resorts,poisonous snakes,big ass spiders,Gas is $1.70 a gallon,the state flower is "construction barrel" and some of the biggests pricks you ever met for State Highway Patrol officers....... And I wouldn't trade it for the all the money in the world...............
buzzard, you ain't kidding. The first trip we ever did was in late July and then again in September. Wow, talk about wet. So, we have had two turns of the heat and then a somewhat cold week at the Roundup this past March. My wife and I work in the real estate/title insurance/notary field, so I am hoping there will be an opening for me there. I have already had a somewhat offer. Hose goes on the market in 2 weeks, cant wait!
Thanks for all of the great responses! I am keeping an open mind to see what will work for me and my family. The insight I am gettin is just what I was lookin 4. And don't worry if I land in your State I'll blend right in I can talk funny and shit to fit in y'all. FONZI
Fonzi you can move to Canada if you are willing to deal with all the commie, pinko, faggot socialists we have here. Good healthcare but the system is bankrupt. Oh yeah, the brass monkey's balls fell off years ago. Detriot? yeah baby! Great city, great people, great women, great cars. Love that place. The crime scene is way over-stated. Arizona? Now that is more my style...... Good luck.
I actually moved from Orange to Riverside because I wanted to, believe it or not. I grew up here, plus my parents still live here, but most importantly, I got a good-size house with property for under 200K...and it's in a very nice, old neighborhood. In Orange, the same place would be over 500K! No thanks. I'm over worrying about the drive, which averages 45 minutes each way. Big deal. Everything I do, for the most part, is in SoCal, so I'm stickin around.
The Jalopy Journal
