Tell me about some of these states: UT, WI, MA, MI, AZ

[Pamela H in Texas]

We have kept our job search mostly in the "south." I've done Virginia to Florida to Texas to OK and KY and everything between there. I so can't imagine living more west OR north.

 

However, I found crazedlist.org and have started searching almost the whole country. (NOTE: crazedlist is a site that allows you to search lots of craigslists from various area all at the same time). I have a list of maybe 10 jobs in these states (in title). Part of me *wants* to do WHATEVER to get us a stable situation. The other part of me finds this country WAY too big and with such varied subsections in terms of people and weather (!) and...

 

So please tell me how wonderful these states are. And if there are any real concerns...

 

A few considerations for ME:

 

1) I'm very sensitive to the extremes of temperature. I find summer and winter absolutely miserable and painful.

 

2) We're part of a pretty conservative religion (thankfully, we can be found anywhere in the world though I'm not planning to move to Thailand or Zimbabwe).

 

3) We talk funny. LOL Seriously, though I am working on it, I'm pretty southern.

 

4) I'm *very* sensitive to expression as is my son. Are people friendly in other places? There is a huge difference in friendliness from TX to VA. I guess I worry about places like Boston and Detroit and Albuquerque.

 

Okay, so that is where I am. Please say whatever it takes to get me to "just do it."

[....]

You should do whatever it takes to find a job and get some stability. :001_unsure: On the other hand, we had to move to another part of the country and Yep, it is very sad to leave your home.

 

I'm very surprised you guys haven't found something in Texas. There are tons of jobs here right now (compared to where we moved from). Have you looked around DFW? The housing market's not the best, but I heard the unemployment rate was only 8.5% here (it was much, much, much worse at home). Both of our unemployed neighbors found jobs in July (yeah!).

[Mom in High Heels]

Wow, that's a broad scope of places you're looking at there.

 

AZ is bloody hot. We(fortunately) only lived there a few months and I hated every single second of it. It was miserably hot. We were also there during monsoon season, which I had never heard of. It rained like crazy for several hours every day and such hard rain it hurt if it hit you. Insane! Also, there were insanely HUGE bugs that the rain drove inside and they were everywhere: grocery stores, Target, the mall, everywhere!!!! Ack. This was southern AZ. We drove to Phoenix once and I almost died of heat stroke walking from the car to the store. Never, ever, ever again will I live in AZ.

 

WI is cold in the winter. Crazy cold, but I like winter, so it doesn't bother me that much. I think WI is beautiful and there's lots of outdoorsy stuff to do. Also, the cheese is amazing. :D WI is also great because you can visit my favorite city in the US: Chicago. They talk pretty funny in WI too, but I like it. The people are very friendly (IMO) in WI.

 

I've only driven through MA and MI, and never been to UT, so I'm no help there. Sorry.

[....]

Is Michigan on your list up there? Really? I have family around Detroit and they said it's a war zone. My uncle's house is NOW worth $30,000. I would be careful...:eek: That area of the country needs some stability.

[....]

Alright, MominHighHeels...that's how I feel about Texas. It's like walking through an oven or something... I've been wondering, is the sun suddenly getting closer to the earth?? :smilielol5:

[Prudent]

MI is my home. I've lived here my whole life, love it, and have no plans of ever moving :001_smile:

 

We have hot, and extremely humid summers, and 8 months of cold, wet winter. It's cloudy more than it's sunny, and muddy more than dry. Summer construction on the roads are the worst in the nation, but there always seems to be another route to get from A to B.

 

The people are down to earth and friendly, IMHO. It's very easy to homeschool here.

 

Housing values have dropped and you can find great houses for CHEAP prices right now.

 

All that being said, the most important thing is that we don't have enough jobs. While our unemployment rate may only be 14%, every family I know has either been hit with unemployment, reduced hours and benefits, or significant pay cuts. The few jobs that are available are paying much less than they were a couple years ago.

[skywards]

WI: I live in IL, but I spend more time in WI.

 

1) I'm very sensitive to the extremes of temperature. I find summer and winter absolutely miserable and painful.

-Me too. I live near the WI border and its cold HERE, I don't want to know how cold it gets in northern WI! It also gets very hot here in the summer. In short, yes the weather is bearable, but only about 8 months of the year.

 

2) We're part of a pretty conservative religion (thankfully, we can be found anywhere in the world though I'm not planning to move to Thailand or Zimbabwe).

-Well if you can be found anywhere, then you solved your own issue :D

 

3) We talk funny. LOL Seriously, though I am working on it, I'm pretty southern.

-People in WI tend to be much friendlier than those in say, IL. :|

 

4) I'm *very* sensitive to expression as is my son. Are people friendly in other places? There is a huge difference in friendliness from TX to VA. I guess I worry about places like Boston and Detroit and Albuquerque.

-Yes they are quite friendly.

[stripe]

Is Michigan on your list up there? Really? I have family around Detroit and they said it's a war zone. My uncle's house is NOW worth $30,000. I would be careful...:eek: That area of the country needs some stability.

Is she really planning on moving to downtown Detroit? It's a very fragmented city, divided between (black and poor and abandoned) downtown and the suburbs. That being said, I'd be surprised if there were many jobs there.

[Pamela H in Texas]

The job DH talked to yesterday was in a suburb of Detroit.

 

We are still hoping about the FL job but haven't heard from her in many days so feeling dim about it. And we talked to another person about a situation in TN (but I saw they also have a job in MS). And we will follow up with some TX jobs tomorrow; but unfortunately, since we haven't heard from them, I guess those are a no-go.

 

Something will come through, right? At this point, I'm getting REALLY worried.

[Scarlett]

The job DH talked to yesterday was in a suburb of Detroit.

 

We are still hoping about the FL job but haven't heard from her in many days so feeling dim about it. And we talked to another person about a situation in TN (but I saw they also have a job in MS). And we will follow up with some TX jobs tomorrow; but unfortunately, since we haven't heard from them, I guess those are a no-go.

 

Something will come through, right? At this point, I'm getting REALLY worried.

 

Anything in AR? Beautiful here (well, except for the southeastern portion which is rather flat and not my fav)...the Northern and central and Western portions of AR are gorgeous. Homeschooling is VERY easy here....

 

I don't think I could handle severe cold weather like WI....but I'd go there if that was where the jobs were! MI currently has such a negative image in my mind--especially Detroit area---but it has been depressed for so long maybe it is about time for it to come back around.

[Pamela H in Texas]

we tried for an AR job (Hot Springs) but....

 

We'll just keep trying. All we can do, right?

[Jennifer in MI]

The job DH talked to yesterday was in a suburb of Detroit.

 

We are still hoping about the FL job but haven't heard from her in many days so feeling dim about it. And we talked to another person about a situation in TN (but I saw they also have a job in MS). And we will follow up with some TX jobs tomorrow; but unfortunately, since we haven't heard from them, I guess those are a no-go.

 

Something will come through, right? At this point, I'm getting REALLY worried.

 

Which suburb of Detroit? I live in a suburb of Detroit and really like it. Winters vary. Last year we had quite a bit of snow. This summer has been hot and humid, but last summer was not. I love the variation. Spring and fall here are gorgeous (IMHO!)

 

I think I've got the best of both worlds - I live in a suburb that is really nice and pretty. People are amazing. We live next to a lake with gorgeous views. And, when we want to go to the ballet, opera, orchestra, shows, baseball games, etc they're all within 20 minutes for us. Love that!!! The art museum is absolutely gorgeous. The zoo is wonderful. Greenfield Village/Henry Ford is a lot of fun. Anyway, I love it here and have no plans to move

 

But, unemployment is VERY high. I also don't know anyone who hasn't been affected somehow. But, our houses are also very cheap right now. Our house was valued at over $600,000 just 8 years ago or so! It's down to just over $200,000 now. You can get a LOT of house in a gorgeous neighborhood!

 

Good luck with your search. If you end up in the Detroit area - we'll have to get together. Don't let Detroit scare you!!

[Scarlett]

we tried for an AR job (Hot Springs) but....

 

We'll just keep trying. All we can do, right?

 

Oh! Hot Springs is GORGEOUS! So is Fayetteville.....even Little Rock is pretty but you have to be careful about where you live...need a suburb there instead of the city....Fort Smith is in the River Valley and still pretty even with less mountains....usually jobs in Fort Smith though.

[Dobela]

Oh! Hot Springs is GORGEOUS! So is Fayetteville.....even Little Rock is pretty but you have to be careful about where you live...need a suburb there instead of the city....Fort Smith is in the River Valley and still pretty even with less mountains....usually jobs in Fort Smith though.

Love Hot Springs! It has one of the better economies in the state right now but it is not the most family friendly unless you love to be on the lakes or hiking and such. The NW is great. We loved living in the Little Rock Area (Jacksonville, Sherwood, and Benton). Jonesboro - while not the most beautiful, is a nice place.

 

I don't know what kind of job you are looking for (I have only been on the boards sporadically) but are you looking at places other than Craigslist? Hot Springs government will send job opening lists by email each time one comes up. Other sources

http://www.jobsarkansas.com/

https://www.ark.org/arstatejobs/index.php

http://www.hotspringsmetro.com/hot-springs-arkansas-employment/

[KidsHappen]

Temp alone is going to knock WI and UT out of the picture. UT gets hot in the summer and very cold and snowy in the winter. WI gets extemely cold in the winter and you get buried in snow. YMMV but we didn't find either place terribly friendly to outsiders.

[LauraGB]

I agree with the other about WI - we're really nice, and we have great cheese:D, but it's pretty normal to experience -20 temperatures in January for a few days/weeks. Lots to do with snow removal during the first 4 months of the year. The older I get, the less I like it. And the summers are humid AND hot. Definitely an extreme weather state. But the fall months are the most amazing anywhere in the world (just sayin').

 

I also agree about MI, however, if you do find a job there (miracle of miracles right now, though), because they are pretty much surrounded by Great Lakes, there are pockets of the state that get get absolutely buried with snow, and then there are some that get surprisingly mild amts.

 

Oh, and we talk funny, too. Some are more accented than others, but it's definitely there, so we couldn't possibly be in a position to judge.

 

As far as even temperatures, what about the Pacific North Coast? I think northern California, Oregon, Washington have a pretty temperate climate year round.

Edited August 1, 2010 by LauraGB

[K&Rs Mom]

1) I'm very sensitive to the extremes of temperature. I find summer and winter absolutely miserable and painful.

2) We're part of a pretty conservative religion (thankfully, we can be found anywhere in the world though I'm not planning to move to Thailand or Zimbabwe).

3) We talk funny. LOL Seriously, though I am working on it, I'm pretty southern.

4) I'm *very* sensitive to expression as is my son. Are people friendly in other places? There is a huge difference in friendliness from TX to VA. I guess I worry about places like Boston and Detroit and Albuquerque.

 

1: Michigan has a pretty strong summer AND winter - though both can vary depending where you are, it's a big state, and one year to the next. Last summer only had one day above 90 degrees for us, this year it's been probably 25 days so far.

 

2: West MI is much more religious than the Detroit area: it's the HQ of one of the Christian Reformed groups (Calvinists). One of the Detroit suburbs has a huge Muslim population; Catholics are also more likely near Detroit.

 

3: Our new librarian has a strong southern accent, and everyone finds it adorable. ;)

 

4: Again it depends where in the state - socially, Detroit & suburban area is a nightmare in so many ways (I grew up there so have a strong attachment but would hate to live there again), but the west coast and "up north" are great - people in general are very friendly.

 

And MI has GREAT homeschool laws - no reporting to the state and there are lots of homeschoolers so you won't feel like a weirdo.

Edited August 1, 2010 by K&Rs Mom

[NCMom]

We have kept our job search mostly in the "south." I've done Virginia to Florida to Texas to OK and KY and everything between there. I so can't imagine living more west OR north.

 

However, I found crazedlist.org and have started searching almost the whole country. (NOTE: crazedlist is a site that allows you to search lots of craigslists from various area all at the same time). I have a list of maybe 10 jobs in these states (in title). Part of me *wants* to do WHATEVER to get us a stable situation. The other part of me finds this country WAY too big and with such varied subsections in terms of people and weather (!) and...

 

So please tell me how wonderful these states are. And if there are any real concerns...

 

A few considerations for ME:

 

1) I'm very sensitive to the extremes of temperature. I find summer and winter absolutely miserable and painful.

 

2) We're part of a pretty conservative religion (thankfully, we can be found anywhere in the world though I'm not planning to move to Thailand or Zimbabwe).

 

3) We talk funny. LOL Seriously, though I am working on it, I'm pretty southern.

 

4) I'm *very* sensitive to expression as is my son. Are people friendly in other places? There is a huge difference in friendliness from TX to VA. I guess I worry about places like Boston and Detroit and Albuquerque.

 

Okay, so that is where I am. Please say whatever it takes to get me to "just do it."

 

We lived in NH for 14 years and still have siblings in MA and NH. I would not recommend MA - all of the reasons you listed would be issues. Especially weather and friendliness. :001_smile:

 

hth,

Georgia

[Osmosis Mom]

We lived in NH for 14 years and still have siblings in MA and NH. I would not recommend MA - all of the reasons you listed would be issues. Especially weather and friendliness. :001_smile:

 

hth,

Georgia

 

Well, we are in NH across the border from MA and I definitely prefer MA to NH! Slightly less extreme weather than NH and definitely more friendly (in urban areas) than almost anywhere in NH!!!! So, I guess it depends!

[....]

Is she really planning on moving to downtown Detroit? It's a very fragmented city, divided between (black and poor and abandoned) downtown and the suburbs. That being said, I'd be surprised if there were many jobs there.

 

He's not downtown, either. He's in the suburbs.

[jujsky]

I live on the border of MA in NH, and based on everything you said, I don't think you would like it. MA is an expensive place to live (check out real estate prices) and you have typical New England winters, though southern MA isn't as bad as northern MA. The summers aren't too bad if you're close to the coast & can get those nice, coastal breezes, but again -- that comes down to $$$$ and coastal property is anything but cheap! New Englanders in general are known to be suspicious of outsiders, but I think you'd find less of that in big-city areas where there are a lot of transplants. In that respect, I do agree with another poster who said MA is friendlier than NH. There are far more jobs in the computer and technology industries in MA so that brings a lot of non-native MA people into the state.

[LibraryLover]

MA winters are cold and long (traditionally). It was a bit more mild this year. It's $. We like Southern accents (We actually like all 'accents'). When my stepbrothers moved up north from the south, their teachers and other folks could not get enough of them. They were very popular. "They sound so adorable!" many a girl squealed. You may not want that. lol

[sparrow]

A few considerations for ME:

 

1) I'm very sensitive to the extremes of temperature. I find summer and winter absolutely miserable and painful.

 

 

Michigan is kind of known for it's weather extremes. Any Michigander can tell you stories of how they went to work wearing a light jacket in the morning and came out to the temperature having plunged 35 degrees and 2 inches of snow on their car.

 

2) We're part of a pretty conservative religion (thankfully, we can be found anywhere in the world though I'm not planning to move to Thailand or Zimbabwe).

 

 

Hmm. Overall, I don't think this would cause any problems here.

 

3) We talk funny. LOL Seriously, though I am working on it, I'm pretty southern.

 

I don't see this as being a problem. I think most here would find it cute. I feel like I stress southerners out because *I* talk fast :). When we vacation in the south, I feel like people are literally going to put their hand on me and say, "Slow down."

 

 

4) I'm *very* sensitive to expression as is my son. Are people friendly in other places? There is a huge difference in friendliness from TX to VA. I guess I worry about places like Boston and Detroit and Albuquerque.

 

I guess it depends on what you're used to. I find Michigan to be very friendly, but I think northerners are more likely to be blunt and not beat around the bush. I mean, we'll just tell you we've got a problem with something :). I appreciate that. I don't think that's the way things are done in the south, typically. I've read the threads here on backhanded compliments and that has been my experience, as well. If you're used to that, I think you'd be taken aback, at first.

 

 

All that to say-Where will you find a job here?! I love this state, and I think most that live or travel through it will tell you, it will absolutely take your breath away with its beauty, but, there are no jobs :(. If you find a job, you will get a fantastic deal on a house though!

Edited August 1, 2010 by sparrow

[BridgeTea]

:iagree: Ditto to everything Sparrow said. As much as we'd love to have you here, I think our summer and winter weather could possibly make you miserable.

[FaithManor]

Michiganders are friendly once they figure out you aren't just passing through. They aren't an effervescent bunch but they do come through for you once they figure out that you are going to be around for a while. Detroit is, as a general rule, not friendly period though there are pockets in the suburbs that are great but many of the burbs have highly nasty subdivisions with enough politics to rival capitol hill. Sorry if I am offending Detroiters here but we get a huge influx of retirees into our area all from the Northern burbs of Detroit that are just so incredibly happy to get away from the unfriendly, cold environment there. Now, the northern, lower pennisula, especially those communites along Lake Michigan and say even the Tawas, Oscoda, Alpena areas along Lake Huron are lovely, friendly, out-going places but I don't imagine there are a lot of jobs in these towns.

 

Michigan has extreme weather. We have many, many days each year with wind-chills ranging from 10 degrees above to ten degrees below. We get quite a bit of snow (though that has varied enough in the lower peninsula over the years that sometimes the snowmobile trails suffer from a lack of) and the cold temperatures generally start around the first week of December and last through February with the days being in the 30's and a bit wet for March. Our last frost is often at the beginning or middle of May so many gardens are not planted until Memorial Day. But, we have excellent agriculture and for most of Michigan, the soil is wonderful. As for heat, not nearly as bad as the south. We will have just a few days (in a normal summer, you can count these on your fingers) of 90 plus degrees with most of the summer ranging from the mid-70's to the mid-80's. Basically, if it's time for the County Fair and the 4-H'ers to do their thing, that is when the hottest weather will be for that county...don't ask us why, it just is. Literally, I honestly believe that if a cold snap came through and every other county in the lower peninsula had a daytime high of 65 but it was County Fair time in our county here, we would be 87-92 degrees no matter what the meteorologist had to say!

 

Michigan has many pockets of gorgeous, raw beauty. The lakes are really inland seas with serious currents, white caps similar to the Atlantic Ocean in places, rocky shores, wildlife, dunes, etc. We have an absolutely exceptional National Park, Isle Royale that is so wild, motor vehicles are not allowed and you can only bring onto the island what you can carry in a backpack. The Traverse Bay region is exquisite. Even our little area of mid-Michigan has rolling hills, lush gardens, lots of wild state land and wildlife, etc. We have a naturally occuring lake (called "THE SWAMP" here because when your lakes are the size of most people's seas, then anything else is a pond, swamp, or a "crick" - Michiganders laugh at what other states call "lakes") with several breeds of nesting geese, wood ducks, mallards, tree frogs of many varieties, bluegill, perch, bass, toads of breeds to numerous to mention, deer, coyote, black bear (though these things are so skittish of humans and there is so much to eat, no one I know has ever seen one- just tracks), skunk, possom, raccoon, squirrel, beaver, muscrat, chipmunk, probably 50 different birds, bald eagles, ground hog, hedge hog, and best of all - in our area - no poisonous snakes! The timber rattler (very poisonous and also known as the Mississauga rattler) does live in several parts of Michigan and is a protected species but it doesn't live around here which makes me VERY, VERY HAPPY!

 

Homeschooling is about as easy as it gets and especially if you aren't in Macomb county (Detroit) where there are just a few social workers with bees in their bonnets.

 

Housing is dirt cheap. In our area, a three bedroom two bath house in very nice shape with amenities can be purchased for less than $40,000.00 and in many cases far, far lower than that because the market is flooded with so many repos. Rents are very reasonable. There are jobs within certain industries. Our area hospitals (espcially Saginaw, Midland, and then on the west side - Grand Rapids, Traverse Bay, Kalamazoo) have many openings in medically related professions such as medical secretary, transcriptionist, R.N. and especially R.N's that have a specialty, ER technicians, Radiology, and social work. Dow Chemical in Midland needs lab technicians (two year specialty degree) and pays decently with benefits. The pharmaceutical companies in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Lansing are also hiring in a variety of jobs from clerical and computer, to lab and manufacturing. It's not that we don't have jobs; it's just that the jobs opening up are for fields that many Michiganders have no training in. This state was just so heavily into manufacturing for so long that it was ridiculous because the population, as a whole, just could not get it through their thick skulls that manufacturing was leaving and it was time to re-train for other professions. We still have kids who refuse to go on after high school (a large number of kids in Mid-Michigan) because they want a line job like their fathers had where they could make good money, good benefits but not have to get much additional vocational training. Those jobs are gone and it has been like pulling teeth on an elephant to convince the population that they need to cross-train in other disciplines in order to compete in the job market and that they would need to move to other areas of Michigan in order to pursue those jobs. Detroit has virtually nothing left....Flint is a ghost town except for a couple of really good hospitals.

 

The winter cold is very doable if you have good heating. Our house has radiant floor heat so I am toasty warm inside and my feet are never cold. We bundle up big-time to go out. Sometimes the boys look like abominable snow-beasts! But, if you really can't handle a chill, you will probably be miserable here unless you can pretty much stay inside all winter. If you have been living in Texas or Virginia, you will find the summers here are very pleasant by comparison.

 

Faith

[Veritaserum]

I moved to Utah from SoCal 13 years ago. Dh moved here from upstate New York. The unemployment rate is low here and the economy otherwise seems to be in better shape than much of the country. There's lots to do if you're into nature and there are also a lot of family-friendly activities.

 

It does get into the 90s in the summer where we are (north central Utah) but humidity is nonexistent. My East Coast inlaws always comment that the dry heat isn't nearly as miserable. We do get snow in the winter, but temps in the daytime generally stay between 20 - 40 degrees F. Southern Utah has a milder winter, but it gets in the 100s in the summer.

 

A real plus for Utah is that there aren't a lot of bugs. I've never seen a roach here, mosquitos are not very numerous, and there are no fire ants. :)

 

ETA: Honeschooling is easy. All you have to do is send an affadavit to your school disctrict to tell them that your child will be learning at home. There are various homeschool groups as well.

 

The predominant religion is LDS, although that's not true in Salt Lake City proper and Park City. I've gotten several visits from JWs in the past few months, so there must be an active congregation nearby.

 

I've found people to be friendly. I'm an introvert so I may not come off as friendly. ;)

Edited August 1, 2010 by Veritaserum

[Sara R]

Yes, I can vouch for what Veritaserum has said about Utah. I also moved from So Cal to Utah, 11 years ago.

 

Temperature in most of the state is 90s in the summer, about 20s in the winter. Sometimes the snow sticks throughout the winter along the Wasatch Front in the valleys, but most of the time it melts in between. In southern Utah (St. George) it's over 110 in the summer but you don't get the snow in the winter.

 

Predominant religion is LDS, though not as much as you might think. Statewide it's about 60%. As the pp said, it's not so predominant in SLC and Park City. Utah Valley is very Mormon. If you are part of a conservative religion, I think you'll fit in culturally. You might get some missionaries, but if you explain your beliefs I think people will respect you for them.

 

People in general are very friendly, and child friendly too. In other places, a crying child in the checkout line will earn you disapproving stares. Around here, you usually get understanding sympathetic nods. I think most people would consider a southern accent charming (but not typical).

[Crimson Wife]

I live on the border of MA in NH, and based on everything you said, I don't think you would like it. MA is an expensive place to live (check out real estate prices) and you have typical New England winters, though southern MA isn't as bad as northern MA. The summers aren't too bad if you're close to the coast & can get those nice, coastal breezes, but again -- that comes down to $$$$ and coastal property is anything but cheap! New Englanders in general are known to be suspicious of outsiders, but I think you'd find less of that in big-city areas where there are a lot of transplants.

 

I grew up in MA and :iagree:

New Englanders are definitely more reserved than Southerners. When I lived in KY for 6 months, it took a bit of getting used to how super-nosy everyone seemed. The ubiquitous use of "What church do you attend?" as a ice-breaker, for example. What business is it of some stranger asking about something as personal as my religious beliefs? It's not like I had made a reference to my faith, at which point the question would be IMHO an appropriate one. New Englanders are plenty friendly once you get to know them, but they're more slow-to-warm-up and that's a definite cultural difference from the South.

[BikeBookBread]

I've lived in UT, AZ and ND (similar weather in parts of WI):

 

UTAH: We lived just north of SLC, UT for 3 years. You mention you are a part of a very conservative religion. Please don't think me to be disparaging at all, but we lived in UT for three years, were not a part of the predominant religion of UT, and at many times felt very much like outsiders. I don't know if you are a part of that predominant religion or not, but if you aren't, please be aware that while there are other religions that do have congregations (I'm using this term as an umbrella term) there, you may or may not find a congregation which is completely like-minded. We never found a church similar to any church we had ever attended before or since, though did continue to attend a church - and we looked and looked. OTOH, the people there are very, very friendly and trustworthy. I am still in touch with the financial organization for which I worked, and have a bit of insight as to the economy: the economic slowdown has not fully hit northern Utah -- the rock bottom is still to come. Layoffs are continuing to happen. The economic environment seems to be about 1 year behind the national economy. You could probably find a great deal on a very nice home. As to the weather, winter could be cold and snowy, and then all of a sudden, it would be hot -- almost like a 24 hour thing. Cold one day, and then hot. We never felt the heat to be burdensome, though there were often days above 90. The terrain is beautiful, and it is an outdoor activities paradise - we lived in a suburb and were 3 minutes from a hiking trailhead to about 8,000. We loved that!

 

ARIZONA: We just left Tucson, Arizona last month, after having lived there for three years. The economy is tough in Tucson unless you are aerospace or military. Hot doesn't adequately describe the weather the majority of the year. You might kind of get used to it, but we never fully did. Others love that heat. OTOH, February and March can be GLORIOUS! You can't beat picking fresh oranges, lemons and grapefruit off of a tree in your backyard. There are bugs and critters. Winter is chilly and can be rainy. The rest of the year (except for the summer monsoon season) is completely bone dry. You would probably have rocks as landscaping. A few people have grass, but it is quite unusual. The day we moved into our home in Tucson, the REAL temperature was 117. Much of the summer is 100+. Many people live inside most of the summer. You could get a steal on a home deal there... One of the years there, we had a garden 9 months out of the year, and fresh herbs 12 months. Since you are a homeschooler, you don't have to worry about schools, but should a situation arise that you need to put your children in school, the Tucson Unified School District is REALLY strapped for cash and is not great - there are charter schools on every corner because of this reason, though some of them are starting to have financial problems. The Vail district is much, much better. As to friendliness, I was the only stay-at-home Mom on my street, and felt pretty isolated, but that may have just been my area. It is a very transient area, and at times it feels kind of "rootless" -- we knew very few native Tucsonans. Perhaps this is why people kept to themselves. I wouldn't say they were unfriendly, just private. There is quite a bit of violent crime there, especially near the border. We have a friend who is a Border Patrol Agent. The national news is NOT telling the whole story. Believe me. Do some Google searches. The crime can reach into suburban and urban areas, but isn't the norm. Just research areas in which to live -- use the County crime stat websites. There were quite a few car jackings and home invasions while we were there (including a home invasion in our brand new, nice neighborhood about 3 months after we moved in...our neighbor boy was shot, but survived. It was random.)

 

WISCONSIN -- We lived in Minot, ND for 3 years...Much of Wisconsin's weather is very similar. As hot as Tucson was, ND was cold. -40, PLUS wind chill. -10 for a high was not unusual. HOWEVER, this has been our VERY FAVORITE LOCATION. The people of North Dakota (and this whole area -- my husband is from Minnesota, and my good friends were from Wisconsin) were the FRIENDLIEST people I have ever met in my life.

Edited August 2, 2010 by BikeBookBread
clarity...

[Red]

There are many beautiful parrts of Michigan. For the most part the people are friendly and welcoming. The job prospects stink. And the weather is varies considerable. I love the spring/fall months the most. Some summers are better than others. Winter can be mild or a nightmare. It can arrive in October or much later. Homeschooling in Michigan is great. And there are alot of resources, groups and support for that. I don't think your religion would be a roadblock here.

[Pamela H in Texas]

Though y'all have mentioned some really nice things about some of these areas, I think that generally you just solidified my beliefs that we probably should try to stay in the lower right quadrant of the country for the most part. TX, OK, MS, LA, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, KY, AR and TN are the top states of interest and even those have a few concerns (palmetto bugs of FL, snow in VA and KY, heat throughout, etc).

 

Though I'd love a situation where we could be near a big hospital with a Dr. House and even better if we could live within 5 hours or so of my mom, we'll just be thankful for hubby being able to take care of our basic needs.

[Melinda in VT]

You may want to take a look at the Pacific Northwest (specifically, Oregon and Washington). The climate in many parts is quite moderate, and the people are friendly.

 

I grew up there as a member of a conservative religion, and although Oregon is very non-religious overall, religion was just not that big of a deal. The high school choir regularly sang religious music, for example, and we read parts of the Bible in AP English. My theory is that since the nonreligious didn't feel threatened by a big religious majority, they were less likely to be bothered or upset by religious practice. It was a very different feel than when I lived in Utah, for example.

 

And I know there are Jehovah's Witnesses there, because they knocked on my door pretty regularly. ;)

[Scarlett]

Though y'all have mentioned some really nice things about some of these areas, I think that generally you just solidified my beliefs that we probably should try to stay in the lower right quadrant of the country for the most part. TX, OK, MS, LA, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, KY, AR and TN are the top states of interest and even those have a few concerns (palmetto bugs of FL, snow in VA and KY, heat throughout, etc).

 

Though I'd love a situation where we could be near a big hospital with a Dr. House and even better if we could live within 5 hours or so of my mom, we'll just be thankful for hubby being able to take care of our basic needs.

 

Hey, Pam I mentioned Fort Smith yesterday to you and then saw this article on yahoo this morning...pretty cool http://http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/least-and-most-expensive-cities-for-living-in-the-usa

[Parrothead]

AZ is hot - miserably hot. When we were there the only time we went outside during summer was to get in the pool. The pool was not all that refreshing because it felt like bath water.

 

MT is okay if you are in the right part of MT. We were in the northeast corner. That area is considered frontier. There are less than 6 people per sq. mile. It was isolated and the people cliquish. I'd stick to the bigger towns such as Bozeman or Billings. Western MT is prettier than eastern.

[Greta]

4) I'm *very* sensitive to expression as is my son. Are people friendly in other places? There is a huge difference in friendliness from TX to VA. I guess I worry about places like Boston and Detroit and Albuquerque.

 

Actually, Albuquerque is quite friendly. The biggest problem here is the crime, and it is indeed a big problem. But your average (ya know, non-criminal) person here is usually pretty warm and laid-back. I can tell you some parts of town that you definitely would not want to live in. If you're accustomed to more rural areas, lots of people who work in Abq live in the communities in the East Mountains. It's within easy driving distance, but far away enough that the housing costs are a bit lower, and you can own acreage. If you're checking things out online, look at Tijeras and Cedar Crest, maybe even Edgewood though that's a bit further out.

 

The climate is really nice too. For some reason, people tend to think of Albuquerque and Phoenix as the same climate, but let me assure you it is not! Abq is at a much higher elevation, and so the climate is pretty mild. The sun is intense, but the temperatures are mild. Compared to TX, the summers are not NEARLY as brutal. The drier heat means you do get some benefit from a shady tree or porch, and it cools off nicely in the evenings. And the winters aren't bad either because even when it's cold it's bright and sunny, and so it warms your spirit. :001_smile: One thing I love about Abq compared to TX: no mosquitoes or chiggers!

 

ETA: I saw that Arizona was on your list too. I haven't lived there, but I've visited several times and Flagstaff is nice. I like that sort of climate/environment better than Phoenix personally. But that's just me. I tend to get cranky when the thermometer passes 100. :D

Edited August 2, 2010 by GretaLynne

[Crimson Wife]

I saw that Arizona was on your list too. I haven't lived there, but I've visited several times and Flagstaff is nice. I like that sort of climate/environment better than Phoenix personally. :D

 

FYI it snows in Flagstaff during the winter. There is a ski resort not too far from the city.

[Greta]

FYI it snows in Flagstaff during the winter. There is a ski resort not too far from the city.

 

Yes, Abq too. I guess that's part of why I do like this climate. I like a sense of the seasons changing, I just don't like any of them being too extreme. Nah, I'm not picky. :001_smile:

[jewellsmommy]

Though y'all have mentioned some really nice things about some of these areas, I think that generally you just solidified my beliefs that we probably should try to stay in the lower right quadrant of the country for the most part. TX, OK, MS, LA, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, KY, AR and TN are the top states of interest and even those have a few concerns (palmetto bugs of FL, snow in VA and KY, heat throughout, etc).

 

Though I'd love a situation where we could be near a big hospital with a Dr. House and even better if we could live within 5 hours or so of my mom, we'll just be thankful for hubby being able to take care of our basic needs.

 

 

I just had to say, I'm in s.eastern va and I hate those palmetto/water bugs!! They are flying roaches for those unfamiliar with them; hideous, huge, and horrible! Do you not have these in your part of VA? Ofcourse, they are only a problem in the summer. But, they will walk or fly right into our house like they own the place. My poor dh freaked the other night when one bounced off his head as he was trying to get into the house! :willy_nilly:Huge, I tell you! Thankfully the cat eats whatever strays make it in, except for the wings. :glare:

 

I wish it snowed way more then it does and I greatly dislike the humidity of the summer. All that aside, I like this part of VA.