Thoughts on moving?

[Steve Fatula]

Earlier in this thread people mentioned Oklahoma. My oldest son lived for 3 years while in the Air Force, couple of years finishing college (he is a Sooner), and a couple years working before he and his SO managed to move to Seattle. Every email, telephone call, letter started with: "Have I told you how much Oklahoma sucks." He lived in the Oklahoma City. He said they had 2 Seasons - hot or cold and icy. I lived in Oklahoma for about 6 Months in the late 70's while attending US Army Field Artillery School. I remember the almost total absence of trees and what they called a Mountain was a hill in Oregon.

Uh, that's one part of the state. There is nothing but trees in the eastern half. Including a national forest. But to each his own! I would not live in the Western part of the state either. Or, for you Colorado lovers, the eastern part of that state (the flatlands). I remember the first time I moved here, and my Dad flew in from Ohio, and, the first thing out of his mouth was, hey, there's trees here. Makes me laugh still. I wouldn't live anywhere else, but, I am obviously a minority on that. Though, 20 of the 95 lots here are Californians. The worst part of OKC is not heat or cold, it's the tornadoes out there (and softball size hail at times). You have all seen them on the news many times.

For those who might be shocked:

https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/find-a-forest/ouachita-national-forest

Speaking of Colorado, it would be equivalent of visiting from Kansas, seeing the border sign where it says Welcome to Colorado, Land of (something like) mountains and color, or fun, or whatever it says. If you just stayed on the eastern side, you would be like I was first time and say, WHAT mountains and what color, it's all brown!

Absolutely there are no Oregon mountains. The same could be said of most states, Florida, Ohio, Missouri, you name it. DW hates mountains. I am not found of the cold that comes with them. Except for the Big Bend in the S end of Texas, I recall being on top of those mountains (close to 8,000') and it was still 100 degrees.

Note, I was not picking on any state. I was merely trying to point out that people like different things. Definitely do not live where you do not like or enjoy, if you have a choice. I actually thought I would get more criticism for my post. People take their state personally in some cases!

 

[bbodb1]

... I actually thought I would get more criticism for my post. People take their state personally in some cases!

I've enjoyed people presenting their case for various places in this thread and elsewhere on TUG. Not only has that process given me new vacation destinations to consider, but also new possibilities for our next move. There is still so much of this country I want to see....

 

[bluehende]

All places have their pluses and minuses. It depends on what is important to you. That is why their are people virtually everywhere. The few places that are very sparsely populated are that way for an obvious reason....I'm looking at you Antartica

 

[bbodb1]

All places have their pluses and minuses. It depends on what is important to you. That is why their are people virtually everywhere. The few places that are very sparsely populated are that way for an obvious reason....I'm looking at you Antartica

Hey! NO POLLEN HERE!
And very dry!

 

[bluehende]

Hey! NO POLLEN HERE!
And very dry!

View attachment 9129

I am allergic to penguins.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Hey! NO POLLEN HERE!
And very dry!

View attachment 9129

I am sure it is dry, but it's also 17 degrees, likely a warm day. For those of you North Dakotans, Minnesotans, etc, a hot winter day. We still like seasons, probably too cold (and hot) here for some. We've been here almost 6 years, coldest night we have seen is 12. Actually, much worse (at times) is Mount Washington here in the good ol USA. You would not want to be there on a windy day.... But fun to visit in non winter.

I agree that it is great hearing about other states. Still a few I have not been to and need to get there.

 

[TravelTime]

I would like to hear from our international friends and the pros and cons of their cities.

 

[TravelTime]

PS I am fine with bashing my towns and states. I move so often that by the time you finish bashing me, I will be somewhere new. LOL

 

[bluehende]

PS I am fine with bashing my towns and states. I move so often that by the time you finish bashing me, I will be somewhere new. LOL

And I have been in this house for 40 yrs and live 2 miles from where I spent my first 22.

 

[TravelTime]

And I have been in this house for 40 yrs and live 2 miles from where I spent my first 22.

Wow you are stable!

 

[WinniWoman]

I take it she hasn't been to San Francisco, Chicago, New York ... I worked in downtown Dallas and saw the homeless panhandling.

Yes there are rough parts of Austin, what city does not have them?

Funny story, my wife and I went to a restaurant in near downtown San Antonio. This was long before consumer GPS and smart phones. I hired a car to drive us to the restaurant and on the way I saw a woman on the street corner. I asked the driver, "Is that what I think?" and he replied "Yep". That part of town didn't seem especially "seedy".

She lives in NY and has been to the city a zillion times.

 

[DrQ]

She lives in NY and has been to the city a zillion times.

Then I wonder who gave her the impression Austin was a clean "Leave to Beaver" city. It's unofficial motto is "Keep Austin Weird".

Maybe they were thinking of Austin MN ... Spam, spam, spam , spam ...

 

[bluehende]

Wow you are stable!

I am so boring I am scary

edited to add

same job for 31 yrs and only one after graduation
same wife for 39 yrs.
I did change banks once.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

It's been great fun reading everyone's thoughts, experiences, and comparisons! Especially for those places I've only visited and wondered what it would be like to live there. I've lived in a number of very different places, including some mentioned above (Minneapolis, Denver, SF Bay Area, Los Angeles, Sacramento). Got fond memories of each of them.

I've been in the San Diego area now for almost 30 years and still love it here. Yes, it's expensive, though someone coming from the SF Peninsula/Silicon Valley would find it pretty reasonable (home prices are still half of what they are there - of course, salaries are lower, too). Chances are, DW and I will stay here in retirement, but we also love the desert, and occasionally ponder joining many others and eventually moving to a 55+ community in or around Phoenix.

 

[bluehende]

I guess I will plug our local retirement area. Coastal Delaware

Very little snow and a nice fall.
A lot of retirees especially air force due to dover air force base
With above a lot of services and activities geared for the retired
We refer it as slower delaware as opposed to lower delaware due to the laid back atmosphere
taxes very low. No sales tax very low real estate in that county and an exclusion for pension income

 

[jehb2]

Any military brats out there?

 

[Steve Fatula]

I guess I will plug our local retirement area. Coastal Delaware

Very little snow and a nice fall.
A lot of retirees especially air force due to dover air force base
With above a lot of services and activities geared for the retired
We refer it as slower delaware as opposed to lower delaware due to the laid back atmosphere
taxes very low. No sales tax very low real estate in that county and an exclusion for pension income

Ah, I've been to Ocean View last summer, anywhere near there? I liked the area. Since it's apparently a resort town, few people in winter though.

 

[bluehende]

Ah, I've been to Ocean View last summer, anywhere near there? I liked the area. Since it's apparently a resort town, few people in winter though.

We owned a house the next town back. The closer to the beach you are the less people are year round. When we bought our neighborhood was mostly summer homes. By the time we sold 2 yrs ago we were the last one. I was amazed how crowded it was getting even in winter. The Bethany Beach/Ocean View is better than the Rehoboth/Lewes area as it is less crowded. At this point only the very beach front restaurants close up for winter. If you do not need beach front or block. Real estate is not that bad. What costs 2 million can be had for 300k a few miles back. The retirement area is now stretching almost 10 miles from the actual coast.

PS anybody going give me a holler and I will let you know where to eat and especially where to go for happy hours.

 

[DrQ]

Any military brats out there?

Yep

Earlier in this thread people mentioned Oklahoma. ... I lived in Oklahoma for about 6 Months in the late 70's while attending US Army Field Artillery School. I remember the almost total absence of trees and what they called a Mountain was a hill in Oregon.

I recognized the description of Mount Scott outside of Fort Sill.

Ich wurde in Deutschland geboren, als mein Vater Atomic Annie durch die Landschaft schleppte.

 

[bbodb1]

Then I wonder who gave her the impression Austin was a clean "Leave to Beaver" city. It's unofficial motto is "Keep Austin Weird".

Maybe they were thinking of Austin MN ... Spam, spam, spam , spam ...

Bloody vikings!

 

[geist1223]

Yes to Military Brat.