The Conservative Cave

The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: Karin on March 17, 2011, 02:04:30 PM

Title: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Karin on March 17, 2011, 02:04:30 PM
We are now actively scoping out a 3-year plan to hit the road.  I'd like to know what some of your experiences have been, living in various places.  What did you like best about a certain place, and least?  I'll start:

Ohio:  First 23 years of life.  Dull as dirt, and just as exciting to drive through.  Good solid place to raise a family, though. 

Maine:

The Good:  The sense of living in a place decidedly different from the midwest. 
The charming accents and its own sense of humor.  Places to take visiting relatives.  Old New England villages. 

The Bad:  If you weren't born there, you're forever "from away," especially if you have funny furn name.  The weather, the black flies.  The vicious union mill people.  People in love with govmint checks. 

Connecticut:

The Good:  Life is very good in CT if you have money.  Great restaurants, clubs, and loads of fun if you are able to buy lakefront property.  People have a certain polish, if you like that sort of thing.  Autumn is gorgeous, and weather is generally good.

The Bad:  The worst people in the world live in Greenwich, CT.  Insufferable snobs, I don't know how they stand themselves.  If you don't have money, CT is hell.  $2,000 monthly rent, cramming the illegals together 25 to an apt.  They think they're so "democratic," but the exclusivity is unbelievable.  "Stay out, you're not one of us, unless you're here to clean my house."  Traffic is a bitch, all the time. 

I'll do Northern New York in a bit. 

Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Chris_ on March 17, 2011, 02:25:09 PM
North Carolina can either be pleasant or dreadfully dull.  I lived in Raleigh and for a "college town", it was uninteresting and a little small for my taste.  The beach is great but it's also expensive and crowded.  When it comes to taxes and regulations, it feels like a mini-Massachussetts.  Every time I turned around, there was a new tax or fee to be paid to get through the year (car inspections, state income taxes, state-run liquor stores).  Don't know much about Charlotte or Greensboro.  Maybe they're a little more interesting than the Triangle but I never found out.  Oh, and there's the pine and pollen.

I prefer Tennessee.  I'll probably stay here unless something happens and I have to leave.  It's affordable, the weather is great, and there's always something to do.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: MrsSmith on March 17, 2011, 04:11:12 PM
I like Kansas and Nebraska...the smallest town possible, or out in the country.  But the place I want to get back to someday is Wyoming.  Great economy, no state income tax, beautiful hills full of pine trees...I swear, waking up in a tent in the midst of a bunch of Wyoming pine trees is about as close to Heaven as you can find on this earth.   :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: longview on March 17, 2011, 04:53:48 PM
I swear, waking up in a tent in the midst of a bunch of Wyoming pine trees is about as close to Heaven as you can find on this earth.   :-)

Yep.  And for about two months out of every year the weather is pleasant enough, up high, for people to do that.   :p

I like upstate S. Carolina (nice people and weather).  S. Dakota, north central and western, is great (nice people, good grass, long, cold winters, short, hot summers). 

Wyoming is my favorite.  Lack of water = keeps the population down.  Good grazing without being lush = more open space.  Nice people who don't feel the need to butt in or be "mothered up" to you all the time.  I like the wind.  Makes me feel alive.  Extremes in temperatures, pretty much year round is good for us, I think.  I love it when it's below zero in the morning and in the 40s in the afternoon.  Like it less when it stays below zero for days and days.  In the summer it might get down into the 30s at night and over 100 during the day.  Anywhere in the state.  Makes you tough. 
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: debk on March 17, 2011, 05:56:55 PM
Northern part of Illinois: don't really want to go back. Would go to Chicago if I had unlimited funds. I love the different cultures and cultural stuff there. Shopping is great, all pro-sports are available. And with unlimited funds, I could leave in the winter, if I wanted to.

Charlottesville, VA: Would not go back. Too expensive and way toooo snooty.

Durham, NC: not bad. Close to beach. Very hot in the summer, winters are fairly mild, most of the time.

Omaha, NE: would go back in a heart beat. Nice people, affordable. Weather can be wicked.

Key West, FL: lots of fun, have to deal with tourists. If a hurricane is forecasted....there's only one road to safety, and everyone is on it.....or an incredibly expensive plane ticket. You don't get a good price on a ticket, even in the case of an evacuation.  :censored: (mine was $900)

Springfield, IL:  :yawn:

Roanoke, VA:  :yawn:

Outside Scottsdale, AZ: snakes, scorpions, endless amounts of sand.

Asheville, NC: pretty, small, lots of culteral events for such a small town, liberal, closer to the Carolina beaches.

Eastern TN: pretty, summer has apparently started since it's to be in the 70's for the next several days, fall doesn't start until mid-late October, winter is short, people are nice, not a lot of different cultural stuff, UT football is a way of life in the fall, UT basketball takes up the winter, 5-6 hours to Carolina beaches, 8-9 to northern FL beaches, no state income tax for individuals, housing is reasonable.
 
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: DixieBelle on March 17, 2011, 06:07:18 PM
I have lived in TN/MS/TX/VA. I'll be back to write more. :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: compaqxp on March 17, 2011, 06:11:50 PM

Maine:

The Good:  The sense of living in a place decidedly different from the midwest. 
The charming accents and its own sense of humor.  Places to take visiting relatives.  Old New England villages. 

The Bad:  If you weren't born there, you're forever "from away," especially if you have funny furn name.  The weather, the black flies.  The vicious union mill people.  People in love with govmint checks. 


Sounds exactly like Atlantic Canada.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Ballygrl on March 17, 2011, 06:41:39 PM
Brooklyn NY-born there and lived there til I was 10, the good? in our old neighborhood? nothing, crime ridden infestation, love visiting Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst when we go to see family, always bring home Italian food from the numerous deli's, also go to the bakeries and load up on bread and every other dessert you can think of, the best food in the world, but I can't wait to get home, too many people and too much traffic, always have a headache for like a week after visiting because of the stress of it.

NJ-absolutely love it, we live in the NW part of the state, we have mountains and lakes, you can live in an area that's semi-secluded and drive 5 minutes and have every shopping place you can think of, then you can drive less than an hour East and be in NYC, less than an hour West and be in the Poconos, less than an hour South and be at the beginning of the Jersey Shore. Pretty decent food, the really good places are run by ex-NY'ers. :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Ballygrl on March 17, 2011, 06:43:02 PM
Sounds exactly like Atlantic Canada.

LOL, I've heard service workers complain about the Canadians who come to visit Maine because they're bad tippers.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: FreeBorn on March 17, 2011, 07:07:16 PM
LOL, I've heard service workers complain about the Canadians who come to visit Maine because they're bad tippers.
I've seen the same for years, right here in Western New York just across the Niagara river from Ontario. Canadians are infamously legendary in Florida for being overly demanding guests and skinflint tippers.
Seems they have some taxes to pay for clothing over there that we don't have here so especially when the Canadian dollar is strong they come across to the malls around Buffalo to buy clothes and leave heaps of theirs all over the parking lots (if they're wearing it at the border on the way back they don't have to declare it and pay tax). So you see them here in traffic headed back to the Peace Bridge wearing five shirts at once!  :lmao:
I commend them for having such a litter free country but WTF, apparently they think nothing of trashing ours.  :argh:
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Ballygrl on March 17, 2011, 09:41:00 PM
I've seen the same for years, right here in Western New York just across the Niagara river from Ontario. Canadians are infamously legendary in Florida for being overly demanding guests and skinflint tippers.
Seems they have some taxes to pay for clothing over there that we don't have here so especially when the Canadian dollar is strong they come across to the malls around Buffalo to buy clothes and leave heaps of theirs all over the parking lots (if they're wearing it at the border on the way back they don't have to declare it and pay tax). So you see them here in traffic headed back to the Peace Bridge wearing five shirts at once!  :lmao:
I commend them for having such a litter free country but WTF, apparently they think nothing of trashing ours.  :argh:

OMG! they actually do that? and I got so sick in Canada from the beef, I lost weight while on vacation, the meat is horrible there.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Scoobie on March 17, 2011, 11:06:41 PM
OMG! they actually do that? and I got so sick in Canada from the beef, I lost weight while on vacation, the meat is horrible there.

Yes, definitely stick with American meat. Waaaay more protein.  :whistling:
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: compaqxp on March 18, 2011, 12:46:43 AM
I've seen the same for years, right here in Western New York just across the Niagara river from Ontario. Canadians are infamously legendary in Florida for being overly demanding guests and skinflint tippers.
Seems they have some taxes to pay for clothing over there that we don't have here so especially when the Canadian dollar is strong they come across to the malls around Buffalo to buy clothes and leave heaps of theirs all over the parking lots (if they're wearing it at the border on the way back they don't have to declare it and pay tax). So you see them here in traffic headed back to the Peace Bridge wearing five shirts at once!  :lmao:
I commend them for having such a litter free country but WTF, apparently they think nothing of trashing ours.  :argh:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEy_22hG2j4&feature=related[/youtube]
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Wayne on March 18, 2011, 06:56:21 AM
  Good : Missouri

  Bad    :San Diego

  Ugly  : Los Angeles
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: NHSparky on March 18, 2011, 08:09:55 AM
I've been to 45 states.  Lived in 15.

Would take WAYYYYYYYY too long.  So I'll just stick with where I'm at now:

Good: Quiet, small town, people mind their own business.
Bad: 8+ ******* feet of snow every winter, ice storms, mosquitoes that need landing lights in the summer.
Ugly: Dipshits robbing pharmacies every other week.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: debk on March 18, 2011, 09:21:21 AM
I've been to 45 states.  Lived in 15.

Would take WAYYYYYYYY too long.  So I'll just stick with where I'm at now:

Good: Quiet, small town, people mind their own business.
Bad: 8+ ******* feet of snow every winter, ice storms, mosquitoes that need landing lights in the summer.
Ugly: Dipshits robbing pharmacies every other week.


Mosquito comment made me  :lmao:

Dipshits robbing pharmacies must be a common problem. We have a lot of that going on here. The CVS we use, just got hit again a week or so ago.  :(
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Karin on March 18, 2011, 10:02:24 AM
Freeborn, your comment made a lightbulb go off.  At our mall in Watertown, we gets scads of Canadians.  (They clog up the Cracker Barrel, too).  Across the street is the biggest Salvation Army store you've ever seen.  They had to build that new facility just for the volume.  Now I know why!   :lmao:
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: IassaFTots on March 18, 2011, 10:18:51 AM
Aside from a 6 month stint in KCMO, I have lived in the same metropolitan area for the last 30 years. 

Dallas/Fort Worth

Good:  Pretty cheap to live, comparatively speaking.  No state income tax.  For the most part moderate weather conditions, especially if you love temperatures over 90 for about 7 months or so.   :whatever:  We get 4 seasons here, but fall and spring last about a week to a month.  There is always something to do if you want. 

Bad:  I hear from many people that come down here from the NE that they loathe the flatness and the brownness of the area.  (personally, I like flat roads that I can see everything up in front of me.) 

Ugly.  The continuing and rapid influx of our illegal neighbors to the south.  One of the reasons I drive toll roads when I can is to avoid them on the highway.  They aren't as prevalent on roads they have to pay for. 

Best:  It's the Great State of Texas by God!
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Karin on March 18, 2011, 10:21:27 AM
Northern New York:

Lived here for 5 years, then escaped the rubes to go to more upscale CT, then after 10 years escaped snooty rules-ridden CT back to the haven of the country life.  Even though it's NY, there is more of a sense of freedom and rugged individuality.  Thousand Islands and the St. Larry are gorgeous and I've had many great fun times there during the first five years.

Taxes are a bitch and make all the general cost of living high.  Real good-paying jobs are very rare.  Weather is a bitch.  I do not care at all for the local accent, which sounds dumb, and guys that say "whatnot."  There is a collection here of the biggest asses you've ever seen.  Eye candy few and far between, same with teeth sometimes.  I cannot escape being represented by Schumer and other democrats.  High school plays are about as much culture as you're going to get.  It's boring here, and so the favorite regional sport is drinking.  Can't blame em.  
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: NHSparky on March 18, 2011, 01:45:00 PM

Mosquito comment made me  :lmao:

Dipshits robbing pharmacies must be a common problem. We have a lot of that going on here. The CVS we use, just got hit again a week or so ago.  :(

Yeah, they're usually Oxy/Xanax addicts who'll hit about 5-6 places until the local Keystone Cops put two and two together on the surveillance tapes and figure out who it is.

And this town rolls up and turns out the lights by 9 PM.  On weekends.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: whiffleball on March 18, 2011, 04:06:22 PM
KY:  Lexington is very pretty in spring and fall.  Still very small town although it's grown a lot.  Really not a lot to do.  Louisville is a bit better.  Eastern part is gorgeous in spots, but other spots are not so great.  Not a place to live.

PA:  Lewisburg/Selinsgrove - I've never been so cold in my entire life! Or so bored stiff.  It's a great area if you're a hunter, though.

VA:  Charlottesville - feel the same as debk.

TN:  Nashville - loved it!  Lots of stuff to do and the weather isn't too bad.  No income tax.  Still on the affordable side.  Eastern part of the state is breathtakingly beautiful, but lots of poverty and all that goes with it.

NC:  Boone/Blowing Rock is where I would be if I had my druthers.  Mountains, mountains, mountains!  Some very good restaurants.  Differing cultural activities.  Lots to do.   Durham sucked; I hated it.  We lived in a nice development as developments go, but within a couple of miles you were in the hood and the hood went calling too often.  I liked Raleigh better, but housing is getting out of sight.  NC symphony is very good.  And of course there is tons of college sports.  NC has a lot of drawbacks, the governor being a biggie but she won't always be around, and with them all I'd rather be in NC than any other state.

SC:  Columbia was a place I didn't care for, but my husband loved it.  It's hotter than hell, humid and I always felt like I had to watch my back there.  Their symphony wasn't bad.

WV:  Beautiful in so many ways, but like east TN and KY I'd never go back.

GA:  Here in the GA mountains it's peaceful, quiet and lots of outdoor activities.  If you like to do anything at night after 8 or 9 forget it; there's nothing.  About 1 1/2 hours to Atlanta if one feels the urge to go there.  Housing is reasonable even with a couple of acres.  Good restaurants are very scarce.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: debk on March 18, 2011, 05:05:25 PM
KY:  Lexington is very pretty in spring and fall.  Still very small town although it's grown a lot.  Really not a lot to do.  Louisville is a bit better.  Eastern part is gorgeous in spots, but other spots are not so great.  Not a place to live.

PA:  Lewisburg/Selinsgrove - I've never been so cold in my entire life! Or so bored stiff.  It's a great area if you're a hunter, though.

VA:  Charlottesville - feel the same as debk.

TN:  Nashville - loved it!  Lots of stuff to do and the weather isn't too bad.  No income tax.  Still on the affordable side.  Eastern part of the state is breathtakingly beautiful, but lots of poverty and all that goes with it.

NC:  Boone/Blowing Rock is where I would be if I had my druthers.  Mountains, mountains, mountains!  Some very good restaurants.  Differing cultural activities.  Lots to do.   Durham sucked; I hated it.  We lived in a nice development as developments go, but within a couple of miles you were in the hood and the hood went calling too often.  I liked Raleigh better, but housing is getting out of sight.  NC symphony is very good.  And of course there is tons of college sports.  NC has a lot of drawbacks, the governor being a biggie but she won't always be around, and with them all I'd rather be in NC than any other state.

SC:  Columbia was a place I didn't care for, but my husband loved it.  It's hotter than hell, humid and I always felt like I had to watch my back there.  Their symphony wasn't bad.

WV:  Beautiful in so many ways, but like east TN and KY I'd never go back.

GA:  Here in the GA mountains it's peaceful, quiet and lots of outdoor activities.  If you like to do anything at night after 8 or 9 forget it; there's nothing.  About 1 1/2 hours to Atlanta if one feels the urge to go there.  Housing is reasonable even with a couple of acres.  Good restaurants are very scarce.

When were you in Charlottesville? I was there from mid '77 to early '79. A pit stop at the Roanoke VA, then to Durham for 4 years with a couple of pit stops at the VA in Asheville. Know what you mean about the hood in Durham. We lived in the county but only 7 minutes from the hospital.

Blowing Rock is really pretty. I like Nashville too.

I didn't realize you were in GA.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: chitownchica on March 18, 2011, 05:21:13 PM
I was born in Arkansas - many parts are very pretty, but I never want to live there full time.
Lived in Memphis for when I was in elementary school back in the mid 70s. The area I lived in was decent middle class back then, but now it's the worst hood in town (or so I hear).  I haven't been back, so I really have no idea what it is like to live there.
Lived in Texas from late 70s - 2006. The landscape in Texas varies so much by region. I grew up in East TX, among pine trees and rolling hills. Pretty area, but too small for my tastes. It was 120 miles from Dallas, so it wasn't too far away from a big city.  I went to college in Waco, which is like the armpit of TX. I wouldn't recommend it, but there are worse options :).  I lived in the D/FW area from 1991 - 2006, and then moved to Chicago.  Dallas, as Tots mentioned, is quite flat in most parts. I hate heat and love snow, so Chicago suits me. Texas springs, however, are beautiful.
I really enjoy Chicago. It's expensive, but I've just adjusted my spending to allow me to rent a place in the city.  I would like to buy a place, but prices are incredible. I don't want to be house poor.  At some point I'll move back to Dallas and buy there I suppose.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: whiffleball on March 18, 2011, 05:46:34 PM
When were you in Charlottesville? I was there from mid '77 to early '79. A pit stop at the Roanoke VA, then to Durham for 4 years with a couple of pit stops at the VA in Asheville. Know what you mean about the hood in Durham. We lived in the county but only 7 minutes from the hospital.

Blowing Rock is really pretty. I like Nashville too.

I didn't realize you were in GA.

We were in Charlottesville from '94-96.  Just long enough for the DH to go to grad school again.  Going up to the Skyline was one of my favorite things to do while there.  Driving around the outlying areas and coveting the awesome farms were another.  And there was the history aspect.  The damn US29 debacle was an unfavorite.  

It really is a lovely place, but UVA has some of the snottiest people on earth.  I got corrected if I didn't refer to it as "The University"; special emphasis on The.

Forgot to mention that we lived about a mile from Southpoint Mall off Fayetteville Road in Durham.  So, you know what I'm talking about.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: IassaFTots on March 18, 2011, 08:58:31 PM
I was born in Arkansas - many parts are very pretty, but I never want to live there full time.
Lived in Memphis for when I was in elementary school back in the mid 70s. The area I lived in was decent middle class back then, but now it's the worst hood in town (or so I hear).  I haven't been back, so I really have no idea what it is like to live there.
Lived in Texas from late 70s - 2006. The landscape in Texas varies so much by region. I grew up in East TX, among pine trees and rolling hills. Pretty area, but too small for my tastes. It was 120 miles from Dallas, so it wasn't too far away from a big city.  I went to college in Waco, which is like the armpit of TX. I wouldn't recommend it, but there are worse options :).  I lived in the D/FW area from 1991 - 2006, and then moved to Chicago.  Dallas, as Tots mentioned, is quite flat in most parts. I hate heat and love snow, so Chicago suits me. Texas springs, however, are beautiful.
I really enjoy Chicago. It's expensive, but I've just adjusted my spending to allow me to rent a place in the city.  I would like to buy a place, but prices are incredible. I don't want to be house poor.  At some point I'll move back to Dallas and buy there I suppose.

"Springs are beautiful?"    Shoot, it isn't even the first friggin day of spring and it was 87 friggin degrees in my car when I left work.  My plants are all shriveled up.  I am not amused.  No rain in sight, but I wouldn't be surprised to see rain and 40's in a week or so.  Oh yeah!  Dallas is cool!   :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: chitownchica on March 18, 2011, 10:27:17 PM
"Springs are beautiful?"    Shoot, it isn't even the first friggin day of spring and it was 87 friggin degrees in my car when I left work.  My plants are all shriveled up.  I am not amused.  No rain in sight, but I wouldn't be surprised to see rain and 40's in a week or so.  Oh yeah!  Dallas is cool!   :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

I should've stressed that they used to be. At least that's the story I  remember and I'm stickin' to it :cheersmate:

Glow bull warming has had quite the effect I see.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Gina on March 18, 2011, 10:28:54 PM
Lived in the same place my whole life, Memphis TN  SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS DONKEYDICK.  So much racism from both sides here.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: NHSparky on March 18, 2011, 10:35:23 PM
Actually, I hear the "N" word a hell of a lot more often around here than I ever did in Cali.  That I find very disturbing.

I mean, ****--you people live in a state that's 98 percent WHITE (just plain white!)  It's not as if you've ever ENCOUNTERED more than one or two at a time in your entire life, people!  WTF did they ever do to you?
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: BlueStateSaint on March 19, 2011, 03:41:41 PM
Lessee . . .

Good:  Toss-up between two places, both in Saratoga County in NY.  Yes, NY.  Saratoga Springs is absolutely electric when Saratoga Race Course is open.  Last year, it went from a 36-day meet to a 40-day meet.  Opening Day went from a Wednesday to a Friday.  It poured.  But, stroll down either Broadway or Caroline Street on a hoit August night and it's a madhouse.  The other place is where we live now--Clifton Park.  Definitely a red enclave, but a few moonbats do exist.  Close to a lot of things.  A younger crowd than us, which is nice.

Bad:  El Paso TX.  It wasn't until I got there that I realized that the VW theft rate is through the roof, due to (at the time--I don't know if it's still there) a VW parts plant being in Juarez.  I had just bought a VW Jetta.  Someone did attempt to steal it.  Damn near succeeded, too.  I never really found the best parts of El Paso until two months before I left the place.

Ugly:  Does my dorm room in college count? :o
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Thor on March 19, 2011, 03:58:22 PM
Lived in the same place my whole life, Memphis TN  SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS DONKEYDICK.  So much racism from both sides here.

Yep, Memphis is "teh Sux"....... Ask any OLDER  Navy Airedale!!
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Karin on March 21, 2011, 12:46:15 PM
I once got a job offer to go to Memphis, and I've been kicking myself ever since for turning it down.  Great job, huge company.  I had a prejudice against Memphis.  Actually, it was husband #1 with the adamant prejudice, and Oh Christ, never mind.  Maybe it was for the best, I don't know. 

NHSparky, you reminded me of my first experience in Maine.  Stopping the car at a small convenience store (Mom&Pop), we went in to get some sodas.  A child's handwritten sign was posted on the bulletin board.  "Please help me find my kitten.  He is all white.  His name is n****r."    Was shocked and dismayed, to say the least. 
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: catsmtrods on March 21, 2011, 03:27:53 PM
Lived here in the Catskill mtns of NY most my life. Left a few times for SoCal and Tenn for a few years. Always come back home. If you live in the right town taxes are not to bad. The Manhattanites (weekenders) Bring $$ and opportunity. The views and wilds are unequaled in the US as far as I'm concerned. Fly fishing was born here and the hunting is great.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Gina on March 21, 2011, 04:39:44 PM
I once got a job offer to go to Memphis, and I've been kicking myself ever since for turning it down.  Great job, huge company.  I had a prejudice against Memphis.  Actually, it was husband #1 with the adamant prejudice, and Oh Christ, never mind.  Maybe it was for the best, I don't know. 

NHSparky, you reminded me of my first experience in Maine.  Stopping the car at a small convenience store (Mom&Pop), we went in to get some sodas.  A child's handwritten sign was posted on the bulletin board.  "Please help me find my kitten.  He is all white.  His name is n****r."    Was shocked and dismayed, to say the least. 

What was the company?
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Karin on March 22, 2011, 11:01:40 AM
Gina, it was International Paper.  I'd worked for years for a company they acquired, and they wanted to fold me into the bigger shark. 
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: NHSparky on March 22, 2011, 11:40:45 AM
Yep, Memphis is "teh Sux"....... Ask any OLDER  Navy Airedale!!

Tell me about it--I almost got sent to Millington before I got picked up for ROTC.  Thankfully when I went back (damn grades!) NFAS/NPS were both in Orlando.  Less than a week between the two schools for me.  Very unusual.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Gina on March 22, 2011, 12:37:09 PM
Gina, it was International Paper.  I'd worked for years for a company they acquired, and they wanted to fold me into the bigger shark. 

Yeh, that is a good company to work for.  I worked for MLGW for awhile and plan on going back.  Can't believe the pay and benefits there.  Insurance alone was cadillac insurance and for family was $262 a month and that was 100% coverage.  That is why I am going back.......  :naughty:
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: IassaFTots on March 22, 2011, 12:45:08 PM
Tell me about it--I almost got sent to Millington before I got picked up for ROTC.  Thankfully when I went back (damn grades!) NFAS/NPS were both in Orlando.  Less than a week between the two schools for me.  Very unusual.

My Step-Mom retired as soon as she moved her operation to Millington. Well, actually, she waited a year or so after that, she was asked to after 9/11.   She HATED Millington.  But, she is from Maine.   :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Gina on March 22, 2011, 12:55:50 PM
My Step-Mom retired as soon as she moved her operation to Millington. Well, actually, she waited a year or so after that, she was asked to after 9/11.   She HATED Millington.  But, she is from Maine.   :-)

Millington was just fine til Clinton shut it down.  Now it's home to BUPERS and is a ghost town.  Very sad to drive through there on way to mil's and see all the businesses shut down.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: IassaFTots on March 22, 2011, 01:19:41 PM
Millington was just fine til Clinton shut it down.  Now it's home to BUPERS and is a ghost town.  Very sad to drive through there on way to mil's and see all the businesses shut down.

Yup.  BUPERS.  That's what she helped moved down from the Annex. 
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: SaintLouieWoman on March 23, 2011, 02:50:44 PM
The worst place that I lived (for a year) was Poplar Bluff Missouri, in the bootheel (or armpit) of Missouri. I couldn't wait to leave. It was soooo boring.

The 2nd worst was Decatur, Il, the home of Millikin University. I took all kinds of correspondence courses while taking my regular courses at the university to get the heck out of there quickly. I couldn't stand smelling those soybeans from the local plant.

I consider St Louis my home. I've always loved the history of the place, the concept of the French trappers and the mighty Mississippi. My family is there and I greatly miss them. I loved the seasons, the reasonable cost of living, the Zoo, the Mo Botanical Garden. There always was something to do there. The shopping was good.

Sarasota is nice in the winter. I'l concede that the weather in winter here is nicer than in St Louis. But I hate the way they do things here. I can't stand all the con artists who mask as tradesmen. I'm afraid to trust anyone here and dislike having in laws here who aren't very nice to me. I miss my little 7 month old granddaughter and my 2 1/2 year old grandson. They mean more to me than palm trees. I don't like the medical system here, but I do love my neighbors. They are the nicest that I've ever had, even in my beloved St Louis.  :-)


San Antonio Texas is probably my favorite city. I lived there for 7 years and loved everything about it---the weather, the people, the culture.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Gina on March 23, 2011, 06:18:36 PM
I love St Louis just for their zoo
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: SaintLouieWoman on March 23, 2011, 06:39:35 PM
I love St Louis just for their zoo

Thanks. I was a docent there for 20 years, did animal handling in the children's zoo and for special event, was a chimp sitter for an abandoned by its mom, elephant research and was a "midwife" for all the baby elephants there. The midwife gig was going around 11pm to the zoo, having a ranger take me to the elephant house (only other person on the zoo's grounds) and watching both tapes from the time the keepers left til when I got there and then watching the elies in real time. They were so cute. They'd see me peeking through the window in the keepers room and would extend their trunks in greeting. The idea was the unpaid volunteers would help take some of the stress of staff having to be there all the time til the date of birth was closer. If we saw any signs of labor, we had to call the curator of elies and she'd get the vet there asap. I only had to call once in the watch for 4 babies and that was a false alarm. But it was such a cool experience.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: debk on March 24, 2011, 09:28:13 AM
I love St Louis just for their zoo

Me too! Good zoos and aquariums are among my favorite things to visit!
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Rebel on March 24, 2011, 09:46:58 AM
The CSRA (Evans, Augusta, North Augusta, Aiken). 2.5 hours to the beach, 2.5 hours to the mountains, 2 hours to saltwater, 2 hours to Atlanta, Charlotte, Greenville, Savannah, and one hour to Columbia. Low cost of living and good weather. If I want a zoo, I head to the woods. If I really want a zoo, they have one in Columbia. We have the 2nd largest man-made lake this side of the Mississippi 15 miles up the Savannah. If that's not enough, we have two more damned up lakes (Hartwell, Russell) right up above that.

Oh, and we have a little golf tournament here.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Rebel on March 24, 2011, 09:47:46 AM
Worst place? Anywhere in my home state. MS sucks. Sorry Mississippians. Even the beaches suck. You can walk forever in Gulfport and still be in ankle-deep water, primarily due to the islands not allowing the tides to come in.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: IassaFTots on March 24, 2011, 09:55:23 AM
Worst place? Anywhere in my home state. MS sucks. Sorry Mississippians. Even the beaches suck. You can walk forever in Gulfport and still be in ankle-deep water, primarily due to the islands not allowing the tides to come in.

Aw dude.....you break my heart.  I grew up there!  Swimming in the brown water, avoiding undertows.  How the hell can you diss the home of the Deep Sea Fisherman's Rodeo??????

 :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Eupher on March 24, 2011, 10:00:18 AM
SE Michigan - a sucking chest wound. There is NOTHING there that is worthy of much, except to seal off the wound and start CPR if you're stuck there longer than 20 minutes.

Chicagoland - too expensive, too busy, too much traffic, and WAAAAAAAY too many freakin' toll roads. Jesus Christ, people, you think you're in New Yawk or someplace? But the music scene is incredible and the CSO is awe-inspiring.

Jackson, TN - didn't know how good it was there till I left. Low cost of living, no state income tax, and they come right up to your doorstep to take away your trash. What's not to love? Mrs E and I are heading back there for final retirement.

Salt Lake City, Utah - incredible, gorgeous, beautiful place. But it was the most foreign country I've ever lived in, and I've lived in or been in just about every country on the continent of Europe and a few in northern Africa.

Mentor, OH (east of Cleveland on Lake Drearie) - WTF did I do to deserve 7 FEET of snow per year? Huh? Tell me!!!

north-central Missouri - I'm the guy in town that doesn't drive a pickup. Want a salad around here that isn't wilted and consists of something besides iceberg lettuce, a couple of gratings of unpeeled carrot, and a cherry tomato with sprouting seeds? Fuggedaboudit. Make your own.

Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Rebel on March 24, 2011, 10:06:43 AM
Aw dude.....you break my heart.  I grew up there!  Swimming in the brown water, avoiding undertows.  How the hell can you diss the home of the Deep Sea Fisherman's Rodeo??????

 :-)

Ya'll have some nice beaches.



....on the other side of Ship Island.  :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: IassaFTots on March 24, 2011, 10:14:09 AM
Ya'll have some nice beaches.



....on the other side of Ship Island.  :-)

That's no lie.   :cheersmate:
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on March 24, 2011, 10:14:49 AM
With the internet, shopping isn't important and I like country living, where I can go shoot guns in the back yard if I feel like it, and the hand of government lies very lightly upon the people and their wallets.  I've been married for almost 30 years and my wife has some mobility issues these days, so clubs and such aren't any kind of a factor.  Rural MO Ozark life therefore suits me fine.

I grew up in southern IN, near a big college town; also nice, more densely populated than where I live now and full of annoying Liberals in that particular area thanks to the college; other places I've stayed for enough time to get a feel:

Northern IN - flat and depressing as Hell in Winter.

Western KY/TN - nice, for my tastes.  KY has kind of high income taxes, TN doesn't have income tax but does have a pretty bodacious sales tax.

Quad cities area (IA side) - lived up the river a bit from Bettendorf IA; not bad, really, but the wife hated it.  Plenty of opportunity to fish in the big river.  Cold as a sonofabitch in winter.

Charlottexville VA - Unusually large number of silver-spoon college kids driving expensive cars bought by Mummy or Daddykins, and the kind of town climate that goes with that.  Basically what Deb said, but my overall experience was better.  Became a rather expensive place to live during the real estate boom, and it's also pretty damn congested.

Southern, NJ - not nearly as bad as everyone thinks.  Oppressive gun laws, densely settled (Too much so for my taste), and very burdensome property taxes (But cheap compared to NE Jersey).  Not my cup of tea.

Baltimore, MD - Nice place to visit, wouldn't want to live there.

Hinesville/Savannah, GA - Good place for those who like to be able to get out in the country, but within close range of urban amenities too, and coastal life.  Hot as a sonofabitch in Summer.

I've been a lot of other places and have impressions of them, those are just the ones where I actually maintained a household over a long period of time.         

   
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Thor on March 24, 2011, 11:51:28 AM
The CSRA (Evans, Augusta, North Augusta, Aiken). 2.5 hours to the beach, 2.5 hours to the mountains, 2 hours to saltwater, 2 hours to Atlanta, Charlotte, Greenville, Savannah, and one hour to Columbia. Low cost of living and good weather. If I want a zoo, I head to the woods. If I really want a zoo, they have one in Columbia. We have the 2nd largest man-made lake this side of the Mississippi 15 miles up the Savannah. If that's not enough, we have two more damned up lakes (Hartwell, Russell) right up above that.

Oh, and we have a little golf tournament here.

Do they have water in those lakes this year ?? :fuelfire: :fuelfire: :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Rebel on March 24, 2011, 12:16:27 PM
Do they have water in those lakes this year ?? :fuelfire: :fuelfire: :-)

Hell yeah. The lakes haven't been low for several years now.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: seahorse513 on March 24, 2011, 12:25:24 PM
Let's see Mass, New Hampshire, Maryland and Maine. I love Northern NH(White Mountains National Forest area) and Portmouth/Seacoast area. Mass is boring, though Boston area is ok....Maryland, you couldn't pay me to live there........ and Maine, I like Maine even though some of the people aren't that (ahem) intelligent. :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Gina on March 24, 2011, 01:10:23 PM
Let's see Mass, New Hampshire, Maryland and Maine. I love Northern NH(White Mountains National Forest area) and Portmouth/Seacoast area. Mass is boring, though Boston area is ok....Maryland, you couldn't pay me to live there........ and Maine, I like Maine even though some of the people aren't that (ahem) intelligent. :-)

I keep hearing that.  Do you know of any examples? :whistling:
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: seahorse513 on March 24, 2011, 01:25:06 PM
I keep hearing that.  Do you know of any examples? :whistling:

Gina, you are 100% naughtiness!!!!
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Karin on March 24, 2011, 03:55:09 PM
Rebel and Iassa, I have a brother living in Gulfport.  Been there 30 odd years.  Seems to love it. 
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: IassaFTots on March 24, 2011, 08:41:04 PM
Rebel and Iassa, I have a brother living in Gulfport.  Been there 30 odd years.  Seems to love it. 

Aside from some years at Keesler, I never really "lived' there, but my Grandparents did, and because of family issues, I was there every summer and most breaks.  It was pretty much a s-hole growing up there in the 80's, but it was better than it became after the casinos.  I have idyllic fond memories of Gulfport, and the whole MGC, and always will, even though I don't have a place to go there anymore.  Katrina got what Camille didn't. 

I am sure your brother has been to Anjacs, but if he hasn't, you tell him to get on over there!  And Lil Roy's, and Mc Elroy's too! 
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Rebel on March 25, 2011, 07:11:39 AM
Rebel and Iassa, I have a brother living in Gulfport.  Been there 30 odd years.  Seems to love it. 

Oh, it's awesome for fishermen. Other than that, hmm, well, hmm, there's, hmm.
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Gina on March 28, 2011, 08:42:08 PM
SE Michigan - a sucking chest wound. There is NOTHING there that is worthy of much, except to seal off the wound and start CPR if you're stuck there longer than 20 minutes.

Chicagoland - too expensive, too busy, too much traffic, and WAAAAAAAY too many freakin' toll roads. Jesus Christ, people, you think you're in New Yawk or someplace? But the music scene is incredible and the CSO is awe-inspiring.

Jackson, TN - didn't know how good it was there till I left. Low cost of living, no state income tax, and they come right up to your doorstep to take away your trash. What's not to love? Mrs E and I are heading back there for final retirement.

Salt Lake City, Utah - incredible, gorgeous, beautiful place. But it was the most foreign country I've ever lived in, and I've lived in or been in just about every country on the continent of Europe and a few in northern Africa.

Mentor, OH (east of Cleveland on Lake Drearie) - WTF did I do to deserve 7 FEET of snow per year? Huh? Tell me!!!

north-central Missouri - I'm the guy in town that doesn't drive a pickup. Want a salad around here that isn't wilted and consists of something besides iceberg lettuce, a couple of gratings of unpeeled carrot, and a cherry tomato with sprouting seeds? Fuggedaboudit. Make your own.



we will have to have tea one day when I come up for Gander Mountain
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Eupher on March 29, 2011, 06:45:06 AM
we will have to have tea one day when I come up for Gander Mountain

I'll keep the porch light on.  :-)
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Gina on March 29, 2011, 08:09:29 AM
I'll keep the porch light on.  :-)

do I get to bitchslap you in person? :naughty:
Title: Re: Places to Live: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Post by: Eupher on March 29, 2011, 08:16:56 AM
do I get to bitchslap you in person? :naughty:

Only if Mrs E isn't armed at the moment.