What is attracting California and west coast folks to Northwest Arkansas? (Van Buren: environment, relocate)

[bethiss]

There are so many people living here in our area that are retired and have left California. We recently moved here from NM, the same there. A huge number of our neighbors were Californians that had chosen to relocate.

Nita[/quote]

Greetings,

I been reading these boards a while, esp those about ark. as my hubby & i will have to relocate from the duke city, due to his breathing diffuculties at this altitude of 5000 ft. above sea level. for him, even 1000 less ft. makes a lot of easier breathing. anyway, I am originally from S'port, La ark. near southernly neighbor, and miss the green life. we live in the river valley area of ABQ, and do live in a very lush green belt and even though it is town, we live on the outskirts..a very qiute ruralish feel to it..we have hawks, shunks, snakes. all landing in my yard, horses, goats nearby. just recently, some peacock hens flew into my yard. anyway, in all the 20+ yrs here, I have not yet meant a california transplant person ...one who has relocated here. i know they are here.... but , i have not yet to run into..
anyway, I feel attracted to checking out the NW part of ark, and notice the original question is why are folks moving there from Ca? well, i am not from ca, NM is where i am as I have shared, but can say that it interests me because of the small size ( abq has exploded) near mountains ( which my nature reqiures) is a college town, and has a lot of activites, a good heath food scene, and a near airport, and has some major shopping stores, & ethnic restaurants. I guess too I miss the south where folks are real freindly and open hearted. People are nice here, too.. I think they are nice most places though . as some one else said..just trying to make a living, all folks are the same in many regards, as well as differences.. anyway, here it is just not qiute the same as the south, where by large real southeren hospitality is called so for good reson. and for us..we may have to move for my husbands health...

My husbands deceased mom, and family is from Ark, and he spent his summers there, We are going to make our way back over there for a visist when we can... It has been a long while for us both.

anyway, y'all have a good day!

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by bethiss

I feel attracted to checking out the NW part of ark

Well, I'll warn ya right now, you go messin' round these parts, you ain't gonna want to leave.

NWA is a growing, thriving, diversified area. Make sure and take time to check out some other areas. Get off the blacktop for awhile. Go up through the hills. Get over to the Mountain Home area and take yer shoes off for a bit.

Worse thing that'll happen is somebody will invite you in for some sweet tea.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by adysmom

Can I ask? What do you dislike about N Mexico ?
I have always like the desert, And and love that BIG year round fireworks place on the I 40 I have been through N.M. on I 40, I 10 And I 25 looks nice from the interstate but have never lived their. Is their a big illegal and gang problem ?

Sorry, I didn't get back to this sooner but have been in Dallas for 4 days, doing my canning with my daughter.

Well, yes, there is the illegal thing, but that isn't the only problem, it is the people who have lived there for generations and refuse to accept any change. The poverty level is so bad with the exception of a few very wealthy counties.

Every state, every city, every town, whatever has some dirty politics, but we have lived many places in this wonderful country and nothing compares with NEW Mexico for crocked politics. Don't even get me started.

The highschool drop out rate is among the highest in the counrty, as is the teen age pregnancy rate.

The state, partially because of the lack of pride and partially because of the winds and dryness is really dirty, even the upscale shopping areas are different.

That being said, there are lots of good things: yes, Hatch chili, the beauty of the state, sunrise and sunsets, some of the people are very friendly and take away the wind, the weather is ideal.

Do I miss some things? Sure, I would be lieing or blind if I didn't, but just waking up here, every morning, it is so quiet except for the birds, there is very little dirt, we don't see lots of polution along the side of the roads and we don't see broken down ltrailers everywhere, parked in the middle of an acre of land that is owned by some vacant landlord. People in AK may not all be rich, even middle class, some have no education, but they are not of bunch of lazy slobs looking for a government handout. yes, I know some are, but not the majority.

[joebaldknobber]

I love Santa Fe & Taos. There was a brewpub that made Green Chile Beer in Taos. They also had a great baked potato.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by joebaldknobber

I love Santa Fe & Taos. There was a brewpub that made Green Chile Beer in Taos. They also had a great baked potato.

Green chili anything is awesome. I think if we had moved north of Albuquerque we may feel a little different about the state, but then we would have spent a lot more for our property. I would never want to live in either Sante Fe or Taos but the are wonderful places to vacation. I feel the same way about New York City, Chicago or even LA. Lots to see and do on vacation, nightmare living.

Nita

[CCScarfaro]

Its simple economics. My wife went to college in NWA and has spent the last 8 years in California with me. We have 3 small children, a wonderful home and the weather in California is unbeatable. I have heard the complaints of illegal immigration here... traffic...liberal politics, taxes but the weather makes that pretty much all bearable..( not to mention rogers and springdale have there immigration issues as well) so you ask, why then are they still coming.... well looking it from my situation which isnt much different from a lot of Californians... we are home rich. If your 40 something like myself and bought your home 8 or 9 years back, even with the slow down your sitting on probably close to a million dollars in equity. You can sell, move to NWA and buy a smiliar home and invest the rest and play golf and be a dad full time at 40 something. Sure beats waiting till 60 something here in California for that. We havent done this as of yet but we are really close. So, there is your reason.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by CCScarfaro

invest the rest and play golf and be a dad full time at 40 something. Sure beats waiting till 60 something here in California for that. We havent done this as of yet but we are really close. So, there is your reason.

Wow.....

Probably the best reason I've heard yet.

[briansgi]

Originally Posted by rickca

I am from California and thinking of re-locating elsewhere. Costs are extremely high here, I am young, 23, and still have not finished college. Living in the Bay Area or Southern California it is very difficult to get ahead as the cost of living and very competitive job market tend to keep people down.

Everyone complains about Californians moving to their state, well, guess what: California is THE state that "everyone" is moving too, it has driven up costs here to insane levels, people who are older and already have had a start on their career move here thus taking jobs from recent California born graduates. Those of us born here are people too and have the same right as anyone else from the U.S. to move where we like, if we had it our way everyone who wasn't from California would leave so we could have our state back, but its not going to happen so we will continue to move out of state.

I beg to differ! Looks like everyone is moving out of California as fast as they can!
Data Comparisons by Topic > Bar Graph > Net Domestic Migration, July 1, 2005 Through July 1, 2006 - Population Reference Bureau

The only growth you are seeing is from illegal immigration!

[pcflhrt]

The cost living and slower lifestyle make Arkansas an attractive location. But you do need to be aware and check the different areas of the state.
We own 5.3 acres with a 375 sqft barn, a 420 sqft workshop, a 168 sqft storage shed, a pond, and a 1846 sqft home with 2-car garage plus a well. We're on city water but the well means that you can care for a garden and not have a water bill. Cost? Under $200,000! Which is GREAT compared to housing costs in CA and AZ (we've lived in both states). We're 35 miles north of Little Rock so we're still close to lots of things to do in a city environment but we're also only a bit of a drive from some beautiful lakes and mountains. Of course, not everything is roses here, I mean the humidity can make you wilt - so during those heavy air days, just take it all easy. Plus if you choose Little Rock then the crime rate is rather high so you just have to pick where you want to be. We moved out to AZ then CA with my job but after 3 years we had enough so back to AR we came. We grump but it sure beats the devil out of a lot of other places. On a side note - while we absolutely adore our home and acreage, we are in the process of selling our home. Why? Because we want to move a bit further north and closer to the air force base plus we are planning on building our retirement home. This keeps us close to our kids and future grandkids but also lets us keep the easy lifestyle that we've come to enjoy. Plus it is only a one flight hop to Atlanta or Dallas or St Louis if you want. I sure sound like a commercial, don't I? I didn't really think about it but now that I do... you know, this place isn't half bad.

[joebaldknobber]

When will Southwest Airlines be at NW Arkansas Regional Airport?