[Jan Brown]

We visit Hot Springs Village a couple of times a year if possible. We do try to go in the spring (May) or fall (late Sept early Oct). I'm from Oklahoma and our climate is very similar. We love it there. We have stayed on two different lakes and the bugs weren't bad but it wasn't during the hot part of the summer either. I would love to move there.

[nanettew]

Hi Sergio,
I would love to get in and keep in touch with you (and your lady?)

Hubby and I are finally retiring (Lord-willing) around end of October, beginning of November - and I am SO excited! I have been 'on him' to retire every since he was eligible... he says it's difficult when he's been working all his life... which is kinda my point.

We shopped around for a scenic, gorgeous, four seasons, mild winter, low-cost place to call retirement home for four years - we bought 20 acres in Newton County in late April of 1998 and I have been marking Xs on our calender, counting down the days ever since.

Do you do any hiking? Ken Smith (Fayetteville) has a wonderful hiking trail along the Buffalo, and Tim Ernst's goes diagonally clear across the state, from the Van Buren area to up near northeastern Missouri.

You're lucky - there's a Calvary Chapel in Rogers somewhere... it's going to be way too far for us to go weekly - maybe we'll try and make it twice a month.

Have you visited my wonderful friends at Turpentine Creek yet? It's south out of Eureka Springs, on Hwy 21, on the east side of the Hwy.

Anyway, I talk too much, I know.
Have a great spring - wish I was there!!

warm regards,
Nanette (& Dave)
<><

Originally Posted by sergio

...I moved here from Florida almost a year ago and I must say that I am very happy with my decision. I dealt with Florida humidity and Arkansas' is nothing compared. The seasons here are very pretty and the people couldn't be nicer. Housing is cheap and there is barely any traffic. The area I live in is Rogers ....

[Sam I Am]

Welcome to Arkansas, and welcome your friend for us as well.....I am sure you will love what I will always call The Land of Opportunity (then the Natural State, and now I think it's The Diamond State or something - ugly new license plates, huh?)

Here's to hoping you have many enjoyable and memorable years in Arkansas and that you grow old with us in what I very selfishly think of as our own little (almost) perfect corner of the world!

For the poster above Moderator cut: (the off-topic post you were replying to has been removed)

[DFWMike]

Ravenasque is right on some things about the state, I do think he went overboard a bit in some of his assertions. He did state that he was in college, which I would assume places him in an idealistic younger mind frame. As one gets older they tend to look at things differently.

That being said, he's right about quite a few things. The state is quite poor, however entrepeneurs make it there all the time(see wal mart). Education system is lacking in large portions of the state but there are exceptions. Northwest Arkansas seems like a great place to live. Schools are great, crime low, beautiful....college atmosphere does rule there, Little Rock is a great little city, have to go to Conway, Bryant, or Cabot to find decent schools. Crime is a bit rough there too.

Stay away from anyplace south of I-40/30. Little opportunity, no mountains.

People are very friendly in Arkansas, Little Rock a classy, cultural place but in the end it was hard for us to decide to move there. Wasn't crazy about Northwest Ark. despite all the good things about it, seemed like it was striving hard to replicate Austin and become a big city, have enough of that in Dallas. But if you're into a place trying to become a large city, it might work for you. Little Rock's crime/schools detracted us from going there.

All in all after alot of research and looking at different areas of the state it's hard to get past the reputation of the state, which it in some ways deserves. I absolutely love to visit the state and love many people there, but when you have a choice on where you should go there are limited options. If you don't like those options time to move on. IMHO small town Arkansas is not a way to go if you don't like the cities.

My criteria for finding a new location to live is schools, beauty, crime, convenience of arts, museums and commute. Can't rank the places here very well because it seems in Arkansas when you gain one you lose the others. But I still say if you can stand the area, northwest arkansas is by far the tops in the state.

[ArkansasSully]

I'm A Yankee who spent time in California before heading to Arkansas . I remember telling folks that when I moved here in 1993 . Man did that get some eyes opened .

Best Bet is to tell the good folks you are from IOWA [Individuals On the Way to Arkansas ]

Folks , Face It , No matter where your from , Folks are at first leary that you bring the worst with you when you come to a new area . Most of us LEAVE an Area to seek a new lifestyle . So NOT TOO WORRY . Home is where you make it and if your looking for an easier lifestyle Arkansas is the right place. It will take adjustments

Come visit and observe .

[eric1]

Mandamoo, do not worry about being english, or any other race for that matter. If you are a friendly person people will be friendly to you. I live in Little Rock and I run into British expats all the time in fact my step father is English.

[sergio]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

Welcome to Arkansas, and welcome your friend for us as well.....I am sure you will love what I will always call The Land of Opportunity (then the Natural State, and now I think it's The Diamond State or something - ugly new license plates, huh?)

Here's to hoping you have many enjoyable and memorable years in Arkansas and that you grow old with us in what I very selfishly think of as our own little (almost) perfect corner of the world!

For the poster above Moderator cut: (the off-topic post you were replying to has been removed)

See, your friendliness and the way you welcomed me is why I now call this home. The people here are fabulous. This is such a welcome change from Miami. I am glad to be here and by the way, I like the new license plate. haha!

[CiCi23]

I here Mountain View is a good place to live...I kow my parents are interested in moving there. But they also could live in a cave and be happy. (Their anti-social).

[aka_soldier]

I'm transferring (military) to Jonesboro in a few months. I lived in Hot Springs during my high school years, and Texarkana is where i call home. My question to you is, are their better towns to live in near Jonesboro 15 mile radius? I'm looking to move on the outskirts of city limits. I just want to live in a nice area so my three kids will be in a good neighborhood and school. I have one son that will be in 5th grade, a daughter 6th grade and oldest son will be in the 9th grade.
This is going to be hopefully my last assignment before I retire. If you have any advice please share it with me. Thanks

[arguy1973]

Originally Posted by aka_soldier

I'm transferring (military) to Jonesboro in a few months. I lived in Hot Springs during my high school years, and Texarkana is where i call home. My question to you is, are their better towns to live in near Jonesboro 15 mile radius? I'm looking to move on the outskirts of city limits. I just want to live in a nice area so my three kids will be in a good neighborhood and school. I have one son that will be in 5th grade, a daughter 6th grade and oldest son will be in the 9th grade.
This is going to be hopefully my last assignment before I retire. If you have any advice please share it with me. Thanks

Well, there are several small towns, growing quickly because of Jonesboros growth. Brookland, pop 2000 (est) good school--I went there--Good principal, new elementary, 10 min from J-boro, also valley view is a gr8 school district, higher income neighborhood, pm me if you want more info