Best place to live in Arkansas? (Little Rock, Fayetteville: relocating, hoa, getaway)

[baptistlady]

Living in the real world, jobs are posted, I am sorry you have never been there.

My attitude declined, over three years when I came to the realization of no matter how great, my personality is or how hard I work, or my education, will substitute, my heritage.

[boulder]

Hmmm ... you been sippin' a little Baptistlady?

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by baptistlady

Living in the real world, jobs are posted, I am sorry you have never been there.

My attitude declined, over three years when I came to the realization of no matter how great, my personality is or how hard I work, or my education, will substitute, my heritage.

Baptist, I'm afraid your first sentence makes no sense...maybe you meant to say jobs are NOT posted, but government jobs HAVE to be by law, they are posted at the courthouse. As with other cities, once someone is employed by the government, they tend not to leave - and Russellville doesn't have a huge city employee base, we're just not big enough for it. You won't find a lot of postings there because there simply are not a lot of government sector jobs available...doesn't mean they aren't posted, means the positions are filled. Whether you get the job that is posted may have nothing to do with your "heritage".....and the private sector owes no one anything and doesn't have to post any openings. They can give it to their high school buddy or take applications or let their son/daughter have the job - there is no entitlement to employment. If you're having a fit because you're a woman and having difficulty finding employment, then there's something wrong. What is it that you do or are looking for? Perhaps networking through this board rather than complaining about vague problems is the answer? Or maybe looking at some of the temp agencies that have temp to perm jobs? Try the hospital, the nuclear plant, Tyson's, ConAgra - the largest employers. If you have a field that you excel in, let us know and we'll watch for you. Truthfully, I think you are better off finding a new place to call home rather than staying here - your unhappiness bleeds all over your postings. It's okay - you didn't fail, no one hates you, and life isn't a pile of crap - you tried something, it didn't work - maybe try something else?

I am gathering you are a minority from the "heritage" statement.....my advice to anyone, anywhere would remain the same. If the spot doesn't fit you, leave. I cannot believe, if you are a minority, that Bryant was so forward thinking that it leaves R'ville in the dirt. I KNOW the scenery in Bryant isn't nearly so pretty. I think you just aren't happy with the town, and that's okay - not everyplace fits everyone. If you don't want to be in this community, then make your plans accordingly and find the place that suits you best. No one is saying the river valley is for everyone.....but it's up to you to make the move. Until then, you need to try to make lemonade.

I'm truly not trying to be condescending or put you down - but my off-the-cuff feeling is that the problems you are experiencing are as a result of your attitude and not your locale....(I'm sorry - I don't mean to be ugly at all, I really don't....I would help you if I could, but a major mindset change would be in order first).

[nmnita]

I agree 100% with Sam, I think an attitude adjustment pill may go along way toward helping you. I don't mean to put you down either, but I don't think you are totally honest. You may see as black/white (I am not referring to race, just a statement) but there is more than that here. Your being baptist alone and not being accepted is reason to wonder what is causing this. As I said ealier, if you were Jewish, Catholic or even Episcopalian like I am, I might buy your exclusion, but not being baptist. Just check the number of Baptist churches in your area.

Nita

[debidog824]

Hi...I too, am looking for the same things in AR that you are looking for.....what did you come up with?? Any thoughts on the Shirley/Clinton are???

[Sam I Am]

Debi, I don't live in that area but pass through frequently on my way to our cabin in Mountain View - and I LOVE Shirley/Clinton! Small, hometown friendly - I will say that most of the people who live there have lived there for their entire lives, so as a newcomer you may have to make your way slowly, but the people are VERY friendly. All of Arkansas is having to learn to adapt with the influx of people looking for a simpler lifestyle. Both areas are in reasonable distance to Conway, Morrilton, or Little Rock - but Clinton has enough to hold its own for the basics. There are a lot of craftspeople through there - I think it's an area that is largely overlooked but very, very beautiful.

[debidog824]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

Debi, I don't live in that area but pass through frequently on my way to our cabin in Mountain View - and I LOVE Shirley/Clinton! Small, hometown friendly - I will say that most of the people who live there have lived there for their entire lives, so as a newcomer you may have to make your way slowly, but the people are VERY friendly. All of Arkansas is having to learn to adapt with the influx of people looking for a simpler lifestyle. Both areas are in reasonable distance to Conway, Morrilton, or Little Rock - but Clinton has enough to hold its own for the basics. There are a lot of craftspeople through there - I think it's an area that is largely overlooked but very, very beautiful.

Thank you Sam I Am for the info on Clinton and Shirley. We are headed out that way in early to take a look at those areas and hope to purchase a piece of land. We have been all over the Mountain Home area and over to Eureka Springs...and thought we would look in the Ouachita Mt. areas before making a decision on a spot to re-locate to. We are in Fort Myers FL now and have had enough of the crowds and the traffic - looking for a quiet place to put up a log cabin and still have access to restuarants, good music etc. An hour or so drive is okay with us. We love the mountains and the lakes/rivers - any other areas you can suggest??? Thanx, Debi

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by debidog824

Thank you Sam I Am for the info on Clinton and Shirley. We are headed out that way in early to take a look at those areas and hope to purchase a piece of land. We have been all over the Mountain Home area and over to Eureka Springs...and thought we would look in the Ouachita Mt. areas before making a decision on a spot to re-locate to. We are in Fort Myers FL now and have had enough of the crowds and the traffic - looking for a quiet place to put up a log cabin and still have access to restuarants, good music etc. An hour or so drive is okay with us. We love the mountains and the lakes/rivers - any other areas you can suggest??? Thanx, Debi

Van Buren is a neat town in NW AR - and very close to all the things you've mentioned.

Prairie Grove is a very small town, and very, very neat....within spitting distance of Fayetteville, easy access to I-40...it's sort of SE of F'ville. Siloam Springs is almost to Oklahoma - again, a very neat small town. Bull Shoals and Flippin are pretty close to MO - I also love Jasper, but you're really not near any dining or entertainment meccas! Another place I absolutely adore is Mountain View, NE of Clinton - we have a cabin there and I would move there in a heartbeat - as it is, it's our getaway, stress-free zone. Mtn. View has singing on the town square in good weather - local artists, and it's just FUN. I guess you could go to Branson if you needed entertainment (I'd just as soon pull my tongue out with my fingernails as go to Branson! Too much traffic!) There's Blanchard Caverns there...the Ozark Folk Center - but frankly, once you've seen those actual sightseeing attractions, you've seen 'em....but there's the Buffalo River if you're into floating in a canoe, and that is an activity I could do on a really regular basis!

Log cabins are very popular everywhere, and you will have no trouble finding you a secluded spot. There are so many lakes and rivers in the northern third of the state it would be hard to pick one - I think Beaver Lake up past Springdale and Fayetteville would be a favorite for me, but Bull Shoals runs a close second.

Any kids or anything to consider here?

[debidog824]

Hello Sam....no kids....just a couple of dogs, a couple of cats and my boyfriend Bob. We have been to Mountain View....it was a nice area but it just didn't feel "right". I would like to have an "isolated feeling" but be close enough to some good music, a decent restaurant and a good bookstore. We are in our mid-50's - and I would still like to work. I have an accounting background - but here in FLA I work as a waitress because that is where the money is. That is why I was thinking somewhere relatively close to an area like Hot Springs might work for us. I love to drive...so a commute to work would be okay with me. As it is now I have a 45 minute drive out to Captiva Island to work.

[Sam I Am]

Why don't you look down toward Bella Vista or Malvern, then...Lake DeGray is south at Arkadelphia; Lakes Ouachita, Catherine and Hamilton are all in Hot Springs. I'm also thinking Greenbrier, which is just outside of Conway - it is very small, but a very easy drive to Conway, where there is LOTS of work...and maybe 45 minutes to Little Rock? It's tiny so you get the rural feel, but Conway is rapidly growing. Have you been to Heber and Greer's Ferry? I'm thinking employment is probably more of the problem up there.

Wait, wait, wait - have you looked around Perryville? Now, there isn't much in Perryville itself, but you hit Hwy. 10 going east and go 40 minutes or so and you're in Little Rock - Hwy. 10 turns into Cantrell Road, which is the area Little Rock is spreading to....but between west Little Rock, past Maumelle, past Bigelow - it is GORGEOUS, nice hills, lots of National Forest through there - there's also Wye Mountain, where the daffodil park is, and Shinall Mountain...and 40 minutes isn't too bad to Barnes and Noble (all hail B & N!). A few more minutes and you're in downtown Little Rock, which is revived and wonderful at the River Market - there's Robinson Auditorium and Alltel Arena, where all the music concerts are held. Carlisle and Lonoke and anything east or NE are going to be too flat for you.....I also think Morrilton is a great little town, near Petit Jean State Park (to DIE for views!) and Mt. Magazine.

Well, I've sent you all the way around the state! But maybe that gives you a little more to look at?