Scared out of my wits to move to Chicago (Gurnee: sex offender, home)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

Illinois is BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING looking! Period! You apparently haven't been to the "Pacific Northwest", cause if you did, you wouldn't have bother to post the pics you did.

I love how you are trying to 'protray' Illinois as looking like that. EVERY state has pics like that. The BIG difference, in Illinois, you'd be on a 'wild goose chase' to find those areas. Illionois ain't Kansas, but it also ain't the Northeast or the Pacific Nothwest (or West in general for that matter).

So the boring, flat parts of Eastern WA, Eastern OR, Eastern CO, etc, are any different? I guess that youre trying to portray WA as being all mountainous, lush and green? You couldnt be further from the truth. Go take a hike.

[DianaC]

Steve-o,
I love the picture taken with the church in it. Where in IL is this? Thanks!

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

So the boring, flat parts of Eastern WA, Eastern OR, Eastern CO, etc, are any different? I guess that youre trying to portray WA as being all mountainous, lush and green? You couldnt be further from the truth. Go take a hike.

My man, I've been to Wa and Or and Co. First of all, Oregon is probably the MOST scenic state in the ENTIRE country (in the lower 48 that is), don't embarass yourself by trying to compare Oregon with Illinois.

As far as Wa being all lush and green, there's desert in the eastern Wa, did you know that? Have you even driven thru the entire state of Wa?

Colorado? Overrated as far as I'm concerened, especially the estearn part.

[TinaMcG]

I lived all my life in Cook county until we moved to Johnson County, Kansas (KC Metro area) two years ago. I miss Chicago, but there is no way I would ever live in Cook County again. Sales taxes and gas taxes are crazy. Dealing with the County is insane, often expensive, and sometimes scary (we had a run in with the Bldg Dept for not having the right kind of roofing permit). Jury duty in Cook County is no fun, and I used to get called once a year, even though many people have never been called. If I were to move back there, I'd go to Lake County or DuPage (where St. Charles is). Cook County government is a stereotype of the worst sort of Illinois government, really really awful. They never act like they're out to help you. They treat you like the enemy.

[terramama]

Steve-O: Just wanted to pop back in and say thanks for the hiking suggestions and the links to more beautiful pics. Autumn is really pretty special here....much better than anywhere else I've ever lived. We'll definitely check some of those hiking spots out when the weather gets a little warmer. Also, I appreciate your mentioning the safety issues, as we do have a little one now that we have to consider in our outdoor activities.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by DianaC

Steve-o,
I love the picture taken with the church in it. Where in IL is this? Thanks!

Galena area, Jo Davies County.

[Pegs56]

Thanks, Steve-O for more glorious shots of my beloved Illinois. We're having fairly pleasant weather today in Houston (humidity dropped a bit, 81 & breezy), but I'm just waiting for the cold front to get here on Wednesday - hoping the "cold" stays at least until Sunday, my birthday. Only thing UNpleasant is that we usually don't get mid 80s until the first week of May, so I'm hoping this is just an abberation.

The above blather is to help explain the point that as nice as the weather is right now, I'd give anything to be back in the NW exurbs. Anything to be back in Illinois. Anything to be back in cow country & see those "boring" corn & soybean fields, which I happen to like. There was a soybean field across the street from my house when I was growing up, so to me fields mean "home".

I lived in Fla. for 11 years & hated every second of it (but loved the spectacular sunsets). I left in 1980 & have never been back. It's many peoples' idea of paradise, but I couldn't wait until I was old enough to get the heck out of there. I lived in Bradenton, Tampa & Jacksonville, so it's not that I was in one area & never saw the rest of the state; I just didn't like it.

The OP stated he & his wife had fallen in love with the area & that he had grown up in Mn., so it's not going to be much of a shock to them. I think they'll do just fine.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by terramama

Steve-O: Just wanted to pop back in and say thanks for the hiking suggestions and the links to more beautiful pics. Autumn is really pretty special here....much better than anywhere else I've ever lived. We'll definitely check some of those hiking spots out when the weather gets a little warmer. Also, I appreciate your mentioning the safety issues, as we do have a little one now that we have to consider in our outdoor activities.

Dont mention it.

If you have a little one, you can still visit Starved Rock's canyons, but stick to the staircases.

[mkpelland]

Chicago native here - moved to the South for five years and came back because - it's terrific here. Period. I'm a self-employed writer, one of the toughest industries to find work in, but here, I find it. I just did a piece on career centers in Chicagoland - if that will help you, you can read it here.
Chicago Home Technology Examiner: Use a home computer to find a job or career and make real money

mkpelland
www.ontext.com

[Friday12]

You might want to look at Mt. Prospect. It is a very family oriented community, a great friendly police dept and fire dept who are very involved in the community, great schools and close to several hospitals. At least 5 hospitals in 5-15 minute driving range which would give your wife plenty of options. There are plenty of community activities throughout the year and it has a small downtown with some great little resturants and bars and a very cool ice cream parlor that does summer movies on the lawn so people just bring their blankets,grab some ice cream and enjoy the free shows. The train stop is right downtown and many people take the train to the city for work or to visit the museums etc or. Mt Prospect is a great town to raise kids in. The library is really good and has a lot of programs for kids and adults to enjoy as does the Park District. There are a lot of schools and neighborhoods with schools within easy driving for you. There is a wave pool and a nice clean maintained community pool where the locals hang out on hot summer days. The weather here sucks though. Winters are long and cold and summers hot and humid with lots of mosquitos. If you can tolerate the weather Chicagoland is a great place to call home. The high school here is fantastic and the kids are very involved with sports and other activities. It is also an easy 10 min drive to great shopping malls. In the winter they freeze a couple of the local parks into skating rinks where people play hockey or simply go to skate and drink hot chocolate.
Village of Mount Prospect
hope link works. Good luck.