are you staying OR are you going? (Cleveland: best city, theater)

[AndyF667]

Originally Posted by airics

the interviews in vegas are for permanent positions since the cost of living is lower there, especially with no city or state taxes.

wow! Well you should have no problem finding a place since NV leads the country in foreclosures. Hope there are some jobs too...good luck!

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Kasey77

I think Cleveland is a great town and has a lot to offer. I am living in so. Cal right now. I want to get back and hope some day I can.
The weather may be cold in Cleveland, but the people are warm. Really there is alot to do there and there is alot of beauty. This city is so under rated.

I missed answering the second part of your question:"Why Cleveland?" About four years ago I decided when the time was right I wanted to move from Portland. I checked out various cities in the Midwest and read about how Cleveland was going through improving conditions. I researched it and saw what it has to offer and was impressed.
I am not looking for weather. Obviously because I am also going to check out Minneapolis. I am looking for a place with job opportunities, good public transportation, museums, theaters, ethnic restaraunts and a decent baseball team. Nice parks in the summertime would also be great. I also would like to find a place where everyone in the world is not trying to move to. Portland is becoming a mecca for some and that is changing it into something different than what they came for; if that makes sense.
Cleveland also impressed me when I first began checking places out, I asked some questions on a board I think was called "Everything Cleveland" or something like that. The people were really nice and helpful. Some really went out of their way to tell me the ins and outs of the place.
This spring I am going to check out Minneapolis but next year; Cleveland.

[airics]

Originally Posted by AndyF667

wow! Well you should have no problem finding a place since NV leads the country in foreclosures. Hope there are some jobs too...good luck!

Actually i already have 2 places, rentals with positive cash flow... trying to buy a 3rd

[Kasey77]

Originally Posted by Minervah

I missed answering the second part of your question:"Why Cleveland?" About four years ago I decided when the time was right I wanted to move from Portland. I checked out various cities in the Midwest and read about how Cleveland was going through improving conditions. I researched it and saw what it has to offer and was impressed.
I am not looking for weather. Obviously because I am also going to check out Minneapolis. I am looking for a place with job opportunities, good public transportation, museums, theaters, ethnic restaraunts and a decent baseball team. Nice parks in the summertime would also be great. I also would like to find a place where everyone in the world is not trying to move to. Portland is becoming a mecca for some and that is changing it into something different than what they came for; if that makes sense.
Cleveland also impressed me when I first began checking places out, I asked some questions on a board I think was called "Everything Cleveland" or something like that. The people were really nice and helpful. Some really went out of their way to tell me the ins and outs of the place.
This spring I am going to check out Minneapolis but next year; Cleveland.

Cleveland has the Emerald Necklace, parks galore that run through out. Their are islands and lots of boating. I was told by my family that Cleveland is second to New York with theatres. I am sure you know of the Cleveland Orchestra. I love the history there and the architecture. Most people here call me crazy for wanting to go back. But, the man who did my taxes yesterday has lived out here for 50 years and he wants to go back to the midwest.
The population is increasing where I live, too. Mostly illegals.
Spent a little time in Minn. I liked it.
Good luck in your decision.

[OhioPilot]

I am leaving and taking the family with me. Moving to be by the ocean in South Carolina. But every summer, I will be back for 6-8 weeks. Hey, if "dumb" animals are smart enough to migrate every year, why not me? Ha ha.

Cleveland is best in the Summer. Wade Oval, boating, sports, metroparks, downtown, etc. Can't beat it in the summer months. But the other 7 months of the year this can be a very depressing place to be. It took a long while for me to build a business where I can live anywhere in the world, but that was my goal.

I'll also be back for a week every winter. The kids love snow......but after a week they can't take the cabin fever.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by OhioPilot

But the other 7 months of the year this can be a very depressing place to be.

Four, at most.

[OhioPilot]

I'd say more than four can be depressing. For anyone that loves boating, camping, etc, the bad weather starts in October when we have to get our boats stored and the winds shift to be from the northwest, bringing lake effect low clouds and precititation. Then we get the late October snowstorm. Followed by up and down temps through November and a solid snow sometime in November. Around December, lately, we get the warm up for a few days here and there and no snow for XMas. January, February, and March are dominated by overcast skies, snow and rain with the usual flooding. April has seen its share of snowstorms lately if you don't recall snowflakes falling during Easter Egg hunts. In May it warms up just enough to open the local pools around the end of the month, but they have not been getting busy there in the early season because of all the cool days and boating can be biting at least half the month. So I count half of May as the start of good temperatures and weather, then June, July, August and September as the best times to be in Cleveland. Remember, we do have only 150 days of sun in this town on average. Last winter we had over 45 days in a row without seeing more than 30 minutes of sunshine on any day and I believe 34 days in a row when the temps did not get higher than 32 F.

[Kasey77]

Originally Posted by OhioPilot

I'd say more than four can be depressing. For anyone that loves boating, camping, etc, the bad weather starts in October when we have to get our boats stored and the winds shift to be from the northwest, bringing lake effect low clouds and precititation. Then we get the late October snowstorm. Followed by up and down temps through November and a solid snow sometime in November. Around December, lately, we get the warm up for a few days here and there and no snow for XMas. January, February, and March are dominated by overcast skies, snow and rain with the usual flooding. April has seen its share of snowstorms lately if you don't recall snowflakes falling during Easter Egg hunts. In May it warms up just enough to open the local pools around the end of the month, but they have not been getting busy there in the early season because of all the cool days and boating can be biting at least half the month. So I count half of May as the start of good temperatures and weather, then June, July, August and September as the best times to be in Cleveland. Remember, we do have only 150 days of sun in this town on average. Last winter we had over 45 days in a row without seeing more than 30 minutes of sunshine on any day and I believe 34 days in a row when the temps did not get higher than 32 F.

I know you are correct about at least 7 months of harsh weather. Have family that used to spend winters in Florida. They are struggling with the weather now. Really , this concerns me most about going back. Not the economy, but lack of sun. I really do get SAD. This really is my only concern.
Good luck in you new home.

[OhioPilot]

Then again, I would not say "harsh" weather. At best, blah. Good for indoor entertainment and work. It's the transitions months I hate the most. Where it is not snowy enough to build a snowman and not hot enough to put away the winter gear. It is the time after winter when the snow mounds still are coated in black soot, but you see how much yard and house work you need to do to get things back to where they were last summer. Or on the other end, how you have to button up everything outside to prepare for the winter. Weather is one thing.

I had an experience two winters ago when my 3 year old son started screaming in the back seat of the car. He kept pointing out the front window and stammering between screams. I could not understand what was scaring him so much. Then he calmed down a bit and finally asked "is that the sun?" He really had not seen it in so long, it frightened him. That bothered me. After that, I started scanning the country looking for a better place to raise my kids. At first I wanted southern California.

By the way, it is not just the weather, but a general malaise that I can hear in conversations all over the area for most of the year. The crime I have personally seen in the past six months alone has been staggering. I know there is crime everywhere, but it seems greater around here lately. And if there is crime everywhere, why not at least seen the sun during the day and some stars at night?

I used a site called ****** to come up with cities on top of the ones I was thinking about. It was from the survey I took on that site that I first discovered Charleston South Carolina. A half a dozen visits to that city and others on the list and I did fall in love. It worked for me. Some friends who took the same survey got results that included Cleveland. They love it here and will stay regardles of any survey. I look forward to coming back and visiting them. Great people are everywhere. I hope to meet more where I am going.

And sadly, I don't have the desire or energy to try to help change Cleveland significantly. I think if you love it here and want to stay, but see the problems, you need to get involved in politics and the greater community. There are a lot of real smart good people trying. I hope they succeed.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by OhioPilot

I'd say more than four can be depressing. For anyone that loves boating, camping, etc, the bad weather starts in October when we have to get our boats stored and the winds shift to be from the northwest, bringing lake effect low clouds and precititation. Then we get the late October snowstorm. Followed by up and down temps through November and a solid snow sometime in November. Around December, lately, we get the warm up for a few days here and there and no snow for XMas. January, February, and March are dominated by overcast skies, snow and rain with the usual flooding. April has seen its share of snowstorms lately if you don't recall snowflakes falling during Easter Egg hunts. In May it warms up just enough to open the local pools around the end of the month, but they have not been getting busy there in the early season because of all the cool days and boating can be biting at least half the month. So I count half of May as the start of good temperatures and weather, then June, July, August and September as the best times to be in Cleveland. Remember, we do have only 150 days of sun in this town on average. Last winter we had over 45 days in a row without seeing more than 30 minutes of sunshine on any day and I believe 34 days in a row when the temps did not get higher than 32 F.

So you're depressed that you can't get your boat on the water in spring of fall? That's a different story. I'll give you November, December, January, February, and maybe small parts of October and March, though both of those months have been mild in recent years. Snow in October or earlier or later than March is usually a freak thing (and one that happens as frequently in many other Northern cities).

Bottom line, the fall and spring months are, for the most part, usually very pleasant. If you're looking for more time for water sports or easier winters, I understand your interest in moving South. But to imply that spring and fall in Ohio are generally "depressing" is a little bit silly.