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I could probably deal with it. I could be close to Chicago without actually having to live in it, and the Twin Cities wouldn't be that far away either. I've heard Milwaukee is extremely similar to St. Louis, and I'm used to Great Lakes weather having relatives in Cleveland.
I would probably move back, but I agree with South-To-West. I was born and raised in MKE and moved to FL after I graduated in '92. I go back to visit at least once a year, mostly for Summer Fest or the State Fair or just to go fishing with my Dad. I have always felt that MKE was/is based on traditions and enclosed in a bubble. Everyone has their own little things...they go to the same bars, Summer Fest, Brewer baseball, and backyard BBQ's in the Summer, State Fair in the Fall, Sunday's in the Winter are reserved for Packer football. In the time I've been gone I've done 9 years in St. Pete/Clearwater which was great at first cuz I was feeling trapped in the "bubble" of MIlwaukee, but after 9 years of bad traffic and tourists it was time to leave. Now I'm in my 6th year of living in Jacksonville, which is making me want to move early next year and Milwaukee is definitly on my list along with Chicago, Minneapolis, and DC. I've met some great people in my time in Florida, but actually, I kinda miss the comraderie and the closeness and the pride that the people have (at least compared to the cities that I've lived in). MKE isn't for everyone, but it is, however, a great place to visit in the non-winter months.
I really liked going to Milwaukee this past summer, and my parents were there earlier this month. I might have time around Christmas, but we'll see what the weather does.
Milwaukee is a great city. We spent time there this past summer. Loved Summerfest, Miller Park, and the Lake. We also liked all the shopping and the great variety of restaurants. We will be living in northern WI and can't wait to spend some more weekends in Milwaukee.
Definitely not. Milwaukee seems like a depressing, insular, and very provincial community.
I could never live in a community where people have no interest in traveling or moving at some point in their lives. Milwaukee strikes me as one of those places where many people are born, raised, and live their adult lives in the same neighborhood.
I've never been there, but I would really like to visit someday soon. I have cousins in Wisconsin and have visited the state a few times and I liked what I saw. It does seem overshadowed by Chicago and you don't hear much about it. But maybe that's a good thing. There are other cities you hear about a lot, especially on this forum, and they seem to be bashed over and over again. Ex: Detroit, Cleveland, Philly, etc...
For some odd reason I lump Milwaukee (even though I've never been there) in with Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and St. Louis as smaller cities that are often over-looked but have a uniqueness about them that is quite fascinating. It may have something to do with the history and the ethnic heritage, or the fact that they were once very important places but somehow lost their niche and are attempting to redifine themselves...
Anyone agree or disagree? I'm just sort of thinking out loud here...
Definitely not. Milwaukee seems like a depressing, insular, and very provincial community.
I could never live in a community where people have no interest in traveling or moving at some point in their lives. Milwaukee strikes me as one of those places where many people are born, raised, and live their adult lives in the same neighborhood.
No thanks.
Well then, Milw. is lucky. The old people who they never thought would leave just left to play golf in Scottsdale.
I was born and raised in the SF Bay Area, and when I was a kid I became really interested in geography, especially U.S. demographics and urban studies. However, though I pored over info on Columbus and Boise and other, faraway places, I never paid much attention to Milwaukee. Later on in life, I wound up living in Columbus, Birmingham (AL), Buffalo, and a few other places I had read about as a youth.... And when the job opportunity in Milwaukee surfaced, I was kind of at a loss. Of course, I thought of factories and Laverne and Shirley....but not much more. I took the job, though, and was pleasantly surprised. I've really enjoyed living in Mke since I arrived in 2001.
It's interesting that people comment on its provincialism and insularity.... That is very true, to a large extent, but after living in Birmingham and Buffalo, Milwaukee is actually quite cosmopolitan. It all depends on your frame of reference, including your day-to-day circumstances. Almost all of the people I work with (at a university) are from out-of-state. And the handful of Wisconsinite friends I have outside of work, though a bit insular, are quite open to new experiences and people. But I've also met and tried to befriend quite a few Milwaukeeans who simply are not very receptive. I don't know if it's because these people are "provincial" and "insular," or if it's because middle-aged people fall back on their comfort zone of the people they already know.
Many people hail the SF Bay Area as some sort of cosmopolitan mecca....and it is, to some degree. But the people there can be just as provincial and insular as anywhere else. They tend to think California is the center of the world, and places between the west coast and east coast are merely flyover material. In general, I think most people live in some sort of bubble, be it determined by state-of-birth, social class, religion, or any number of other factors. If people from blue-collar Milwaukee had to move to Silicon Valley, would the allegedly more cosmopolitan Californians embrace the new arrivals and make them feel at home? I'm sure most of the Wisconsinites would have a tough time getting behind the Silicon Curtain.
In any case, as someone who was raised with the bicoastal, Californicentric mindset, I've been pleasantly surprised by most of the places I've lived in during my post-California existence. Milwaukee may be provincial to some degree, but that's part of its charm--sort of like the urban grit (which I refer to as "industrial sublime"). But all things considered, I've certainly lived in even more insular places.
I was born and raised in the SF Bay Area, and when I was a kid I became really interested in geography, especially U.S. demographics and urban studies. However, though I pored over info on Columbus and Boise and other, faraway places, I never paid much attention to Milwaukee. Later on in life, I wound up living in Columbus, Birmingham (AL), Buffalo, and a few other places I had read about as a youth.... And when the job opportunity in Milwaukee surfaced, I was kind of at a loss. Of course, I thought of factories and Laverne and Shirley....but not much more. I took the job, though, and was pleasantly surprised. I've really enjoyed living in Mke since I arrived in 2001.
It's interesting that people comment on its provincialism and insularity.... That is very true, to a large extent, but after living in Birmingham and Buffalo, Milwaukee is actually quite cosmopolitan. It all depends on your frame of reference, including your day-to-day circumstances. Almost all of the people I work with (at a university) are from out-of-state. And the handful of Wisconsinite friends I have outside of work, though a bit insular, are quite open to new experiences and people. But I've also met and tried to befriend quite a few Milwaukeeans who simply are not very receptive. I don't know if it's because these people are "provincial" and "insular," or if it's because middle-aged people fall back on their comfort zone of the people they already know.
Many people hail the SF Bay Area as some sort of cosmopolitan mecca....and it is, to some degree. But the people there can be just as provincial and insular as anywhere else. They tend to think California is the center of the world, and places between the west coast and east coast are merely flyover material. In general, I think most people live in some sort of bubble, be it determined by state-of-birth, social class, religion, or any number of other factors. If people from blue-collar Milwaukee had to move to Silicon Valley, would the allegedly more cosmopolitan Californians embrace the new arrivals and make them feel at home? I'm sure most of the Wisconsinites would have a tough time getting behind the Silicon Curtain.
In any case, as someone who was raised with the bicoastal, Californicentric mindset, I've been pleasantly surprised by most of the places I've lived in during my post-California existence. Milwaukee may be provincial to some degree, but that's part of its charm--sort of like the urban grit (which I refer to as "industrial sublime"). But all things considered, I've certainly lived in even more insular places.
Bravo quijote! What a well written, well thought out, descriptive post. Extremely well stated.
(That is all...I guess I had better sign off before I write "well" again! ).
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