Are you happy to live in Grand Rapids? (Detroit, Dearborn: appointed, salon)

[shoes4birds]

Originally Posted by dutchinnd

--For those of you who complain about harsh winters--get over it. To me, you really don't know what you're complaining about. Until you have experienced -38 Fahrenheit w/ a 35 mph wind you don't really know what a cold winter can be. In the Northern Plains it is usually sunny in January, but it's 10 below zero. What would you really rather have?

Ummm...last I checked there were other options besides Michigan and the Northern Plains.

Seriously, it was not my intent to tick anyone off about my harsh description of the area. If I were looking to relocate to any area, it would be easy to find posts that had all kinds of good things to say about an area -- that's pride in one's area, which is great. But what I would really appreciate is seeing the negative posts. IF there are several people who complain about the same thing, then I can probably believe what's being said. Then I can make an educated decision whether or not I'll like the area - it's not easy finding an area to live long-distance.

I was being honest, and if someone doesn't want to move to the area based on something I've said based on my honest opinion, then I've saved that person/family a lot of money and heartache. It's not my responsibility to just sugar-coat my opinion to get others to move here.

[shoes4birds]

Originally Posted by windfarmer

I'm non-Dutch and extremely secular as can be, but I truly appreciate the culture that the "Van_____" folk have brought. They've turned this part of west Michigan into a fairly well-run, quite organized city.

I will agree with you here - they have turned Michigan into a fairly well-run organized city. I think it just needs some life. There has to be something that will pull people here -- the area has an opportunity to completely reinvent itself and I hope this can be done.

[shoes4birds]

Originally Posted by lakefrontgirl

With gas prices driving to chicago every 2 weeks isnt something to do anymore, which is why we are moving to Raleigh North Carolina in August when our lease is up here. Raleigh is the population of grand rapids but with everything chicago has to offer and more

lakefrontgirl, we're moving to the Raleigh area as well (we should be there within a year.

Just out of curiosity, what area are you planning to move to? Have you found a good realtor? Do you care to share his/her name?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by shoes4birds

Ummm...last I checked there were other options besides Michigan and the Northern Plains.

Seriously, it was not my intent to tick anyone off about my harsh description of the area. If I were looking to relocate to any area, it would be easy to find posts that had all kinds of good things to say about an area -- that's pride in one's area, which is great. But what I would really appreciate is seeing the negative posts. IF there are several people who complain about the same thing, then I can probably believe what's being said. Then I can make an educated decision whether or not I'll like the area - it's not easy finding an area to live long-distance.

I was being honest, and if someone doesn't want to move to the area based on something I've said based on my honest opinion, then I've saved that person/family a lot of money and heartache. It's not my responsibility to just sugar-coat my opinion to get others to move here.

Now why would someone have a heartache based on something that is your opinion and your experiences. Nothing you stated in your post was fact. I'm sure I can round up twenty people who think Raleigh sucks. Does that mean it sucks and you're going to suffer heartbreak there?

Plus, you said this about Byron Center:

"My husband and I have lived in Byron Center for about three years now and as far as the town and schools go -- we love both." I personally don't say I love something when I don't.

Forget sugar-coating. Next time you give out "advice", how about not filling it with over-generalizations, bashing entire ethnic groups, and stating your opinions as "facts".

[windfarmer]

Originally Posted by dutchinnd

--Be appreciative of the fact that for many years GR had family-owned corporations headquartered in or near GR. Many institutions and public facilities are strengthened by those families' sense of leaving a legacy and strong corporate philanthrophy. To get strong arts organizations, libraries, gardens, and other facilities in other cities would require things like sales taxes. For a city its size GR has a lot in this regard.

Abso-friggin-lutely dutchinnd! I think it's excellent how these families and companies have poured their resources and time into GR. They could really have taken their money anywhere else, but they chose to build-up where they came from. Subsequently everyone is better off. Downtown looks awesome; it feels clean and safe, and you can feel the civic pride.

I can't stress how proud I am to live in a community of people who actually think ABOUT the community rather than just themselves. So what if GR has signs everywhere singing the praises of DeVos, Van Andel and Meijer? If I invested millions of dollars into the city to build hospitals and research facilities, arenas and exhibition centers, gardens and museums, then I too would find my surname gracing the public eye.

To those who perhaps find fault in where they live, you will certainly find that every city has it's host of problems.

[shoes4birds]

Originally Posted by magellan

Now why would someone have a heartache based on something that is your opinion and your experiences. Nothing you stated in your post was fact. I'm sure I can round up twenty people who think Raleigh sucks. Does that mean it sucks and you're going to suffer heartbreak there?

Plus, you said this about Byron Center:

"My husband and I have lived in Byron Center for about three years now and as far as the town and schools go -- we love both." I personally don't say I love something when I don't.

Forget sugar-coating. Next time you give out "advice", how about not filling it with over-generalizations, bashing entire ethnic groups, and stating your opinions as "facts".

I will say what I please and I'm pleased to say what I say....you can take it or leave it.

Did you know that Byron Center is a different town/city from Grand Rapids? Did you know it's possible to have an opinion about Byron Center and have a different one about the overall area and/or other towns in the area? Because it is possible. We do love Byron Center and the schools here. Heck, we'd love to pick BC up and bring it elsewhere with us - we don't love Grand Rapids, the weather, and all of the other things I discussed. Get over it and learn how to separate things. Better yet, stop portraying the image of closed-mindedness that you say is not FACT and is only my opinion -- you're only making my point for me by not letting my posts be read in peace by others. For that I should thank you!

As for bashing entire ethnic groups, I'm 1/2 hispanic and the other day in Target, a guy said to me, "No habla espanol...keep the drugs in your pocket". I've NEVER, in all of my years living in other areas, had so many people question my ethnicity. I've taken comments like this from the time I was a small child through high school. I left the area, came back only to find out that things are the same where that's concerned -- now THAT'S a fact!!!

Please...don't even get me started on the bashing of ethnic groups, stereotypes and generalizations that goes on in this area -- I hardly feel sorry for the majority!

[dutchinnd]

"Ummm...last I checked there were other options besides Michigan and the Northern Plains."

Of course there are other options. But complaining about Michigan winters as if they are absolutely the worst is simply not true.

As one who lives in the region where you plug in your car overnight during the depths of winter, trust me--I know.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by shoes4birds

I will say what I please and I'm pleased to say what I say....you can take it or leave it.

Did you know that Byron Center is a different town/city from Grand Rapids? Did you know it's possible to have an opinion about Byron Center and have a different one about the overall area and/or other towns in the area? Because it is possible. We do love Byron Center and the schools here. Heck, we'd love to pick BC up and bring it elsewhere with us - we don't love Grand Rapids, the weather, and all of the other things I discussed. Get over it and learn how to separate things. Better yet, stop portraying the image of closed-mindedness that you say is not FACT and is only my opinion -- you're only making my point for me by not letting my posts be read in peace by others. For that I should thank you!

As for bashing entire ethnic groups, I'm 1/2 hispanic and the other day in Target, a guy said to me, "No habla espanol...keep the drugs in your pocket". I've NEVER, in all of my years living in other areas, had so many people question my ethnicity. I've taken comments like this from the time I was a small child through high school. I left the area, came back only to find out that things are the same where that's concerned -- now THAT'S a fact!!!

Please...don't even get me started on the bashing of ethnic groups, stereotypes and generalizations that goes on in this area -- I hardly feel sorry for the majority!

I think you are a very confused individual. Your posts say one thing and then another. I'm sure your attitude has nothing to do with people "not trusting you", which apparently sounds like the case. Good luck wherever you are going, lol.

[colormegreen]

Originally Posted by kiff

You might be reading a little too much into my post here. I've seen no crazy or idiotic Mexicans in the GR area, or Salvadorans for that matter, or have had any reason to check their papers.

As for the Dutch, a large number belong to pretty conservative church and have a definite attitudes toward outsiders. This is particularly true to the west of GR in the Zeeland and Holland areas. By "outsiders", I mean non-white or belonging to "that other church". I suppose any tight-knit, conservative community could come off as arrogant to outsiders- these folk happen to be Dutch.

My dad was born in the The Netherlands and raised in Grand Rapids but I wasn't raised there. I did however live there for a number of years and I don't think that this stereotype of the Dutch is true at all. This area is probably the most friendliest and I'm not just saying that because I happen to be 1/2 Dutch (or Frisian to be exact) I am also 1/2 Italian and look like my mom so unless the Dutch in GR asked me my last name they wouldn't know I was of the same heritage.

I think that ANY area where they are conservative in nature - not politics always but personalities will come off as being arrogant to outsiders or unfriendly. In fact there is a small town outside of Lansing that I know of that would put any of this to shame - they don't like outsiders at all and I am including the white ones too.

[Koolgrrl]

I've live in Comstock Park all my life (just N. of G.R.) Love Michigan because we get to experience all 4 seasons - Autumn being my favorite. My family has a cottage on Big Bass Lake in Michigan about 1 1/2 hrs from G.R. and I enjoy all the State has to offer.

West Michigan is CLEAN!! It is a wonderful recreational state. I agree that W. Michigan is probably the best location to live in in the State it is close to other major cities (w/n about 3 hours).

When I was younger there were city buses that ran all over the suburbs into downtown... I used to take these to the Arts Festival in High School (way back in the mid 1980's) you could always catch a city bus and it would take you basically anywhere in G.R. or the surrounding communities, this is back when G.R. was DEAD!!! The City Center shopping had crashed and all of G.R. was dark as night come 6:00pm, I know this because I worked downtown in my early 20's and if you didn't make it to the GUS bus to get back to your car by the last shuttle 6:15p you were walking ALONE in the dark with nothing but an occasional shadow that scared the hell out of you. I do find it odd that GRTA doesn't provide busing anymore especially now since there is so much more to do downtown!!

My husband is from Lawrence, Kansas (ROCK-CHALK-JAYHAWK KU) When he first moved here I have to tell you... he pointed things out about Michigan that I never realized....

"Where is the SUN!!" he'd ask. LOL... of course me being proud of Michigan (and not sure if that is ingrained from childhood or what) "What do you mean we have sun!!. Husband got online asked me "when you think about the state Washington what do you think?" I replied "umm.. rain and cloudy"... come to find out we are #2 in the nation for clouds (do of course to lake) Washington State #1. WOW...never knew that.

We in west Michigan see sun we think ooooh warm day. I've been in Kansas see the sun...think ooooh warm day ... go outside and freeze my ass off in the sunny day... LOL

I asked my husband the first winter he was here...
"Are you ever going to get out and shovel the drive and sidewalk?" this was December. He replied "I'm waiting for the snow to melt" LOL... I said laughing "dear, that isn't until March!!!"

Now Eastern Kansas gets ALOT of ice storms - I'd personally rather be driving on snow than black ice all the time!

I do like Michigan... I do hate scraping snow/ice from my car (no garage)
I do like Grand Rapids..... I do hate no public transportation
I do like West Michigan.... I do hate overcast days
I do like Michigan... but you can find things you dislike about any region

Enjoy your 4 SEASONS... my stepkids from Kansas love to come and play in the snow, something they don't get all that often!!!