So You Are Thinking of Moving to Iowa

[summer grace]

Originally Posted by Primabelle

I moved to rural Iowa last year with my son (age 8), to be closer to my boyfriend, (whose family has been here for several generations). Upon arrival, I joined the PTO, volunteered in town and at the elementary school, do almost all of my shopping locally, and my son joined the local kids football team and Boy Scouts. I have taken it upon myself to meet people, support local businesses and get integrated as much as I can. All of this has gotten me nowhere. The people here judge you by one thing, your last name. If they don't already know you, they don't WANT to know you. It doesn't matter one bit if you are friendly, outgoing and supportive of the community... Unless you grew up here, you will most likely not be welcome. It doesn't even matter if you belong to or join the church, nothing works. I have spoken to people who have been here for 5-10-15 years and still have no social connections and no friends. My son has had no playdates or social invitations since we arrived, and I have not had any social calls either. Even after hosting parties at our home, we have been totally shut out. I planned to start a business, just to give it one more try until I was warned by a current shopkeeper that the locals enjoy nothing more than to see you/your store fail, and they will only shop in the "city" anyway. Now I am going through the agonizing process of moving myself and my son away from here, because unfortunately, love does not conquer all. I have to leave my boyfriend now and my son is losing a father figure for the second time because of this unfriendly place. Unless you were born and raised here, it will likely be a very lonely experience to try to live here. Good luck, whatever you decide.
P.S. The educational system here leaves A LOT to be desired... Don't believe the hype.

Dead on about the last name.. read my other latest post just before this! I've been there too. Lived here 20 years (my family moved when I was 2), and have rare last name.. so they judge you not from here. Yet, I love the limestome bluffs of the NE part of the state as much as native. So if your family moves here even when you a tiny child and you grow up here, you are not from here, yet it can be a pretty state to live in. I like it to be honest, but then a social life doesn't matter to me.