Need Iowan's Input (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport: insurance, work, college)

[GayleAZ]

Originally Posted by Pittle

Clear Lake, Iowa. A little slice of heaven! I'm here now visiting for a couple of weeks and I LOVE it! I may never return to Savannah :-)

Well for all of us hoping to relocate or visit in the near future don't eat up our slice!

[TootsieWootsie]

I'm a 62 year old single female living in the Quad Cities (Davenport, Iowa; Rock Island, Moline and East Moline, Illinois all blend into one big, fat area of 400K) where I grew up while taking care of an elderly parent. I was away for 40 years, and the area has gussied up tremendously. I can personally vouch for the fact that this area is loaded with seniors of all sorts, too, so you would be able to make lots of friends here.
There is gambling on the river boats here, and a ton of social activities that the 4 cities put on including ones that you desired. This area is truly loaded with things to do, so you would never be bored.
And this area is always voted one of the top 5 most polite areas in the nation by America's top etiquette teacher! The people, I find, totally friendly and willing to help you.
This is a close-knit type of community, too, even though totally it is around 400,000 people.
Check out the newspaper, the Quad City Times, on line and give it a look-see. You didn't say how much you were willing to pay for a house or if you were apartment looking, but I know the homes here are undervalued for the country.
Money magazine and many websites site this area as one of the cheapest to live in, too, for the money. Your money goes further here than in most places. Plus, you will be a mere 3 hours from Chicago if you crave the big city.
Good luck!

[gayleinAZ]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

I'm a 62 year old single female living in the Quad Cities (Davenport, Iowa; Rock Island, Moline and East Moline, Illinois all blend into one big, fat area of 400K) where I grew up while taking care of an elderly parent. I was away for 40 years, and the area has gussied up tremendously. I can personally vouch for the fact that this area is loaded with seniors of all sorts, too, so you would be able to make lots of friends here.
There is gambling on the river boats here, and a ton of social activities that the 4 cities put on including ones that you desired. This area is truly loaded with things to do, so you would never be bored.
And this area is always voted one of the top 5 most polite areas in the nation by America's top etiquette teacher! The people, I find, totally friendly and willing to help you.
This is a close-knit type of community, too, even though totally it is around 400,000 people.
Check out the newspaper, the Quad City Times, on line and give it a look-see. You didn't say how much you were willing to pay for a house or if you were apartment looking, but I know the homes here are undervalued for the country.
Money magazine and many websites site this area as one of the cheapest to live in, too, for the money. Your money goes further here than in most places. Plus, you will be a mere 3 hours from Chicago if you crave the big city.
Good luck!

Thank you for your information, but I think my BIG CITY days are all but over. If I never saw another big city again it would be too soon, and funny thing is I don't think 400,000 id BIG! I suppose a few years ago I would have but now even a million seems like a midsize city these days. I will check it all out. My family x amount of years ago came from Clinton IA, and if memory serves me it is in that area as well.

I'm not QUITE ready to retire yet, I still need to find a job, and by the sounds of it, if retired folks are flocking there they must have ample jobs in the medical field.

I'm taking in each and evey suggestion everyone has made. Thankfully everyone took to heart my 'wish list' and pointed out the most desirable places that you all thought would fit my needs. The kindness and time it took to send me this info is appreciated, please don't doubt that for a minute. Thank you all!

[ANAMOSA MOM]

Looking for quiet little towns in Iowa can be hard with all the growth going on. Ever thought of Anamosa -yes I know you hear Anamsoa and you think Prison - It's ok really I promise. Wouldn't ever know it is hear except for the big building in town -I am a mother of 4 and love it here I grew up in Dubuque and moved here after having my first. Would never move to a larger city again. Lots of great people, places, and things to do. One downfall the only major shopping stores are a Dollar Gernal Walmart and a grocery store. Cedar Rapids is only 17 mintues from here a nice little drive to get to other larger stores. We have lots of little shops -a movie theather that is open fri-sun and shows one movie at a time we have a bowling alley and of course bars. Antique shops - motorcyle museum - prison museum - a winery that conects to a eatery and they have wine tasting - one of the little cafes downtown serves the best rolls, pasties, coffee and teas. Lots of community activies and craft shows along with flea markets. There is theather downtown where locals get together and put on montly plays and skits. We have a doctors office and hospital here in town also have a couple different carecenters and assisted living places where you could get work easily. Or a a 17 minutue drive to Cedar Rapids, 35 mintue drive to Iowa City coralville not bad thank you have a great day

[GayleAZ]

Originally Posted by ANAMOSA MOM

Looking for quiet little towns in Iowa can be hard with all the growth going on. Ever thought of Anamosa -yes I know you hear Anamsoa and you think Prison - It's ok really I promise. Wouldn't ever know it is hear except for the big building in town -I am a mother of 4 and love it here I grew up in Dubuque and moved here after having my first. Would never move to a larger city again. Lots of great people, places, and things to do. One downfall the only major shopping stores are a Dollar Gernal Walmart and a grocery store. Cedar Rapids is only 17 mintues from here a nice little drive to get to other larger stores. We have lots of little shops -a movie theather that is open fri-sun and shows one movie at a time we have a bowling alley and of course bars. Antique shops - motorcyle museum - prison museum - a winery that conects to a eatery and they have wine tasting - one of the little cafes downtown serves the best rolls, pasties, coffee and teas. Lots of community activies and craft shows along with flea markets. There is theather downtown where locals get together and put on montly plays and skits. We have a doctors office and hospital here in town also have a couple different carecenters and assisted living places where you could get work easily. Or a a 17 minutue drive to Cedar Rapids, 35 mintue drive to Iowa City coralville not bad thank you have a great day

WOW - I will give it a look! Sounds pretty centrally located to everything BIG. And NO I wouldn't think prison, I don't know enough about the state to know where they are located!

Funny 35 minute drive to IC.. I bet it's only about 25 miles away of so. I drive 45 minutes to get to my job 15 miles from my house!

Skits and plays sounds CUTE and FUN... and I'm liking the sounds of that winey idea.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful ideas and for taking time out of a busy "MOM" schedule to write them all to me. I'll give it a 'look see' on the net!

[whitewater176]

If your looking at eastern iowa Wyoming is a great little town just over 600 people but with in 45 min. of cedar rapids dubuque and the quad cities
housing is very reasonable

[kelly3262]

You may like Dubuque. It is located on the Mississippi. There are bluffs and beauty throughout the city. Throughout the seasons you can find anything from farmer's market, antique shops, victorian house tours, craft shops, festivals in the park of all varieties and yet Lowes, Kennedy mall, Target are all available in the area too. There are at least three major colleges in town. The landscaping is incredible. There are tea shops, winter sleigh rides, boat tours and you'll be only three hours from Milwaukee or Chicago if you start to crave "big city". DBQ has a rich Catholic heritage. It is bathed in art and cultural events. I would highly recommend this area.

[doogy]

You'll like Des Moines but you have to realise that the winters here in IOWA are brutally COLD....I don't understand why people here don't seem to mind...a lot of people leave Iowa because it's so damn cold for almost half a year.

[doogy]

Originally Posted by still looking 62

I think there is a difference between 'trashing' an area and providing accurate information, both the pros and cons. City Data is a great site for people like me to get information from people who know the areas of interest.
Everyone's experience is different so got to look at all the info given and with that decide what is best for you.
I have been to Arizona and can tell you that the info stated on this thread regarding it is more accurate than not. I do think people will read between the lines, or shall I say the periods. Credibility is key.

The only thing that people are not honest about is how brutally cold it gets in Iowa.....and it's BRUTAL

[jeffs]

I was born in Phoenix and lived in Glendale. I lived there in the late 80's to early 90's. I cant believe how much it has grown. You're right eventually they will run out of water sources doen there. One thing I did like down there was the weather. It might get triple digits quite often, but theres no humidity. Up here it will get 90 degrees with 90% humidity, you will sweat the second you walk out the door. Its like living in a sauna somedays. I live in Davenport. They have really done a lot here to spruce up the city, but it is still pretty high in crime. Not quite to Phoenix level, but theres certain parts of the city I highly recommend you avoid. A lot of gangbangers from the Chicago area have moved here because of cheaper housing and low income apartments, and have brought drugs and violence with them. There are very nice parts of the city, but vice versa, there are some extremely bad neighborhoods. Id recommend Des Moines or Iowa city areas. They are the fastest growing areas in the state.