How Do You Like Living In Iowa? (Davenport, Dubuque: work, home)

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by bosoxfan

i moved to dubuque from nj last year--- the people seem more caring here-- the pace is slower but there are theaters, movies, malls, jobs aren't easy to come by- but i guess thats true anywhere
car insurance is incredibally cheaper and apts. are too
i really like it here much more than nj
if i had unlimited money- i would def. live in new england

Well put, that is an accurate description of Iowa. Dubuque is nice and so is Des Moines in that sense. What is nice about Dubuque is that you are not far from Chicago, should you want to go out and have some big city fun.

As far as the jobs comment, you are right, which is why I would recommend Des Moines. With Des Moines you would be a few hours from Omaha, NE and Kansas City, MO which are nice cities to have fun in as well. Chicago would be about 4.5 hours to get to. But at least you would have security of tons of jobs that you would find in Des Moines - especially in Insurance, Accounting and IT.

I totally agree with the New England comment, nothing beats the New England foliage in the Fall and the tons of Italian & Irish places to eat - like in Boston.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Negotiator75

As far as the jobs comment, you are right, which is why I would recommend Des Moines. With Des Moines you would be a few hours from Omaha, NE and Kansas City, MO which are nice cities to have fun in as well. Chicago would be about 4.5 hours to get to. But at least you would have security of tons of jobs that you would find in Des Moines - especially in Insurance, Accounting and IT.

.

Chicago is more like 6, 5 at best. Minneapolis/St. Paul is about 3 1/2 - 4 hours though.

[gypsy77]

The people in Iowa do not easily accept outsiders, especially from California! My husband is from Iowa and knows everyone in his home town and that still didn't help. Iowa City was no different. But that's probably because all his friends and family are native Iowans. I'm sure there are college students there who are "outsiders" that would have been much nicer to me. I felt like I was bending over backwards to start conversations or to be included. The other girls pretty much huddled together and ignored me. And I'm not talking about one occasion, I'm talking about for a whole year while living there. And it's not me either, I have plenty of friends in other states and in my home town in California. Everyone seems to like me except for my husbands family and friends in Iowa! What's the deal? I'm a good person, and fun, but no one there ever wanted to get to know me. I guess they would rather stare at me from across the room and whisper to their friends instead. And I'm talking about people in their 30's! Not teenagers! It's ridiculous. And we go back to visit every year, and it's always the same. Why do they make me feel like such a black sheep? I now think back on the first time I met all of them years ago...I should have lied and told them I was from Northern Iowa. It would have made my married life a hell of a lot easier. I'll tell you that much!

[Rez]

Originally Posted by gypsy77

The people in Iowa do not easily accept outsiders, especially from California! My husband is from Iowa and knows everyone in his home town and that still didn't help. Iowa City was no different. But that's probably because all his friends and family are native Iowans. I'm sure there are college students there who are "outsiders" that would have been much nicer to me. I felt like I was bending over backwards to start conversations or to be included. The other girls pretty much huddled together and ignored me. And I'm not talking about one occasion, I'm talking about for a whole year while living there. And it's not me either, I have plenty of friends in other states and in my home town in California. Everyone seems to like me except for my husbands family and friends in Iowa! What's the deal? I'm a good person, and fun, but no one there ever wanted to get to know me. I guess they would rather stare at me from across the room and whisper to their friends instead. And I'm talking about people in their 30's! Not teenagers! It's ridiculous. And we go back to visit every year, and it's always the same. Why do they make me feel like such a black sheep? I now think back on the first time I met all of them years ago...I should have lied and told them I was from Northern Iowa. It would have made my married life a hell of a lot easier. I'll tell you that much!

You poor thing. As a native Californian who moved here, it does take a lot of effort to get to know people in Iowa. I don't know what it is. I think because communities are smallish, the rumor mill tends to run wild at times. Some people never learned how to deal with strangers, either. Some people are cliquish, just like anywhere else. I met some people by going to school and joining the YWCA and finding a community group, which I'd recommend to anyone moving to a new area.

My sister decided to do just what you said, and never told anybody where she was from except that she lived in Waterloo. She now happily lives and works in South Carolina, lucky girl.

[gypsy77]

Yeah, my sister lives in the South now too, and she LOVES it there.

[katychicago]

I agree with Cactus Sam and REZ. Stay out of here if you can. The only people who seem to like Iowa are those who have never been anywhere else and don't have a clear picture of what life is like in the real world. I'm sure there are some wonderful towns in Iowa, but it's not worth taking a chance on hitting the wrong one. Seek out Indiana or Tennessee. Much brighter - happier people.

[pinetar10]

Originally Posted by katychicago

I agree with Cactus Sam and REZ. Stay out of here if you can. The only people who seem to like Iowa are those who have never been anywhere else and don't have a clear picture of what life is like in the real world. I'm sure there are some wonderful towns in Iowa, but it's not worth taking a chance on hitting the wrong one. Seek out Indiana or Tennessee. Much brighter - happier people.

i'm actually thinking about moving to iowa, so could you tell me which towns to avoid?

[WoodwardGirl]

Originally Posted by pinetar10

i'm actually thinking about moving to iowa, so could you tell me which towns to avoid?

I'd find out where this katychicago chick lives and stay away from there -- she sounds really toxic!

Otherwise, I don't think there's anyplace to stay away from. I'd vote more for finding places to concentrate on based on the size of population you find desirable, your hobbies, and, of course, where you think there'll be the best chance of finding work. Have you ever been to Iowa? Where do you live now? What do you do for a living? What do you like to do in your free time?

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by katychicago

The only people who seem to like Iowa are those who have never been anywhere else and don't have a clear picture of what life is like in the real world. .

Katychicago, this is just a suggestion, but do you think the reason why you don't get along with the people in Iowa might be because there's something wrong with you? Comments/attitudes like that do not go over well with anyone, no matter where you're at.

Also, unless you've lived in some place crazy like Antarctica or Timbuktu, very few people are going to be impressed with the fact you've lived somewhere other than Iowa. Believe it or not, that does not reserve you the sort of jaw-dropping awe and respect that one would give a Martian or whatever.

Have you tried "living in the real world" and actually tried to get to know your neighbors and the local culture yet?

[gypsy77]

To Katychicago, I know everyone is bashing you here, saying you're negative and know nothing about Iowa, bla bla bla. But it actually sounds like DO know a little something about Iowa. And isn't it typical of all the locals to get overly offended and start bashing you for having an opinion? I don't "hate" Iowa at all. But I'm tired of people saying to me, "Well, obviously there's something wrong with YOU if people weren't friendly to you in Iowa." That's always their comeback. Yeah, I guess there WAS something wrong with me when I lived there, I wasn't FROM Iowa. LOL. The minute people heard I was born and raised in another state, they started treating me differently. But I'm sure it must have been all in my imagination. The only places in Iowa that might accept new people are the college towns. Only because at least you have other "outsiders" there that might want to be your friend. Stay away from the smaller towns unless you were born and raised there.