If moving to Jackson metro area, know this... (Ridgeland, Brandon: homes, transfer)

[sbidaho]

Born and raised in Slidell I married and moved (military) in 1982. My only child was 6 years old. Now through all those years my only child is working at Ole Miss and my parents are still alive in Slidell. With my current marriage on the rocks I have been considering moving to the Jackson area to be halfway between the both of them. Currently I only get to see my son once a year and at my age I want to spend more time with him and may parents are not going to be here forever.
I am looking to find a job (years of Admin and Cust Serv exp) and maybe a small studio apt. Any ideas on where would be best to find this combination? Advise is welcomed.

I do have to make one comment, to Elly, Life is what you make it. If you don't like it there move! what is more important your happiness or the money that your husband makes to make you happy? If you are that miserable just think what kind of impression you are making on your family. They sure will end up being as negative about things as you and it will stay with them all their lives.

I know because I live with the most negative person I have ever come across. He has 3 grown sons now and each one has his attitude. everything bad happens to them and everyone is a jerk or worse. If you can't portray a positive attitude then it's time to move on or out.

[southernfried]

Well allI can say is that Madison is not the same place I grow up,I move away soon as I could ,I still have freinds there,there is to manywho's who for me ,Ive been thinking of moving out state. My mom& dad still live there,and are tring to sale there place and move. WE do have some the worst roads Ive been on in&around the state. Jackson has become the wrong place to be,if you arenot a democrate.

[mamabear70]

Originally Posted by Ellygirl67

My husband and I moved here due to a job transfer in 2000. While visiting, people were very friendly and welcoming, however, once you get here they change! The southern hospitality only extends to VISITORS. Once you live here you are an outcast if coming from outside MS. All of our friends are transplants as well because those who have lived here all their lives have their own cliques and don't know how to reach out. Also, there is an attitude of "have" and "have not" here. Very "old school" attitudes and steeped in tradition. You will feel like you have gone back twenty years if you are from a more progressive area. My husband is a successful executive and we live in a very beautiful custom built home on the lake, however, that does not warrant inclusion. "Your daddy had to know my daddy and his daddy had to know your daddy's daddy" is more important. (i.e. snobby and "who's who" attitude). Our child goes to private school, which is another funny thing. All the supposedly "have's" must have their children in private school. The schools here are not good, even the ones that claim to be good. The best one's are at least a year or two behind other state's "good" school systems. Crime is horrendous in Jackson (even worse than the Bronx in NY) and customer service is horrible as well, since these people don't know the meaning of true hospitality. You will find shopping carts scattered around parking lots rather than returned to the stalls, and people racing you to get to the closest parking space. I was amazed that Madison was ranked one of the 10 best cities for families because I was actually humiliated to have visitors from out of town. Yes, of all the area's around Jackson, Madison and Ridgeland are the nicest, but even here the landscaping and roads are horrific. Pot holes and weeds line the streets. We are nature lovers, but there is only one nature trail around. There isn't much to do around here to be honest. The few nice things about living here are: the tall pine trees, lots of lakes and ponds, and weather in the Spring and Fall. Winters are okay, but summers are humid and unbearable. Sorry if I sound really negative (I'm generally a very positive person!) I just wanted everyone to have a realistic picture of what they are coming into before moving. If you are superficial, steeped in tradition, and from a smaller southern town, you may like it. However, if you want authenticity and true beauty, and from a larger metropolitan area, you will probably want to look elsewhere. Hope this helps anyone thinking of relocating to the Jackson metropolitan area!

I lived in Brandon for 1 year and the schools in Rankin are bad, my daughter was scared to go to school due to all the really mean fights that took place.
The area in Brandon, Madison ect are not what someone from a progressive area would excpect when you see it from hearing the hype. The roads are horrendous, watch out about a home it may sink into the ground!!!!!!
They are not well built as well!!
People from the area, especially if they are born and raised will never understand what someone from another area see's. It ain't pretty!!!!!
Jackson and Ridgeland are so crime ridden it's pathetic and very scary, but the people all around it just act like it's the best place ever, I will never ever move back to that area!!!!!

[Tama]

It is true that areas in the US like Madison can be exclusive. I don't know about Madison, mind you, but I have heard about some Dallas suburbs, for example, where this situation was occurring. Snobs can be anywhere. It isn't a Mississippi thing. However, a state like Mississippi is basically a big extended family and newcomers are just going to have to work harder to find their comfort zone. It is doable.

But it is amazing to me how many people expect others to embrace strangers and outsiders like family in a place where roots and heritage and tradition are so important. I understand what you are talkng about, but why do you need all this acceptance?

I always know I am not a native--and it doesn't bother me a bit. I have my circle, my identity, and my own confidence and pride. I don't need anyone's approval to feel important. Be active, accomplished, and contribute and you will find that people come to you. Hold your head high, be friendly, don't act dismayed, portray confidence and self-esteem and you will find your place. If someone moves to a new country, a new region, or a new continent--there is an element of being different. Make it a positive. Something you have that is unique. Be proud, appreciative of your new surroundings, and enjoy your status as someone special.

The same with the kids. It isn't going to destroy them to learn how to acclimate to new surroundings and how to manage with being on the outside of the circle. Eventually they will find their comfort zone as well.
Unless you are a person who has to be approved and validated by all around you, you should be able to handle this normal behavior.

[serate]

My husband has been offered a promotion and transfer to either Jackson, MS or Montgomery, AL. Being a Midwest girl [Iowa & Kansas, with Kentucky thown in there for 3 years which I loved] I'm a tad nervous of the thought of moving so far South. We couldn't care less if we get "accepted" by the locals as we do keep pretty much to ourselves as it is. Not anti-social, but if the neighbors say hi and we talk fine, if they don't fine. Ok so these are stupid questions but here goes anyway. Is Jackson effected majorly by hurricanes? [I know it's not on the Gulf but was told by a coworker of my husband that it is effected alot when there are hurricanes.] Are there lots of snakes? [I might have lived most of my life in farmland central, but never lived on a farm!] Is there anything besides the so-called attitude of the locals that we should be aware of when making our decision which offer to accept? Unfortunately the decision has to be made before a trip down there to investigate so I can use any input/advice that is given. TIA!

ETA: No kids so school system doesn't matter.

[SashaBlue]

Yes, our area, unfortunately, is affected by hurricanes and tornados, but not as much as the Gulf Coast. On April 4th of this year, straight line winds destroyed over 7,000 homes in the metro area. Hurricane season is hot and humid, but according to the Farmer's Almanac, the East Coast should be the hardest hit with hurricanes this season.

As far as snakes, yes, we have them, but not to the extent that you hear from stories and tall tales. Most of the snakes live in or near the water. I was driving through North Bay in Madison a few days ago and saw a water mocissan coiled in the road hissing at cars. We see small garden and garter snakes in our yard when we weed eat or mow, but they run from us (unless we kill them first). Don't worry about the snakes or the hurricanes.

To me the worst part about living in MS is the heat and humidity of the summer and the lack of a proper winter with snow. The winters are wet, humid, gray, and damp. I think I wore my winter coat two days last winter, and I don't remember it getting below 30 degrees.

Oh, and the driving. Get ready to freak out when you get behind the wheel due to all the people driving without any consideration for other drivers on the road.

[duck hunter]

Yes your gonna see snakes but you will see one every now and then but the water thing isnt always true i live in madison and while there is a lake in the vicinity of our street its not that close to our house and two baby mocasins got into our house one of them even got up stairs. Its nothing to worry about.
Also it doesn't get that cold like everybody on this board says but it does get below 30 degrees quite a bit. Maybe not in the 15s everyday but when you are up at 3 in the morning and getting in the water for probably 40 to 50 days out of the year you tend to pay attention to the weather and it was pretty cold on some mornings.
However on the driving thing i really dont think its something thats bad. When you visit a big city the driving is much worse so im not sure why that was stated as a bad part.

[serate]

Thanks for the comments. Being from Iowa I think I can handle 15^ every now and then.

Looks as if Montgomery is in the running with Jackson so I guess I'd better head over to that forum too.

I really appreciate the comments.

[SashaBlue]

Originally Posted by duck hunter

Yes your gonna see snakes but you will see one every now and then but the water thing isnt always true i live in madison and while there is a lake in the vicinity of our street its not that close to our house and two baby mocasins got into our house one of them even got up stairs. Its nothing to worry about.
Also it doesn't get that cold like everybody on this board says but it does get below 30 degrees quite a bit. Maybe not in the 15s everyday but when you are up at 3 in the morning and getting in the water for probably 40 to 50 days out of the year you tend to pay attention to the weather and it was pretty cold on some mornings.
However on the driving thing i really dont think its something thats bad. When you visit a big city the driving is much worse so im not sure why that was stated as a bad part.

The thing with the driving is more about cell phones and 15 year olds. I totally disagree with our state allowing 15 year olds to drive, and I am completely against holding a cell phone to one ear and the steering wheel with the other. It slows traffic and response time is slow. The teens are daredevils in "daddy's car" and have no respect for others on the road. That's just the way it is here.

[Ellygirl67]

I just sat back and read the responses... First of all, I apologize for being such a complainer and so negative. I realize that I don't need to worry about what other people think, but confess that it was hard for me to not immediately be accepted for the first time in my life. I guess I just had hurt feelings and needed to vent those. I value substance rather than superficiality and know this isn't the norm for many places today, but realize this is something that I can add rather than complain about. It is true that "life is what you make it," so I will try to focus on all the positives around me. However, I still would like to encourage all you native Mississippians to "think outside of the box" and put yourself in the place of a newcomer. We are a little scared and lonely when we move to a new place and it would be so nice to have people go a little out of their way or comfort zone to welcome you in. I do that with all the newcomers around me, it's just sad that the "natives" aren't willing to join in with us... but I understand. As for schools though, I have to stick to my guns. The education is lacking, which is why Mississippi ranks as one of the worst in the nation. It's not just the Delta influencing that. Even the "best" public schools in the area (Madison) are at least a year behind the public schools in a neighboring southern state. In addition, I miss hiking in the hills or mountains, kayaking clear rivers, etc. Austin, TX and Nashville, TN are GREAT areas to live for authentic, friendly, people and lots of beautiful nature and things to do for those who appreciate more than shopping. If moving was up to me, I would, but for now I will just make the most of what I have and where I'm at (I'm very blessed) and it will be a wonderful experience because I will GROW as a person through this challenge. This is true no matter where you live or what your circumstances are. See, I'm growing already!