HELP!!! Working in Downtown KCMO but would rather live in KS? (Atlanta: to live, vehicle)

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by Lady300

Hey folks...went to Kansas for 3 days to look for a place to live. I like it! Metcalf seems to be the main artery of everything with lots of traffic but what confuses me is how some of your exits are. I've never seen an exit to the left. It was really weird. We don't have that in Atlanta. What surprised me though was that Kansas was not as flat like I thought it would be. I remember going up a few steep hills which brings me back to my old fear.......SNOW and ICE! Okay so I know my commute to work will definitely be 30 minutes tops....but going up and down steep hills is even hard for the pros. Any suggestions? Also, if anyone knows of a snow driving class around the area, please post the name and phone number. I would really appreciate it.

Samantha said it well.

Snow and ice are rarely an issue and during those few times they are, common sense is all you need - provided that you are an experienced and skillful driver generally. Just slow down and be extra cautious, knowing that you and other drivers don't have the same control and stopping distances that you have on dry pavement.

But honestly - I laughed long and hard every KC winter at the folks who were terrified of it and thought Kansas City winters were tough. I always said "you've gotta be kidding!" and suggested they spend next winter in central New York state if they wanted to see some snow.

Fall and winter are the best times of the year in KC. If I were you, I'd be more concerned about your summer electric bill.

So when are you moving?

[GraniteStater]

^
Agreed. KC winters are nothing like the Midwest core/ Upper Midwest, New England, or the Rockies.

[Vleno87]

If you want to feel completely safe, move to Johnson county. Even in the nicer areas of MO, there is still more crime that seeps through, and your always in close proximity of some real ****ty areas. Not hating on Missouri side as I would rather live there. All I'm saying is that Johnson county= safe, potentially boring. KCMO= more happening, more crime

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by Vleno87

If you want to feel completely safe, move to Johnson county. Even in the nicer areas of MO, there is still more crime that seeps through, and your always in close proximity of some real ****ty areas. Not hating on Missouri side as I would rather live there. All I'm saying is that Johnson county= safe, potentially boring. KCMO= more happening, more crime

Thanks for the heads up.
Whew. Glad you told us this. Now I'll remember to wear the bullet-proof vest and set the alarm and unleash the dogs and sleep with one eye open and a .457 under my pillow as I lay my head down next to my baseball bat at home here in Independence.
You seriously may have saved my life!!!!!!!


Completely safe?????? Shootings in Shawnee, brazen home break-ins.... haven't come across those on the news have we???

Want to truly feel safe (at least as much as life here on earth will allow)? Move to the absolute middle of nowhere North Dakota as far away from other human existence as you possibly can. Don't kid yourself with big city suburbia.

[cp1969]

A .457?

[kreed]

I grew up outside of Memphis and I have found that the climate is relatively similar...hot and sticky in the summer and cold with some snow and ice in the winter. Actually, there is probably more snow and less ice than in Memphis which is quite nice since snow is far easier to drive on than ice. You will not need snow tires and the roads are kept pretty well plowed if there is bad weather. Just drive slow and remember to keep PLENTY of distance between you and the car in front of you! We had a LOT of snow this past winter, but I ma hoping this winter will be a little more mild!

We live in Leavenworth County (Tonganoxie to be exact) which is about halfway between Kansas City and Lawrence, KS. My husband drives to KCMO for work everyday and the commute is relatively quick (about 35-40 minutes) and painless. We love the small town, rural feel here, but I probably wouldn't want to live here if I were single - definitely not a happening singles scene here! But if you are looking to be out of the city or the true "burbs", Basehor, Bonner Springs and De Soto are some smaller towns in eastern Leavenworth/western Wyandotte County that are still close to the fun!

Good luck!

[MikeT1]

lady 300.... i came to this thread late and have spent about 45 minutes reading most all of the posts related to your moving here. i think alot of people have given you good advice with respect to KS suburbs vs MO urban and suburban areas, the weather, the driving, and i don't have much to add to what they've already said.
Weather: yep gonna get cold, wet, snowy, but milder than many parts of country and it doesn't last long. icy? sometimes. streets cleared? usually pretty quickly, but not always, and KCMO generally does worse than the KS suburb cities. you'll get used to it after one winter. i keep saying i'm going to move because i'm tired of winter, but honestly, it just isn't that bad most winters.
Snow driving: someone gave you good advice to find an empty parking lot and do some practice manuevers. you'll quickly get used to it. no sudden starts, stops turns, and generally you'll handle your car fine. hills can be tricky... one word: momentum. keep your speed constant and accelerate only when you have to keep the momentum when going up, and when going down, keep your speed moderate, plenty of braking room and, again, no sudden moves. easier than you think!
Anyway, glad to read you finally made it here. Metcalf is very much the heart of Overland Park (really less so these days), but especially the area north of 435 to i-35. redevelopment along that stretch is slated for sometime in the (near?) future, but nothing to be terribly concerned about.

good luck with your move! - mike t.

[Lady300]

Hey guys...it's almost time! Time to move that is. Less that three weeks left. I'm still nervous. Can't seem to stop my brain from thinking about the what if's in winter but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I should be more worried that my car and belongings make it there safely. For all those who gave me advice, even those who came here late, I still appreciate it even if you feel you are repeating yourself. To hear a lot of people say the same thing really puts my mind at ease. The more the better. I have to say I really like Kansas. Wish I could move my family here. It's a lot slower paced than Atlanta. Atlanta has become the NYC of the south and it's horrible. Anyway, feel free to leave more advice. I will be back here sporadically as I'm tryimg to wrap things up on this end. Once I get settled in, I'll be back to this thread more often! Thanks

[Okey Dokie]

Good luck on your move. Sometime around late November/early December you'll hear your first snow forecast. Get back on here and everybody will give you another pep talk about winter driving.

[Lady300]

Originally Posted by Okey Dokie

Good luck on your move. Sometime around late November/early December you'll hear your first snow forecast. Get back on here and everybody will give you another pep talk about winter driving.

Will do!!