from NJ to Kansas?! 411 needed! (Overland Park, Kansas City: best town, real estate, renting)

[kcmo]

I completely disagree with this.

This country is so transient that nearly every large city is about the same when it comes to people. There might be slightly different interests due to the location or topography of a city. A city might be more active and educated to some degree or slightly more religious or liberal. But it's not enough to experience "culture shock" when moving from towns that are at least similar in size. For the most part, you will find similar characteristics. Affluent suburbs that are more conservative, urban areas that are more liberal.

I can see moving from LA to Salina, KS would be a challenge. But if you are from a major metro area, the KC area will not be culture shock by any stretch. You just might wonder where everybody is or why people don't seem to be outside much except in a very few select areas. It's not a very active city. But you can be active in a relatively inactive city or you can sit home and watch sports in Denver or Miami. Generally the day to day interaction with people on face to face basis is the same though.

Same with some rural town 75 miles from Pittsburgh. Is it that different than Sedalia, MO? I guess you could say people in rural MD go to the beach for fun while people in rural Nebraska watch the cornuskers?

How is rural MO and KS any different than rural OH or MD? Different crops? I see the same pickup trucks, the same god fearing lifestyles, the same high interest in high school sports etc. Same small towns with again, very similar people that you will find in small towns of KS and MO.

I grew up in the midwest and now live on the east coast, just like you. I travel the entire country like it's one metro area. I was in Buffalo, Rochester, Tampa, St Pete and Orlando this past weekend alone!

So I would love to hear how your experience with the east coast is so different than mine. This is a serious question. I'm curious.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by kcmo

I completely disagree with this.

This country is so transient that nearly every large city is about the same when it comes to people. There might be slightly different interests due to the location or topography of a city. A city might be more active and educated to some degree or slightly more religious or liberal. But it's not enough to experience "culture shock" when moving from towns that are at least similar in size. For the most part, you will find similar characteristics. Affluent suburbs that are more conservative, urban areas that are more liberal.

I can see moving from LA to Buffalo would be a challenge. But if you are from a major metro area, the KC area will not be culture shock by any stretch. You just might wonder where everybody is or why people don't seem to be outside much except in a very few select areas. It's not a very active city. But you can be active in a relatively inactive city or you can sit home and watch sports in Denver or Miami. Generally the day to day interaction with people on face to face basis is the same though.

How is rural MO and KS any different than rural OH or MD? Different crops? I see the same pickup trucks, the same god fearing lifestyles, the same high interest in high school sports etc. Same small towns with again, very similar people that you will find in small towns of KS and MO.

I grew up in the midwest and now live on the east coast, just like you. I travel the entire country like it's one metro area. I was in Buffalo, Rochester, Tampa, St Pete and Orlando this past weekend alone!

So I would love to hear how your experience with the east coast is so different than mine. This is a serious question. I'm curious.

Exactly. Overland Park is going to differ little in look and feel from Bridgewater New Jersey. Same big houses, same big box stores, and same types of access ramps to the same types of interstate highways.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by kcmo

I completely disagree with this.

This country is so transient that nearly every large city is about the same when it comes to people. There might be slightly different interests due to the location or topography of a city. A city might be more active and educated to some degree or slightly more religious or liberal. But it's not enough to experience "culture shock" when moving from towns that are at least similar in size. For the most part, you will find similar characteristics. Affluent suburbs that are more conservative, urban areas that are more liberal.

I can see moving from LA to Salina, KS would be a challenge. But if you are from a major metro area, the KC area will not be culture shock by any stretch. You just might wonder where everybody is or why people don't seem to be outside much except in a very few select areas. It's not a very active city. But you can be active in a relatively inactive city or you can sit home and watch sports in Denver or Miami. Generally the day to day interaction with people on face to face basis is the same though.

Same with some rural town 75 miles from Pittsburgh. Is it that different than Sedalia, MO? I guess you could say people in rural MD go to the beach for fun while people in rural Nebraska watch the cornuskers?

How is rural MO and KS any different than rural OH or MD? Different crops? I see the same pickup trucks, the same god fearing lifestyles, the same high interest in high school sports etc. Same small towns with again, very similar people that you will find in small towns of KS and MO.

I grew up in the midwest and now live on the east coast, just like you. I travel the entire country like it's one metro area. I was in Buffalo, Rochester, Tampa, St Pete and Orlando this past weekend alone!

So I would love to hear how your experience with the east coast is so different than mine. This is a serious question. I'm curious.

Well, when you are comparing generic corporate suburbs across the country you won't find a lot of differences overall. I was referring more to the direct rural area comparisons. They differ more in outlook, social culture, built environments, and natural landscape. For example, eastern Ohio is Appalachian with different landscapes and prevailing viewpoints compared to what you would find in rural Iowa.

[Nicole917]

I'm looking forward to the change in the next coming years. Can someone post please post pictures of the Lawrence area if possible? I would look through the Kansas pics thread, but my computer locks up after the 3rd page or so... it would be much appreciated!

I am definitely going to have a more peaceful, relaxing life - thats for sure! Here, everything is so rush-rush and I'm just tired of it. Been in NJ for 25 yrs (lived in FL for a year) and now its time for a change. Cost of living is through the roof here! I work for the state and make really good money now so it's going to be a big change seeing half the amount in my paycheck when I work in Kansas.. but it all equals out in the end. Hopefully I can find a good job in the financial area when I move there. My fiance is a underwater welder/commerical diver but can hopefully find a good welding job somewhere... I'm excited to meet new people, and have a different lifestyle.. I'm welcoming it, and I think I'll enjoy it.

[thriftylefty]

LJWorld.com / Lawrence, Kansas
https://www.kansasworks.com/ada/work...19%7C%2D1%2C39

I would look for work and housing within a 25 mile radius of Lawrence. Oskaloosa, Ottawa, Topeka, Overland Park, Tonganoxie, Leavenworth. In this economy I would start out looking for work with the county, city, state, federal gov, hospitals or schools.

I added the link to The local news paper, The front page article is a rarity in Lawrence (sorry)

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Nicole917

I'm looking forward to the change in the next coming years. Can someone post please post pictures of the Lawrence area if possible? I would look through the Kansas pics thread, but my computer locks up after the 3rd page or so... it would be much appreciated!

I am definitely going to have a more peaceful, relaxing life - thats for sure! Here, everything is so rush-rush and I'm just tired of it. Been in NJ for 25 yrs (lived in FL for a year) and now its time for a change. Cost of living is through the roof here! I work for the state and make really good money now so it's going to be a big change seeing half the amount in my paycheck when I work in Kansas.. but it all equals out in the end. Hopefully I can find a good job in the financial area when I move there. My fiance is a underwater welder/commerical diver but can hopefully find a good welding job somewhere... I'm excited to meet new people, and have a different lifestyle.. I'm welcoming it, and I think I'll enjoy it.

You want to be as close as possible to KC, MO and Johnson County, KS for higher paying employment. The rest of the state has low wages even factoring in the cost of living. Taxes are also not as low as you might imagine, but obviously lower than NJ.

[shoe01]

Both have namesake turnpikes.

[grassnsky]

I moved from smack dab in the middle of LA, Hollywood actually, to Kansas City. The only social difference was culture......Hispanic culture, or a lack of to be exact. I know more German words than I do Spanish words, so believe me it was quite comforting to be in a city that actually has English as the main communicating language. How much "culture" does one person really require?? In the end, it all comes down to a persons little 15-20 mile radius of activity.

I'm so sick of everytime someone wants to move here from someplace else, you get the same 4 posters saying the exact same crap. "The land is different than Idaho"..."The river water is browner than the river water in New Hampshire"...."There arent as many Vegan restaurants as in Colorado"..."The small towns are.....smaller than so and so". Look, some people want an escape from traffic, people, bustle, crime, drugs, gangs, wild boar, UFO's, whacko's and dirt. Whats wrong with just sitting with your face in the wind and maybe working up an appetite for....gasp(!) a meal at Olive Garden?? Or heaven forbid, pancakes at IHOP?

If you want to look at some art, make some. If you want to go canoeing, go canoeing. If you want to go snowboarding, travel. Some of these negative posters are like little Kansas assasins. Sitting there...waiting....hoping someone has an iquiry about Kansas, so they can attack. Puffing their chests and trying to beat Kansas up. Guess what, Kansas can beat you up. It's bigger and stronger than you are. We already know that Kansas is different than Vermont. After all, we did attend a few Geography classes in school.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by grassnsky

I. Puffing their chests and trying to beat Kansas up. Guess what, Kansas can beat you up. It's bigger and stronger than you are. We already know that Kansas is different than Vermont. After all, we did attend a few Geography classes in school.

That type of attitude should stay in TEXAS where it belongs

[grassnsky]

TEXAS.....there is one forum I wont go to. I'm sure the dissary is plentiful and head spinning.