Would You Move Out of Kansas? (Wichita, Hutchinson: rent, transferring to, college)

[denverian]

I was born and raised in JoCo and promptly left after graduating from high school, never to return other than 2 years to finish my BS degree at KU. I really loved Lawrence, and it's the only place in KS I'd ever consider living other than maybe far NE JoCo near the Plaza.

Most of my "post Kansas" life has been spent in L.A. and Denver, so I've become accustomed to low humidity and few bugs. Kansas is also way too conservative for my liking, so I have no plans to ever move back there.

[Modron]

Yes and no. ... I love Kansas. It's imprinted in my DNA. I like the open sky and the changes in weather and the flat land. But, ... the people make me completely insane. Example, I work in a place where one of our parcel carriers is an American-Muslim. The people at work, and these are people with masters degree believe - honestly believe - that this AMERICAN parcel carrier would use his postition to ship nuclear weapons into the country to kill us all. Expressions of dissatifaction with work, the economy, the price of gas gets people told "That's just how terrorists are!" I tired of just the pure unabated ignorance and fear.

I can tell by the improvements that are being made around the city in places like Riverside Park and Sedgwick County Park, downtown, etc. that someone is putting some real thought into making the city worthwhile. But, the people are completely incapable of letting anything good come from it. Everything, EVERYTHING has to be bad or evil or the work of Satan (or secular humanists *shudder*). It's beyond ridiculous.

[athfo]

Originally Posted by Modron

Yes and no. ... I love Kansas. It's imprinted in my DNA. I like the open sky and the changes in weather and the flat land. But, ... the people make me completely insane. Example, I work in a place where one of our parcel carriers is an American-Muslim. The people at work, and these are people with masters degree believe - honestly believe - that this AMERICAN parcel carrier would use his postition to ship nuclear weapons into the country to kill us all. Expressions of dissatifaction with work, the economy, the price of gas gets people told "That's just how terrorists are!" I tired of just the pure unabated ignorance and fear.

Really? I work with a muslim from Pakistan as well as several Vietnamese people, and I never experience this kind of prejudice here.

[Modron]

I'm glad for you. I'm glad to know a lack of prejudice exists around here. Don't get me wrong, the people I work with would never make those comments to the guy's face. They'd do it behind his back. In their churches. Teach it to their children.... I'm sure if I worked in the private sector I'd find more open-mindedness - in the workplace.

I work in a public school in a small, "conservative" city. They do themselves no favors with their attitudes, but they are the prevailing attitudes. ... No one has explained to me, yet, why we're all so accepting of the pregnant, unmarried, living-in-sin teacher who has bloomed with life through the spring semester and into the fall semester before our highly impressionable children with nothing being said about it. Of course, no one can - or should - do anything about it. (She wanted a baby and, by God, she was going to screw some guy and gt pregnant. I have no idea why she's bothered to stay with him. Nothing she says indicates she likes him. Wanting a baby makes this all moral, you understand.) I suspect she'll even continue to be the co-sponsor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And, she was and continues to be one of the most judgmental people on the staff.

Generally, this kind of thing is the source of my disrespect for people and communities in this area. There's a lot of spewing "moral values," but "moral" has kind of a funny definition, and there is no accountablity when mistakes are made, only excuses. And posting about it here is as close as we'll ever come to talking about it.

Originally Posted by athfo

Really? I work with a muslim from Pakistan as well as several Vietnamese people, and I never experience this kind of prejudice here.

[zman0457]

Kansas seems to be the epitome of what many of us coastal types fear.
Let me preface this by saying, that I have been there many times over the years, and find parts of the state beautiful, however it still conjures some strange reactions in me.

Between the Phelps type wackos, the xenophobia and fundamentalist zealotry of many of its citizens, some really creepy murders, places like Stull , and the need to leave for many of its youth, it can be downright depressing. I know there's an up side, but that side is pervasive to me.

[KevK]

I grew up in Wichita and left when I joined the service at the age of 19 after graduating from East High. I really missed the place at first but as I became to accustomed to life in other places I missed it less and less. At one time I thought I might come back but after I married my wife- who is not from there- she wants no part of that. I own some rental property there and 2 of my siblings still live there so I still have strong ties (and pay taxes) to the place. But I have found over the years that Wichita- while a nice place- is just too slow for me and the weather there limits outdoor stuff I like to do. They just don't have the things Georgia offers.

[k350]

Originally Posted by Plains10

The data from the past several years shows a continuation of in-migration and out-migration patterns in Kansas. The rural areas are largely declining and the urbanized metro areas of Kansas are gaining population.
Have you moved out of Kansas or have you moved from a rural area to a metro area? Have you moved from a rural area in KS to a bigger metro in KS or a different state?

I will start first. I moved from the Kansas City metro (Johnson County) where I lived for over 20 years to central New Hampshire. I felt like I needed a fresh start in my career field and a change of scenery. So far I have not been dissapointed.

The first thing I did when I got out of high school is pack my stuff and move, never looked back.

Kansas is a dump, great place for the ignorant and narrow minded. Overland Park has ended up being one of the worst places in the world I have experienced in terms of people.

I returned in 2002 for a visit and I was not disappointed, Overland Park kept its "charm".

[crazyma]

awww no fair KevK...I miss Jaw Ja atlanta is home

[KevK]

Originally Posted by crazyma

awww no fair KevK...I miss Jaw Ja atlanta is home

We love it here. I like the nice warm winters, the lack of snow, spending weekends at Stone Mountain or driving down to Tybee Island and spending a day at the beach. While not as cheap as Wichita, the cost here are low when compared to places like Chicago. The only thing I hate here is the horrific traffic. In Wichita you can be anywhere in 15 minutes or less. It takes me that long to get out of the sub division here.

[straw hat]

I was born in Kansas. Have lived here for 60+ years. Live in the same town that I was born in although I lived in Lawrence for 20 years. Lawrence got too expensive. Do I miss the fast food, chain stores, collage students, and traffic? No way! If I forget to lock my door it is not a problem. I don’t need to live in a gated community to feel safe. However I am never stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. With gas at better than $4.00 a gallon, I would like to be moving down the road not just setting in one spot. To those of you that have left Kansas and think you are lucky to have escaped. Good luck with your new life.