Ex "City Boy" yearns to become a "Country Boy"

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by lebanonmom

Here are some pictures, not sure how they go on but I am trying. They are the Center, one is a picture standing in the center looking toward town.

Yes, the open prairie. My relatives have the family ranch that they manage in NW Kansas. It feels like being out on the frontier again because so many people have left over the years.

[prairiestone]

i am from the east but recently purchased a few acres in southeast kansas where i plan to move.. on my last trip i traveleld to the flint hills region and thought that was beautiful especially the tall bluestem prairie preserve

[luzianne]

There is lots of land around Lawrence, Kansas, which is in Douglas County and home of the University of Kansas. Always lots of diversity in a college town. Seems a lot of people retire in Douglas County. There's the side of town where the university is and where the student housing is, and then there are areas with really nice houses. My husband and I were actually talking about it today because we drove almost to Lawrence and saw a lot of newer homes and some being constructed on large lots.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by luzianne

There is lots of land around Lawrence, Kansas, which is in Douglas County and home of the University of Kansas. Always lots of diversity in a college town. Seems a lot of people retire in Douglas County. There's the side of town where the university is and where the student housing is, and then there are areas with really nice houses. My husband and I were actually talking about it today because we drove almost to Lawrence and saw a lot of newer homes and some being constructed on large lots.

Those newer houses in Lawrence tend to be very cookie cutter with rather shoddy construction as well. Most of the newer development in Lawrence is on the west and south sides of town. I like the fact that Lawrence has strict zoning policies which prevent sprawl from getting too out of control. I love the old historic neighborhoods closer to Downtown that are a 5 minute drive to the University. Another advantage is that you can be out in the country in 5 minutes from Lawrence as well. I particularly like the agricultural heartland of the Kansas River Valley if you just ignore that dirty coal plant.

[straw hat]

“If it really resembles the rolling countryside of rural France, then I am halfway there! I have never spent much time in the Midwest.” My husband’s cousin went to France several years ago he flew out of KC and when he landed in France he said the area looked very much like the northeast area of KS. It is very common here to grow your own grapes. Tropical fruits will not grow here but a large number of fruits, nuts and vegetables can be grown here.

[tany123]

Wow, sounds like a winner! Excuse me for butting in, but I too am looking to retire in a small town and have thought about somewhere in Kansas or Indiana. Coming from Texas, I am tired of the desert, the traffic and rude people. Please give more info as to the name of the towns you are talking about. Thanks.

[DodoHeard]

Originally Posted by tany123

Wow, sounds like a winner! Excuse me for butting in, but I too am looking to retire in a small town and have thought about somewhere in Kansas or Indiana. Coming from Texas, I am tired of the desert, the traffic and rude people. Please give more info as to the name of the towns you are talking about. Thanks.

I too am looking for a place to get away from the daily hustle and bustle.
California's my departure.

[cp1969]

Basically the northeastern quadrant of Kansas is rolling hills. So are the areas it adjoins in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri.

Be advised these small towns are slowly dying except for the ones that are bedroom communities to larger cities. Agriculture was their mainstay, and modern agriculture takes far, far less labor than it once did, hence the towns' demise.