Ex "City Boy" yearns to become a "Country Boy" (Wichita: housing)

[lebanonmom]

I live up in north central Kansas and it is a wonderful place to live. I dont think people here are prejudice, there are lots of different races here, personally, I dont differentiate, as long as a person acts decent, I like em! It is nice and quiet and peaceful here. There was a small, 7 acre farm on the edge of Burr Oak for about what you would have to put down on a house in Calif. I dont know if it is sold or not. I have lived all over the usa, but there is no place like this area, first time I ever felt "at home". I moved back to Wyoming because and ex boss called me to help him open the office back up but I came back after 5 months! Got homesick for the first time in my life. It was so nice to get back here where people are nice!

[lebanonmom]

Originally Posted by veganwriter

I live in the California Bay Area. I'm REALLY sick and tired of all this traffic, of housing prices that are out of reach, of city government's hands constantly in my pockets (you get a ticket for EVERYTHING here ... you literally have to pay to stop driving your car because there are parking meters and metermaids everywhere, jay walking tickets, cars towed because of street cleaning, constantly rising bridge tolls ... etc...)

I'm 52 and I don't have to have a lot of excitement. I want to grow a garden and spend the rest of my time reading, writing, and working on art and business projects. I've worked most of my life in the Social Service trenches so I've given more than my "pound of flesh" to others. Now I just want to chill. The idea of "quiet" makes me drool at the mouth.

I am African American, degreed, down-to-earth guy who was worked as a professional... so while I yearn to be a "Country Boy" ... I worry that I may not ... um ... "fit in" everywhere. I don't want to change anybody's reality ... I just want a small house on about 5 acres of land to live quietly.

I love to hear suggestions about a small town/rural area that this "fed up city boy" could live in.

I don't blame you, I went to High school in San Diego, back when it was much smaller but still too crowded and before that, was raised in Phoenix. I am now in North Central Kansas with a population in my town of around 300! LOVE IT! People are friendly, no crime, great! As for traffic, you will get a kick out of places like Phillipsburg, downtown, you know where the left turn lane is in most places, in the middle of the street?? Well, that is for parking! LOL. I still get tickled at that every time I go to one of the towns that does that. The other day I was driving to work, about 15 miles down the highway and the highway patrol passed me going the other way. He flipped his lights on and as I passed, he pointed down! I just knew I was about to get a ticket but he kept going. When I got to work, my boss told me he was telling me to slow down. Bet that would NEVER happen in California, where they have to meet a daily quota of tickets!
I have lived all over the country, but this is the first place I ever felt "at home"!

[Kansasfornow]

You might want to consider areas outside of Wichita. There is an active art scene in Wichita, a medical school, hospitals, universities etc in Wichita which you would have access to. I am originally from NYC and have lived here for four years. There is alot of diversity here and people seem very accepting. I don't live in the rural areas so can't comment other than to say that the Kansas countryside is beautiful. I put a link below to the Wichita Visitor's Bureau as it may provide links to relevant areas. http://www.visitwichita.com/ Unlike some of the other posters, I find the Kansas weather to be OK. I lived in Houston before moving here so I know what real heat and humidity are like! Wichita has four seasons, which I like, although in this part of the country there are tornados - but that is also true for Florida and Texas and other states. I hope you check Kansas out and best of luck!

[Sally Beagle]

Fred,
You can tell from the posts Kansan's are friendly. Most are just good folks that don't care what size, color, or financial position you are, we are more interested in a person's core value of hard work, honesty, decency, and being a good neighbor. It's part of the Bible Belt.

In our area 5-10 acres with a 3 bedroom home would most likely be in a range of 120-170K, depends on how fancy your digs have to be. The larger the piece of land, the price goes down per acre.

Like you, we are at a point in our lives where we are tired, want to slow down bit, enjoy our farm and critters.

I understand where you're coming from and think you would really enjoy any of the outskirts of smaller Kansas towns; Baldwin, Overbrook, Topeka, Cottonwood Falls is beautiful, Fort Scott, Manhattan, Dodge City, etc. Don't give a second glance to Johnson County, you would not be happy there; although if you go south to Miami, Linn, Franklin, Osage, or Bourbon Counties, you would like it I think. Very laid back places. You know the kind, where your neighbors are your friends and there if you need them, but mind their own business, not yours.

So ,throw a more specific wish list at us, we'll try and give you good guidance.

Oh, one more thought, we are avid gardner's and have lots of farmer's markets, roadside stands, extension office help, and just plain good food here.

[theRain]

Sorry, I didn't read EVERY post in this thread, but I am intrigued by y'alls descriptions of Kansas. I am also searching for "home". Haven't been there yet (home, that is)! Can't wait to find it! Are tornadoes common in all of Kansas, or only certain parts? I hope you understand that for those of us who have not lived in a tornado zone, they sound pretty frightening!

[lebanonmom]

I was raised in Phoenix, so I certainly understand peoples concerns about the weater, whether it be the snow or the tornadoes. This year we have had more snow and ice than normal and it has lasted longer than usual, but it is not the average. As for the tornadoes, my house is over 100 years old, the house next door is over a hundred years old also, I figure if they can withstand this long, it must not be all that bad, I can go under the house too if need be, I mostly just pray, God drives the storms!

[Sally Beagle]

Originally Posted by theRain

Sorry, I didn't read EVERY post in this thread, but I am intrigued by y'alls descriptions of Kansas. I am also searching for "home". Haven't been there yet (home, that is)! Can't wait to find it! Are tornadoes common in all of Kansas, or only certain parts? I hope you understand that for those of us who have not lived in a tornado zone, they sound pretty frightening!

No big deal on the tornado zone. Just common sense, watch the sky and have a basement. After you live here awhile, you just get a feel for tornado weather. Many times I've gotten up in the morning and thought tornado day, and sure enough later the storms came in.

That said tornados are much rarer here than most people would think. Most Kansan's have never seen even a rotating cloud, let alone a tornado on the ground.

Even though we're famous for them, they are not that common. Guess we just don't have any other claim to fame. LOL.


You'll either love Kansas or hate it, I don't think there's an in-between. However, watch out, if you love it, you're hooked for life. For me, I never would leave, it's a wonderful place to live.

[Kansasfornow]

Originally Posted by theRain

Sorry, I didn't read EVERY post in this thread, but I am intrigued by y'alls descriptions of Kansas. I am also searching for "home". Haven't been there yet (home, that is)! Can't wait to find it! Are tornadoes common in all of Kansas, or only certain parts? I hope you understand that for those of us who have not lived in a tornado zone, they sound pretty frightening!

Texas, Oklahoma and Florida all have more tornados than Kansas. I think the Wizard of Oz contributed to Kansas's reputation as having the most. I agree with the poster above about Kansas. I personally love it here and am glad that we are here.

[theRain]

You guys are amazing. I have never heard of another state being so positively raved about! There is always someone who pipes up with the down side, but not so for Kansas, on this thread! I will have to get out there to visit. If it really resembles the rolling countryside of rural France, then I am halfway there! I have never spent much time in the midwest. Being from the west coast, I always imagined I'd feel landlocked! Weird how where we were raised can have such an influence on our impressions of other places! Hope to hear more about Kansas. Any pics to post????

[Plains10]

Originally Posted by theRain

You guys are amazing. I have never heard of another state being so positively raved about! There is always someone who pipes up with the down side, but not so for Kansas, on this thread! I will have to get out there to visit. If it really resembles the rolling countryside of rural France, then I am halfway there! I have never spent much time in the midwest. Being from the west coast, I always imagined I'd feel landlocked! Weird how where we were raised can have such an influence on our impressions of other places! Hope to hear more about Kansas. Any pics to post????

I would say that the landscape in KS is drier overall compared with rural France. If you want a more lush rural landscape visit eastern areas of Kansas in the Flint Hills in the spring.