Leaving Michigan (Detroit, Kalamazoo, Royal Oak: house, rent, jobs)

[CrazyMomDaze]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

I like the "need a new state to complain about" poll option. Enjoy your Kia in IndyCarolinatucky!

I'll be more Michiana/Illinois.
Sorry thay you only think Indy is southeren.
I'll enjoy whatever car I get, as long as it's not a Ford. Thank you

[bubbagirl]

Started off on the wrong foot, but I think we all have agreed to disagree, right?

We JUST relocated to Akron, OH area this weekend. We both were unemployed from 'real' jobs for over a year, attempted our own company to make ends meet. That started to peter out... and only making just enough to pay the month bills without having a steady paycheck was just not an option we wanted to continue.

He applied for job here and was hired 4 days later. I have a job set up to start in 2 weeks. We're both service sector workers with good experience to boot. There are NOW HIRING signs all over the place - sure, they are the typical service sector type positions, but that is MUCH MORE than Lansing offered.

And, for the record....

Have 91 Toyota Previa mini van, 92 Toyota Camry, 92 Honda Civic, and 89 Chevy 1500 pickup. The Civic and Previa are our current drivers (Camry is due for repairs, new radiator to be exact, at 186K, and truck is just too expensive to drive, but we need it as a farm vehicle).... GM certainly doesn't make anything that even TOUCHES their gas mileage that we could purchase outright (we don't like car payments). My Civic averages 45 mpg, is running strong at 228K miles, and is cheap as heck to insure.... but, still valued at $1200 in current condition according to KBB (I purchased at $1000). GM, Ford, or Chrysler can't compete with that, I'm sorry... and Toyota and Honda are providing just as many, if not more, jobs to Americans that the Big 3. It is all about personal preference and I am born of a Michigan native GM family.

[mike jones]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

Nice - so take the job and money, then leave it to others to fix the "problem" that basically gave your family food on the table for decades. I think I speak for many when I say WHEN MI turns it around, please stay away - leach off of a state like IN or NC.

Hey leave the guy/gal alone.
Michigan is not going to turn around anytime soon.
What do you expect people to just starve waiting for things to get better?
My house is for sale and I looking to move out west.

For those of us who do not have the luxury of being in the JOBS BANK we get stressed out and have no choice but to plan for the future. That future is not here.

[misucks]

I am leaving Flint to head to Florida with my family. The problem is most of the state. Sure there are a few area's left that have a decent standard of living in MI. Ann Arbor, certain parts of Oakland Co., Grand Rapids and a few others. But the cost of living in MI is NOT that much cheaper than places that are doing well finacially in other parts of the country. My husband has 1-2 classed it for nearly 7 years to graduate from UM Flint. Finally in Dec. of this year he will be done. But not with the degree he wanted. He is settling just for the bachelors degree, not the EDU English degree he started with. There were actually classes for the degree not even taught at UM! You would have to go to another university to get them, then hope they transfer at UM standards! And with the teacher layoffs at an all time high here... there wouldn't of been a job after graduation anyway! Get a different degree? Why, he loves everything about English and loves to teach! At least in FL (and some other states too of course) they are begging for teachers! Honestly I think the main problem is MI has a lack of variety for careers. All the colleges have waiting lists a mile long for the last 10 classes you will need for your degree, as everyone is there for the same degree!

[Debbie SE MI]

Hi
I'm new to the MI board, I live in Flat Rock and as soon as my home sells I will be on my way to northern Az. I have been in MI for 51 years and the last 3 winters have just gotten to me, for health reasons I need a less humid summer and a milder winter. So if anyone is looking to buy a house let me know, I know its a buyers market and my timing is bad. Should of done this 3 years ago when I started thinking about it, oh well.
I really hope Michigans ecomomy turns around for the better, my daughters are here but if things don't change for the better soon their will go another 2familys out of state...
Too bad Michigan politicians were'nt proactive instead of being reactive...
Debbie SE MI

[lady blue]

I too, left Michigan 5 years ago. For similar reasons I had to get away. I, a single mom of two feared for my sons lives. I detested the gangs, the drugs, the crimes and sirens every night where we lived. After 9/11 something changed, I didn't want to be near a big city anymore. We moved to a sleepy hicktown in the midwest, where people drive old cars, don't take baths and don't cut their hair. I found a job. My kids are ok. I went back to college and my first son and I will graduate this December. Many things have happened since we moved. I found though it was the silly things that I miss from Michigan. I miss the stores and malls, my favorite restaurants, the familiarity of roads, landmarks and snow. Where we live now, we have no fresh air breezes from the cool summers blowing through the house. The air runs all summer, the heat all winter. We have bugs I never saw in Michigan, we have snakes and wierd lizards. Coyotes howl at night and deer eat my flowers and vegetables. The neighbors don't speak to us because we don't have guns. We constantly battle the elements and I know what a tick is. People are strange, it's a step back into the 60's. They sit on their porches, they don't lock their doors, they leave their car windows down and keys in the ignition. Yes we will come back someday soon. You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl. I am proud to always say I'm a native Detroiter, born in the city, motown will forever be by hometown. My family are all there, and at Woodmere...I'm coming home soon...

[Debbie SE MI]

Lady blue
you must be from southwest detroit? I went to Bennett, Wilson and Western and grew up on Ferris. Vernor and Lawndale area...Sound familiar
Debbie SE MI

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by lady blue

I too, left Michigan 5 years ago. For similar reasons I had to get away. I, a single mom of two feared for my sons lives. I detested the gangs, the drugs, the crimes and sirens every night where we lived. After 9/11 something changed, I didn't want to be near a big city anymore. We moved to a sleepy hicktown in the midwest, where people drive old cars, don't take baths and don't cut their hair. I found a job. My kids are ok. I went back to college and my first son and I will graduate this December. Many things have happened since we moved. I found though it was the silly things that I miss from Michigan. I miss the stores and malls, my favorite restaurants, the familiarity of roads, landmarks and snow. Where we live now, we have no fresh air breezes from the cool summers blowing through the house. The air runs all summer, the heat all winter. We have bugs I never saw in Michigan, we have snakes and wierd lizards. Coyotes howl at night and deer eat my flowers and vegetables. The neighbors don't speak to us because we don't have guns. We constantly battle the elements and I know what a tick is. People are strange, it's a step back into the 60's. They sit on their porches, they don't lock their doors, they leave their car windows down and keys in the ignition. Yes we will come back someday soon. You can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl. I am proud to always say I'm a native Detroiter, born in the city, motown will forever be by hometown. My family are all there, and at Woodmere...I'm coming home soon...

Guess the grass isn't always greener...

Where in the world did you move to!? Sounds horrible.

Well, good luck, and we welcome you back with open arms! (Just make sure you have a job first).

[suydam]

There should be a choice for "Not Leaving"
...and maybe one for "Moving to Michigan"

[dsv1496]

Left three years ago, and will never return (though I'm impressed with the building of Grand Rapids).