I Like it Here! (Grand Rapids, Lansing: rent, travel, jobs)

[Driller1]

I like it here too!

[Robotdog]

Forget the nay-sayers! I grew up in Michigan and have lived in California for years now, but would leave if only I could get hubby to move back to Michigan! When I check salary vs. housing costs, Michigan looks fantastic - obviously you have to be able to find a job there and loss of union jobs is a cause of many nay-sayer postings. I live in an expensive area of Calif but the illegal tidal wave is really getting to me, along with self-centered, superficial people with $ signs where they used to have souls. It is beautiful here at the beach, but so is Lake M - and giant sand dunes!! And great schools!! Ignore the whiners.

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by Robotdog

Forget the nay-sayers! I grew up in Michigan and have lived in California for years now, but would leave if only I could get hubby to move back to Michigan! When I check salary vs. housing costs, Michigan looks fantastic - obviously you have to be able to find a job there and loss of union jobs is a cause of many nay-sayer postings. I live in an expensive area of Calif but the illegal tidal wave is really getting to me, along with self-centered, superficial people with $ signs where they used to have souls. It is beautiful here at the beach, but so is Lake M - and giant sand dunes!! And great schools!! Ignore the whiners.

We just did the CA to MI move last year. I think you pretty much described all of civilized CA at this point - I heard places in the central valley like Fresno are even expensive and getting overrun by illegals. "self-centered, superficial people with $ signs where they used to have souls." PERFECT description of what's going on. My friends in Oregon and Washington are none too pleased either b/c they are becoming CA north. I know a bunch of families that were hanging on by their fingernails for the "bubble to burst" so they could buy a house. Well, houses going up 100% and "bursting" down 20% still doesn't cut it for most family incomes. We'll be seeing more and more of these people moving inland from CA and the Northeast in the next decade.

[MIhome]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

We just did the CA to MI move last year. I think you pretty much described all of civilized CA at this point - I heard places in the central valley like Fresno are even expensive and getting overrun by illegals. "self-centered, superficial people with $ signs where they used to have souls." PERFECT description of what's going on. My friends in Oregon and Washington are none too pleased either b/c they are becoming CA north. I know a bunch of families that were hanging on by their fingernails for the "bubble to burst" so they could buy a house. Well, houses going up 100% and "bursting" down 20% still doesn't cut it for most family incomes. We'll be seeing more and more of these people moving inland from CA and the Northeast in the next decade.

Same thing is happening here in NV,especially the illegal part.My wife and have been toying with the notion of moving back to MI for some time now.The weather here is nice,but no change of season's.You really don't get to know people because it is so transient here.The violent crime here is through the roof,terrible.I hear a lot of people talk about violent crime back home,my thought...trade ya.The people back home are down to earth,i actually miss an extremely cold day,a thunderstorm,a cool fall day.Housing back home is a hell of a lot cheaper,and they have property,out here you can stand between two house's,outstretch your arm's and touch both house's.No green,and definetely no water,Lake mead is at a record low,imagine that.Shopping here consist's of walmart's,they have nothing like a meijer's here,local grocery chain's like Von's and albertson's...five buck's for a package of hotdog's?what the hell is that?they can keep it.

[JenM]

Hola,

I don't post on here much anymore because I too, am sick of the doom and gloom.

I once sat and complained that I didn't have a good job and that Michigan was crap and that I wanted to move away. But one day I realized it wasn't Michigan that needed changing, it was me.

So my husband and I decided that even though we have 3 kids it was time to quit our jobs and go to school. And that is what we did. We took out $80,000 in private and federal student loans and are now both in school. He's going for pharmacy and I'm going for Nursing. And you know what, we have never been happier.

I'll graduate in 2009 and have a decent paying job and he'll be done in about 7 years. Then we'll be financially set. And you know what???? We never had to leave this beautiful state to find greener pasture. We were standing in it all along!

Good Luck to all of you!!!

[mike jones]

Originally Posted by JenM

Hola,

I don't post on here much anymore because I too, am sick of the doom and gloom.

I once sat and complained that I didn't have a good job and that Michigan was crap and that I wanted to move away. But one day I realized it wasn't Michigan that needed changing, it was me.

So my husband and I decided that even though we have 3 kids it was time to quit our jobs and go to school. And that is what we did. We took out $80,000 in private and federal student loans and are now both in school. He's going for pharmacy and I'm going for Nursing. And you know what, we have never been happier.

I'll graduate in 2009 and have a decent paying job and he'll be done in about 7 years. Then we'll be financially set. And you know what???? We never had to leave this beautiful state to find greener pasture. We were standing in it all along!

Good Luck to all of you!!!

I am glad that you have enough free cash to do this.
Not everyone has this luxury.
Being a professional student is not a career for most people, and at your age ( I also have 3 kids) you are just spinning your wheels and getting into debt.
The rest of us have to go to work and deal with the economic reality that is Michigan.
That means putting up my home for sale and moving on to another state.

[olblueyes]

I used to post here also and all the doom and gloom makes me sick. there is nothing wrong with michigan, excpt for the highest unemployment in the nation and a gov. that is broke. an auto industry that is on its last leg. but hey no state is perfect.
All you need is 100k in student loans and you are on your way. If we could all have a silver spoon in our mouth.
These people sicken me. GET A JOB.

[khfar]

All you need is 100k in student loans and you are on your way. If we could all have a silver spoon in our mouth.
These people sicken me. GET A JOB.

Um...getting student loans means that THEY have to pay it back some day. I hardly see a silver spoon there. A silver spoon would mean that mommy and daddy paid for it instead. I admire anyone who has the drive to go out and get it done. Instead of getting just "any job" she and her husband will get good, stable jobs, and will be able to provide for their children. Jealous much?

[suydam]

Originally Posted by khfar

Um...getting student loans means that THEY have to pay it back some day. I hardly see a silver spoon there. A silver spoon would mean that mommy and daddy paid for it instead. I admire anyone who has the drive to go out and get it done. Instead of getting just "any job" she and her husband will get good, stable jobs, and will be able to provide for their children. Jealous much?

Agreed! Student loans exist so those of us without silver spoons can still get a college education.

[artfulldodger]

college is something that can help people get a start, but the start would be much better with a college education in a state that had an economy.
Michigan is DOA. I dont think any one had any ideas on how to revive it. And buying cherry wine will not do it. Thanks marquette