[Bydand]

I was born and raised in the Ludington area and just before 9th grade my parents moved us to Texas for 2 years. When we came back to Michigan we went to the UP, (The Soo first) and even with a southern accent we picked up while in Dallas there was never a feeling of being considered "outsiders." Within a week of moving into the Soo, I had a job at a local campground (Summer before 11th grade) because the owner wanted a "local" kid to be there in the evening with the girls. Everybody considered the family as locals within a very short time. I still miss the UP, and would go back in a second if I could talk my wife into the cold. She has circulation problems in her hands and when they get very cold they turn blue and hurt badly, I couldn't do that to her even though we both love the UP. Escanaba is a fantastic place and that is right where we would head if we could.

[trinkit]

Hanne,

Let me try to explain my comments:

I was raised in Dearborn (if you're not familiar with the Detroit area, it is a suburb of Detroit -- home of Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company) and am an engineer. Our (my ex and me) intention was to move to our property in Skanee and for me to finish my degree at Michigan Tech. I am not a "pushy broad", but I do stand my ground when confronted. The men in the area couldn't understand why my husband was "allowing" me to become an engineer and why he didn't insist that I stay home and care for the "young'uns". They are also EXTREMELY racist in that area. (Sidebar: I'm talking about the L'Anse/Baraga/Skanee area -- a "big" city like Escanaba or Marquette may be quite different.) We were told that ALL people from the Detroit area were n*****-lovers -- and they used the REAL word.

Those mentalities, coupled with the fact that there was not the type of cultural activities that I was used to figured heavily into our decision not to move there.

Now some of you skeptics might be asking yourselves "why isn't Trinkit still with her ex -- must have been her "uppity" ways". Nope -- he found it impossible to comply with the most basic of our wedding vows, in particular the part about "foresaking all others" if you get my meaning. Last I heard, he still had that opinion, which is the reason he's no longer with his 4th wife either.

Another comment: I recently worked with a young engineering STUDENT from Escanaba who had that same "women are 2nd class citizens and I don't have to listen to them" mentality. He was a student intern at the place I worked and REFUSED to take any advice from me -- I've been in the business for 40 years -- because I am a woman.

[us2indaup]

Originally Posted by trinkit

They are also EXTREMELY racist in that area. (Sidebar: I'm talking about the L'Anse/Baraga/Skanee area -- a "big" city like Escanaba or Marquette may be quite different.) We were told that ALL people from the Detroit area were n*****-lovers -- and they used the REAL word.

I'd like to point out that L'Anse is very close to Baraga, where a maximum security prison is located. Many people from L'Anse work at the prison, which would certainly explain the racist attitude some might have. Also, there is a heavy Native American population in that area, which leads certain people to be universally racist against all non-caucasians.

As far as non-Yoopers being treated like outsiders when moving to the U.P., I believe that it depends entirely on the area you settle in. We first moved to the Munising area from the Lansing/Jackson area 18 years ago, and encountered our share of that attitude. It was as though the native Yoopers felt threatened by us, like we were looking down on them (which of course we weren't) so they developed a defensive attitude. In addition to that was their resentment that we came to take jobs in their town where many of the townspeople couldn't get jobs. Munising and other isolated towns seem to maintain a chip on their shoulder, but since moving to the Ironwood area 7 years ago, I find that people here are much more broadminded and receptive.

[Hanne]

Bydand, thanks for the Escanaba vote. A co-worker has the same type of circulation problem (very painful at times) so I can see why you'd rule out that cold climate. She actually has to wear gloves much of the time, indoors, due to air conditioning.

Trinkit, I appreciate the explanation.....I HATE those attitudes. Sadly, that mentality has also greatly affected my working life here in southern Ohio. I'm so used to living in an ultra-conservative area (even though I'm NOT), that I wonder what it would be like in an area with more like-minded types. I guess I'm just not sure how heavily to weigh the social climate/attitudes as we chose where to move in Michigan.

Us2indaup, is there friction between the Native Americans and others? When I returned home from vacation and started to research towns that we liked I was surprised at the high percentage of N. A. in Baraga. Just that I hadn't come across that before in looking into towns and regions.

Hanne

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by us2indaup

I'd like to point out that L'Anse is very close to Baraga, where a maximum security prison is located. Many people from L'Anse work at the prison, which would certainly explain the racist attitude some might have. Also, there is a heavy Native American population in that area, which leads certain people to be universally racist against all non-caucasians.

When we were considering moving there, the prison wasn't built yet -- it opened in the mid 80's if my memory serves me correctly. And as far as the Native Americans -- the reservation is right there along with the casino run by Fred Dakota. They even have their own police force and license plates.

[trinkit]

Originally Posted by Hanne

Trinkit, I appreciate the explanation.....I HATE those attitudes. Sadly, that mentality has also greatly affected my working life here in southern Ohio. I'm so used to living in an ultra-conservative area (even though I'm NOT), that I wonder what it would be like in an area with more like-minded types. I guess I'm just not sure how heavily to weigh the social climate/attitudes as we chose where to move in Michigan.
Hanne

Hanne,

Where at in southern Ohio? I lived in Cincy for a year and that town fit me very well. Unfortunately, you will find racist attitudes wherever you go.

[Hanne]

Trinkit, I'm just east of Cincinnati. A very conservative area.

[trinkit]

Hanne,

It may sound like I'm dissing the U.P. and I'm not. There is a culture shock whenever you move to a new area. Presently I'm in South Carolina (following a great job offer) and trying to acclimate myself to the "so'thern" way of living. Every place has their pro's and con's -- there's no perfect place on earth. It's up to you to decide which points are deal breakers and which idiocyncracies you find charming and can live with. I'm not an outdoors-type person, so that's probably why I couldn't have lived in the U.P. for very long, altho I do like cross country skiing and snowshoeing. (Guess I won't need my snowshoes in South Carolina!) Seeing Lake Superior was awesome, both in the summer and in the winter. (The Gales of November are REAL.)

[Hanne]

Trinkit, I appreciate your telling about your impressions and experiences. The more info. the better. Going from the UP to South Carolina has gotta be a huge change in more ways that just climate! And you're so right in sorting out and determining what are deal breakers and what things are simply different but O.K.
Thanks for your insight! Very helpful. And the culture shock you mentioned.....we experience a lot of that when we go to downtown Cincinnati. We're far more at home out here in the (relative) sticks.
Hanne

[jeeg]

My wife and I moved to da U.P. in April of 2006 (has it been 18 months already??). We transferred up here with her job from the downstate Grand Rapids area. Our first option was Escanaba so we drove up there and spent the weekend (this was our first trip west of the Newberry area). We thought it was a very nice place and the people everywhere were pretty friendly. My only dissapointment (and it was fairly minor) was that the region around there was fairly flat/boring, and the city itself had a feel of pretty much every other smaller midwestern city I have lived in. But all in all we were quite pleased.
So she put in for the transfer and then a week after our return we found out another position had opened up in the city of Marquette. So we went back up here the following weekend.
On the trip up we were getting excited because around Munising the land started changing to something more beautiful, and by the time we hit Marquette and drove around for an hour............. we were in love!!!
We absolutely adore the city itself and love the land here on the north side of da U.P. even more!!
A couple weeks later we found out the choice was hers to which position she wanted and we chose Marquette.
Now the comparisons........
Marquette itself is VERY expensive real estate wise (compared to da rest of da U.P.)!! Escanaba is much more reasonable.
Marquette does supposedly get quite a bit more snow then Esky (we love snow and were very disappointed last year). We drove through Esky the beginning of October and were surprised to still see a lot of things growing so I highly suspect the banana belt comments are accurate.
I think economy wise they are both very similar (but admit I haven't watched Escanaba's jobs since moving up here).
The people are wonderful, warm, and friendly in both places (at least in our experience)
I suspect that the "chip on the shoulder" comments are probably true in the more isolated pockets of the U.P. I love to explore and have come across a few places that really made me wonder. But the rest of da U.P. is wonderful (interesting characters and all).
I'm not very familiar with Escanaba's entertainment scene but Marquette has quite a bit and it's not that far to pop up for a visit.
Decent paying jobs as a whole are not very numerous up here (we know we were fortunate). That is the biggest negative to moving here.
Yes we are isolated, but that is why we moved here. If both spouses etc. do not love the outdoors and everything to do with them, then I don't recommend moving up here. We ourselves are complete, absolute nature freaks!!
One tip for newcomers. There are a lot of festivals throughout the year at various cities here. Go to as many as you can