Michigan negativity? (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Traverse City: relocating, house, rent)

[jetsjoe]

What is with all of the Michigan negativity on here? Yeah, the state has it's problems. And it is most definently NOT the only one. But what good does it do you people to spend your time on the internet complaning about it?

How about A) be more positive about something OR B) go live in another state with "problems". Go try the prices, traffic, population problems of SoCal, NYC, South Florida, CT, ect. ???

[dmoney]

Originally Posted by jetsjoe

What is with all of the Michigan negativity on here? Yeah, the state has it's problems. And it is most definently NOT the only one. But what good does it do you people to spend your time on the internet complaning about it?

How about A) be more positive about something OR B) go live in another state with "problems". Go try the prices, traffic, population problems of SoCal, NYC, South Florida, CT, ect. ???

I am sorry about the bad economy in Michigan, I have a lot of family still there. I really,truely hope that it gets better. But, the cold harse reallity is that it will not get better soon. I think it is important to let people know that you do not have to sit there and struggle. there are many other places that have a strong economy.

I left 2 years ago a wish that I would have left 5 years ago. I just started to see the economic weaken and decided to leave while I could still sell my home and boat for a fair price.

I know many people in Michigan that are well educated and skilled that have struggled to find a job or live in fear of losing their current job. This is not the case in many other part of the country.
My sister resently graduated from college in Michigan and for 6 months could not get but a few interviews and no job offers. I asked her to move down here to Tampa and within two weeks she had 15+ interviews and 2 job offers. She accepted a good paying job with full benefits.

Here is my answer to your question.

A. Be positive.
I am positive that Michigan's economy is dying and bleeding jobs. I am positive that most of the country is not stuck in a bad economy.

B. go live in another state with "problems". Go try the prices, traffic, population problems of SoCal, NYC, South Florida, CT, ect. ???
You are right every state has its own set of problems. Prices, traffic, and population are very easy to deal with when you have a job.

Money does not Guarantee happiness, but the lack of money does Guarantee unhappiness.

[Wabbit]

Dmoney,
THANK YOU! I couldn't agree more.
I have family in such diverse places as Shepherd, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Cadillac and Harrison and not one of them has this 'dead' state mentality. In fact they, like me, love Michigan. Most of us have
lived in other states including the Utopian "cough"destinations of Texas, California and Florida and all of us missed Michigan so much we came back.
This gentleman states Florida as being the Promised Land? Go to the Florida forum and read how many people can't wait to get out of there. Disillusioned by this false premise that everything is better somewhere
else. It amazes me that some of the biggest whiners on this site are people who have already left the state but can't seem to get enough of going back and kicking a dog when its down. Good Riddance. Who that is truly happy in another location would have the inclination to do that?
-Nobody. And I'll let you in on a little secret. Its not people like these complainers or 'cradle to grave' entitlement types who are going to help bring Michigan back anyways. It’s going to be the innovators and the forward lookers. Sadly the good old days of the Automobile industry are over. Everything will be automated in ten years (sooner if Toyota swallows Ford) so either get used to it, MOVE, or change. The beautiful state of Michigan and those who are inquiring about moving here (to places other than Detroit) don't deserve this disproportionate negativity.
I love it here, my friends love it here and my familiy loves it here.
What's wrong with us? -NOTHING!

[jetsjoe]

DMoney- I am just surprised you are not in the forum for your new area. Aren't you more interested in your future happenings and surrondings than your past? Is it really your job to "keep Michiganer's from struggling?" It's not as though every single citizen will leave.

Traffic and population are not always guarnteed easy when you have a job. Sometime a new problem will surface. It is not all about a job. A job is extremly important, but other problems can be very serious as well. Having a job does not guarntee life is easy. Florida=hurricanes. Hurricanes= many job losses.

Wabbit- I agree. If you are happy in your new destination, why do you care about complaning about the old? Life is short. Focus on your future!

Florida- Jeez. Wabbit, again I agree. It is far from the promised land. I have family who suffered through a hurricane and it was terrible for them. They lost there home and even more important- there business. Lost millions! And suffered. If one wants to think of Florida was the promised land- you must realize, expect and be prepared for hurricanes. You may lose your job then.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by Wabbit

It amazes me that some of the biggest whiners on this site are people who have already left the state but can't seem to get enough of going back and kicking a dog when its down. Good Riddance. Who that is truly happy in another location would have the inclination to do that?
-Nobody.

Good post! Good insight!

[dianeeileen]

Thankyou blue grass fever and wabbitt

[RedWingsFan]

We left for Florida! We moved to the Daytona Beach area. Been here about three weeks now. My husband found a good job the first day he went looking. He put in one application in his field and was called two hours later. They hired him that week. That didn't happen in Michgan, not even close....

We just bought a nice newer house too, closing on it in January.

Michigan is tanking, get out while you can!!!

[Wabbit]

RedWings Fan,
Interesting name.
What you really mean is, RedWings Fan,
...when they're good.
But once they're not good anymore,
you'll 'move on' to another team.
-Wont you?
As for your situation in Florida
I'm am sincerely glad things have worked out for you
down there. I wish you nothing but the best.
And if you ever do come knocking on Michigan's door
again (after a category four) don't worry
we'll let you in. That's the kind of people we are.

[mary_in_michigan]

Originally Posted by jetsjoe

What is with all of the Michigan negativity on here? Yeah, the state has it's problems. And it is most definently NOT the only one. But what good does it do you people to spend your time on the internet complaning about it?

How about A) be more positive about something OR B) go live in another state with "problems". Go try the prices, traffic, population problems of SoCal, NYC, South Florida, CT, ect. ???

Well...I can vouch for the problems in California, I lived in the Central Valley my entire life until relocating to Michigan in June. I lived in a good-sized town (Fresno...ever hear of it? If you did, i'm sure you heard nothing good, lol)--everyone seems to think California is so awesome, and it can be...but only if you can afford to live on the coast, or perhaps in wine country. And the cost of living there is astronomical- it would take what I would make in an entire month to afford just the rent on a mediocre place there.

The problems with Central Cali are a very high crime rate- number 7 rating in worst air quality in the nation (the smog is so bad, you can't believe...and I was 200 miles from L.A. and Frisco in either direction, but since we were in a "bowl", as it were...the smog just...sat there.)- an actual unemployment rate of almost 20%- hothothot in the summer, and the summer usually starts somewhere around late March/Early April, and at times doesn't end until around Thanksgiving- with temps that can and do hover at 3 digits for weeks at a time. For the size of the city that I lived in, there was no "culture" to speak of, I don't care WHAT the city fathers say. The up side, is it can be quite pretty outside the city limits, grape vineyards as far as the eye can see...fruit trees in abundance...Yosemite off in the distance (when you can see it through the smog, which trust me, isn't often)- we had people actually moving to the foothills of Yosemite and buying property (about 50 miles away), and then commuting to S.F. for their jobs- simply because the cost of living was lower there than in Frisco- but the cost of living is definitely rising there as well- can you imagine, a 30 year mortgage, and a 5 hour a day daily commute??

Michigan has it's up side as well- and I for one, like it here~ the public school my 10 year old son attends is wonderful, and I don't have to worry about him getting beat up by kids that attend there- police are a common sight at Fresno schools, gangs run rampant- and it's a rough element. Here, it's slower, nicer, people seem more easy-going.

[Yooper at heart]

Personally, I can't wait to move back to Michigan...I wish it was today. I really do want to live in the UP...I was told as you cross over the bridge...it is "like a breath of fresh air"..."it is a different way of living"....You won't hear ant complaining about Michigan from me...As today begins the "new Year"...I pray this is the year...my 4 children and I can move back to michigan...
Happy New Year!