[Sin7]

Hello, residents of Michigan! A friend and I need some help...

A friend and I currently live in Miami, Florida, and we both share a strong hatred for this place. The people, the weather, we really don't like it here. We are fairly young. I'm 22, he's 23, and we've lived here our entire lives. Frankly, we're fed up with the obligation of living somewhere we hate, and something about your state makes us all giddy, and we would really love to move up there. Thing is, we don't know ANYONE up there (my entire family lives in Miami), so we don't really have the scoop on what's happening over there. We've been doing research on your state and it seems that the UP is a nice place to start.

Financially, we're planning on saving about 10k between the two of us before we take the plunge. Our plan is to be out of Florida before Winter of 2010. We work retail jobs, so we're not really in the money. I've read it's tough to get jobs out there, but we really don't plan on making careers out of it as I'm sure most of the bloggers are referring to.

We would be happy earning just enough to get by in a 2 bedroom apartment and go it from there. Down here in Miami, a 2 bedroom apartment goes for about $1200 a month. I've visited Rent.com and did some searches, but once again, it's hard to narrow it down to a city. We'd like to be in an area with plenty of nature.

We are pretty low maintenance people. We generally stay home and play video games or watch movies, no big deal, but we don't want to live in a city where there's absolutely NOTHING to do. Going out and watching a flick and enjoying some nice live music would be grand. And we want to be very close to the coast, because as much as I hate it here, I do love the ocean.

So yeah, that's our story so far. Hopefully you readers won't brush this off as some young stupid kids' aimless dreams. Any general feedback would be greatly appreciated! Please!

[MICoastieMom]

I am always happy to hear of young people who want to come to Michigan! I'm even willing to be your surrogate mom so plan on having your underwear drawer and refrigerator inspected! LOL If you like excitement, you'd be best off to search the Metro Detroit area or Ann Arbor. Traverve City is hopping in the summer, but shuts down some once the tourists go home. Same is true of Lansing, pretty busy as long as college football is in season. Quieter the rest of the year. Ferndale and Royal Oak are very attractive to young people; both are northern suburbs. Of the Downriver suburbs, Wyandotte is on the upswing. That's not to say there aren't plenty of other nice areas. Those are the ones that I think would appeal to young single people the most. Let's hear what everyone thinks.

[Brent85]

I hope you like four seasons weather because that's what it is here. It's warm April through October, the rest of the time it's cold. January and February are very cloudy sorta like Seattle would be. If you like variety in weather than this is your place.
The UP is beautiful, but there's not much to do except things outdoors. $10,000 is a good start, Michigan is a cheap place to live compared to Miami. You could get a 2 bedroom apartment here for about $550 depending on where it is. Ann arbor is expensive, also some of Detroit's nice suburbs are pricey. I'd suggest Grand rapids metro.

[Sin7]

Originally Posted by MICoastieMom

I am always happy to hear of young people who want to come to Michigan! I'm even willing to be your surrogate mom so plan on having your underwear drawer and refrigerator inspected! LOL If you like excitement, you'd be best off to search the Metro Detroit area or Ann Arbor. Traverve City is hopping in the summer, but shuts down some once the tourists go home. Same is true of Lansing, pretty busy as long as college football is in season. Quieter the rest of the year. Ferndale and Royal Oak are very attractive to young people; both are northern suburbs. Of the Downriver suburbs, Wyandotte is on the upswing. That's not to say there aren't plenty of other nice areas. Those are the ones that I think would appeal to young single people the most. Let's hear what everyone thinks.

I'll take you up on that offer, Mom Thanks so much for your input, all these towns are so awesome looking!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Sin7

Hello, residents of Michigan! A friend and I need some help...

A friend and I currently live in Miami, Florida, and we both share a strong hatred for this place. The people, the weather, we really don't like it here. We are fairly young. I'm 22, he's 23, and we've lived here our entire lives. Frankly, we're fed up with the obligation of living somewhere we hate, and something about your state makes us all giddy, and we would really love to move up there. Thing is, we don't know ANYONE up there (my entire family lives in Miami), so we don't really have the scoop on what's happening over there. We've been doing research on your state and it seems that the UP is a nice place to start.

Financially, we're planning on saving about 10k between the two of us before we take the plunge. Our plan is to be out of Florida before Winter of 2010. We work retail jobs, so we're not really in the money. I've read it's tough to get jobs out there, but we really don't plan on making careers out of it as I'm sure most of the bloggers are referring to.

We would be happy earning just enough to get by in a 2 bedroom apartment and go it from there. Down here in Miami, a 2 bedroom apartment goes for about $1200 a month. I've visited Rent.com and did some searches, but once again, it's hard to narrow it down to a city. We'd like to be in an area with plenty of nature.

We are pretty low maintenance people. We generally stay home and play video games or watch movies, no big deal, but we don't want to live in a city where there's absolutely NOTHING to do. Going out and watching a flick and enjoying some nice live music would be grand. And we want to be very close to the coast, because as much as I hate it here, I do love the ocean.

So yeah, that's our story so far. Hopefully you readers won't brush this off as some young stupid kids' aimless dreams. Any general feedback would be greatly appreciated! Please!

There is almost no time easier than moving and trying different places than when you're in your early 20's.

You should just do it. Lake Superior is a very nice coast, it's not the ocean but it's big and vast. Even if you just see moving as something to try, to experience other places, you won't know until you actually do it. And -- if you don't end up liking it, then you can move to someplace else.

[Sin7]

Originally Posted by Brent85

I hope you like four seasons weather because that's what it is here. It's warm April through October, the rest of the time it's cold. January and February are very cloudy sorta like Seattle would be. If you like variety in weather than this is your place.
The UP is beautiful, but there's not much to do except things outdoors. $10,000 is a good start, Michigan is a cheap place to live compared to Miami. You could get a 2 bedroom apartment here for about $550 depending on where it is. Ann arbor is expensive, also some of Detroit's nice suburbs are pricey. I'd suggest Grand rapids metro.

In Miami, we have 11 1/2 months of summer and 2 weeks of "winter". I want nothing more than to experience all of the seasons. I'm not a fan of heat/sun, so your description sounds pretty appealing! Thanks so much for your info!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Sin7

In Miami, we have 11 1/2 months of summer and 2 weeks of "winter". I want nothing more than to experience all of the seasons. I'm not a fan of heat/sun, so your description sounds pretty appealing! Thanks so much for your info!

You might just fall in love with the UP, or Northern Michigan.

When I was in my early 20s and out of college, my goal was to live in some place for 6 months and then move on to try another place, and just keep going like that as long as I could so I could experience as much as I could but I ended up liking the weather and sky of the first place I tried so I missed out on trying all the other places.

I know people who get those locum kind of jobs and get to try out a lot of different places and they say it's great fun, they get to work AND see the whole country.

[Sin7]

Originally Posted by malamute

There is almost no time easier than moving and trying different places than when you're in your early 20's.

You should just do it. Lake Superior is a very nice coast, it's not the ocean but it's big and vast. Even if you just see moving as something to try, to experience other places, you won't know until you actually do it. And -- if you don't end up liking it, then you can move to someplace else.

Thank you for your inspirational words

[cardwellave]

Personally when I read your post I thought Kalamazoo. It's enough of a big town but pretty hilly in places and surrounded by nature. There's a lot of new job opportunities popping up on the west side of the state also. I love it here on the east side but times are a little rougher here. I like living in Metro Detroit, but if you're coming here and able to go anywhere there's probably places that have people who seem a little more optimistic about the future, since so many people seem to be so downtrodden in Detroit lately.

Kzoo:
http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles10710.jpg

What field are you guys aspiring to go into in the future?

[Sin7]

Originally Posted by cardwellave

Personally when I read your post I thought Kalamazoo. It's enough of a big town but pretty hilly in places and surrounded by nature. There's a lot of new job opportunities popping up on the west side of the state also. I love it here on the east side but times are a little rougher here. I like living in Metro Detroit, but if you're coming here and able to go anywhere there's probably places that have people who seem a little more optimistic about the future, since so many people seem to be so downtrodden in Detroit lately.

Kzoo:
http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles10710.jpg

What field are you guys aspiring to go into in the future?

Wow, what a cool looking place!!

Well, we're artists. I wanna go into film/writing/arts and he wants to do music. Kinda immature, I know, but we love the arts. We'll be one of those new foreign local bands selling paintings and graphic designs, lol.

I've heard that the West side is building up from some other sources, as well. Looks promising.