[darstar]

Originally Posted by A2Mich

I should have been a bit more specific, in referring to people living outside of Marquette, Houghton, etc. My in-laws have a summer home in Dollar Bay, and the nearest hospital to them is in Houghton. While not really that far away, in winter time, it may take quite some time to get medical attention in a serious emergency if need be, due ti their more rural location. THough I guess the same is true of smaller towns in lower Michigan as well, so I guess my opinion on that was pointless.....sorry. As for the hospitals in Marquette, do they have all of the specialty treatments, such as dedicated cardiac units, burn uints, cancer units, etc? Not trying to sound dumb, but simply not aware. I know that here in A2, there are some great hospitals (with differing opinions about UMHS), but a tremendous amount of specialized care is available in this town. Thanks in advance for any info!

The UP hospital System is headquartered in Marquette. Almost the whole UP is covered, by this massive medical operation. Fact is , Marquette has been recognized as being one of the top ten vascular hospitals in the country. Maybe the top employer in the area as well, along with NMU, and the mining sector.
The UP has a long history of ups and downs. At one time , Calumet was one of the largest, and fastest growing cities in Michigan. ...... The copper days are gone, and the Iron is on the way out in the next few years. New mining is coming on, and , the future of this mineral rich area depends a lot on politics and world demands. The closing of Sawyer AFB was a big blow to the UP. The list goes on. The other day I was talking to a local about the economy . The answer I got was...." its gotten to be more even here now, we have never, in recent years, been really up , but then not so down as the lower sector of Michigan".
If you are looking for the center of business, some culture, mixed with the wilds out your back door, look in Marquette county , the largest in the state of Michigan.

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

^^
Amen to that - the UP truly draws a unique blend of people seeking something a little off the beaten path of life. I'm constantly surprised by the folks I meet - Shakespeare afficiondados in Ishpeming; brilliant artists working as mechanics or whatnot; vegan health nuts at the end of dirt roads you'd think would be full of nothing but gun toting libertarians; hippies living off the land tucked into little shacks in the woods; extremely wealthy tycoons tucked into the landscape. Truly a unique cultural stew of hardy individualists which I will always cherish.

This is the U.P. I love I remember being surprised the first year or so after we moved up here because everyone gets along so well! The socio/economic barriers you find in many places do not seem to exist here.

[Bluefly]

Never really thought of it that way, but that's true. I think because it is understood that most everybody does what they have to in order to survive there isn't a lot of room for, "My child goes to this school" or "I make this much money." No one really ever asks what you do for a living. There isn't any big socio economic division in the area. The wealthy people I know look out for and help out the working class in various ways. Seems to be a good deal of interaction between the different "classes". Many of the wealthy people are working class, at least at heart.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Never really thought of it that way, but that's true. I think because it is understood that most everybody does what they have to in order to survive there isn't a lot of room for, "My child goes to this school" or "I make this much money." No one really ever asks what you do for a living. There isn't any big socio economic division in the area. The wealthy people I know look out for and help out the working class in various ways. Seems to be a good deal of interaction between the different "classes". Many of the wealthy people are working class, at least at heart.

We all put our pants on the same way , .. one leg at a time...... I like that type of environment. Its existence shows up often, when people from a wide economic origin come together for a common interest. Be a hobby , a civic need, or desire to better the community,or just , the fact we all have something in common ,.... we are Yoopers , be by transplant , or native. Almost every day, I am asked the question, " why did you wind up here" ?, or , " whats you reason for moving so far north , with out family or friends around"....... My answer varies a bit , depending on who asks the question , but mostly , its the same..... " because I have found friends here , look in the mirror, and besides , what family I have left have little interest in a visit" ! I always get a smile , a nod , and , a you bet ! I do have to admit however , there are a lot of grand parents around here , that have a sad face , even a tear or two , when they think about the Grand kids , so far away south somewhere.... I feel for them , I know its a hard pill , for living in paradise,.Even though I do not have that problem , I could have had. It IS true , a lot of young people have left , to find their way, up the ladder , that , many times is as it should be.....one must follow their dreams, where ever, be it the UP, Chicago, Detroit, or California......... A much more amplified generic here , is found in Alaska , and on a scale that often becomes unbearable . Come to think of it , I think Alaska and the UP have a lot in common. Strange also , that in the last week , I have seen more Alaska plates here in Marquette, than I ever saw down south......

[Great Lakes Pirate]

If you don't care about walking in the woods then LP life is probably better.

If you don't care about having a career, then life in the UP is probably better.

[Michigansnowflake]

Originally Posted by Great Lakes Pirate

If you don't care about walking in the woods then LP life is probably better.

If you don't care about having a career, then life in the UP is probably
better.

By this I hope you are referring to the Southern half of the LP, cause I have plenty of woods to walk in and enjoy

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by baystater

Hello Michigan.

I throwing this question out just to see what types of reponses I get from native Michiganers.
Now I'm not from Michigan (will be in the UP this summer) but I do read your blog. I've noticed that there has been a lot of posts mentioning the UP and the LP (the Mitten). I have done some research on the Upper Peninsula and the Lower part of Michigan. I understand that the LP is more developed in economy and in infrastructure. And the UP is much more rural, very picturesque, and great for outdoor type activies.

But I like to here from you guys what you think of each and which has the better Jobs, education system, senery, lifestyle, ect.

Thanks
baystater.

The more 'developed' in economy and in infrastructure would mean the industralized cities of the most southern parts of Michigan. Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Lansing, etc. They are basically industrialized cities with lots of chain restaurants with tons of cornfields between each one.

As you go NORTH of Lansing, you'll see MANY national forests everywhere and it just gets more and more pristine. The U.P. and the northern L.P. are VERY similar, but the U.P. just means you are more closer to more bodies of water in different directions.

[lynmaz]

I live in LP and pray everyday that someone would kidnap me and take me to live in the UP. I love it up there so much. My next door neighbors moved to Iron Mountain last fall and send letters and pictures often. My dad has a hunting cabin in Rudyard and I've been blessed to spend a little time in the UP. I fell in love with it as a kid and long for that life to this day. Unfortunatley, my husband and kids don't share my passion on this one.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by lynmaz

I live in LP and pray everyday that someone would kidnap me and take me to live in the UP. I love it up there so much. My next door neighbors moved to Iron Mountain last fall and send letters and pictures often. My dad has a hunting cabin in Rudyard and I've been blessed to spend a little time in the UP. I fell in love with it as a kid and long for that life to this day. Unfortunatley, my husband and kids don't share my passion on this one.

You have a dilemma , I feel sorry for your plight. When there is a will , strong enough, you will find a way to follow your dreams. The sad part , is , often our dreams never become reality until we become too old to fully enjoy them.

[crazyme4878]

Regarding hospitals:

Marquette General is very complete. I toured the new birthing center and was amazed (the level of security is incredible). It was much more complete then where I ended up giving birth in New Hampshire. My husband's grandfather and step-mother were/are both treated for their hearts there, including quadruple by-pass. His grandfather was also treated for cancer there. They also have some kind of nuclear radiology thing-ma-jing. Like all hospitals, there are goods and bads, but overall, I think you can find help there for most everything. Sometimes people are taken to Green Bay or Duluth. The only bad part I saw while living there was the ER, but now they have totally redid it and although I haven't been inside the new ER (thank goodness), just have the outside I can see they addressed the big problems!

As for weather playing a part, its just a fact of life here--you understand that God (or Fate, or whatever you believe in) plays a part and if you are going to live, you're going to, if a huge snowstorm gets in the way, one figures that is how it goes. But I never heard too much of people dying because they couldn't get help in time. My step-mother-in-law had a heart attack in Ironwood. They were going to take her by helicopter to Duluth, but couldn't because of the snow, so they took her by ambulance (in the same said snow) to Marquette. She is happy and healthy (well, if she would stop eating all that meat and potatoes stuff) and very much alive today.