Is life better in the UP or LP? (Detroit, Grand Rapids: vacation, jobs)

[darstar]

Originally Posted by vatefairefoutre

I've lived in the UP all my life. and although I am young. that's WAY TOO LONG. I hate it. so much. if you don't like civilization and where all there is to do is outdoor activities like fishing (which I HATE the outdoors), then it's definitely the place for you. plus I also hate snow, so why am I living here in the place that gets the 2nd highest snowfall in the nation? that's just it. I'm moving away as soon as I can afford it. haha

One must travel to be informed , there is no substitute to being there.......wherever life's road takes you is your place to be , for a little while.....

[Torrid]

What would you do if you didn't live in the UP? What type of entertainment? Where would you want to live? The grass really isn't always greener on the other side. Maybe, for you, it will be. I dunno. But, take it from me.....I've lived in quite a few different areas in Ohio and New York...and the UP (even WITH its problems) beats the H E double hockey sticks out of anywhere I've lived. I've lived in many places with populations over 50,000 and there really wasn't much more than what MQT has. PPL point out shopping as one of their main things they don't have here in the UP......Do you really see yourself going to lavish and expensive shops on a regular basis....or....would you do most of your shopping at Wally World? I would think most people would shop at Wally World more. And, if you wanted more extensive shopping, you could always day trip to Green Bay or somewhere like that. Ya say you 'hate' the outdoors, what type of indoor activites are you looking for? I just honestly do think that, becuz you've lived here your entire young life, that you don't know really how good you have got it. As always, with bigger populations comes bigger problems. I can understand your 'hatred' for the same ole same ole though. When we lived in Lima, Ohio (a much bigger city than where we live now) I HATED it too. But, it had to do more with crime and hustle~n~bustle than weather. It may seem like you have nothing by living in the UP but, the truth is....You have more than you'll EVER realize! I hope you find what you are looking for but, don't rule out the UP....it TRULY IS the best place I've ever set foot on!

Originally Posted by vatefairefoutre

I've lived in the UP all my life. and although I am young. that's WAY TOO LONG. I hate it. so much. if you don't like civilization and where all there is to do is outdoor activities like fishing (which I HATE the outdoors), then it's definitely the place for you. plus I also hate snow, so why am I living here in the place that gets the 2nd highest snowfall in the nation? that's just it. I'm moving away as soon as I can afford it. haha

[darstar]

Originally Posted by Torrid

What would you do if you didn't live in the UP? What type of entertainment? Where would you want to live? The grass really isn't always greener on the other side. Maybe, for you, it will be. I dunno. But, take it from me.....I've lived in quite a few different areas in Ohio and New York...and the UP (even WITH its problems) beats the H E double hockey sticks out of anywhere I've lived. I've lived in many places with populations over 50,000 and there really wasn't much more than what MQT has. PPL point out shopping as one of their main things they don't have here in the UP......Do you really see yourself going to lavish and expensive shops on a regular basis....or....would you do most of your shopping at Wally World? I would think most people would shop at Wally World more. And, if you wanted more extensive shopping, you could always day trip to Green Bay or somewhere like that. Ya say you 'hate' the outdoors, what type of indoor activites are you looking for? I just honestly do think that, becuz you've lived here your entire young life, that you don't know really how good you have got it. As always, with bigger populations comes bigger problems. I can understand your 'hatred' for the same ole same ole though. When we lived in Lima, Ohio (a much bigger city than where we live now) I HATED it too. But, it had to do more with crime and hustle~n~bustle than weather. It may seem like you have nothing by living in the UP but, the truth is....You have more than you'll EVER realize! I hope you find what you are looking for but, don't rule out the UP....it TRULY IS the best place I've ever set foot on!

Lima, OH. ? Now thats a certificated big city fix !....traffic ? Ya , if you hang out watching all the big rigs going up and down I-75......I know , when I go back to my home town in Iowa, it always seems smaller than it did growing up. Couldn't wait to get outa there !... I can understand this young person, we have all been there.........Just glad , I've found the UP before I am too old to enjoy it. ( I hope )........

[Torrid]

The traffic IN Lima isn't any better than I-75........not to mention the 100s of cars that went by my house everyday blaring c-rap music. The crime in that city worried me more than the traffic though.

Originally Posted by darstar

Lima, OH. ? Now thats a certificated big city fix !....traffic ? Ya , if you hang out watching all the big rigs going up and down I-75......I know , when I go back to my home town in Iowa, it always seems smaller than it did growing up. Couldn't wait to get outa there !... I can understand this young person, we have all been there.........Just glad , I've found the UP before I am too old to enjoy it. ( I hope )........

[darstar]

Originally Posted by Torrid

The traffic IN Lima isn't any better than I-75........not to mention the 100s of cars that went by my house everyday blaring c-rap music. The crime in that city worried me more than the traffic though.

The traffic was always a slow down , as I remember. Lima was the cut off point, the short cut , for Ft. Wayne , and points northwest . Never had time to stop, just wanted to get away from the congestion, Van Wert area had a few places to refuel , and eat, out of the main stream.....

[bryan61]

Recently left the UP for a large city in the midwest. My wife has landed a good paying job and we are set up in a nice apt complex in a lovely area. The UP has its charm but when you say the UP offers as much as population centers I would take issue with that.

Being from the Philippines my wife has recently discovered and fell in love with the rock band Journey because their new lead singer is from the PI. As their US tour nears I was able to buy online tickets to the show at a venue a few miles away. What a nice suprise to give her the tix for her recent birthday. Heart and Cheap Trick for openers makes this a very worth while concert to attend. Of course I saw Journey several years ago at the UP state fair but that was because it was the only option.

My wife loves Chinese, Thia and other ethnic cuisine. For the last 5 years we patonized the same chinese buffett in Escanaba every week. Here I could eat in a different Chinese restaraunt every weekend and never hit the same on twice.

UP schools are good but if you want to put your kids in a private school waht are your choices. Im sure Holy name is a good option but then again its about the only one in Esc. Here, there are many choices of all types of private schools in every area of the city.

While traffic may be an issue for many folk the wife and I found a place near to where she works and the commute is as easy as my drive from Gladstone to Esc every morning. When we decide to buy in the next year or two we will consider her commute first which might make mine difficult, we will see.

The apt comples I live in is having a cookout/pool party this saturday and July 3rd the agency my wife works for is having their annual part combined with the local county fair. So much for the kids to do (I have 3.5 and 4.5 year olds) it makes it easy to keep them occupied

It isnt just about "shopping" its about being immersed in a diverse environment with many cultural aspects. Its about opportunities and having the best of everything as well as the worst. How you prosper and take advantage of the opportunities is the key.


I could go the other way on this also. As I was preparing one of my houses for sale up there and I needed about 40 feet of a drip edge moulding for my old clapboard siding. None of the box stores and brand lumber stores had what I was looking for. One place had a sample but it had been discontinued. I started to panic a little and widened my search to places in the smaller surrounding towns. I found this old lumber store run by a local family that had been in business for decades. They didnt have the drip edge either but the guy behind the counter said my uncle can make this. So we went into the next buliding and talked t his uncle and sure enough two days later had my drip edge. He made it on his table saw which took some mad skills and hardly charged me the cost of the lumber. No way do I find that kind of friendly willingness and skill around here without paying through the nose.

I guess you make the best of where your at and attitude is the key to being happy. While I was anxious to leave the UP I dont regret a day of the experience and would reccomend to anyone looking for that typoe of environment.

To each his own

[Torrid]

Yeah, Ft. Wayne is about 50ish miles from Lima down I-75. VanTucky is a hop skip and a jump away but, I don't have a single use for that town.....Well, yeah I did.....their fair was cool and one of the tattoo shops in town is the only place I'd ever get more. I got both of mine done there and couldn't have been happier. I made the mistake of getting my tongue pierced elsewhere and it hurt the entire time I had it........while I got my eyebrow done there and hasn't been a problem for 4 yrs. now. Anyways lol, I'm just not a big fan of VanTucky....Ft. Wayne, however, has a good mall and a good nail salon lol.

Originally Posted by darstar

The traffic was always a slow down , as I remember. Lima was the cut off point, the short cut , for Ft. Wayne , and points northwest . Never had time to stop, just wanted to get away from the congestion, Van Wert area had a few places to refuel , and eat, out of the main stream.....

[darstar]

Originally Posted by Torrid

Yeah, Ft. Wayne is about 50ish miles from Lima down I-75. VanTucky is a hop skip and a jump away but, I don't have a single use for that town.....Well, yeah I did.....their fair was cool and one of the tattoo shops in town is the only place I'd ever get more. I got both of mine done there and couldn't have been happier. I made the mistake of getting my tongue pierced elsewhere and it hurt the entire time I had it........while I got my eyebrow done there and hasn't been a problem for 4 yrs. now. Anyways lol, I'm just not a big fan of VanTucky....Ft. Wayne, however, has a good mall and a good nail salon lol.

WoW ! .....sorry I brought it up , I don't need to know more !

[RetiredNomads]

Your response is very similar to the way I feel. I've lived in large cities such as Detroit, Phoenix, and St. Paul. I moved to the U.P. because I wanted to raise my children away from the negative influences you find in large cities. Sadly, I found the same issues here but lacking the many distractions large cities offer our children; malls, skate parks, theaters, arcades, amusement parks, zoos, etc.

Recently, I visited family in the Detroit area. Everything has changed, traffic is insane, many of the people we encountered were like machines running through life. My daughter was a little upset because she is used to being here in the U.P. where most people wave and smile. Not in the L.P. At least not where we were. All of the chaos was something I was happy to leave behind when I moved here. But.....

Another problem that I've encountered in the U.P. is with the medical care. We have to drive almost 3 hours to see qualified specialists. With chronic medical illnesses, it is not only inconvenient, it gets expensive. If you have a disabled child, you will not find appropriate care unless you go to the L.P. When the public school doesn't suit you, the choices are next to none. If you don't fit into a certain mold that is expected, you are alienated from the majority.

The lack of resources here are enough to tell me that this isn't the best place for us. I want my children to be brought up around family. I want them to have the best they can without having to sacrifice their own dreams. I believe there are places between here and the big city that will meet our expectations. Maybe if I was a native yooper, where the children knew of nothing else, this would work. But they do.

So which one is better? It all depends on your individual lifestyle, family makeup, and dreams. Both have their own beauty.

Originally Posted by bryan61

Recently left the UP for a large city in the midwest. My wife has landed a good paying job and we are set up in a nice apt complex in a lovely area. The UP has its charm but when you say the UP offers as much as population centers I would take issue with that.

Being from the Philippines my wife has recently discovered and fell in love with the rock band Journey because their new lead singer is from the PI. As their US tour nears I was able to buy online tickets to the show at a venue a few miles away. What a nice suprise to give her the tix for her recent birthday. Heart and Cheap Trick for openers makes this a very worth while concert to attend. Of course I saw Journey several years ago at the UP state fair but that was because it was the only option.

My wife loves Chinese, Thia and other ethnic cuisine. For the last 5 years we patonized the same chinese buffett in Escanaba every week. Here I could eat in a different Chinese restaraunt every weekend and never hit the same on twice.

UP schools are good but if you want to put your kids in a private school waht are your choices. Im sure Holy name is a good option but then again its about the only one in Esc. Here, there are many choices of all types of private schools in every area of the city.

While traffic may be an issue for many folk the wife and I found a place near to where she works and the commute is as easy as my drive from Gladstone to Esc every morning. When we decide to buy in the next year or two we will consider her commute first which might make mine difficult, we will see.

The apt comples I live in is having a cookout/pool party this saturday and July 3rd the agency my wife works for is having their annual part combined with the local county fair. So much for the kids to do (I have 3.5 and 4.5 year olds) it makes it easy to keep them occupied

It isnt just about "shopping" its about being immersed in a diverse environment with many cultural aspects. Its about opportunities and having the best of everything as well as the worst. How you prosper and take advantage of the opportunities is the key.

I guess you make the best of where your at and attitude is the key to being happy. While I was anxious to leave the UP I dont regret a day of the experience and would reccomend to anyone looking for that typoe of environment.

To each his own

[darstar]

Originally Posted by RetiredNomads

Your response is very similar to the way I feel. I've lived in large cities such as Detroit, Phoenix, and St. Paul. I moved to the U.P. because I wanted to raise my children away from the negative influences you find in large cities. Sadly, I found the same issues here but lacking the many distractions large cities offer our children; malls, skate parks, theaters, arcades, amusement parks, zoos, etc.

Recently, I visited family in the Detroit area. Everything has changed, traffic is insane, many of the people we encountered were like machines running through life. My daughter was a little upset because she is used to being here in the U.P. where most people wave and smile. Not in the L.P. At least not where we were. All of the chaos was something I was happy to leave behind when I moved here. But.....

Another problem that I've encountered in the U.P. is with the medical care. We have to drive almost 3 hours to see qualified specialists. With chronic medical illnesses, it is not only inconvenient, it gets expensive. If you have a disabled child, you will not find appropriate care unless you go to the L.P. When the public school doesn't suit you, the choices are next to none. If you don't fit into a certain mold that is expected, you are alienated from the majority.

The lack of resources here are enough to tell me that this isn't the best place for us. I want my children to be brought up around family. I want them to have the best they can without having to sacrifice their own dreams. I believe there are places between here and the big city that will meet our expectations. Maybe if I was a native yooper, where the children knew of nothing else, this would work. But they do.

So which one is better? It all depends on your individual lifestyle, family makeup, and dreams. Both have their own beauty.

I have found Marquette to have some of the best medical care around. , much better than what we had downstate. Here its only a 10min. drive to the finest big city type hospital. Marquette was rated as one of the top ten in the Country for cardiovascular. My new dentist is the best I have ever had , anywhere , and I have lived in a lot of large cities...........you must be in a remote area of the UP.......I chose Marquette for retirement , so , medical was high on our requirements list.