[mackinac81]

Hi all,
I don't usually start two threads in one day, but...I was thinking of all the people who have left Michigan in the past several years, and was wondering which states they have gone to. I ask this because I'm now planning to join the Michigan diaspora. (after a year and a half, and no interviews for teaching jobs) I'd like to find a state where I won't feel like a TOTAL stranger in my new location, wherever that is.

I don't know if I'd get more responses in the General U.S. forum or here, but I'll post here just to see.

Thanks!

Mackinac

[Bydand]

Born and raised in Michigan. Moved to Maine years ago, then back to Michigan in 2004. Family obligations drew me back to Maine in 2006 and I was counting days until we could get the hell out and back home to Michigan. Maine is a beautiful state and there are many VERY nice people there, but it was never home to me or my family. There tends to be an undercurrent that pops up if you are from "away." I was in the far northern section of the state and that attitude isn't so prevalent in the southern half of the state. I know they are usually looking for teachers, but the schools are behind Michigan schools academically, and the pay is a lot lower while living expenses are higher. If you are used to tightening your belt and squeezing a penny to be able to live in a very beautiful state, then it may be a good fit. They do need good teachers out there.

That said I will never move back. But many have found a good life there, it is just very tough to make everything work out there.

[yachtcare]

Went to SW Florida, almost 18 years ago. Major culture shock for the first year or so. Professionalism, is nearly non existant, regardless of the field. And the schools in Florida, overall, arent rated very highly.
It is a beautiful area, but hot, and HUMID in the summers. This area, is THE worst in the state now, as far as real estate values, foreclosure rate, unemployment goes. There are LOTS of people from MI here however. Both full time, and seasonal residents that own homes and winter here. Most everyone here is from someplace else. Lately most everyone else is considering going back where they came from. I will be leaving next summer, I couldnt stomach a MI winter however.
I hear of more and more heading towards AZ, NM, west TX as of late.
Unless you have employment lined up prior to arrival, I would steeer clear, of at least this part of the state.

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

I was thinking of all the people who have left Michigan in the past several years, and was wondering which states they have gone to.

I always think of them also, I believe that many have moved to Florida not just in the past few years but for decades know. Every time I go to Florida for vacation (which is not very much anymore) I always meet people from Michigan, most of them are older senoirs but there are also many transplanted young families that are there.

For other states, well I have family that were born and raised in Michigan that now live in Arizona, Nevada, and New York.

The most people you will find from Michigan is in the south-west states, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and some in New Mexico.

[wanderer74]

I grew up in MI and moved to Texas for 8 years. Got homesick and moved back to MI - was there for 6 years and in that time my husband was unemployed for a total of a year and a half. I went back to school and finished my BA last year and still couldn't find a full-time job. I couldn't even get interviews! Seven months after finishing my degree I *finally* got a local interview and job offer - for a minimum wage part time job. After talking about it every spring/summer I finally decided to come back down to TX (Dallas/Ft Worth) and see if I can get a job here, since I still have friends and connections here. I've been here 5 days and have already had 5 job interviews! I've talked with two placement agencies here and they are surprised that nobody has hired me yet because they say my skills are so advanced, and I fully expect that within the next couple weeks I'll have a job offer and be able to move down here officially.

After being in MI for 6 years and finding it impossible to get a job, I was finding it really hard to believe that it would be any better anywhere else and was starting to question whether or not I even had enough qualifications to get hired. Being down here has been AMAZING for my self-esteem. People here are telling me that the economy is slowing down here, and since I lived here in the past I can see the signs of slowdown myself, but the economy is SO MUCH better here it's unreal. It's not perfect down here, but there sure are a lot more jobs.

They're desperate for teachers down here and I'm thinking that I may try to go for alternative certification to teach next year. North Carolina needs a lot of teachers too - at least a couple people that I graduated with in MI have gotten teaching jobs there.

[Tricia819]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Hi all,
I don't usually start two threads in one day, but...I was thinking of all the people who have left Michigan in the past several years, and was wondering which states they have gone to. I ask this because I'm now planning to join the Michigan diaspora. (after a year and a half, and no interviews for teaching jobs) I'd like to find a state where I won't feel like a TOTAL stranger in my new location, wherever that is.

I don't know if I'd get more responses in the General U.S. forum or here, but I'll post here just to see.

Thanks!

Mackinac

I'm wondering this myself. I too am a teacher and am trying to decide whether to move out of state or try to wait out the situation here. It seems most people who move out of state move back within a few years. I don't really know which state I would want to move to as it seems there really are no "greener pastures" as far as the profession. They all have their assets and liabilities. I'm curious as to where my collegues have moved and if they are happy there.

[soasis]

I moved to the Houston area earlier this year and have met lots of transplanted midwesterners. Houston's economy is quite strong and it's such a refreshing change to be in a place where businesses are booming and outlooks are optimistic. Oil and gas jobs are in demand here, especially in engineering.

Overall, I've found my neighbors and coworkers to be extremely friendly. There are so many folks here from "somewhere else" that most are open to meeting new people and establishing friendships. Unlike the poster from Maine, I've yet to feel like an outsider.

There are negatives to Houston (the unrelenting heat and lack of four true seasons), but if it's economic health and job opportunities you're looking for, it has a lot to offer.

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

I moved to maryland for a teaching job right out of college. I Loved my surroundings, i was a place for people to stay at when they visited DC, quite a few michigan people in DC....teaching jobs are really easy to come by outside DC....now depending on where you got your teaching degree from-you might not feel comfortable in districts around there-i moved up to Philly last year to be closer to my boyfriend and because i did not really like the district i taught in.........
North Carolina hires lots of teachers and i know quite a few MI people there......LOTS of people i know have gone out to arizona to teach although there is a steady trickle of them back to MI....if i don't find a teaching job around here (it is too much like michigan job searching) then i might have to move again....

Oh and i will definitely find my way back to michigan in the future....

[ScranBarre]

Here is a link to a site where you can easily research where residents from each county of Michigan relocated to, as well as from where your new neighbors and friends moved to Michigan from.

Moving from county to county

Enjoy!

[Ishten]

Relocated to SW Florida (Tampa) in 2005. Agree with Yachtcare above. The economy is a bit rough now. However, the Midwestern work ethic helps us to do well.

Would love to go back to the Midwestern values, but Michigan is out of the equation. Perhaps a place with Midwestern values and a strong economy. Minneapolis is on our radar.