[WheredoIlive?]

Originally Posted by heidi777

Hi ~
I am not sure where Hillsdale is but if you keep researching and sending out feelers, I'm sure you can find some place to live that will fit your bill. Then, my advice would be to get involved. Join a book club - or if you're not into that - join a quilting bee. When I relocate (albeit 20 years from now) I will be looking for similar things. Have you ever been to Bennington, Vermont?? They have adorable churches and it is a very nice atmosphere. Small town and nice people - but I would suggest you get involved and that way you meet people and eventually you become friends. You can even volunteer. I'm not saying Bennington is for you - maybe you don't want to move so far (if it is far from you - I still don't know where your starting point is) but you can find a nice place, I'm sure of it.
My friend Barbara lived in Bennington and she was older. She did not have much money at all but she volunteered and got involved and made some extra money by Inn-sitting (and various other odd jobs that came up). She was an inspiration to me and I could see that she was a joy to those around her.
P.S. - I can totally understand what you are saying - I am sure you will find a good place - keep the faith
Best of luck to you - write back if you want to.
Heidi777

Vermont always sounded interesting to me. Has that whole art thing going and more it seems. I probably will be staying in Michigan unless God presents me a new place to go. But I will think about this one. Vermont is a nice state from what I know about it.

[WheredoIlive?]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

Right by Jonesville, and of course glamorous Moscow, MI.

LOL, I went through Moscow many times, now that is a small town.[it really is only one crossroads with a convience store}

What is weird, is the old buildings left there look DUTCH....there is this big blue one with curvy top. Now someone explain that to me and the naming of the town...

[WheredoIlive?]

Originally Posted by allistercrowly

Just wait a few months, and you will be in the same financial bracket as many other formar middle class people. They are moving down across the nation.

LOL

I guess I will be better off becuase I am used to being poor and living on nothing. I know how to make 10 different kinds of cabbage soup, find best food pantry, make pin money on the internet...etc.

All the rich people used to different lifestyle, having to come down a few notches, will have it tougher I think.

[WheredoIlive?]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

Soon Michiganders will rule the nation as our exodus take us to the far corners of this nation, where our off spring will be born, mature into outstanding young men and women. After which they will remember their roots, their ancestors trail-of-tears. These future Michiganders by blood will remember the conditions that forced their forefathers and mothers from one of the greatest states out into the country to seek economic shelter from the collapsing financial woes.

This they will remember as the story will be told and handed down from generation to generation. That they too are Michiganders.

And when the future generations of the Michigan exodus take their rightful place, when they look back at the tragedy of the 2K years, they will with one voice proclaim--NEVER AGAIN WILL SO MANY LEAVE JUST TO SEEK SURVIVAL--and our story will be told as one of desperation and DIGNITY..

This is the new GRAPES of WRATH...

Actually all the other states are so poor, are MIchiganders going to be still leaving?

Some places I thought were better off like Oregon and Ohio, I got friends there who have told me NO WAY!

At least there will be more wilderness left here, LOL, wont be overcrowded. I always feel overcrowded even when I just go to Ohio....

[zthatzmanz28]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Really, you need to watch the world news. People leave their counties for their life every day.

And how many really relocate 3 or 4 counties over on a yearly basis?

And lately 10s of thousands are leaving their states...more than at any other time since....what...the 1930s?

Not since the great migration from southern poverty to the sustainable incomes of Chicago, Detroit, and New YorK?

We all need to watch the news and read the papers--GM spends $1billion of bailout money in SOUTH AMERICA?

But I digress...the issue / thread dealt with a dying HILLSDALE county..one of 30 others that are facing the same fate in Michigan? One of 1000s in the country?

Sorry about the hijack...

Return to you normal existence...

[planthappy]

I was born and raised in MI. 1960-1979. Is there anyone here who is my age and remembers when this happened in the early 70's and continued into the early 80's? The blizzard of 78 was the last straw for my parents. They moved to FL before the next winter. I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle for a year while going to JCC. I applied for any job I could and never got one. I left for FL in 79 and Burger King called me for an interview in 81. There were billboards back then that said "the last person to leave Michigan turn out the lights". zthatzmanz28 this is not the first time people have moved away from MI in droves and it probably won't be the last as long as people depend on the big 3. I remember friends who were suddenly gone. They lived in nice homes had nice cars both parents worked for one of the big 3. It was a terrible time. Home loans were over 12% if you could afford the 20% down. If the 28 after your handle is your age ask your parents or better yet your grandparents, someone 50 or older who has lived in MI their whole lives. I learned at a young age not to trust big business. And today I'm so thankful for that. I've been self employed for over 20 years and never had the luxury of paid health insurance, paid vacations, bonuses or any other "perks" I've seen other people get. I pay my own taxes and only pay what I owe and don't depend on tax refunds which by the way CA is already not sending out. When I don't have work I don't collect unemployment I go out and look for work and live off the money I save when times are good. The doom and gloom you predict is nothing new to me I saw it years ago. And because of what I saw when I was young I learned from it and was prepared for what is happening today. And as far as being poor and where to live I have found living in the south is cheaper and easier. I moved back to MI 10 years ago when I made some changes in my life and made more money but it was more expensive to live there. Car insurance was almost triple and I had excellent credit and driving record. Homeowners insurance was cheaper so that evened out those expenses. I paid state tax, in Fl there is none. The heat bills were a huge shock. I pay $100 per month 12 months out of the year for electricity here and keep my a/c around 77 in the summer. It was double that in MI for heat. The biggest thing to me was I realized how much I hated the snow and ice. The roads were brutal on my brand new american car, potholes, and chips in the paint job. Just going out to the store seemed to be an ordeal. Put on all the clothes, boots, etc and get the car cleaned off or warmed up, parking and walking through snow, slush, rain or mud. I lasted 3 years and would have been gone sooner but had to sell my home. It's just easier here to jump into your sandals and go. And of course now I'm almost 50 and not 20 probably has a little bit to do with it. I still like MI and come up in the summer and spend money but now realize MI is no longer home it's a place I used to live. As far as this being "the new grapes of wrath" that was funny. I too would suggest you watch or read more world news.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

And how many really relocate 3 or 4 counties over on a yearly basis?

And lately 10s of thousands are leaving their states...more than at any other time since....what...the 1930s?

Not since the great migration from southern poverty to the sustainable incomes of Chicago, Detroit, and New YorK?

We all need to watch the news and read the papers--GM spends $1billion of bailout money in SOUTH AMERICA?

But I digress...the issue / thread dealt with a dying HILLSDALE county..one of 30 others that are facing the same fate in Michigan? One of 1000s in the country?

Sorry about the hijack...

Return to you normal existence...

Let me Tell you about my X-mother-in-law. 5 children, one a baby 4 months old. They had to run for their lives from the El Salvadorian army. The were hiding in the weeds, the baby would not stop crying. She had to drown her to save the other 4. That is hard times relocating.

[PineHallGirl]

Originally Posted by WheredoIlive?

Vermont always sounded interesting to me. Has that whole art thing going and more it seems. I probably will be staying in Michigan unless God presents me a new place to go. But I will think about this one. Vermont is a nice state from what I know about it.

No, you won't be happy in Vermont at all if you long for the friendliness of people you left in Hillsdale. Vermont is smug. Most of the locals hate newcomers, aka: "Flatlanders". And the imports are usually rich urban yuppies from Boston and NYC visiting their winter home during ski season. We lived there for eight L-O-N-G years and made a run for it, back home to Michigan...where I got down on my knees and kissed the ground!!

I dreamed of moving to Vermont back in the 1980's, I read all the Noel Perrin books and Helen and Scott Nearing's books and we went there as often as we could, usually in the fall. The state is absolutely breathtaking, with no billboards and quiet country roads and the smell is intoxicating with all those pine trees. But living there, getting up everyday and trying to make a living, trying to make friends..was one of the hardest things I have ever endured. People in Michigan are MUCH NICER more outgoing and generally happier than those poor souls stuck up in those mountains, where the sun goes down at 3 pm. I recall one time in Norwich, Vermont when it was snowing to beat the band , I stopped in a store called "Dan & Whit's" for some groceries and overheard some locals laughing at an out of state family in a Volvo wagon struggling, stuck in the snow...no one offered to help, they just stood there on the porch laughing. That was typical of the kind of people we came across living in Vermont. You couldn't pay us to live there again. No way!

[PineHallGirl]

Originally Posted by planthappy

I was born and raised in MI. 1960-1979. Is there anyone here who is my age and remembers when this happened in the early 70's and continued into the early 80's? The blizzard of 78 was the last straw for my parents. They moved to FL before the next winter. I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle for a year while going to JCC. I applied for any job I could and never got one. I left for FL in 79 and Burger King called me for an interview in 81. There were billboards back then that said "the last person to leave Michigan turn out the lights". zthatzmanz28 this is not the first time people have moved away from MI in droves and it probably won't be the last as long as people depend on the big 3. I remember friends who were suddenly gone. They lived in nice homes had nice cars both parents worked for one of the big 3. It was a terrible time. Home loans were over 12% if you could afford the 20% down. If the 28 after your handle is your age ask your parents or better yet your grandparents, someone 50 or older who has lived in MI their whole lives. I learned at a young age not to trust big business. And today I'm so thankful for that. I've been self employed for over 20 years and never had the luxury of paid health insurance, paid vacations, bonuses or any other "perks" I've seen other people get. I pay my own taxes and only pay what I owe and don't depend on tax refunds which by the way CA is already not sending out. When I don't have work I don't collect unemployment I go out and look for work and live off the money I save when times are good. The doom and gloom you predict is nothing new to me I saw it years ago. And because of what I saw when I was young I learned from it and was prepared for what is happening today. And as far as being poor and where to live I have found living in the south is cheaper and easier. I moved back to MI 10 years ago when I made some changes in my life and made more money but it was more expensive to live there. Car insurance was almost triple and I had excellent credit and driving record. Homeowners insurance was cheaper so that evened out those expenses. I paid state tax, in Fl there is none. The heat bills were a huge shock. I pay $100 per month 12 months out of the year for electricity here and keep my a/c around 77 in the summer. It was double that in MI for heat. The biggest thing to me was I realized how much I hated the snow and ice. The roads were brutal on my brand new american car, potholes, and chips in the paint job. Just going out to the store seemed to be an ordeal. Put on all the clothes, boots, etc and get the car cleaned off or warmed up, parking and walking through snow, slush, rain or mud. I lasted 3 years and would have been gone sooner but had to sell my home. It's just easier here to jump into your sandals and go. And of course now I'm almost 50 and not 20 probably has a little bit to do with it. I still like MI and come up in the summer and spend money but now realize MI is no longer home it's a place I used to live. As far as this being "the new grapes of wrath" that was funny. I too would suggest you watch or read more world news.

Planthappy! I was in Jackson, my hometown, during that incredible blizzard of 1978. As I remember correctly, the storm happened overnight and we woke up to it. It totally enveloped my fathers garage!..It took 4 days to dig out of that snowstorm. We skied down the streets, no cars. Best part of all, we didn't have to go to work for 3 days!

[zthatzmanz28]

hehehehe...the 28 is the HAVOLINE RACE car..DAVEY ALLISON...

I too have been here in michigan since 1960...all the way through 2009.

I was here when the blizzard came.

I was here when Chrysler originated the BAILOUT

I was here when Chrysler took the bailout and bought JAPANESE steel and decimated the US STEEL industry--Like GM is doing now with the $1 billion spent in SOUTH AMERICA---I WILL NEVER BUY GM AGAIN.

I was here when Michigan first talked about diversifying from the auto industry

When Engler drove his OLDSMOBILE until he got elected..

Yes, I was here for the riots of 67...the day MIchigan's reality changed

I was here when Coleman Young disbanded S T R E S S and the streets of Detroit were never safe again.

I remember Governor Milliken start the shut down of MENTAL HEALTH and SOCIAL SERVICES and 1000s being hurt

I remember thinking in 1982 when McLouth STeel shut down and I lost my job, I would always be here in Michigan

I remember the 1990s when I couldn't find a job that allowed me to own a house or pay for an apartment moving back home to go to college to get a degree so I could have a house or pay for an apartment.

I remember graduating EMU 1995 and barely finding a job with my 4 year degree as a teacher

I remember the late 1990s when 100s of teachers were going to TEXAS, SOuth CArolina and Florida because the schools here were hurting so bad and bleeding $$

I remember taking teaching jobs where no one else wanted to go--DETROIT, PONTIAC, LOCK UP, RESIDENTIAL....

ow I will remember all this and more when I pack my bags, load my 1995 Chevy truck (the 2008 was repo'd last month) and head out to North CArolina for work..

So you see PLANTHAPPY, I do not need to ask my parents, or grandparents, because life for them was so much better than it is for me now.

Except when my dad retired from the steel mill and was told he had NO PENSION after 35 years of service because the government allowed the corporatio to stop funding it and eve BORROW against it as the industry sank and the mill was NEVER upgraded--BUT WHY WOULD HE OR ANY OTHER MANAGEMENT staff need a PENSION--but the CEO and the BOARD sure took their $5-10 MILLION payday

I even believe house speaker ANDY DILLION walked away with his own GOLDEN PARACHUTE and the mill collapsed.

I was there, like FOREST GUMP, for every historic change MICHIGAN edured from 1960-2009.