[madmax]

I'm in Pensacola, Fl. and I see a lot of tags from Michigan and many other North and Northeast areas showing up here. And, we also seem to be getting a lot of people moving up this way from South Florida to get away from some of the rat races down there. We're lucky in the Florida Panhandle....beautiful sugar white beaches, state and national parks, big military presence which gives us a reasonably solid economy and a tolerable cost of living. If you're looking to get away, you could do a lot worse than the Pensacola area of Northwest Florida.

[jtgunther]

I graduate from college this month and I hope to be in North Carolina by September. I was one of the many who went to school for elementary education supposedly by 2006 there was suppose to be tons of jobs in education. I love Michigan and will miss the lakes, beaches and woods but what can you do. At least I'll have a job and a winter that doesn't look like the artic tundra.

[jerryruleski2000]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

That's the way I see it. If you can stay in Michigan, fight!
... Home is worth it.

No more eminent domain, and affirmative action tossed out by the voters.
There are worse states than Michigan.

I agree there are worse states than Mich. I co-worker who just moved back to West-Central Michigan from the California coast, and before that lived in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and is originally a Detroit native, said despite all his travels Michigan has it better than a lot of other states, even at its worst. Mich. still has a high standard of living, although it's going down a little all the time. My co-worker believes that Mich. had it so good for so long under the automotive industry the past century, now it's residents are really sour on the decline. I have to agree, even looking at recent census data that takes into account declining Mich. wages, the small rural towns around me in central-west Michigan still have higher average earnings then similar towns where my friends live in Texas and Florida.

I also think the Mich. economy will get better once the auto industry takes the worst of the trouncing.
It's the natural progression of things. The east coast was historically heavily industrialized, then that industry moved to the midwest where there was a throng of poor farmers and other cheap labor sources. The east coast, which is the U.S. wealth core -- New York, Boston, Philly, etc., developed more high-tech industries and medical/financial employment infrastructures. Now the Midwest must do the same, while our auto plants and other manufucturing goes south where wages are slightly less and there are fewer unions/restrictions/taxes etc. Eventually I believe the midwest will develop its medical/financial/services sector and right its ship.

But, to reason this to someone without a job in Mich. is tough, so ultimately, one has to do what one has to do.

For the time being, I'm sticking up for Michigan though, as I believe it continues to be a great state in a lot of ways.

[5kingsinvegas]

We moved to Vegas. The streets might not be paved with gold, but Vegas sure does have JOBS. We moved from Livingston County, so the cost of living out here actually seems less for us. All you teachers in Michigan that can't find a job, they are crying for teachers out here. We have been here 10 months now and love it. It was a huge move for us, both of us are Michigan born and raised. We have also encountered lots of other Michiganders who have decided to go west.

[Frankawitz]

Jerry
I was reading the other day about all the jobs lost due to manufacturing moving out of this state, the foreclosure rate is one of the highest in the country, Unemployment is at 7.8% I think they said. This Governor has no plan to get jobs for Michigan residents, She talks a good game but that's as far as it goes, she told the people of Michigan what they wanted to hear and that was it. I have been in business for 22 years and the last three years I have had to take out loans so we could make it thur the winter months due to no work. I do Insurance repair work and have never seen it this bad, I have looked at Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, they all need my type of trademen down that way the thing is being I own a house here and with nothing selling I am a little slow about packing it all in and moving. I have talked with people about Michigans economy and so many say Michigan won't see a turn around for 2 to 4 years, I say if we had someone in Lansing who knew what they were doing then things would be different but intil then more people will be leave, do you remeber when Blanchard was Governor the saying was "Last one out of Michigan turn out the lights" then we got a real Governor who turned everything around, it seems the Democrats always mess this state up when they take control of the Governors office. I don't know what we should do but something needs to be done and fast. I know allot of folks who are lossing everything they have worked so hard for. its a shame this Governor has no real plan. other then telling people they need to be retrained, the thing is for? what there are no companies to work for.

[MittenDweller82]

My wife and I go over that every night........where TO go? Although you always seem to rationalize trying to stay in the state you've always lived in, until you drive around and see whats happening, and the likelihood of it changing before my daughter gets to high school. We were thinking of NC or VA, some of the lowest unemployment, along with a economic base that IS NOT manufacturing. I think there should be a poll created to see where everyone is considering going. When both husband and wife have a masters and cannot find suitable work....there is a problem. Let the brain drain continue.

[MIganderwander]

I love Michigan, been here all of my 37yrs, but we are moving to Oregon in August. Our family needs a change and my husband needs a job, even with a Bachelor's degree. I will miss Lake Michigan terribly.

[GuardRail]

I just got out of Grand Rapids to move to Grand Ledge. That may be the new Garden spot of Mid-America but, I doubt it. I'll keep you posted.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by electric_lady

It seems there's a lot of talk on this board about getting the hell out of dodge. So, where's the new promise land? From what I hear, Texas, Arizona, NC , Atlanta and other places in the sun belt.
Sheesh, Alaska's giving away land, albeit frozen land.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/16/alaska.land.ap/index.html (broken link)

The advice I've heard from my recently graduated and recently fled friends, get out, now. The streets are paved with gold they say. Of course, there's always the grass is greener mentality, but this time, I think they might be right.
It's also the advice I'm getting from many older people who have been in the workforce for years. If you have no ties (kids, house, job, etc). in Michigan, leave.

They would be right to some degree depending on who you are and why you are leaving. I moved from GR to Illinois and it was an eye opening experience. I am a proud son of Grand Rapids, and its disheartening to leave, but...

Chicago is offering a lot to VERY deprived Michiganders. Chicago is indeed siphoning off Michigan. Whether its transit, culture, lights, jobs, whatever -- they are coming here. I've met a couple of guys on my shift from mid-Michigan. There's at least 10 couples in my apartment from Michigan. They just come here in droves. Each and everyone of them leaving should be a wake up call. Especially, when these folks want to return and are finding out that might not work in their favor.

[mkfarnam]

Originally Posted by JRTexas55

I live outside of San Antonio, and by looking at the license plates looks like the word is out. Move to SA, 4th fastest growing city in the nation, for both residents & businesses. Now is the time to buy real estate.

They are coming from up North/

/Florida, yes folks are giving up the Beaches hard to believe. But I believe they are being price out of their areas. Cost of living is lower in SA!

Jobs/education/communities all on the upswing.

I was born and raise in Cadillac, Michigan.(Wexford County) I`ve lived in California (Mexlifornia) for 35 years. Thousands of people (including myself) are gettin` out of California while the gettin` is good. And for many reasons.
Illegal Immigration, High cost of living, congested highways and freeways, contaminated Beaches, rivers and lakes, nonexistent property rights, and much more.
Myself, I`m moving from "Earthquake Valley" to "Tornado Alley" (Oklahoma).
After much concideration between 3 optional states, Michigan one of them, I found that OK is the least problematic with less of everything I`m getting away from.
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's would sleep with an Illegal Alien just to get him to work on the farms. I`ve written her letters opposing her "invitation" to illegals. I`ve even called her a treasonous, unAmerican, 2 faced Liberal. (in so many words). I was in Michigan last year. I drove from Ohio through Mich,to the UP to visit friends and Family. It`s still a beautiful state but a Govenor that would cash in her own constituents? no thanks.