Moving from Dallas, TX to Grand Rapids (Detroit, Kentwood: real estate, transplants)

[ferris1967]

Hi,

I'm being relocated from Dallas to Grand Rapids. We are looking for a safe area with good schools. My wife is worried about the cold weather...How cold does it get in Michigan?

We have 3 children aged 10, 8, and 6. How are the local soccer/baseball leagues?

Hope all is well way up there!

[jtgunther]

I have lived in Texas and in Michigan and trust me you will be very very cold. I live on the east side of Michigan but my sister lives over in Grand Haven and it is probably the nicest area in Michigan with its beautiful lakes friendly people. West Michigan is also known for its Dutch population and tulip festival and also it has the reputation for being a very religious area which I find nice. Another thing this area has is lake effect snow. I try not to go over there during the winter because every time I turn on the weather you hear that West Michigan is getting another eight inches or so of snow. So bring your shovel and winter coat! Oh as for temps it often snows by halloween and can get way below zero with the wind chill. If it isn't windy 30-40 degrees in the winter is a nice warm day.

[Wabbit]

ferris1967,
Magellan has some really nice G.R./Michigan pictures on page 3 of the
"What's REALLY wrong with Michigan" thread.

I also was in Texas for awhile (Ft. Worth) and yes, if your
wife is a true Texan and already afraid of the cold, the winter will
be an big adjustment.
It's kind of funny though, about half the people I know who have moved
here from single season climates are surprised by how much they actually
like the winters. -At least until Feb. Then they've had enough.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Wabbit

ferris1967,
Magellan has some really nice G.R./Michigan pictures on page 3 of the
"What's REALLY wrong with Michigan" thread.

I also was in Texas for awhile (Ft. Worth) and yes, if your
wife is a true Texan and already afraid of the cold, the winter will
be an big adjustment.
It's kind of funny though, about half the people I know who have moved
here from single season climates are surprised by how much they actually
like the winters. -At least until Feb. Then they've had enough.

Me too. I actually enjoy winter From Dec - Feb. then I've had enough. In fact, this week we got hit by a freak April snowstorm, after getting up into the 70's the previous week. As far as lake effect snow, it really hits the worst from a line of about US-131 Westward toward Lake Michigan. We used to live on the SW side of GR and it was not unusual to get 8 - 10 inches of snow about once a week, so I had to buy a new two-stage snowblower for $400. Now we live on the NE side of GR and I probably used that thing twice a year. I'd stay East of 131 if I were you.

Driving in the snow takes a lot of getting used to, even for Michiganians for the first couple of weeks. Even though we occasionally get snow in October, it never stays on the ground. Winter generally runs from late November through March.

No doubt about it, it will be an adjustment if you were born and raised in Texas. My wife likes it because she likes her Fall and Winter wardrobe better than her Summer wardrobe (if that helps any).

Schools and soccer/baseball: There are a lot of good districts for both like Rockford, Forest Hills, East Grand Rapids, Caledonia, Byron Center, Northview and Grandville. Forest Hills, Kentwood and East GR probably have the most transplants. If you are going to be working downtown, everything is within an easy commute.

ferris1967, do you know where you'll be working?

[ferris1967]

All,

Thank you for responding to my post. A real estate agent pointed us to this site to help research the area. I’ll be working for a major insurance company off E28th St. It is only an 18 month stint and afterward we’ll be moving back to our beloved Texas unless we want to stay. My wife is an RN and usually doesn’t have a problem finding a job anywhere.

I’ve been reading through this forum and think I get it:

1. Michigan is not Detroit. The rest of the state’s economy is fine and doesn’t suffer the same woes. Detroit is a God awful place and has been for years. No news about that. The politically incorrect politician who compared it to Baghdad was not that far off base.
2. Cold – YES! deal with it. My kids are looking forward to the snow and riding on a snowmobile. We will need to learn how to drive in the snow so have patience. At least the summers are nice!
3. People – Michigan people are friendly/welcoming and care deeply about their state.

Anyway, look for us on the soccer/baseball fields. We’ll be the ones talking funny and it will be especially noticeable when my wife gets up to speak at the PTA meetings.
Cheers!

[Wabbit]

Here's one of my family's great unsolved mysteries.
Two of my Uncles live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas area.
One of these uncles and his children have only a slight southern accent.
The other set (which live 10 minutes away from the first)
have a big time drawl. They both have money, so that's not a factor.
Help me out Texans. Why is this? Do you just decide the degree
and go for it? I got'sta know!

[karnival96]

My guess is that there is a significant age difference or they lived in other locations prior to moving to Dallas. You will find that most people in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, etc. either have no accent or only a slight one. Those who come from smaller communities, particularly in East or West Texas tend to have stronger twangs or drawls. There are large numbers of people in each major city that come from all over the country and the Texas twang is all but dead in most metropolitan areas.

[Wabbit]

Thank you for your response to my 'drawl' question.
I think you're city/town theory is correct.
I have a friend from a little town in west Texas called 'Childres'
who has that old-school, classic Texas drawl and he claims everyone
in his town talks that way.
My younger cousins, who are from Dallas, don't seem to want it.
Thanx again!