[momtwoboys]

We visit Petoskey, Boyne Mountain, Traverse City & Charlevoix alot during the year for vacation but now it looks like my husband could have a chance to work in Petoskey. We currently live in metro Detroit and while my husband's job is pretty secure, I'm still really worried about the future of this area. I would love to hear from other transplants from this area to up north. Schools are very important since I have two children. Would we love it or would we feel like we miss home and the vacation is over. Grand Rapids is another area we are considering but I'm not sure about the job situation there. We are midwesterners and feel like we need to stay in this part of the country since it is what we are used to. We never dreamed Detroit would collapse like it has but the brain drain continues.

[Michigansnowflake]

We left the Metro area in 2006 for a job in East Jordan....and I have never looked back! I absolutely love it up here. You need to be an outdoor lover to truly appreciate living here. I feel like I am on vacation every day!

[Sparrow_temp]

I grew up in Charlevoix county. Petoskey is nice but is normally expensive in terms of what you'll give up in current and future salaries compared to anything downstate. The school systems won't have the problems of those downstate but also won't have the revenue for some of the things those schools do. I think Grand Rapids or Traverse City would be better choices.

[Wulf67]

I lived in the Metro Detroit Area for 6 years before I moved up north in 2002. I could never live in SE Michigan anymore. It does feel like vacation every day (after work of course). I never go on a summer holiday anymore as I have everything here. Kayaking, biking, hiking, motorcycle riding, windsurfing etc. Repeat. You can do this downstate but it's 100 times better in the north.

I really like the Petoskey/Charlevoix/Boyne City area. You're close to TC, the Leelanau peninsula, Mackinaw City, Lake Huron, the UP and Canada.

If you have a decent income and a steady job, it's very hard to beat northern Michigan. I go to GR a few times a year but the traffic, noise and people drive me nuts within a few hours.

[Northman]

Life is beautiful! Come see for yourself!

.....and bring your snowsuits!

[flinty]

Wulf67, What do you think of Petoskey as a retirement abode? Been there in 1995 and saw a suburb called Bay View. We lived all our lives in Toledo, OH.

[Sparrow_temp]

Bay View is really nice but sure used to be a pain for the rest of the community because of the driving bottleneck there. Has this been corrected?

[FESTER]

Petoskey is like most of NW Mi. If you have a good income it's great. If you don't it will be a constant struggle. Jump that hurdle, and you've got it made.

[New_Horizon]

Bay View isnt open in the winter, I believe The Terrace Inn stays open year round as does the Bay View Inn but the rest of the community arrives around Memorial day and are gone by the end of September. Few of the houses are insulated or have heating. I think its a Methodist community and most of the homes are passed down through families.

Jan

[wagonman76]

Bay View is really nice but sure used to be a pain for the rest of the community because of the driving bottleneck there. Has this been corrected?

I don't have problems with the Bay View bottleneck. If you want to go around it, the roads are there, use them. Charlevoix is something that should be addressed but everybody seems to turn the other cheek.

If you have a decent income and a steady job, it's very hard to beat northern Michigan. I go to GR a few times a year but the traffic, noise and people drive me nuts within a few hours.

One thing I like about here is if I want to go somewhere, I just go. It isn't a constant traffic battle right out my front door. And I can take the back way home if I want to.