Where to live? 26 y/o professional, single, come from a small town

[sgear]

got a nice apt on a golf course right off i-94 in belleville, seems nice enough , thanks for all your help!

[shortcut2k]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

I get weekly job announcements sent to me at my WSU email and Ann Arbor seems to be a good place for jobs. I have posted below a recent email sent to me earlier this week. I am not certain what most of these jobs entail, but they do not seem like horrible jobs to me. Are we just not training people properly for local jobs?

>- Communications Manager: Ann Arbor, MI
>- Communications Coordinator: Ann Arbor, MI
>- State Government Relations Liaison: Livonia, MI
>- Public Relations Manager: Ann Arbor, MI
>- Communications Specialist: Ann Arbor, MI
>- Senior Communications Manager: Livonia, MI
>- Publicist Corporate Affairs: Ann Arbor, MI
>- Manager PR & Communications: Ann Arbor, MI

And I certainly agree that there are jobs in Ann Arbor--it's just trying to find a decent place to live in Ann Arbor that's worth the money. IMHO

[athletesfoot]

If you love small town living, New Boston is the place to be. You can get a beautiful home on several acres of land for a reasonable price. Or, you could always get a condo. It is safe, has a nice small town feel, and is very friendly. It is probably a 10 minute commute from wherever you would work in Romulus. There are several great bars in town (nice small-town, friendly bars) that you could walk to from many of the homes/condos in the area. My favorite is McNasty's. Lots of younger people to meet there.

In addition, Romulus is not nearly what people here make it out to be. Most of them have likely never left the state, so they don't really understand what a "bad" city is. They seem to be pretty disgruntled with their state in general on these boards, instead of trying to improve themselves to get a different job now that the auto industry has gone kaput. I grew up in Romulus until I went to college at UofM and it was fine. My parents, as well as my husband's both still live there, along with the parents of pretty much everyone else I grew up with. If you lived in "greater Romulus" near the "downtown" area in the older homes back there, it is really quite nice. There are some neighborhoods that are dingier than others. Not much to do unless you go to the hotel bars in the airport area though. When we move back to Michigan (from Las Vegas) next year, we'll probably move to New Boston rather than Romulus because I think the schools are better there and we have young children.

Ypsilanti is a fun college town, probably not as safe though, but more to do in general. Ann Arbor is gorgeous and expensive, and a little commute (I used to do it from Romulus for about a year, it took around 30 minutes or maybe a little more depending on traffic). But it is a wonderful place to live. Bellville is also pretty good. Cheap apartments and lakes for jet skiing/fishing and a nice little downtown area. I've had several single friends who lived in apartments there for a while. It's about 15 minutes from Romulus.

Phew...guess I wrote more than I planned. Anyway, if you were still looking, I just wanted to offer another perspective from someone who's moved away and can't wait to get back to a normal place to live.

[Cato the Elder]

Originally Posted by athletesfoot

If you love small town living, New Boston is the place to be. You can get a beautiful home on several acres of land for a reasonable price. Or, you could always get a condo. It is safe, has a nice small town feel, and is very friendly. It is probably a 10 minute commute from wherever you would work in Romulus. There are several great bars in town (nice small-town, friendly bars) that you could walk to from many of the homes/condos in the area. My favorite is McNasty's. Lots of younger people to meet there.

In addition, Romulus is not nearly what people here make it out to be. Most of them have likely never left the state, so they don't really understand what a "bad" city is. They seem to be pretty disgruntled with their state in general on these boards, instead of trying to improve themselves to get a different job now that the auto industry has gone kaput. I grew up in Romulus until I went to college at UofM and it was fine. My parents, as well as my husband's both still live there, along with the parents of pretty much everyone else I grew up with. If you lived in "greater Romulus" near the "downtown" area in the older homes back there, it is really quite nice. There are some neighborhoods that are dingier than others. Not much to do unless you go to the hotel bars in the airport area though. When we move back to Michigan (from Las Vegas) next year, we'll probably move to New Boston rather than Romulus because I think the schools are better there and we have young children.

Ypsilanti is a fun college town, probably not as safe though, but more to do in general. Ann Arbor is gorgeous and expensive, and a little commute (I used to do it from Romulus for about a year, it took around 30 minutes or maybe a little more depending on traffic). But it is a wonderful place to live. Bellville is also pretty good. Cheap apartments and lakes for jet skiing/fishing and a nice little downtown area. I've had several single friends who lived in apartments there for a while. It's about 15 minutes from Romulus.

Phew...guess I wrote more than I planned. Anyway, if you were still looking, I just wanted to offer another perspective from someone who's moved away and can't wait to get back to a normal place to live.

Nice post - good to see some perspective.

[wltg]

Originally Posted by Meg Lesher

You mention being from a small town and seeking the same a short commute from Romulus. Ann Arbor really isn't a small town, although it does have lots to interest a young person. You might check out Belleville, for proximity to Romulus and for being a safe place. It's a small town, on the sleepy side, but close enough to Ann Arbor that it'd be easy to drive in for a night out on the town. Ypsilanti is smaller than Ann Arbor, not as choice, closer to Belleville, and does have some night life. This includes good music spots on Michigan Ave. downtown, like The Tap Room, some doings in Old Town, and plenty of young people around the campus of Eastern Michigan University there.

I grew up in Belleville and would have to agree. I am amazed when I go back for reunions how nice and safe it still is. You could almost roll out of bed and be in Romulus. Roll out of bed the other way and take another couple rolls and be in A2.

[islandguy]

If your from a small town & want to minimize your commute and stay some what rural try Bellville.

[sgear]

If you look at earlier posts you'll see i moved to Belleville! Thanks for re-assuring my decision though!!