Please, Honest opinions!!! (Milwaukee, New Berlin, Oregon: transplants, house, neighborhood)

[tj7run]

We are relocating to the area, job located in New Berlin. My fiancé' is all ready there working, I am trying to sell the house in Oregon. I am trying to figure out if people are just not happy in the area. We have been all over looking at properties, in grocery stores, malls and have not come across very many pleasant people. I am extremely friendly, actually both of us are. My jobs have always involved high levels of public contact as a customer service supervisor and coach.

Could it be because of the rough winter? or are people just generally not happy. Or, could it be because we are not from the area? My family originated from Wisconsin, Minnesota so I have been looking forward to doing some family research. Maybe it is that we sound a little different.

Or better yet, where are the happy people???

[Alexus]

I'd like to know what you mean by "happy people." Happiness is not always reflected in overly jovial verbal communication and a wide smile. Some of the most miserable people I know are this way here on the west coast. One would think they are the most upbeat people in the history of mankind when in actuality, they are quite miserable, stressed, and quite unhappy.

People in the area are reserved and many that I know, quite content. Maybe you show adjust your expectations on what defines "happiness."

[anntinasia]

This is a very interesting ? for me.....I moved up here from Tucson in the 80's and came up against the same thing. Wi is a very consevative state. It's very hard for the natives to accept Us "transplants". And the culture is differernt...The good new is....just give it time and you will find some great friends...some may even be "natives"! The smaller towns out of Milwaukee are much friendly , too. People do seem happier outside of the "big city". I've been here almost 30 years and I love it here. WI is a great state once you get to know it and it's people.

[javaman]

People everywhere are unhappy because the news media and polititions tell us we should be. Didn't you know that no one has a job and everyone is losing their homes?

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by javaman

People everywhere are unhappy because the news media and polititions tell us we should be. Didn't you know that no one has a job and everyone is losing their homes?

Correct you are, sir. They're really playing hardball this year since it's an election year. The media tends to pick out the most dismal (newsworthy) items.

[radraja]

WI does seem to have a lot of unhappy people who seemingly can't wait to leave and escape the long winters.

And it is true that the state is socially conservative and sometimes a bit reserved towards newcomers.

But people do tend to be a little bit happier in the summer. Sunshine does people good, I think.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by tj7run

We are relocating to the area, job located in New Berlin. My fiancé' is all ready there working, I am trying to sell the house in Oregon. I am trying to figure out if people are just not happy in the area. We have been all over looking at properties, in grocery stores, malls and have not come across very many pleasant people. I am extremely friendly, actually both of us are. My jobs have always involved high levels of public contact as a customer service supervisor and coach.

Could it be because of the rough winter? or are people just generally not happy. Or, could it be because we are not from the area? My family originated from Wisconsin, Minnesota so I have been looking forward to doing some family research. Maybe it is that we sound a little different.

Or better yet, where are the happy people???

The best advice I could give you is to give it some time, and keep plugging away at it.

I'm a smiley and social kind of guy, and parts of Milwaukee can be kind of a "tough crowd", so to speak. I've not found the problem to be nearly as bad in the eastern reaches of the city, or much of the North Shore. These areas tend to be significantly more transient, so people are used to new faces coming and going.

Also people are just a little bit more reserved in the Midwest. Although that's a glaring generalization, it is fairly accurate. However, noteworthy exceptions are in cities where there is a more transient population (and suburbs).

[mikki]

I moved to WI as a junior in high school back in 1980 after living in OH, PA, and upstate NY. My mom and dad always said that their neighborhood in SE WI was that most unfriendly place they ever moved into. I lived and worked there after college and until last summer when we moved to northern NV. People here seem very outgoing, but I truly believe that it depends on who you meet...like a random kind of thing. A large number of people in WI have been born and bred there so it can be a difficult place to move to as most people have long time friends and family close by.

One more thing...having over 360 days of sun here has made a huge difference. Is your current location in Oregon similar? WI has many dark, cloudy days which started to drive me a little crazy as I got older!

SE WI is an awesome place to live. I miss it terribly (except for the weather as I'm sure you've already gathered!). Good luck!!

[AV8Recruiter]

Originally Posted by tj7run

We are relocating to the area, job located in New Berlin. My fiancé' is all ready there working, I am trying to sell the house in Oregon. I am trying to figure out if people are just not happy in the area. We have been all over looking at properties, in grocery stores, malls and have not come across very many pleasant people. I am extremely friendly, actually both of us are. My jobs have always involved high levels of public contact as a customer service supervisor and coach.

Could it be because of the rough winter? or are people just generally not happy. Or, could it be because we are not from the area? My family originated from Wisconsin, Minnesota so I have been looking forward to doing some family research. Maybe it is that we sound a little different.

Or better yet, where are the happy people???

I don't think that it's because they are unhappy...it's just that people are more socially reserved there. However, once you make friends, they will be friends for life. I grew up there, but escaped to ft worth, TX, & people down here are much more friendly to strangers (except when behind the steering wheel...lol)

[tj7run]

Originally Posted by mikki

I moved to WI as a junior in high school back in 1980 after living in OH, PA, and upstate NY. My mom and dad always said that their neighborhood in SE WI was that most unfriendly place they ever moved into. I lived and worked there after college and until last summer when we moved to northern NV. People here seem very outgoing, but I truly believe that it depends on who you meet...like a random kind of thing. A large number of people in WI have been born and bred there so it can be a difficult place to move to as most people have long time friends and family close by.

One more thing...having over 360 days of sun here has made a huge difference. Is your current location in Oregon similar? WI has many dark, cloudy days which started to drive me a little crazy as I got older!

SE WI is an awesome place to live. I miss it terribly (except for the weather as I'm sure you've already gathered!). Good luck!!

Oregon has it winter season, nothing like WI. We have snow in the mountains and maybe a few inches on the Valley floor. We have a beautiful coastline which has everything from swimming, fishing, boating and the great sand dunes. And of course the mountains which provide year round fun. Snow skiing in the winter, and hiking and climbing in the summer. There is very little humidity and the mosquito's are few.

We plan to look at it as an adventure, I would like to look up family that still lives in the area. My fathers family came from Wisconsin, or course with the German name of Reich I am sure to find family.