Commuting and/or Moving to/from the Milwaukee area....help! (Madison: renting, buying a house)

[diddynas]

So, I don’t usually air personal business on message boards, but I’d really appreciate opinions from fellow Wisconsonians.

The old lady and I have been dating for about seven months now, and have recently begun discussing future/marriage. We’re both all for it, and have been thinking maybe engaged this summer, and married a year after. However, our dilemma is this. She lives in Mequon and works (teaches) in Grafton. I live in Appleton and work (teach) in Berlin (about 20 minutes west of Oshkosh, a straight shot on Hwy 91 from Hwy 41/45).

We’re both very comfortable at our current positions and districts that we work in and don’t really want to leave them. This means, to stay together, we’re going to have to find something sort of in the middle. Personally, I love Appleton and the small town/big town feel that it has. I have lived here all my life (save for 4 years in Kenosha for school) and am comfortable here. I don’t want to give up my hobbies here and family and non-family things that I enjoy in the area, but I’m starting to realize I guess I might have to if we want to stay together. She’s lived in Mequon all her life (save for 4 years at UWEC) and is very close to her family and doesn’t want to leave the north metro area, for the same reasons I don’t want to leave Appleton. We are trying to compromise and find something in between Berlin and Milwaukee so that we can both keep our jobs. We are looking at places like West Bend, Jackson, Hartford, Slinger, etc…or do I just bite the bullet and move to a north suburb as close to 41/45 as possible? Like Germantown or Menomonee Falls? I’ve already ruled out Lomira and Fond du lac, just because. I’ve always been more of a big city guy, so maybe I’d be better off just having a bit longer commute and living in the metro area, as opposed to living in a smaller town further north that would save on my commute, yet be too small and/or isolated for my tastes.

We’re 26 and 27, with no kids to consider, and we’re not quite financially stable enough to begin buying a house, so that’s on hold for at least another three years or so, so we’d be looking at renting. Does anyone recommend or have anything to offer about the places I mentioned above? I know it would seem like a crazy long commute from Germantown to Berlin, about 70 miles one-way, an hour and ten minutes or so in good weather. But, the commute I currently have from Appleton is about 55 minutes one-way and 100 miles round trip every day, so I’m used to a long commute and don’t really mind it anymore. Heck, my roommate in Kenosha commuted to Chicago every day for work and it often took him 90 minutes or so, though a lot of the time was stuck in traffic and not as many miles. Keep in mind though that because I teach, I only work 185 days a year so I wouldn’t be commuting during holiday breaks and the summer, which would help. Plus, I don’t have to be at work until 8ish and can leave around 3:30ish…so even if my commute was an hour fifteen, I could still leave in the morning at 7, get to work at 8:15ish, and leave around 3:45ish and still get home by 5.

Sorry for the book, but if anyone has any advice or information about the communities I mentioned above, we’d greatly appreciate it. Seriously.

Thank you!
Josh

[everwinter]

Berlin to Grafton is 2 hours 86 miles. So half way would be an hour commute for each. Sadly I suggest one of you needs to get a teaching job near the other.

[diddynas]

Winter,

Thanks for the reply. We aren't really looking at finding a place necessarily exactly in between, I know we're going to have to lean more towards Milwaukee and her side, which is why we've been considering places like West Bend, Hartford, Slinger and perhaps even Germantown. West Bend seems like the best fit distance wise (for me), but people never really seem to have good things to say about it? I don't know why? As for Hartford and Slinger, I've heard nice things, but I wonder if they are too small? I dunno....I sincerely do appreciate the advice though, so if anyone has anything else to offer, I'd welcome it.

[JoshB]

diddynas,
First and foremost, congrats on getting married! I've got some relatives over by Ozaukee county so I kinda know that area. I've been to Hartford a handful of times as well as West Bend. Been to Berlin as well! All are nice little towns. I have to say I would check out Hartford, Slinger, West Bend, Campbellsport. I like Hartford the best, in downtown there is this killer eatery called "The Mineshaft" awesome place!

A few links for ya,
Campbellsport,
Campbellsport Area Chamber of Commerce in Campbellsport* Wisconsin part of Fond du Lac County in the heart of the Northern Kettle
Campbellsport, Wisconsin -- Welcome! The goal of this website is to provide a wide range of information about the Village of Campbellsport. Please check back often as we continually add new links and new features.

Hartford,
Hartford, Wisconsin Home Page
Hartford Chamber of Commerce | Hartford Tourist Information | Hartford Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce | Hartford Chamber of Commerce | Hartford Tourist Information

West Bend,
Index
West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce

Slinger,
Village of Slinger -- Welcome to the Village of Slinger!


I someday would love to live in the Hartford area. Personally I say that Hartford is your best bet, beautiful downtown, great topography. Still not too far from Appleton, Madison, Milwaukee.
I hope the links help you out.

Good Luck!

[mpoblete]

diddynas,

if you don't want to settle by the Oskosh are or or West bend I guess your best shot is Menomonee Falls/Germatown. I lived in the Grafton/Ozaukee area for 7 years and I loved it, those are small towns but close enough to the metro MKE to have access to everything is there. If you are interested, I might be renting my house in Grafton (I relocated to Tampa, FL for work). The housing market is terrible and I will consider renting by January if nothing comes by then. Home is located in Grafton, 2 story, 3b,1.5br, 2 car garage.
Let me know if you have interest.