Thinking about leaving CA for MN (Minneapolis, St. Paul: transplants, renting, insurance)

[Josh IN CA]

Hi, I'm 28 in California. I have lived all over this state my whole life, but it has always felt weird. California is no place I would want to raise kids or own a home, so I am looking for somewhere to move to that will be a good long-term place to live.

I don't really know anyone my age who doesn't do drugs. Most of the girls here have had sex with dozens, if not hundreds of guys. Everyone is a leech and a liar, and looking for a handout. This is the feeling I get from the people here, and this is what my friends from back East tell me when they visit.

I'm Swedish and German, and Scandinavians are pretty rare here. I'd like to be in an area where being 6' tall and blond is just normal. I don't like being a curiousity.

California has been overrun by Mexican nationals. If I go out in any public place that is representative of the general population, I am usually the only white person. I live in one of the more wealthy areas of Southern Californa, and it bothers me that within a 30 mile radius, I know there is a case of Tuberculosis. The power went out today for the third time in six months. There are fewer ERs in the state than their were ten years ago. The middle class has been pretty much eliminated. We're sinking into third-world status.

I am thinking about moving to Minnesota, for the following reasons:

-It's cold, and I love snow and cold weather. I have lived in Tahoe, so I can handle it.

-It's got a big Swedish and German population, and I want to be among people that are like me.

-It's got midwest values that I think California lacks. Everyone in California is either a super-religious hypocrite or a drug addict, sometimes both. I'd like to meet people who are neither. People in MN are described as "reserved" which sounds great to me. I clam up when I am around a bunch of people screaming nonsense and wearing stupid trucker hats.

Work is not an issue, because I own my own company, and it goes where I go. I'll be renting for a couple more years. I'm not going to buy a house until I can afford to pay cash.

I guess I am a kind of quiet and calm, and I don't really have all the BS problems a lot of people I know here do. My parents didn't molest me, I'm not gay, nor do I have any of the other BS baggage people here use to excuse their irresponsibility. I just want to meet a pretty girl, buy a house, and have lots of children, once I make enough money to afford it.

Is MN a place where I will find people like me? Thanks!

[redheadsdontdye]

Well, generally Minnesota does fit a lot of the sterotypes you mentioned, but I also think it's changing a lot too. I guess it depends on where you would like to live... the Twin Cities and its suburbs are very different from the rest of the state in my opinion. There is a lot more diversity... sure there are some nice tall blondes, but I would say they are about as common as seeing someone of African American decent or Latino. Minneapolis is probably not what you're looking for, but maybe a nice suburb in St. Paul would be closer to what you're looking for.

[Josh IN CA]

If I can find an area with some business and tech groups, that would be nice. I live in Orange County now, and my primary concern is I don't want to feel cut off from business or civillization. I haven't made an extra dime by living here, but it would be nice to have something nearby I can participate in. My company sells computer software.

Then again, I could probably live in the middle of nowhere and make just as much. All I've met since I got here are people trying to scam me.

[yellowsnow]

Tahoe is a walk in the park compared to Minnesota. Honest!

Minnesota is quite ethnically diverse. Especially in the Cities. I don't think we can compete with Cali but we have our share of fruitcakes too!

If I could live and work anywhere, I would do some looking where the taxes are lower and the weather is a bit less extreme.

[Josh IN CA]

I was also considering Chicago. The thing that appeals to me most about MN is the Scandinavian roots and culture.

Oh, and a big thing for me is I want to have lots of people my age around, like 25-32 young professionals or grad students.

[warmweather!]

The biggest ethnic group in Minnesota is German. Scandinavians are common too. People with good values aren't that hard to come by. There aren't THAT many Mexicans, but they are here, just like every other place in the country. You would NOT feel uncomfortable going in public. Whites are very common here.

[redheadsdontdye]

you probably wouldn't like Chicago, unless you're thinking about a suburb of Chicago... most of the crazies I've run into on Hennepin Ave were from Chicago.
: )

[HockeyFan]

Minnesota will be a culture shock coming from California. Having lived in both, they are clearly opposite in many ways. Which you prefer is up to you.

People in Minnesota tend to be more reserved as a whole than in California, but any one individual person can be any way. I also met some very outgoing people in Minnesota!

Coming from California, I think you'd be happiest in the Twin Cities. Going to somewhere like St. Cloud or Duluth would seem extremely slow-paced, and you might find the areas lacking in amenities (although Duluth is one of the most underrated cities in the country, I love it there).

You might want to look in the western Twin Cities area, places like Maple Grove, Plymouth, and Minnetonka. From my experience, there are more newcomers in those areas. That can be key -- while Minnesotans are well-known for being nice (Minnesota Nice), it can be a tough place to break into, since a lot of people have strong family and personal ties going back to childhood. I lived in the south of the (Minnesota) river area, I found less transplants down there. The cost in the western suburbs is higher, but for the price of an average tract home in SoCal, you will get a prime lot with a beautiful house in Minnetonka -- so if you own in SoCal, you will find anything inexpensive.

Weather -- it's cold. Really. It's cold. Can I emphasize this enough? :-) A lot of Californias I know moved saying they can handle the cold, but a -30 or -40 windchill is nothing like anything in California. Even Tahoe is a dry cold. Minnesota is not. 20 degrees in Minnesota feels colder than -10 in Denver, in my opinion. It's cold. Really. But some people don't mind that. I didn't find it a big issue, and a lot of people don't. But just be forewarned -- it is not a Western cold by any means.

You will not find many transplanted Californias there -- I have found far more in Denver, Portland, or even Omaha -- but nobody will hold it against you that you are from California (something I've heard people complain about in other cities).

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

[DaninEGF]

I agree with one of the previous posters about the western or southern suburbs of Minneapolis. I have a nephew who lives in Chaska (moved up from Charlotte 3 years ago) and he works in computer network issues for a large insurance company. There are lots of companies with Headquarters all over the I-494 loop in Hennepin county (and probably Ramsey county too but not as familiar with the St Paul suburbs). Pretty much any of the west and south burbs are good from Maple Grove to Eden Prairie, Chaska, Chanhassen, to Apple Valley and Inner Grove Heights.

Being in a metro area, you will find a diverse population with a lot of non-native Minnesotans, versus out-state areas.

And speaking of cold...the cities are cold yes,,,but quite a bit warmer than where I live up in the far northwest corner. We can be easily 20 degrees colder than down there. We have been below zero since Saturday.....

I like it up here and I am a non-nativve. My wife is from Minot ND and is German from Russia,,,but the Grand Forks area and far nw MN is the heart of Norwegian territory with Swedish a close second. Yes most people up here I have found to be a bit more reserved...they wont trip over themselves to welcome you....but on the other hand if you develop a friendship they are loyal. Of course these are generalizations.

Interestingly Josh you mentioned lots of people you know use drugs....drug use cant be that common out there is it. I dont know anyone who uses drugs....but I wouldnt know marijuana (sp?) if I saw it either.

Take care
Dan

Dan

[Slig]

I work in Plymouth and agree with HockeyFan, there are alot of outsiders in the area. I work/have worked with people from New Jersey, New York, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, and a few other places. These people came from warmer climates and besides the regular bickering about the the cold in January and February have survived like everyone else.

As far as demographics go I think Minnesota would be a perfect fit for you. Outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul you won't find a city with less than 85% Caucasian, and the majority of those have Scandinavian and/or German roots.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are in the 60% range for Caucasian.