Living in Minnesota (Duluth, Rochester, Winona: travel, jobs, medical)

[dannl]

What is it like to live in Minnesota

[ihatefonddulac]

I was born and raised in Winona, Minnesota, and lived there for 35 of my 40 years. The only reason I left was because my husband chose a profession that is not very popular there. I spent the summer once in the Manhattan, Kansas area, which I didn't like very much and I went back to Winona. After I got married, we moved from there to the South Bend, Indiana area, which was okay, then to Spartanburg, South Carolina, which was also okay, to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, which is the absolute worst place I could imagine living, and he is currently trying to get a job back in or close to Winona with the experience he gained in the last 5 years, so we can come home. Winona is a beautiful place with gorgeous bluffs, the Mississippi River and Lake Winona. The air is clean, the people are super friendly, it's a very family oriented community, it's small but it's close to La Crosse, Wisconsin and Rochester, Minnesota which have all the shopping, entertainment, cultural activities, the cost of living is relatively low, lots of outdoor recreation. Only bad things is hard to find a good job and the public schools are suffering financially. After living in places that I liked somewhat less to hating (Fond du Lac), I have come to the conclusion that for me, Winona is as close to my own paradise that I'm going to get. When I move back, I'm never leaving again.

[restlessinmn]

Originally Posted by ihatefonddulac

Winona is a beautiful place with gorgeous bluffs, the Mississippi River and Lake Winona.

On 4th of July, we took a trip down the Mississipi through Red Wing, Lake City, Wabasha and Winona. We had lunch in Winona. While it wasn't the most quaint town in MN that we've visited, it did have some beautiful architecture - the Watkins building in particular. We watched fireworks over the river in Lake City. I thought Lake City was unbelievable picturesque. It was our first time in the area and I would definitely visit the area again.

[jill]

I have lived in Minnesota for many years. To live in Mn. you need to have a big closet. We dress for all four seasons. The spring is unpredictable, could be 75 out one day and a blizzard the next in the month of May, and all the snow is melting so it is very dirty out. The summer is so wonderful with all of the lakes (I live up North) and there is so much to do. It is not like the southern states where it is too hot to go outside in the summer sometimes. The only downfall to summer is the mosquitos, they could carry off a small animal. The fall is so beautiful. The drive following the river by Winona is one of the best. Up North we usually get our first snow fall around Haloween, but then it is like spring where it could be close to 75 the next day. Winter up here is pure hell. There are alot of outdoor activities but myself I hate the cold. The snow is beautiful, but the -40 is not. It has been so cold with the wind chill that the town has been closed down. It is too dangerous to be outside. The people are very friendly where I live as with most of the small town. I think Minnesota is a wonderful place to live.

[MidniteBreeze]

I personally have a love-hate relationship with Minnesota. I grew up in Duluth and by the time I was 25 I couldn't wait to get out. I traveled around most of North America and lived in two different states (my longest stint was 5 years in Colorado Springs.) I really liked it out there, but it just wasn't "home"...and here I am, a mere 80 miles from where I grew up.

What I love about (Northern) Minnesota: the lakes, the woods, the wildlife, low crime, no traffic jams, people who are friendly but mind their own business.

What I hate: I actually don't mind snow and even cold...but it's just TOO LONG! By late February I'm ready to lose my mind.

It's not very culturally diverse up here. It's not overtly racist or anything like that, but it just gets a little boring at times. Hard to find good ethnic restaurants and that sort of thing (though thankfully there are a few!)

The economy isn't very good. I'm fortunate enough to have a decent job, but I could be making a lot more if I lived somewhere else.

What makes Minnesota, well, Minnesota: Friday night fish frys, "you betcha!" and the knowledge that 9 out of every 10 cars you see has a set of jumper cables in the trunk!

[ihatefonddulac]

I would agree with the post about Lake City. Beautiful town. My husband and I would love to live there or just move back home to Winona. The winters are long, however, with "global warming", they don't seem as long or as harsh as I remember from my childhood. The only negative I can think of about MN is good jobs are hard to find, not a lot of industry. Of course, it depends on what you do for a living. People in the medical field can get great jobs in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic, and I would imagine there are plenty of jobs in the Twin Cities which is where my husband is from, but we don't want to live in a big city. I love Rochester, as well. It's big but not too big.

[haiki]

[QUOTEThe people are very friendly where I live as with most of the small town. I think Minnesota is a wonderful place to live.[/quote]

I moved to the old family homestead in Northeast Minnesota after my retirement. We moved up our belongings on the weekend of Feb 3rd 1996, although at the time we did not know it, will be one of the coldest days in history. The Duluth Tribune headline "How Low: 60 Below... Friday was the coldest February day ever for most of the Northland..." 60 miles from Duluth, my wife and I, actually finally settled in perhaps a month later. Your probably wondering why February? It was due to a small wooden bridge. I had to make sure the bridge would hold a large furniture loaded truck. The thought being, that the frozen ground would be at it’s strongest.

For those thinking of the cold weather, if your retired, and not tied to having to travel out it’s great living, even at -70 below (for a few days anyhow) living in the woods. But as others have suggested, you have to be smart about it. Don’t forget, you’ll need an automobile engine heater. The only time I wasn’t happy with the situation of living on a gravel road, was perhaps about two weeks during the spring when the frost comes out of the ground. Making the roads messy, rutted, with frequent large holes. I had a heart attack in Dec. 1998, had to move back to the Chicagoland area. I wish I could go back, but I have to consider not just me. Perhaps I’m too old now? Now days, those that rely on work in town, and have homes living 30 miles from the nearest town gas prices can hurt. Jobs are scarce. If your living on a township road, county roads are snow plowed first. Maybe in the next day or two your road will be plowed. Then Governor Jesse Ventura was able to reduce auto license fees, my fee then was over $300. So that should no longer keep you from moving to Minnesota. .If you plan on living in the woods, I hope, this helps. As the saying goes, if you hang long enough, you’ll get use to it.

[yellowsnow]

The people are very nice but not overly friendly. They already have all their friends and relatives here.

If you are planning to own a home, you will shovel a lot of snow, mow constantly, and rake more than a few leaves. In the spring, you will clean up the mess from all of the above. The winters are cold and miserable. You can deal with it but the hardest part is they are too long. As soon as the winter is finally over the blood sucking mosquitos come out and stay till it freezes a few times in the fall.

If you live to hunt and fish, it's a great place to live. If you don't, there's not much to do.

[JenLee]

Originally Posted by MidniteBreeze

What makes Minnesota, well, Minnesota: Friday night fish frys, "you betcha!" and the knowledge that 9 out of every 10 cars you see has a set of jumper cables in the trunk!

AND they are ready and willing to use them whenever someone needs a jump!

People wave at strangers when you drive down country roads (and even some town and city neighborhoods are that friendly too).

I've always found that people are as friendly here as you are willing to be friendly. Most Minnesotans are nice but not nosy and don't want to intrude into your life; and I will agree that if they have family and long-time friends in their lives, it might be harder to get to know them, but it is possible to make friends here.

I enjoy the outdoors; spending time doing yard work and fixing up my place is good exercise and keeps me in shape for both my work and real recreation. It also increases the value of the property!

[Lindenin]

What I love

Civic Pride (you'll be amazed how many places in the country have people who couldn't care less about their state or city). The fact that people are engaged in politics and the community. Beautiful orange and red colors everywhere in the fall. Having a natural lake (not a friggin' man-made reservoir like in Texas) around every corner. Trees. Good schools. The Arts in the Twin Cities. Gorgeous State Parks. Prosperity without materialism. White, sunny winter days.

What I hate

Always explaining to people how we don't have 3 straight months of -30 in the winter. High Taxes. Mosquitos.

There it is. The "loves" have it.