How Do You Like Living In Minnesota? (St. Paul, Duluth: environment, transplants)

[ihatefonddulac]

I am also a MN native. I felt the same way as you do, "too cold, too many mosquitos, low wages, etc. etc. etc." until we actually moved. We have lived in IN, SC and WI and we are now back in MN permanently, and I am very grateful for the friendly people, the clean air, the good quality life that the other places lacked, some more severely than others. Remember, the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence!

[blakeb99]

Well, I just came back from my little trip to Minnesota and I have to say it was everything I expected and more! I liked everything about the state. The people were very friendly and there was a lot to do. I visited many cities, including Mankato, Rochester, Fargo, St. Cloud, and Duluth. I think the Fargo/Moorhead area was probably my favorite. All the others were great too. I stopped in a little town called Fergus Falls, which was also really nice. I enjoyed everything about the state. It is a totally different atmosphere from here in the south. The people up there are much higher class and the state is a whole lot nicer than other parts of the country. I am already making my plans to move there ASAP!

[PowderSpringsDad]

Originally Posted by blakeb99

Well, I just came back from my little trip to Minnesota and I have to say it was everything I expected and more! I liked everything about the state. The people were very friendly and there was a lot to do. I visited many cities, including Mankato, Rochester, Fargo, St. Cloud, and Duluth. I think the Fargo/Moorhead area was probably my favorite. All the others were great too. I stopped in a little town called Fergus Falls, which was also really nice. I enjoyed everything about the state. It is a totally different atmosphere from here in the south. The people up there are much higher class and the state is a whole lot nicer than other parts of the country. I am already making my plans to move there ASAP!

Enjoy, MN! It takes all kinds and I did not like MN one bit.

[skeeter52]

I live in the TC and all and all if you enjoy culture , theatres ( there are many) the Malls for shoppg, hiking clubs, skiing, snowboarding, golf & some fishing on the edges of the city it is for you. The inner city is bad in spots and there is some old home charm to some of the suburbs - it is like everything it is what you make it. I like the country and look forward to living in the Perham, Detroit Lakes area someday. I LOVE IT THERE. I travel there frequently on the weekends - hope to meet someone special there someday to enjoy those weekends with. So have fun to you and yours.

[MomsTn]

Originally Posted by Sick_of_MN_LetMeOut!

In summer, it can get really hot & muggy, and the mosquitoes can be horrible! In winter, it's so frickin cold sometimes that it hurts to breathe, but that's not the thing that bothers me the most about winter; it's the lack of everything I love: warmth, sun, green grass, leaves on the trees, long days, short nights, having the windows open, listening to the birds sing, and COLOR! It's SO DEPRESSING when the only colors outside your window are gray, brown, & white - for SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR!

Yes, winter is my least favorite of the year.
But, I'm not a winter person. Winter here reminds me of a snow globe that isn't clear but foggy.

Moving here from Idaho, it was very hard to adjust.
It was refreshing to go back there and visit family recently.
The pace was a lot slower, and the drivers were more courteous.
The area had changed so much, and grown tremendously, and the prices had gone way up.

I had thought that I wanted to move back.
But, now, we've switched gears. We'll be heading to Tennessee within the next couple of years.

You forgot to mention the tornado warnings every year, but, they usually hit a little more south of the metro.
The last big tornado hit the Blaine area in about 1994, or something like that... before we moved here.

If you like winter and winter sports then, you will love Minnesota.
I tried ice fishing, and driving out on the lake with our little truck... scared me to death the first time we drove onto a lake.
When we moved here people asked us if we were going to have to burn our furniture when it got cold.... FUNNY....

Minnesota has some good qualities.
The humidity helped my health. In Idaho, I had pneumonia every Spring. Since we have lived in Minnesota, I haven't had it once.
Yes, people here can be reserved, but, once they warm up to you, they are the nicest. They do go out of their way to help you in a snowstorm, if you get stuck off the highway.

However, one drawback is that they tax everything.
If the taxes weren't so darned high, I think I would like the state a little better, that is, if it wasn't so cold in the winter and for so long.

I miss not being able to grow some of the plants and flowers that I could grow before.

The education here is excellent, and for the most part just about anywhere you live you will find good schools.
The thing I like is that it doesn't matter where you live, if you want your kids to go to a different school, as long as there is room for them at a particular school, and you drive them to it, your child can attend.

The cost of living is higher here, but, so are the wages.

So, if you can stand the mosquitoes (they are just about anywhere in the U.S., can't really escape them), the cold winters, the impatient drivers, and the higher cost of living, then, you will love it here.

You will see some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, minus the mountains... there really aren't any here.

You will notice some people don't like the suburbs... well, I don't like the Twin Cities. I avoid them. If I have to go there, then, I will.
I like the convenience, if I want to go to a Twins game, or to the Mall of America... but, I don't like driving to the cities. Some people do.

We live in Coon Rapids. You may hear some negative about the city.
But, we have a great city here.
You will find nice affordable housing under $200,000 that you won't find closer to the cities.
You will find great schools here. We live a block from a great park, that has a really nice walking path, 2 ballfields, and childrens play area.
We have Sand Creek which has 6 softball fields, and lights for the later night games.
The houses here are older, but, there are also newer homes. A lot of Townhouses, and a new shopping area with just about everything you would want over off of 242 (Main Street).
A lot of the people who live here, grew up in the same area, moved away, and came back.
We have very low crime here.
You can actually walk to the park at night and walk through the park without having to worry about someone bothering you.

Minnesota Nice is true.

But, like I said, I am not a winter person. I want to move closer to my family, and away from the cold.

If you like winter sports and lots of recreation year round... you will love it here. Lots to do, and lots to see.

There is a lot of culture in Minneapolis.

If you saw the movie Fargo... Minnesotans aren't like that, and the city they portrayed..... Brainerd, that movie was a laugh.... cause Brainerd is not some hick town in the Midwest.
Minnesotans just don't talk like that movie portrayed.

You will find one of the best hospitals in the world here....in Rochester, the Mayo Clinic.
Childrens Hospital in Minneapolis, is also one of the best in the country.
Yes, health care is very good.

[PeachesIsland]

I lived in MN all my life up until I moved 3 yrs ago to a warmer,sunnier state. I did not like Minnesota. Yes, maybe people are nicer on some levels but there still is a lot of superficial nice going on. Minnesota nice? not found to my knowledge in the cities or suburbs but small towns maybe.

I hated the winters and it got to the point where I HAD to get out of that state before one more came around. It is 7/8 months out of the year of dark,dreary,gray skies and snow or even worse beautful sunny skies in winter with black ice on the roads and a frigid chill. The summers are hot as can be and the humidity is very high. The spring & fall is the best Minnesota has to other.

The only thing good about Minnsota is education and cost of living,in my opinion that is all. I wouldn't move there.

[BJB817]

Three positives about MN (for me):

1) Good paying jobs
2) Family and friends here
3) Good outdoor recreation opportunites for half the year

Three negatives

1) The "other" half of the year-hibernation time
2) The mosquitoes will do their best to ruin the good half of the year
3) Taxes/cost of living high

I feel the good Lord played a cruel joke on me by sticking me here. As an outdoor enthusiast that loathes winter, I belong someplace alot warmer than this! Needless to say, if I wasn't born and raised here, MN would be pretty low on my places I'd want to live. Hopefully I'll be able to get out of here someday!

I would strongly advise anyone considering moving here from a warmer climate to spend a week here in the dead of winter. Anyone visiting here this winter could be easily fooled-this isn't normal! "Normal" is 6-7 months of brown and 3-5 months of snow on the ground.

Now I don't want to be entirely negative here. Minnesota does have many good qualities. In addition to what I mentioned above, generally speaking, our schools are good, communities well taken care of, low crime rate (outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul) and there are some beautiful areas such as the north shore and southeast bluff country.

So, I'm not totally trashing MN by any means. Honestly, if I could make the winters about 30-40 degrees warmer, I'd be content enough to stay here. There are alot of folks here that do look forward to winters for ice fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, etc... and those are the true Minnesotans that like it and belong here. Different strokes for different folks!

[thomjoe]

I must default to MN. I have traveled to all 50 states, and I can't wait to come home to Minnesota. This state certainly has faults, but I am always amazed how my state is top notch in health, education and well being for all. It's hard to leave when you have it here.

[tvdxer]

I like living in Minnesota during the summer.

I don't like it much during the winter, though.

[TCTransplant]

Originally from the Chicago area. Minnesota, has it's own culture. I sometimes wonder if there is a mental health issue here...know at least three people that have been commited, for a period of time due to anxiety, or self preservation issues. Living in Illinois for 35 years I only ran into one vs 3 in 3 years in minnesota...hmmm.

The food leaves a lot to be desired. Minneapolis and St Paul might have some excellent choices, but once you get outside of those towns your options for food are relagated to the adult McDonald's like Chilli's, TGI Friday's...etc. Blugh. Can't find a good pizza to save my life.... Pizza Hut and Dominoes are considered cuisine.

Can't buy a beer on Sunday unless I visit a bar or plan to have and buy it on Saturday. Shopping...and abundance. Laughed (not really) when I was living in Minnetonka and couldn't find a gas station open past 11pm. 50,000 person population and felt like I was in the backwater of Tennessee.

Very high cost of living...taxes are ridiculous.

Schools are noted as excellent...however, severly underfunded...special education program is a joke, and advanced placement classes...pick the right town if you have a special needs child...whether above or below academic excellence.

Now...the people...I'm in my forties, and most of the people I'd hang out with already have a good circle of friends to choose from, so climbing into that circle is difficult. If you're younger, it's probably easier...or active in the community you live in.

I'm getting used to it.

Come on...jump in...the water's 'warm.'