Help! We may relocate to Jackson, MS area. (Clinton, Ridgeland: military, trip)

[Sierratipper]

My husband and I moved here 2.5 years ago. We looked in the Madison area and the Brandon area, and we chose the Reservoir area of Brandon. We have loved it. We got a lot more house here for our money than we could in Madison...and you don't have to "dress" to go to the gas station here. Madison is a nice area, but just not for us.

[grahamfam]

Sierratipper, I am not sure if you have kids or not, but if you do, how are the schools in your area?

[auntbee]

Originally Posted by grahamfam

Sierratipper, I am not sure if you have kids or not, but if you do, how are the schools in your area?

I know your question wasn't for me, but my ds lives in the Reservoir area and his kids go to the Northwest Rankin schools. All of them are excellent. They transferred from a private school in the area. One of them goes to the high school, one to middle school and the other to elementary.

[jxn3000]

absolutely, positively no way i would leave chicago for mississippi...get ready for culture shock to the nth degree

[jsherman9901]

Originally Posted by jxn3000

absolutely, positively no way i would leave chicago for mississippi...get ready for culture shock to the nth degree

And there is absolutely, positively NO WAY I would leave Mississippi for Chicago!! I've already done the big city thing a couple times in my life and I'll take the laid back way of doing things any day over the city rat race.

[grahamfam]

Actually we live in Belvidere (near Rockford). The population here is about 25,000 and I do like somewhat of a slower pace. We moved from a busier area of the Chicago suburbs. But I do like to have amenities nearby as is in Rockford. I really don't want to turn this into a Chicago vs. Mississippi debate as we have talked to many people who live there or are from there and got a feel for the differences in culture. I am more looking for helpful information if we do have to make this move.

[jxn3000]

it is definitely not about the slower pace...i am fine with that, and you will definitely find that here, which is fine. you had just mentioned concerns, i believe, about a blended family. contrary to what anyone may tell you about what strides have been made here, you can be certain that there is an overabundance of people who are unaccepting and intolerant of anyone different from them. just being honest.

[grahamfam]

jxn3000, it sounds like you are not happy there. Where are you located and why do you stay?

[george.co.msgirl]

grahamfam,

If you look for discontent, you can find it everywhere. We are a blended family that moved to Madison six years ago (our first year we were in Ridgeland in an apartment). We have been able to make lots of friends and feel a part of the community. I believe I mentioned earlier that Madison seems to have more families that have relocated from out of state.

Of course Mississippi is different than Chicago.
I think you'll find that the good out weighs the bad. We have three kids (12,11, and 8). Unfortunately, because of my husband's job relocation we will be moving. We are both upper level professionals. But, I am a stay at home mom right now until the kids are more independent. I tell you this to say that we have NOT been able to find Madison where we are moving. It really will be hard to leave here.

Whatever you decide, I hope that if you visit Madison you will see all its charm that we have found in the last six years.

[george.co.msgirl]

Oh, I forgot to tell you that my husband and I have lived in many different places( even international) in our married life and (maybe because our kids are old enough to be in activities) we made many more friends that we are going to miss dearly here in Madison.