Impressions of Missouri (Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia: motels, new home, employment)

[skeating]

Where are you people living, drug cartels, slavery... We have lived all over MO from north,south,east, we have not encountered all this. Apparently you run with the wrong crowd of people. MO is a beautiful,safe,clean place to live. Motels well.... that depends on how much you pay per night as to the cleanliness... "you get what you pay for"

[ORexpat]

Originally Posted by skeating

Where are you people living, drug cartels, slavery... We have lived all over MO from north,south,east, we have not encountered all this. Apparently you run with the wrong crowd of people. MO is a beautiful,safe,clean place to live. Motels well.... that depends on how much you pay per night as to the cleanliness... "you get what you pay for"

I discovered in Missouri that what I paid had little relation to the amount of cleanliness. Some motels in the 60's and 70's were dirty. The two cleanest were $42 and $45.
Regarding safety, especially coming from Phoenix, I did feel very safe in Missouri. I wasn't sure if this was an illusion, but I suspected it was real. The whole attitude toward people was just a refreshing change.

[Boof]

Originally Posted by northbayeric

I might just quibble a little with the argument that Missouri is the most diverse state in the country landscape-wise. I think that distinction would have to go to California. It's amazing that Badwater Basin, at 282 feet below sea level, is located less than 100 miles from Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states at 14,495 feet. Along U.S. Highway 99 in the Central Valley, it's as flat as Interstate 57 going up to Chicago. But on Interstate 5 going up the "Grapevine" toward Los Angeles, you ascend from about 750 feet to over 4,100 feet in less than 15 miles. There's bone-dry deserts and redwood rainforests that average over 100 inches of rain a year.

But......

I think Missouri is the most diverse state, landscape-wise, in the Midwest. When I grew up in the St. Louis area, I didn't get to travel much; so now that my wife and I have gotten to enjoy two wonderful vacations in Missouri together (plus two additional ones where I was there by myself), we can both say that anyone who thinks it is "flyover country" doesn't know what he or she is talking about! I don't like the endless parade of billboards along Interstate 70, especially those for Passions "Adult" Superstore. But get off the interstate and onto Highway 17 or 19 or 21 or 79, or Route K or Highway HH, etc., and you're in for a treat! Much of California is so dry that there aren't that many trees compared to most of Missouri--generally a loose scattering of oak trees amidst dry brown grass. Or you're in the desert. Unless you're in the high Sierras or up north along the coast past central Mendocino County, the summers are brown while Missouri is green and lush. Call me crazy , but I think the extra humidity is often worth it.

Eric,

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the CA landscape. In a nutshell...you hit the nail smack dab on the head!!! And your thoughts on MO seem to be right on as well. There is some very beautiful country around here, especially when you get off the interstates & freeways. However, I must say, IMHO, that even the interstates & freeways in MO are much more lush, green & pleasant than those in CA.

And I must agree 10000%, that the extra humidity IS worth it!!! I've only been out of CA for 4 months, and you couldn't DRAG me back!!! Thanks for reminding us.

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

Few points...
1, people that live in trailers and deal in drugs are trash, pure and simple trash.
2, those that deal in drugs should be hung by their privates, naked, covered in sugar water, over a pit of fire ants.
and most importantly,,,
3, Hillbillies do not live in trailers.

Caver,

You should run for President! I'd vote for ya!!!

Originally Posted by ORexpat

I discovered in Missouri that what I paid had little relation to the amount of cleanliness. Some motels in the 60's and 70's were dirty. The two cleanest were $42 and $45.
Regarding safety, especially coming from Phoenix, I did feel very safe in Missouri. I wasn't sure if this was an illusion, but I suspected it was real. The whole attitude toward people was just a refreshing change.

OR,

You are so right! Cost has nothing to do with cleanliness! During our drive out here, we stayed at a hotel that was $68, and it was probably the dirtiest hotel in that class that we'd ever stayed in. I complained to the front desk, as well as to the corporate office. It was disgusting!!!!!!! The cleanest one was priced in the $40s.

As for the safety....I concur. Compared to CA and other areas we've been to, MO feels very safe to me. With the exception of some areas in Springfield. But, every state has their bad areas, right. The people here just seem to be trying to live a good life. They aren't preoccupied with 'doing unto others' before they're done unto, which makes for a very pleasant life.

And as for your first statements about MO, don't think twice about it. We all have our own initial experiences & feelings, and those just happened to be yours. Live & learn, huh?

Lovin' MO,
Boof

[recycled]

ORexpat, I found your comments interesting about the MO roadtrip. I did a MO roadtrip about a year ago, making a clockwise loop from KC. I spent 6 months in MO in the 1970s courtesy of the Army at Ft Leonard Wood (south of Rolla) so I'm not a complete stranger to MO. I actually like the area surrounding FLW, although most of the towns are nothing to rave about. I'm an outdoor oriented person so central MO appeals to me with lots of lakes, rivers, backroads to explore. Like you, I have some ancestors from many generations ago that lived in NW MO (and SE Nebraska). I need to make another visit to MO and decide if it will be where I might move to in 3 years or so when I retire (to escape southern cal).
Thanks to all the others who commented here with Orexpat, you have some interesting things to say too, and you manage to put a little humor in there to to keep things friendly.

[cskiwi]

I moved to St Louis from upstate NY and was never happier. I hated to leave there - which was out of my control. Everyone was very friendly, and even after finding out I was from NY, I found there was more interest, than attitude. I miss it so much, now that I'm back in NY. If an opportunity came about that allowed me to go back, I would in a second.

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by cskiwi

I moved to St Louis from upstate NY and was never happier. I hated to leave there - which was out of my control. Everyone was very friendly, and even after finding out I was from NY, I found there was more interest, than attitude. I miss it so much, now that I'm back in NY. If an opportunity came about that allowed me to go back, I would in a second.

Which part of upstate NY? Ever bum around Sherburne area, for example? Not really upstate [ummm,, where exactly is upstate considered such, where should you recommend such be 'upstate' ], was very area - really surprised me w/ all the ridges/mountains there. Some very great food and people met too.

When ya was in StL, whereabout did ya get to see/visit? Any thing ya'd recommend from your perspective?

[GraniteStater]

The Adriondack Park area in upstate NY is very nice, but many of the trees have been damaged by acid rain pollution. The reason is that upstate NY is directly downwind from the industrial areas of the Midwest along with many coal power plants.

[ORexpat]

A couple more thoughts on Missouri. I really liked the way, as soon as you leave Kansas City, you are in the country. This is the way it used to be, and, I feel, the way cities should be. But, I am really down on sprawl, after living in Phoenix. It's too bad so many of the towns seem kind of decaying. Yes, it's Mayberry, but I grew up in the real Mayberry era, and it was vital and alive. I often felt in MO towns, such as Sedalia, as if Mayberry had been frozen in time.
One more observation. I just got my ER bill today (from Jefferson City.) My visit was $90. I thought at first it must be a mistake. I took my cat to kitty ER last Saturday, here in Gilbert, and it was $105.

[Cali BassMan]

$90.00 for a ER visit?? In Cali that won't pay for the asprin and the little paper cup of water.....

[northbayeric]

How right you are; it would scarcely pay for baby aspirin and water out of the tap!