Please help! SPECIFIC ?s re: Camdenton & area... (Rolla, California: buying a house, neighborhood)

[heatherbird]

Hello all,

My husband has a really great job prospect in Camdenton, MO. The timeline is very very fast, as he has an interview in the middle of April and would find out if he is hired on the 21st, then starts the job on May 5! Yikes! We currently live in Nothern California, and I have NO CLUE about anything in the Camdenton area, besides what I've read here and other places online. So, here are a few specific questions, if anyone would be so kind as to help!

1. We are a young couple (25) and have a 6month old. I'm not looking for a 'party' town, or any 'type' of town such as that necessarily, but I was wondering what the population is like for young people? Would we be able to meet other couples our age, or other couples with small children?

2. We are what you might call 'interracial', in terms of the fact that I am white and my husband is not. Is this going to be a problem in that area? This is probably my biggest concern.

3. What, specifically, are the areas that we should look into in terms of buying a house? I want a somewhat 'upscale' neighborhood; in other words, preferably no trash on the lawns or areas that I wouldn't feel safe taking the dogs for a walk at night. I also don't want to live in one of the areas that I've heard people speak of here that has really really high boat traffic and boating deaths/injuries. Since DH would be working 8-5 M-F, it really isn't an option to take the boat out during the week (I love how I'm talking about 'my' boat that doesn't even exist , but still, we may decide to get one).

4. Kind of a continuation of #3, but these are the areas that I've been looking at: Camdenton, Linn Creek, Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach. Any preferences here? We aren't going to have a TON of money, since there is no way that we could sell our house before moving (we live in one of the worst markets in the entire country), so we won't have an enormous downpayment. But I'd be willing to struggle a little for a while until we could sell. In other words, our LIMIT would be about $180K. What about Lakefront vs. 'in-town' properties? Are lakefronts good? Bad? Better than other options?

5. Umm, water moccasins. I've heard mixed reports. If there are water moccasins in these areas, do I need to worry about them on my lakefront home? Like I said, kids and dogs... as well as my complex about snakes... they wouldn't mix well!!! Do we need to worry about swimming in the lake? Hanging out on our non-existent deck on the water, or being by the water's edge???

6. Friendliness. We are small-town people trapped in suburbia, so this is something that would be important to us. Would we be welcomed? Tested? Ousted? Hated? I'm all for paying my dues, but really, it needs to be reasonable. I read another posting about the importance of waving... we can do that. Is there anything else I should know about the people?

Anything else at all I should know in general??? We WILL be visiting the area before making the possible move, but I don't know that I could really get a feel for it in one week like I can from reading expert opinions and advice from you fine folks. Sorry this is so long, I'm starting to feel a little desperate!

[ShadowCaver]

I don't have enough experience in that area related to your questions, but as to the snakes, for the most part they will leave you alone, unless ya step on/near them, they are being protective of their turf, or are shedding and therefore blind. Their venom of course is poisonous, but for the most part they don't release it - but, I ain't willing to gamble such! A couple good sites to help learn about them are:
Snakes of Missouri: Venomous Snakes
Cottonmouth Confusion
When it comes down to it, my recommendation is to NOT let your fear of these snakes guide you away from a place that otherwise you may love. For example, the rural farm place I lived at south of Rolla had many many black, cottonmouths, garden, etc. snakes - in the ~6 years there, only had one dog bit once, and she suffered nothing at all major, just slight swelling for ~1 week.

As to the mixed couple thing... if anyone gives yas trouble, let me know, and I've a special place for those jerks. Seriously, and unfortunately, you will find idiots anywhere, but as to that specific area if they are more prevalent than other places I can't say for sure. At the end of the day, just like the real slithery snakes, don't let the human versions of snakes concern you - in my experience in that area, I can't fathom too much trouble; but I say this as one not living there, just as a visitor.

Again, best to yas.



ps: when ya move there and get that boat, let us know when the party is! j/k...

[korissley]

Heatherbird ... I just joined this forum and came across your post, I know it is almost a year old but I was curious if you made the move. My husband and I decided to move our family of 5 to Camdenton from So. CA 3 years ago and we absoultely love it here and will never go back.