Why you should be careful before moving anywhere (Springfield, Ozark: home, neighborhood)

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by OA 5599

I went and found the original thread, and while the poster didn't seem too happy about the lack of a perfectly ripened avocado or reasonably priced grapefruit in Arkansas, he/she also did not say that they hated Arkansas or had any intention to move back to Texas.

I don't think I said he hated Arkansas or intended to go back to Texas, but he said he was very frustated, and that's the point: The gentleman's quality of life is suffering because something precious to him, fresh and cheap produce, isn't as readily available to him in Arkansas as it was in Texas. If he had known this before he made the move, would he have gone through with it? I don't know, but I'll bet he's wishing he had known then what he knows now.

You just can't get too much information before you make a major move, is my point, and the only one who can dig up that information is yourself. After you make the move, it's too late to whine.

[ShadowCaver]

At the end of the day, when a person honestly reflects on all aspects of where they are living, be it home or some other place that they scratch their noggins wondering why in hades they are there, there are pros and cons to each and every place a person can settle down. As much as I love and miss the Ozarks, I will be first to admit she ain't perfect... no place is 'perfect': this area will have mudslides yet awesome views, this place has beautiful beaches but hurricanes, this place is great for allergies but is so durn dry, this place is amazing yet taxes are killer, while this place yada yada ya...

A person/family at times maybe needs to make compromises too. Living here in northeastern Hoosierana, I do so miss the hills and cricks and valleys and springs and caves and the hillbilly kinfolks and all that is of the Ozarks, yet I hate to admit that there are good things to this area, and am satisfied being here,,, for now . When was in 'bama, that was almost heaven in so many aspects - heck, had over 2k caves w/in a 30 minute drive , yet was frustrating living there due to other parts. A person can research via the 'net, via phone, even spend couple days/weeks in an area, but until actually LIVE there, don't really see and experience the real 'awareness' of the new digs. And those that whine about crud after moving somewhere, sorry, but have no sympathy from me... not because I've no heart, but IMHO whining is beyond childish, serves no positive. If don't like something/someplace, pack bags and get, or learn more about the place/people/culture and only after such is done then work WITH others with respect to improve/modify/change what is buggering ya. Fresh blood can be good thing for an area, but don't expect many fans if being a prickly prissy obnoxious thorn.

lol, found this forum due to my research on potential move to PA almost couple years ago. And will say that every time that have moved [all work related reasons], there has not been a single time that have not researched to death, made my pro/con listings, debated w/ myself and others, drove around the area/city that was contemplating, talked w/ as many locals as could before and during and after interviews and/or meetings. My personal "avocado" - being in an area where I can get lost outdoors, enjoy ma nature, hike/cave/bike/fish/hunt/explore, and/or be close to an area where such can be done relatively quickly.

[GSXRScott]

Originally Posted by mo wannabe

You're kidding right? I have dreamed about moving back to the midwest since I moved to Phx in 1980.

Yeah. I moved here 3 years ago after spending 18 yrs in the Valley of the Sun. There's a lot I miss like, the mountains, snowboarding in Flag, Camping and Mountain Biking up on the Mogollon Rim, quick 3 day weekend trips to Rocky Point or L.A.. But overall the quality of life is better in Kansas City. The pace is slower, the people are nicer, there's less crime, the weather IMO is better, very little traffic, low cost of living and as you mentioned its a great place to raise a family which at 33 is my next order of business. I might consider Denver just because I miss the mountains so much but even so, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a more likable place to live then Missouri.

[Nu2pomona]

We're one of those families who drove through the Ozarks on our way somewhere else and decided this would be a great place to retire.

Here's some things I wish someone had told me.

1) Before moving to an area, subscribe to the local newspaper. It doesn't matter if it comes a day or two late in the mail - you're not going to the garage sales anyway. You can learn much about an area by reading its newspaper.

2) Rent for the first year. While I love my house, I'm not nuts about its location. I wish we had rented for the first year we were here and really explored the area before plunking down big bucks for a house. We've found so many beautiful places since we've been here.

3) Join, join, join. Once you are here, join a gym, join a service club, find a place to volunteer. Don't sit and wait for people to come to you. They may have done that back where you came from - but it isn't going to happen here. It's not that folks aren't friendly, they are. It's just that they expect their privacy and respect yours.

4) Ask for advice. Don't assume you'll know the best place to buy sliced bread - you won't. Ask people where they shop and why. Ask people to recommend, refer, point to and suggest. They'll be flattered and happy to help. You'll avoid making some serious mistakes.

5) This is HOME. The place you left used to be home but it isn't any more. Stop talking about it as if it were. If it was so wonderful, you'd still be there.

[misplaced1]

That's a lot of great advice! I like to read the online news from places I have thought of moving to. I've never been big on renting but it's a darn good idea. I'm not too outgoing or social so I'm happy just getting to know a few close neighbors and my flowers so I don't get out much to meet people. I won't be one to complain though about others not coming up to meet me, I know the road goes both ways.

Originally Posted by Nu2pomona

We're one of those families who drove through the Ozarks on our way somewhere else and decided this would be a great place to retire.

Here's some things I wish someone had told me.

1) Before moving to an area, subscribe to the local newspaper. It doesn't matter if it comes a day or two late in the mail - you're not going to the garage sales anyway. You can learn much about an area by reading its newspaper.

2) Rent for the first year. While I love my house, I'm not nuts about its location. I wish we had rented for the first year we were here and really explored the area before plunking down big bucks for a house. We've found so many beautiful places since we've been here.

3) Join, join, join. Once you are here, join a gym, join a service club, find a place to volunteer. Don't sit and wait for people to come to you. They may have done that back where you came from - but it isn't going to happen here. It's not that folks aren't friendly, they are. It's just that they expect their privacy and respect yours.

4) Ask for advice. Don't assume you'll know the best place to buy sliced bread - you won't. Ask people where they shop and why. Ask people to recommend, refer, point to and suggest. They'll be flattered and happy to help. You'll avoid making some serious mistakes.

5) This is HOME. The place you left used to be home but it isn't any more. Stop talking about it as if it were. If it was so wonderful, you'd still be there.

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by Nu2pomona

5) This is HOME. The place you left used to be home but it isn't any more. Stop talking about it as if it were. If it was so wonderful, you'd still be there.

Very good list -that last one especially. Must be hard to do too, if you had lived somewhere a long time.

[Nu2pomona]

Originally Posted by Silvermouse

Very good list -that last one especially. Must be hard to do too, if you had lived somewhere a long time.

66 years in the previous place. 18 months here. And it is hard to stop talking about 'home' meaning the previous place but if the new place is ever going to be HOME, you have to just set your mind to it and stop doing it.

I think my spouse misses Wisconsin more than I do. I found out today he ordered six pounds of frozen lake perch and five pounds of smoked chubs from a fish dealer in our previous home town. They should arrive tomorrow.

Now, I gotta tell you - in all the years we lived in that town (1960-2007), I never ONCE bought lake perch by the pound or smoked chubs. Funny how that's something he would be homesick for.

[appliceng]

Hello all,

Well I am one of thous 'outsiders' that has decided to move and make my home outside of Cabool Mo.

I agree that one should personally check out where they plan to move BEFORE you move but it seems to me that no matter where you move there will always be some sort of adjustment to your surroundings. If you like your current fruits and vegetables stay where you are.

On the other hand I could move less than a mile from where I live here in Pittsburgh and have severe culture shock. Most cities have a variety of flavors and you get a taste of the 'apples and oranges' and settle for what you like.

Example: My wife was from LA and had culture shock when she moved to Miami where I was then living (shock in a negative way), Then when we moved to my home town of Pittsburgh she had another shock as to how nice people were. I am sure that we will have some culture shock but you know what .... we will adjust. Life is too short to not to fill it up with new experiences.

What I expect:

Peace and quiet ( I have 40 acres)
No people yelling at me that my trash can was on the sidewalk past 5pm
Real people with real values
A place to eat out occasionally
A place to buy doughnuts and food

I'll wing the rest

Now, take with your best shot as to how naive I am

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by appliceng

What I expect:

Peace and quiet ( I have 40 acres)
No people yelling at me that my trash can was on the sidewalk past 5pm
Real people with real values
A place to eat out occasionally
A place to buy doughnuts and food

I'll wing the rest

Now, take with your best shot as to how naive I am

You can get plenty of all that at Cabool.
I'm just waiting for you or the wife to start complaining that you miss all the cultural opportunities, that you can't function because of the lack of artistic expression, that you miss the "serious shopping" (my favorite expression used by you city slickers) of your home city.
You will complain about these things. I guarantee it. Transplants ALWAYS do.

[NOLA2SGF]

About four years ago we identified a Missouri town (Springfield) in which we want to retire. We have visited it 3-4 times a year since then, using all of our vacation time. We read the newspaper and check the real estate listings online every week, and explore other aspects as much as we can online.

We have:
- - shopped in the grocery stores and many other stores there,
- - gone to real estate open houses,
- - driven around enough that we no longer need a map,
- - visited local gyms,
- - eaten at local restaurants,
- - gotten a haircut,
- - driven through the "bad" part of town late on Saturday night, purposely,
- - visited nearby small towns,
- - explored a big lake about an hour north of town (Lake Stockton) and other closer lakes,
- - timed the drive to Kansas City,
- - walked on nature trails in Springfield, and
- - spent time reading in the public library.

We have tried to be there in the most rotten weather possible, although we had to scoot south to Arkansas just ahead of the ice storms twice, before the roads iced up. But we have seen snow there. When we are back here, we enjoy getting online, finding new and interesting information about Springfield, and trying to think of ideas for things we should do or check out on our next visit.

I think the idea of renting for a year is wonderful and makes a lot of sense. Having been to a few open houses on our trips to Springfield, I know that it will be extremely tempting to buy faster than that.

Ozarksboy, I think you are (justifiably) annoyed by people that move to your area and then complain on and on about it instead of accepting it for what it is, a place with plusses and minuses and yet a place that you love just as it is. I would be aggravated, too! That type of person probably won't stay long.