Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Beach area - considering move to the area (Camdenton: 2009, job market)

[Mbloxus]

My husband and I (both in our early 20's) are considering moving to the Lake of the Ozarks area. Granted we've both only visited the area for vacations, my husband did live in the area for 6 weeks for an internship. We love the area, but are very unsure as to which "town" we'd fit best in.

Being young, we like to have fun, but we also want to be able to relax as well. So while we'd like to live in a laid-back area, we also want to be close to the lake and to "city life". Hope this makes sense.. which town(s) would you recommend? Any information, tips, etc. is helpful! Thank you!!

[MoNative34]

What do you plan on doing to make a living? The job market is poor, wages are low and many of the jobs are seasonal. Yes. It is a fun place to vacation, but a very difficult area to make a living.

[DinsdalePirahna]

And where are you from? There is a bit of a cultural shock if you come out from east of the Hudson River or west of the 405 Freeway.

[Mbloxus]

My husband is a physical therapist assistant. He did a clinical in the hospital in Osage Beach. And we currently live in the northwest corner of Missouri, so culture shock isn't really a concern. :-)

[muman]

No doubt that as a PT/PT Asst he'll have an easier time than many in finding a job anywhere, so maybe that isn't as big a concern...BUT it seems that the Osage Beach area really slows down for the non-summer months. It's like night and day between summer and fall/winter/spring. If you want 'laid-back' you may very well like it, but I think some who've been there on a vacation in high season would be very surprised if they went back during the winter.

[stlcitygirl]

Mbloxus,
I love the Lake of the Ozarks. My parents live there and they seem to really enjoy everything about it. I would visit in winter, when it is really quiet to see if you like it when its dead. It can be kind of boring, but it can also be nice if you like the peace and quiet. I think it is the only place I would live in Missouri if I left St Louis.

[SummersAtTheLake]

I have lived at the lake full time for 10 years and it is not nearly as quiet in the winter as it was when I first moved here. Many people that work at the hospital live in Osage Beach and Linn Creek as it is pretty close to the hospital but Camdenton is only about 15 minutes away also and housing is a bit more affordable. I livejust across the community bridge on Shawnee Bend and love it as it is minutes from Osage Beach but much quieter especially in the summer months..the bridge toll can take a bite out of your paycheck if you cross regulary though.

[ozarksboy]

Lake of the Ozarks or Lagoon of the Ozarks?

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

Lake of the Ozarks or Lagoon of the Ozarks?

Must be the Lagoon of the Ozarks. Check out this commentary in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. There's even a lagoon creature pictured.

Take a look, too, at this story and also this one.

Lake of the Ozarks has gotten over-developed over the years, and now it has turned nasty.

The same thing is bound to happen in Southwest Missouri as development continues.

[joetownmom]

Originally Posted by Mbloxus

My husband is a physical therapist assistant. He did a clinical in the hospital in Osage Beach. And we currently live in the northwest corner of Missouri, so culture shock isn't really a concern. :-)

I've lived in northwest MO and believe me, moving to the Lake of the Ozarks area will indeed have many culture shocks in store.