Outward Migration (Polk: agricultural, estimates, farms)

[NEwife]

Interesting topic, as my husband and I have been discussing moving to a smaller town. What is holding us back? We are upper 20's, no kids yet, pretty good jobs. Unfortunately, if we moved to a small town, like Broken Bow, Fullerton, Greeley...where would we work? We would not want to have to drive more than 30 miles to work so we would have no income.

[Chris19]

Originally Posted by NEwife

Interesting topic, as my husband and I have been discussing moving to a smaller town. What is holding us back? We are upper 20's, no kids yet, pretty good jobs. Unfortunately, if we moved to a small town, like Broken Bow, Fullerton, Greeley...where would we work? We would not want to have to drive more than 30 miles to work so we would have no income.

Good point. A person may have an easier time finding decent employment if he or she is in education, medical, mechanical (mechanic and ag-related), or banking. If feasible, a business opporuntunity is another option. It would not hurt to research the area and see what the area lacks and could benefit from and go into an underserved area that would likely be patronized by locals in the area.

Many smaller towns need to work together in education, economic development, employment opportunities, and other areas to stem the loss of people, especially younger people, and have stable or steadily growing populations.

[tpabes]

Originally Posted by NEwife

Interesting topic, as my husband and I have been discussing moving to a smaller town. What is holding us back? We are upper 20's, no kids yet, pretty good jobs. Unfortunately, if we moved to a small town, like Broken Bow, Fullerton, Greeley...where would we work? We would not want to have to drive more than 30 miles to work so we would have no income.

What do you do, maybe we could help?

[Off Pavement]

We're new Nebraska residents (just over a month now) that have been documenting our experiences from finding our dream place, to getting license plates and meeting the greatest people in the world.

You can read the entire series at...

McCook Daily Gazette

To get the whole story, I'd recommend you start at the oldest post first.

[Gunluvver2]

Some good insights on your blog Off Pavement.
One of the local hangouts I always enjoyed were the local livestock auctions.
It has been a few years since I visited any of the livestock auctions in the McCook area and I don't even know if they still have any operating in the area. The little cafes at some of the area "sale barns" used to have great food. Most of them had fresh eggs from locals and great bacon or ham. Some of them seemed to have the best pastry chefs in the area. The only drawback was the flies that always buzzed around in the warmer months. But what the heck they don't eat much.

GL2

[itsMeFred]

any of the livestock auctions in the McCook area and I don't even know if they still have any operating in the area.

McCook's (tri-state) is still open and operating (I want to say Wednesdays are sale day. We have a buddy that rides for sale days, but by golly if I can remember which day it is for sure! lol)
There's also a good one up in Imperial with a horse sale the first Saturday of every month.

I had to comment on this from your blog, OP.

What made this breakfast special for us is that we got to meet this very friendly fellow that knows more about our place than we do it seemed.

We've lived on nine different ranches in the past ten years. Ie, nine new homes. And each time I count on people to know more about my "new" house than I do. Knowing the history makes me feel more at home. It also answers questions. Like--why does my current house have a wheelchair ramp?? (an ex-employee had a daughter that was wheelchair-bound)

Invariably that's one of the first questions people ask when we move into a new area, "which place are you living on?" This time was pretty easy, though. There's a sign that says, "Tracy Unit" leading into our house.

--Erin

[SCGranny]

LOL - We plan on posting a sign on our property gate once we get settled - "Little Tara". Our own little Southern statement that will let everyone know how proud we are of not only our Irish and southern heritage, but how mischievous, TIC, and full of humor we really are. For a local Grand Opening last year, hubby and I dressed as Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett - older, of course, but...
We do like to have fun!
Of course, it is VERY hard to have a small working farm (what we really want to do) in these clothes! We're really the blue-jean-flannel-shirt type. The advertising gigs did pay the bills, though!

[tpabes]

SC Granny, if you end up settling in Cherry County, head on Hwy 20 over to O'Neill, the Irish captiol of Nebraska, see the shamrock made of colored concrete, I forget what intersection. They also have celebrations on St. Patty's day and a festival in the summer.

[itsMeFred]

I forget what intersection.

Hwy 20 and main street. (I can't remember if it's a highway, also, or not...)
St. Patty's in O'Neill is definatley something to see, though. I'm going to guess it's one of the few areas in Nebraska where you can find Irish dancers.

[SCGranny]

Thanks, Fred and Tpabes! Hubby was very interested to hear that! It's got to beat some of the seriously drunken revelries (where it isn't about culture, but about drinking nasty-flavored green beer) we've been to! As an Irishwoman, I have nothing against liquor(except me! grin) - but drunkenness for the sake of drunkenness I do not understand.

Y'know, odd as it sounds... I actually prefer the polka!
D'you think my family would toss me out if I admitted that? I like the Irish culture, and also the Southern one in which I was raised... but I have had Italian friends, and German friends, British, Greek, and even Japanese friends, and love trying new foods and exploring other cultures' lifestyles.

(But some of those English foods are a little strange. Shhh. I did NOT say that.) Fish and chips are great - but...um... steak and kidney pie, and bangers and mash, or blood pudding, are a little odd to me.