Relocating to Kearney (Center: home, neighborhoods, theatre)

[Ok Husker]

I am still mulling over uprooting myself and transplanting to Kearney. I have noticed that the median age in Kearney is fairly young--probably because of the college(?). What is the availability of home services for the not-so-spry-anymore? I am talking about everything around the home from cleaning out gutters to small household repairs, lawn care, window washing etc. The things you think nothing of doing when you can easily zip up and down ladders or get down on your knees and crawl around. Also is there any kind of routine garbage pick up service available for the near by rural residences? Though, thankfully, I don't need it yet--how are the home health services? It really is a nuisance getting old, but it is better than the alternative. Thank you for any input.

[tpabes]

You can easily find those services in Kearney. At worst you can hire a neighbor kid to do it for you! There is garbage pick up to rural residences, that shouldn't be a problem either.

[roots'nbulbs]

I think you will like Kearney.........'Have no idea what you like to do with your time, but I would suppose that you will find someone of like-mind in a town of this size.

I don't live in Kearney, but go there, often, because it serves as my outpost. If you like cultural events, you will love MONA and the Merryman Center and the University theatre and music and art dept. programs. They are all top notch. (Also, recommend the Roman, downtown, for jazz and Elements for art shows and natural foods.)

If you like sports (and beer), you will be in heaven at the Tri-Cities Events center for hockey and the local sports bars plus all the tournaments that are played on campus. And, of course, great golf courses. Nearby lakes for boating.

There is a 'horsey' set in Kearney, if that appeals. Tell me and I will direct you to a group who haul and ride. These are my friends.

If you are at that magic moment, in your life, when you just want to watch the sun come up and go down, the library is outstanding and the neighborhoods are friendly. There are a lot of card playing groups, around. One group gets together for bridge at Valentinos.

At worst, you would be a teacher and facing all the social problems of current families in a small city. At best, you will like good coffee and art and sports and working class to middle class people.

Good Luck!!!

[Ok Husker]

tpabes and roots'nbulbs, thanks again for answers to my questions. I really find the Kearney area appealing. It IS a good size for a diversity of activities and interests--which is great. It is going to be a time consuming process to disengage from my life here in Ok--months?--but as you can probably tell from my questions, I am trying to imagine and foresee what challenges/considerations/molehills I may need to address in making my decision for urban living (my mind says more practical) vs rural (where my heart lies). For example, where I currently live (on the end of a dead end road plus some), any given winter I face the possibility of being snowed in for a couple days and/or as in the winter of 07, being without power for 4-5 days. Since I am retired from the town job and have sold my cattle, I DO enjoy the luxury of not needing to be somewhere at a certain time. Nebraska seems better prepared to deal with even more extreme weather conditions and opens up roads etc much more quickly. On the other hand I am on a rural water system that has no problems and have no experience with the care and feeding of a well/pump. So I am just dithering.
So again, thanks.