Why move to North Dakota? (Rugby, Center: public school, salvaged, taxes)

[Angela2932]

Ms Freud,

One of your best bets re: housing might be to check directly with base housing at the GFAFB. From what I have heard over the past few years, there are new houses available on base, and considered quite nice. With the reduced population on base, these might be readily available to you. If you're not use to winter driving, that might help you reduce the amount of time you spend on the stretch of road between the base and the city itself. Highway 2 can get treacherous with wind blowing up the snow and reducing visibility. The down side is that it seems military families tend to feel much more isolated, though, with considerably less to do, if they do live on base rather than in the city.

One thing I'll warn you about is that we North Dakotans like to take winter scare stories to Olympian Heights. I don't know what it is about us, but over the past 30 years, over and over I've seen seasoned North Dakotans just love to scare the toes off newcomers who haven't gone through their first winter yet. Winters are bad, but we can make them sound much, much worse! Anything you hear about the winters here, try and reduce it by about 20%! And the best investment you could possibly make is an auto-start for your car!

Best of like to you, and welcome!

[tommyl8586]

My Wife and I have found a greeat home in Steele, supposed to be around 30 mins from Bismark? Does anyone know if there are colleges near there? How about just regular jobs, in stores, daycares, things like that while we go to college? Does anyone live in Steele that can tell me more about it? The people, things like that, are people in ND looked bad upon if they do not attend church? Thanks.

[gblackwell]

I am military, and was recently "non-vol'd" to Grand Forks AFB from McGuire AFB in New Jersey. I will be coming by myself--family to stay in Jersey--, and have been researching the area. I am finding that things are cheaper in E. Grand Forks, MN. Is there a big difference in the two--other than one being on the other side of the river? Any recommendations? Will probably be renting a small place. Any recommendations/advice--places to avoid? Finally, am contemplating bringing a rear wheel-driven vehicle (Mustang w/traction control) is this advisable due to the weather or would I be better off with something rear-wheel driven? Winters here in Jersey are cold, but I'm sure nothing like up there. thanks in advance

[3-Oaks]

Originally Posted by chani29f

I have to add my .02. I am from Northern California (3 hrs north of San Francisco) and travelled through North Dakota on the way home during the Great Road Trip of 2007. My daughter, two friends and I travelled through NV, UT, CO, WY, SD, MN, ND, MT, ID, & OR. Very cool trip. ................

Oh, next year we are doing the Great American Road Trip part II: 2009 edition (I'm a geek. What can I say?) and we will be traveling through North Dakota again but will definitely allow for more time to see more of the sights. You all have beautiful country up there!

Be sure to allow time to check out the Valley City area. I think you'd like it. I think I know the campground you mentioned. It's about 20 minutes west of here. Really a very nice young couple....

[jvoigt]

Anybody know anything about Ellendale, ND?

[ebitdadada]

Originally Posted by Angela2932

And the best investment you could possibly make is an auto-start for your car!

What about an auto-drive? That would be sweet.

[huttah]

Originally Posted by Chris19

Very good point, bismanpokerclub. I understand where you are coming from to a certain extent. I know that North Dakota is not all flat and know that there are some other very flat areas such as areas in central and northern parts of Indiana and Illinois along with the Platte River Valley in Nebraska. I am curious about the Turtle Mountains and wonder if they are wooded or treeless. I should visit North Dakota sometime and see the other places. I know that generalizations (often I hear it from others in the southern part of South Dakota that ND is flat) do not tell the full story about the entire state. After being in North Dakota a couple of times, I would like to explore up there more in the future.

Actually, the Turtle Mountains are hills and the Black Hills are mountains! Hence Mt. Rushmore being in the Black Hills :O

We learned about it in school once, about how someone messed up when they were labeling stuff on a map and they just never changed it.

[Future Trooper]

i love the black hills. one of the things i would like to do while i am still young is go to the black hills rally.

[MikeyToo]

Lessons on Life

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in

summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree wa s ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

Moral:

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

Don't judge life by one difficult season.




Persevere through th e difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or

later.

Have a nice day....

MikeyToo

[roundball]

I like!!

To me both the Winter and Summer leave a lot to be desired. The Spring and Fall are both very nice.