Why Ohio? (Dayton, Beavercreek, Kent: living, cost of living, retire)

[Daytonnatian]

Originally Posted by fishnfool

I grew up in Ohio and lived there for 25 years. While living there I didn't mind it and had little real desire to move.

Then I got a job offer and moved. Let's just say that once I left I can't ever imagine going back. One's perspective is quite different once you get out. Honestly, it has very little to offer compared to other places in this country. I do miss Lake Erie...but when I can see the ocean from my bedroom, the brown, rip rap shoreline of Erie doesn't seem so nice anymore. The best decision I've ever made in life was to leave Ohio.

It is cheap to live there, sure that's a plus....but there is a reason for that.

This thread was kind of fucused on the many positive aspects of Ohio, but whatever...

[fishnfool]

Sorry...not trying to hijack the thread. I'll answer the question on specifics and be done....

Specifics: Ocean (the Erie coast no where near compares to the coastline in northern New England), whales, seals, mountains, skiing (downhill and nordic), hiking, climbing, clean and clear rivers, Acadia NP, no crime, low unemployment, no suburbs filled with row upon row of McMansions, good economy, no run down neighborhoods or dying cities, history, quaint towns, true wilderness, saltwater fishing, moose, seafood, snow mobiling, local shopping, very few mega shopping complexes, big box stores or national chains, snow shoeing, natural lakes, great public transportation system, trees (as far as you can see from a mountain top), etc. etc.

Those are just some of the reasons why I love where I live, but most are not specific to New England...they can be found in other parts of the country too....just not in Ohio.

Ohio will always be my home and I will always have a fondness for it. I don't mean to trash it but I just thought I'd answer the question honestly.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by fishnfool

... very few mega shopping complexes, big box stores or national chains....

So, what you're saying is that you get to pay more for the same cheap, made-in-China crap we buy in big-box, national chain stores??

[bbb3601]

What I truly enjoy the most about Ohio (among others things) is we truly do recieve 4 (maybe 5) distinct seasons of weather. While I do admit we aren't as a state what we were....I would never count Ohio out.

[Beavercreek33]

Originally Posted by fishnfool

Sorry...not trying to hijack the thread. I'll answer the question on specifics and be done....

Specifics: Ocean (the Erie coast no where near compares to the coastline in northern New England), whales, seals, mountains, skiing (downhill and nordic), hiking, climbing, clean and clear rivers, Acadia NP, no crime, low unemployment, no suburbs filled with row upon row of McMansions, good economy, no run down neighborhoods or dying cities, history, quaint towns, true wilderness, saltwater fishing, moose, seafood, snow mobiling, local shopping, very few mega shopping complexes, big box stores or national chains, snow shoeing, natural lakes, great public transportation system, trees (as far as you can see from a mountain top), etc. etc.

Those are just some of the reasons why I love where I live, but most are not specific to New England...they can be found in other parts of the country too....just not in Ohio.

Ohio will always be my home and I will always have a fondness for it. I don't mean to trash it but I just thought I'd answer the question honestly.

hmm last I checked Cincinnati, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Akron all had history.

New England has no crime at all?!?!

Also, dying cities? Cincinnati blows any city in New England away in development right now, yes, even Boston. Cincinnati and Columbus both have very strong and growing economies. And I guess you don't pay attention to the development in Cleveland either. These cities aren't dying, they are possessing new life. Sorry, New England is nice, but its way too boring for me. Just being honest...

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by Beavercreek33

hmm last I checked Cincinnati, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Akron all had history.

New England has no crime at all?!?!

Also, dying cities? Cincinnati blows any city in New England away in development right now, yes, even Boston. Cincinnati and Columbus both have very strong and growing economies. And I guess you don't pay attention to the development in Cleveland either. These cities aren't dying, they are possessing new life. Sorry, New England is nice, but its way too boring for me. Just being honest...

I appreciate your state pride (Ohio could use more of it that isn't centered around Ohio State football), but lets not get carried away. Boston is in a whole other league above any Ohio city. Providence, New Haven, and Portend are all nicer than similar sized cities in Ohio. New England is also full of amazing historic small towns and natural beauty. Not trying to take anything away from Ohio, but New England is really nice and arguably the best region in the country.

You are right about the crime issue though, at least as far as Connecticut goes. Contrary to popular belief, Connecticut has some pretty ghetto cities.

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by Daytonnatian

I thought this might be a cool idea for a thread.

Okay, so why should anyone live in Ohio? What's great about living here? What do we have that others don't? Why should others move here?

Anyways, I have my own thoughts already, but I'll post them later. I am just interested to hear yours!!!!!

Ohio is great because in offers a bit of everything, it is a cheap and easy place to live, and the people are real. People should move there because it is an overlooked state that can accommodate various lifestyles at a low cost of living.

While Ohio is well a well rounded state, it is hurt by its image and the fact the it does not have any superlative assets.

[Beavercreek33]

Originally Posted by 5Lakes

I appreciate your state pride (Ohio could use more of it that isn't centered around Ohio State football), but lets not get carried away. Boston is in a whole other league above any Ohio city. Providence, New Haven, and Portend are all nicer than similar sized cities in Ohio. New England is also full of amazing historic small towns and natural beauty. Not trying to take anything away from Ohio, but New England is really nice and arguably the best region in the country.

You are right about the crime issue though, at least as far as Connecticut goes. Contrary to popular belief, Connecticut has some pretty ghetto cities.

Trust me, there is much more state pride than Ohio State football, this forum and the members on here are just a little touch of that pride. And if you notice, I was talking about construction... Boston can't compete with Cincinnati right now. Boston is a great city, I am not saying it isn't. But that all comes down to history, and how it came about.

And Portland, Maine and other similar sized New England cities have no diversity at all. There are many different factors that come into place in areas, and how they come about in the world.

Sorry, New England has many great factors. But the lack in diversity outside of Boston, the extremely high cost of living, and the "rudeness" I have witnessed there doesn't put it high on my list. I moved to Ohio from SE Pennsylvania, and I find it an extremely attractive place to live.

To each their own I guess.

[fishnfool]

I'll definitely agree on the lack of diversity....Ohio has a great amount of diversity that many people don't realize. It's something I miss.

As for the crime....NH and ME are consistently rated the safest states to live and have the lowest crime ratings of any state.

the rudeness is a common perception, and slightly warranted....but for the most part people are just reserved and not immediately open to outsiders. It's quite a bit different once you live there rather than visit though. They are much more open and welcoming in Ohio/midwest though.

[Crew Chief]

We ended up here in SW Ohio after traveling the world and being able to retire anywhere we wanted. We absolutely LOVE it here! Reasonable cost of living, great people, plenty to do (yeah, we've seen the mountains, the oceans and all those National Parks. We can always go back.) In all fairness, EVERY part of America offers something nice and I'm sure we'd enjoy it wherever we would live. But I'm just glad we chose Ohio. Things have worked out well for us here and I truly feel like this is REALLY our home! (FWIW, we don't give a HOOT about Buckeye sports...)