Oklahoma City or Phoenix, AZ? (Lawton, Muskogee: relocate, salary, house)

[peggydavis]

I hope things get better for the rest of the country soon. I read on some of the other forums and feel sorry for some of the people who are having financial problems, even facing foreclosures.

[backspace2]

GREEN WROTE: "Being in Oklahoma all my life, I don't know how to gauge our friendliness. I know I've never had problems making new friends, and have talked to plenty of people out of state who have moved and have tons of Oklahoma friends now. Oklahomans are typically very proud of their state. When someone wants to become an Oklahoman, usually natives are eager to welcome them".

"Oklahoma can be VERY flat. But do a little google searching and you may find that Oklahoma has very diverse environments throughout the state. We have flat prairies, we have a sand dune desert, dense forests, small mountain ranges, and even some swamps. I think for a recreational hiker, there are some nice places to look into. And yes, we have many different lakes to hike, fish, and swim. If you feel like a very refreshing dip, I'd recommend the sulfur springs in Sulfur, OK. Even on the hottest day, the springs there are ice, ICE cold".

MY RESPONSE: I find your post very helpful, I am looking for a place to relocate to.I currently live in Denver right now. I cannot decide whether I like it in Denver, or not (originally I am from Illinois). But one thing for sure, I cannot afford to own a househere on my salary. I have always been afraid of Oklahoma. It conjures up images of fundamentalist christians, red neck yahoos,and summer heat that makes the asphalt buckle. Where are theforests and swamps and small mountain ranges you mentioned?I wouldn't mind giving OKC a shot, although I worry about fitting inbecause I am not a Christain, and I am more used to a yuppie classof people often found in Denver. Although I am not a yuppie myself as I ama truck driver. I hope I didn't insult anyone.

[yensid]

Originally Posted by backspace2

GREEN WROTE: "Being in Oklahoma all my life, I don't know how to gauge our friendliness. I know I've never had problems making new friends, and have talked to plenty of people out of state who have moved and have tons of Oklahoma friends now. Oklahomans are typically very proud of their state. When someone wants to become an Oklahoman, usually natives are eager to welcome them".

"Oklahoma can be VERY flat. But do a little google searching and you may find that Oklahoma has very diverse environments throughout the state. We have flat prairies, we have a sand dune desert, dense forests, small mountain ranges, and even some swamps. I think for a recreational hiker, there are some nice places to look into. And yes, we have many different lakes to hike, fish, and swim. If you feel like a very refreshing dip, I'd recommend the sulfur springs in Sulfur, OK. Even on the hottest day, the springs there are ice, ICE cold".

MY RESPONSE: I find your post very helpful, I am looking for a place to relocate to.I currently live in Denver right now. I cannot decide whether I like it in Denver, or not (originally I am from Illinois). But one thing for sure, I cannot afford to own a househere on my salary. I have always been afraid of Oklahoma. It conjures up images of fundamentalist christians, red neck yahoos,and summer heat that makes the asphalt buckle. Where are theforests and swamps and small mountain ranges you mentioned?I wouldn't mind giving OKC a shot, although I worry about fitting inbecause I am not a Christain, and I am more used to a yuppie classof people often found in Denver. Although I am not a yuppie myself as I ama truck driver. I hope I didn't insult anyone.

If the images you are conjuring up are the only factor keeping you from considering OKC, then I think you should start considering OKC. In other words, your assumptions are not correct. It's not full of the christians and rednecks you are thinking, and it doesn't get "really" hot here (at least not as far as I'm concerned). I'm not a christian and I don't go to church, but I find the people here very pleasant and friendly. It's true that most of OKC is pretty flat, but I'm hearing more and more about places outside the city that are beautiful (such as the ones described in the post you mentioned).
And all this is coming from a Cali native.
Just wanted to post this so you have a better idea of OKC and who knows? ...it could be a possible destination for you. Housing is very affordable as you probably already know.

[eddie gein]

OKC is a little bit removed from the really pretty part of Oklahoma. That is the frustrating part about it. OKC itself is on the edge of the crosstimbers so there is some green areas to the east mostly, but you are 3-4 hours away from the small mountain ranges to the SE.

There are some ancient small mountain ranges south and southwest of OKC that provide some recreational opportunites.

Many of Oklahoma's more interesting areas are small samples of terrain etc. that are unusual. Like the salt flats that are up by Alva. Roman Nose and Red Rock canyons which are part of a system of canyons throughout western Oklahoma. Alabaster caverns.........the list could go on and on.

Unfortunately you can't ski in Oklahoma and most of the really interesting areas do not have any real monied type resorts. Mostly it's a huntin' and fishin' type of environment with some golf thrown in.

However, OKC has enough liberal types (or not conservative types) to where I don't think you would have a problem living there.

[TU 'cane]

All the forests and trees are in Northeast OK, labeled as "Green Country".

Why does everyone ALWAYS have to bring up religion when they talk about OK?? I've always heard of people making fun of Tulsa and it being called the "Buckle of the Bible Belt" but OKC?? I don't take OKC for a very churchy city.. But I don't know about that stuff in OKC.

And Oklahoma as mentioned above, is more of Hunting, Fishing, Boating, Hiking, type of state.. And we like golf!

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

Unfortunately you can't ski in Oklahoma and most of the really interesting areas do not have any real monied type resorts. Mostly it's a huntin' and fishin' type of environment with some golf thrown in.

I hope I don't sound like a snob, but it's the addition of the "real monied type resorts" that eventually ruins a state. Money brings big houses, big houses demand services, services cost money, taxes go up.

[eddie gein]

I just wish Oklahoma had a town down in the mountains that had a little money like say a Hot Springs or a Eureka Springs Arkansas.

I guess I wish Talahina were the size of McAlester or something like that.

[peggydavis]

Originally Posted by TU 'cane

All the forests and trees are in Northeast OK, labeled as "Green Country".

Why does everyone ALWAYS have to bring up religion when they talk about OK?? I've always heard of people making fun of Tulsa and it being called the "Buckle of the Bible Belt" but OKC?? I don't take OKC for a very churchy city.. But I don't know about that stuff in OKC.

And Oklahoma as mentioned above, is more of Hunting, Fishing, Boating, Hiking, type of state.. And we like golf!

We just drove from Oklahoma to Maryland and back, and I don't think we ever got out of the Bible belt. I really didn't notice much difference in the displays of religious sayings or the way people talked about religion, until we were really near the coast.

[redbird4848]

Originally Posted by rob43cra

Unlike most Okies, I am very knowledgeable about Phoenix.

Well,.... smell you! puff puff. Here let me get that lint off your shoulder! (pick pick)

Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with the rest of us Un-informed okies about Phoenix.

I remember people crying about the L.A.'s pouring into Phoenix area way back in the 80's.
And there will be even more crying when folks thinking of moving into OK realize Oklahoma is not some utopia. It is underpopulated for a reason (okay, many reasons). And each reason may be unique to each person who currently chooses to NOT live in OK.

Some think its backwards, some hate the weather, and some because simply because it just IS Oklahoma. Some people don't care if you CAN buy a house for 35K here, its still not worth it to live here...to THEM.

[TU 'cane]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

We just drove from Oklahoma to Maryland and back, and I don't think we ever got out of the Bible belt. I really didn't notice much difference in the displays of religious sayings or the way people talked about religion, until we were really near the coast.

Well so many people look at it negatively. Especially people from the Northwest (Seattle). They make fun of us all the time and call us bible thumpers.. I just think it's silly..