Worst 5 things about Oklahoma? (Marlow, Hulbert: transplants, income, job)

[jessaka]

Lady, Those are the worse things about Oklahoma.

Your post was interesting Maxine, not offensive. I am glad it wasn't my experience. it also reminded me of Grapes of Wrath. It is interesting to view your experience with it and with the times you were here.

[redbird4848]

The Nightmare on Maxine's street was horrible. What part of town was THAT? Geez, no wonder you hated OK. Was all the trouble due to roughnecks? Sounds like the trailer park from h*ll.

We do have a lot of paranoia about fires around here. Especially after last November's wildfires. Those of us who live in the country are always mindful of the smell of smoke. And there is always some idiot who tosses a butt.

Which reminds me of one of my pet peeves. I came out of the bank the other day in Shawnee. And in the parking lot, some IDIOT had EMPTIED their ashtray onto the ground!!!!

WHY!!! Why would some idiot just throw a handfull of butts on the ground like that?!!! Why couldn't they wait until they find a trashcan. Geez, loueeze!

[Maxine3]

Hi Redbird-

This reminds me of Michigan---
"Which reminds me of one of my pet peeves. I came out of the bank the other day in Shawnee. And in the parking lot, some IDIOT had EMPTIED their ashtray onto the ground!!!! "

Except, here you will find that at every stoplight and stop sign!
And, MKFarnham-
you are right about freeway trash-every kind-everywhere.
Going up 75 is not the best view (it is the fastest) of the Lower. I personally like the drive from Indiana along Lake Michigan to Traverse City.

Jessaka-
We were in Catoosa. One surprising thing did happen there---
The school personell looked at us with dread. I guess they had many students from "the campground", and found them to be unrully, to say the least. Even though our kids missed 18 days of that school year, our son came home, on the last day of school, with the "Student of the Year" award, a card and $25. cash. Which was given to the best all around boy and girl student. We were told that they weren't used to seeing kids like that with "the campground" as their address.
Just as abit of background, we didn't start out for OK. My huisband's job ended as his company moved back to Texas and we didn't want to relocate. We might have done so if we had any idea what was to follow, but it sure was an adventure
We bought a motorhome, turned our house over to our daughter and her husband and hit the road, so to speak. We went to Florida first with many stops along the way looking for work. Then across to Texas and up to OK.
As I said in an earlier post, after about 10 days we decided to try AZ, NM etc, but did end up back in OK, and that's where all the trouble began.
At first, I thought all of those people were from Ok. Pickup with gunracks in the back window, drank beer and beat their wives. It took time, but I realized most of them were out-of staters staying at the KOA

[peggydavis]

That is a nice story about the school and your son, Maxine. It must have been quite an adventure to hit the road in those days.

I can't get my housework done either, Lady Robyn. Too much going on outside. It is raining today so I better get my vacuum out.

I don't know why people throw trash out of their cars either, Redbird. I'm always suspicious of people with clean car interiors. If you look at mine, you will know I am not a litterbug!

[jessaka]

We did the same with a trailer. Travelled from CA all the way to MS and Florida, to Texas and back to CA. We missed OK. Never thought that there was anything up this way, and we wanted to be where it was warmer. Well MS was not. Anyway, so I saw a lot in trailer parks across the U.S. This time we sold everything and packed up a UHaul after taking a trip to OK first and loving it. We are not sorry for our move.

[Maxine3]

What year was your move?
Did you have a job lined up before your move?
How is the economy in OK now?
If you don't mind my asking...
I'm just looking for hope for Michigan. It seem every state is doing well, these days, except Michigan.

[mkfarnam]

Maxine3 wrote:

And, MKFarnham-
you are right about freeway trash-every kind-everywhere.
Going up 75 is not the best view (it is the fastest) of the Lower. I personally like the drive from Indiana along Lake Michigan to Traverse City.

Yes, I would have taken "hwy131" if I was going directly to my hometown Cadillac, which is just below Traverse City.
But I had to make some stops in Warren, Sterling Heights and Chesterfield to visit 4 sisters and a step mother I had'nt seen in 30 years. And then to Mackinaw City( actually Cheboygan, I lodged in MC) to visit a school buddy. I had just gotten news that on his last hunting trip he had been knocked from his tree blind from a falling branch, broke his back and become quadrapolegic.
I took 131 back through TC and into Cadillac and noticed that the Amish was now settled in Mich.

[jessaka]

Maxine, we moved here last year on November 15th. We were not looking for jobs because we are retired. I am not sure how the economy is here. I do know that Oklahoma could use some good handymen. Seems like it is hard to find people to help out with repairs and other chores. Maybe the pay isn't good enough for some people. I really don't know.

[peggydavis]

Maxine, I am retired too. (YAY) But I think the economy in Oklahoma is pretty good. Our GM plant closed down too, but I see now hiring signs quite a bit. People who are mechanical in aptitude and are skilled with heavy machinery are in demand. New houses are being built in Oklahoma City area, and probably Tulsa too, so that provides a lot of employment, along with the oil field. People who know about computers can find a job easily in the cities. I would tell anyone to line up a job first before moving. I wouldn't say the economy is booming, but it is pretty good.

Come to think of it, south of me I have seen RV parks springing up for the oil field workers. That is really a temporary housing option. After the wells are all drilled, they will move on somewhere else.

[Maxine3]

MKFarnham-
We had our house in Sterling Heights from 1967 to 1997. (as I mentioned, our daughter and her husband stayed there while we were running all over the country in the motorhome). From there in 1997 we moved to the thumb area of MI for 5 years( the Amish have been there for many years) then two more moves, and have been in a condo in a Detroit suburb for the last 5 years. We don't like condo living (the neighbors are one step above a trailer park) but, since we can no longer do outside work, it's either that or an apartment
P.S. MI is still known as "The Winter Wonderland", and since I am getting way too old to enjoy winter I have unofficially renamed it "The Water Wonderland"
And Jessaka, I know what you mean about no handymen. The same thing here. You would think with unemployment so high they would be easy to find. My husband retired on a disibility in 1994, and was barely able to finish cutting the grass and cleaning the pool for the last time before we closed on our house in 1997, and can't do any handyman work anymore. The kids are all too busy with their own houses and work. They are all college grads and in the computer industry so not in the auto industry, thank goodness.