[Rustbucket]

Arcadia Lake... Party lake from what the Wife and I saw of it on 2 occasions. Not my idea of going to the lake. Unless i missed something, also it's kinda crowded there..

Snow... we get some from time to time. We had a major snowfall here last winter.. Had nearly a 3 foot drift in the yard!!! Normally though we'll get maybe 2 or 3 inches at a time. Schools close because of the icy roads and Oklahomans inability to drive on it.. haha Sorry but it's true..

[happytown]

Originally Posted by Rustbucket

Arcadia Lake... Party lake from what the Wife and I saw of it on 2 occasions. Not my idea of going to the lake. Unless i missed something, also it's kinda crowded there..

Snow... we get some from time to time. We had a major snowfall here last winter.. Had nearly a 3 foot drift in the yard!!! Normally though we'll get maybe 2 or 3 inches at a time. Schools close because of the icy roads and Oklahomans inability to drive on it.. haha Sorry but it's true..

I lived in Crested Butte for a couple of years... I have to admit...We Okies cant drive in dat dar snow..LOL.
I dont know why....??

[peggydavis]

I got the idea that the OP might have employment opportunities in Edmond. If you don't want to live in suburbia, I would suggest Cashion, a small town still separated from the metro. It is north of the metro. I would also suggest Luther, another small town more east. I read that Luther will get an exit off the Turner Turnpike soon, which will promote the town a lot.

East Edmond definitely feels different than the rest of Edmond. The expansion of the Edmond school district east has led to a lot of building east of I-35, and it has a more "out in the country" feel. Not so much traffic on the roads and much more scenic. There are probably some houses available in the OP's price range.

As far as snow, if the schools are closed that takes so much traffic off the streets I have always been able to get around with a front wheel drive car, except on ice. I don't think anybody can drive on ice very well. When it snowed, and the schools were closed, I could always get to work. Then I would be the only one to show up!

[Rustbucket]

Icy or snowy roads don't phase me a bit.. May have something to do with having lived in Denver and Nebraska before moving to OK. FWD helps a bunch too

[mytwoboys]

I live in Edmond and absolutely love it here. I am originally from Houston, TX. So, compared to the HEAT there... Oklahoma weather is great. The school system is one of the best in the state. Probably doesn't compare to a California school, but they are still good.

I did read some of the info given on real estate. I think it's a little off. An older home would be a little cheaper (like 2000 sq ft for $175K is going to get you an older home). $175 in say my neighborhood which is 3 years old & each house is on an acre of land would get you around 1850-1900 square feet. New homes are about $104 per square foot. We live in north Edmond out in the "country." There are a lot of trees out here... it isn't flat and prairie like, like the west side of Edmond is. There are parts of Edmond with rolling hills. East of 1-35 is a beautiful area, but a tad bit expensive.

I can't say that this is a "melting pot" type of area. But I do think that as a biracial couple you would be well received. It seems like I see a lot of biracial families out here.

This is a very conservative, middle class, Christian area. The people here generally have good values. They are extremely friendly. That is probably my favorite thing about Edmond... most everyone is friendly and helpful.

I have been to Bend, OR. It's gorgeous there. Probably the prettiest place I have ever been. I have family from Spokane... it can be really cold there and tends to snow a LOT. I also have family near Boise. It's extremely COLD there. I was there in December of '05. It was something like 10 degrees! YIKES! The seasons here are nice. Never anything unbearable... at least not for more than 2-3 weeks in the summer and 2-3 in the winter. The extreme heat and extreme cold don't last long.

I've lived all over the place. Been here for 9 years and never want to leave! My husband is from Boston and he's been here for 8 years. He also LOVES it here! I could go on and on about Oklahoma...

[mytwoboys]

P.S. I think Edmond is a very safe place to live and there are policemen EVERYWHERE. I don't think it is understaffed, but I honestly don't know. I just find that hard to believe considering that I see several cops per day.

Traffic can be a bit annoying here on occasion, but compared to LA you would not cosider it traffic at all. In town you will see a lot of stop lights. Roads can be busy, but it never takes more than 15 minutes to get anywhere in Edmond. On the freeway, it would be rare to hit stop and go type traffic unless you are in a construction zone or there has been a wreck (or you are on I-40).

There are subdivisions all over in Edmond. Gated communities, golf course communities, etc. There is something for everyone here. Different types of neighborhoods for different types of people.

[Honeybee]

Originally Posted by Kablooieshy

More Californians looking to move away . Please help us make the best decision for our family. We have two small boys, the oldest is currently in Pre-K. Our circumstances allow us to relocate to virtually any "large" city in the US, so we just need to find the best fit for us. I grew up in the northwest (northern Oregon) and I like the scenery and climate (not so much the rain though). My husband and I have also lived in Tulsa Ok and would consider moving back to that area. This is what we are interested in:

*Owning our own home! Suburban LA is ridiculously expensive. We can't even afford rent out here and are living off of family. We want independence!
* Family friendly. We are a young family with young kids and want a safe, healthy environment with good schools and lots of open spaces to play.
* 4 seasons. Nothing too extreme. We're used to 75 degrees all year long so super heat/humidity or freezing temps would be quite a shock! But the same day after day gets real old real quick.

That is what is most important to us. Our budget for a home is around $175K. We have been mulling this over for about a year and are determined to make the move now while our kids are young. Some places we are considering:

* Boise or Pocatello Id
* Bend Or (maybe too expensive for us though)
* Missoula Mt
* Spokane Wa
* Edmond Ok or Olathe Ks (these are good moves as far as my husbands career path is concerned, but not the top priorities for us, unless someone can convince us otherwise).

We'd consider other areas too, these are just the ones we are most familiar with. We appreciate any and all opinions, suggestions and advice!!

Boise is nice we thought of moving there ,we also loved Spokane I have friends there I perfered the greener part of WA. though closer to Mount Rainer . We love OR. very much also .Been to MT. it is beautiful in Helena or Whitfish MT. by Mount Glazier . I was born and raised in Cali. and all my family is there and we also have 1 daughter there still .After coming out here last yr. and looking at Tulsa and property we were shocked at what you can buy. So we rented out the Cali. house and bought here We bought a custom builet home in Broken Arrow 1936 sq. ft. on a hudge corner lot for only $145.000 .You could never do this Cali. You will be able to get a really nice home for what you plan on spending We have been here for 3 mo. and LOVE IT!!!! of course I get home sick and miss my family very much .But I call them weekly and have already flew out there and spent 2 weeks in Aug. now I told them you have to fly to me next time so there all planning on coming next yr. to see OK. they have never been here . I can always get on a plane and fly out there and stay as long as I want so that makes it better for me .We have 2 daughters out here that moved my oldest girl and her hubby and our 2 grandkids are here they bought a nice home in Broken Arrow for $150.000 .Our youngest is with us .they all love it here and were all born in Cali..It was in June when we arrived so we lived through the hot weather and humdity July and Aug. It was not that bad I guess if we had to work outside in it may have killed us but we stay inside under AC so we got through it. Besides it don't last that long Fall is coming now and so will exp.the beautiful colors of the trees and crisp weather . In Cali. we were still mowing the lawns and water flowers in Dec. last yr. this is going to be diff. were going to exp. the 4 seasons we look forward to that . Hope you find just what your looking for and best to you and your little family . My gradkids 8,4 both love there schools here . I can't wait to see sit by my fireplace and watch snow fall outside the window with a cup of hot cocoa .And decrotating for Christmas and baking and making my candy and breads and cookies and all as I watch the snow fall .I Love it here so far ! it feels like home it is country ! Tulsa is a City set down right in the middel of the country so you never feel like your in this big City it is peaceful and friendly here . Green with Rolling Hills all around us and were 1 hr. from AR.MO.and there beauitful also .Best to you and your little family .Honeybee~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Honeybee]

Happytown , I read post and giggeled as I just was talking to some co-workers telling them I am scared to drive when the roads get iced as I never drove under that before .They told me they only drive 10miles per hr. Hee-Heee .

[LadyRobyn]

Kablooieshy, I think you would probaby do just fine in the Northeast part of OK! I was raised in Cali, but lived for a while in Seattle, WA and a short time in Pocatello, ID The Hubby (who grew up on the Cali coast) were amazed at how much NEOK reminded us of Northern and Coastal Cali. (minus the ocean of course. )

Realtor.com is a great place to research home prices...and City-Data helped me alot on the demographics to get a better 'feel' of where we were moving to. (even though Duncan isn't near where you are looking, just for fun go to realtor.com and search for homes in the 73533 area... make sure you are sitting down. The prices will amaze you! )

I'll tell you something you may find surprising, our youngest was just starting as a Senior in high school when we arrived... we weren't concerned about her grades or her level in school as she was 'on-track' to graduate with no problems...

When we enrolled her in school we found that the California 'standards' for graduation were FAR below that of Oklahoma! She was roughly 3 years 'behind' on Math alone! Luckily she had a wonderful Counselor (and Teachers) who worked with her to get her pushed through to Graduation on time. I can't tell you how much I wish we had moved back here when our Kids were smaller!!

In our part of Cali, the kids were 'pushed out' of school at 18 years of age regardless of their grades because of over-crowding. Out here we found that they are welcome to stay until they are 21 if they need to finish their education.

I thought after living 40+ years in one place, I would feel a bit of 'homesickness' after moving... but the only thing we have felt since moving here is "Wow! HOME at last"

I wish the same for you!!

[Mattie Jo]

Lady, I haven't felt homesick since moving here either. I feel that I am at home.

We looked for homes via Realtor.com too. Seems that every realtor shows their lists on that website. I gathered up every house I liked and ended up with one that I saw and didn't like but liked when it was shown to me.

The people here are very friendly. and this is where I can post one man's friendliness that amazed me. We headed for the recylcing place so my husband could show me where it was. It was closing when we arrived so we just drove by it. We must have been driving slow because all the sudden a man came up to us, and by now we were half a block away. He asked if we had something to dump. We said no. He was actually going to open the gate back up. In CA a bus doesn't even wait for you if they have closed the door and you are standing in front of the door. In CA if a place is closed it is closed. People here even run out of the store if you forgot your shopping bag. They are just always going out of the way for others.