Is OK okay for us? (Tulsa, Apache: mortgage, property taxes, tornadoes)

[TheComputerGuy]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

Please do computerguy. That is some beautiful countryside.

Comin' at ya!

5 minutes North... My commute:



Echo Lake in Franconia Notch, 25 min. drive:



Across the street from my house:



Across the street from my house:



Loon Mountain Ski area as viewed from across the Pemigewasset (sp?) River: About 30mi. South:



Ok...
I've shown you mine, now you show me yours.

M

P.S.
Care to share any info on the tech scene there?

[TheComputerGuy]

Thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by Schousse

Mike, Quite frankly the humidity on Cape Cod is a lot worse than it is here. At least here in the country we don't get too many humid days.

Really? I keep reading about 100+ degrees and 100% humidity in the Summer.
Also saw in the news last Summer that OK was experiencing weeks of 100+ days...
Only to be followed by flooding after that. Go figure?

Originally Posted by Schousse

And as far as bugs go .... ticks, spiders etc live up north as well. Free range some chickens and guinnea hens and they will keep the bugs down.

Shhhh! I hope my wife doesn't read that! She'd love to have chickens...
The way I see it, THEY'D get infested with the ticks and parasites...
Besides, depending on where I end up, the neighbors might not appreciate it.

I will have to be near a decent place to ply my trade. (Self Employed IT Pro.)

Originally Posted by Schousse

Actually, I am an imported yankee ..... I am not even an American Citizen. But I feel much more at home here than I ever did in New England.

Then I'm guessing you're not a Canadian.

Originally Posted by Schousse

I have been all over the state of OK and have seen may off-the-beaten-path areas (I am a real estate appraiser). The combination of access to commerce and green lushness as well as weather and real estate prices, I prefer the Tulsa area. I live about 40 miles west of Tulsa with easy access to the turnpike to Tulsa and OKC and I find that perfect.

Nearer to Tulsa originally looked good to us, but I'm still digesting and researching the info I've gotten here and it looks like we'll have to look at areas near both Tulsa and OKC. It's probably the correct thing to do before we actually buy anything.
To do otherwise would just be lazy.

Thanks,

M.

[TheComputerGuy]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

You're just in denial........

I like you guys!

[peggydavis]

We demand more pictures, ComputerGuy! The old man of the mountain was on your state quarter. So sad it fell.

I like to read to viewpoints from non-natives, like Jessaka, Schouse, and LadyRobyn to name a few. Maybe Redbird. I mean non-natives to OK so Redbird is a non-native in that respect. It is interesting to look at things I take for granted from another point of view.

I like all kinds of music but don't listen to country stations very much. I like Johnny Cash among some other country artists. I have been thinking of making an Oklahoma version of "I've Been Everywhere."

I was totin' my pack along the dusty Wapanucka road.....

[TheComputerGuy]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

We demand more pictures, ComputerGuy! The old man of the mountain was on your state quarter. So sad it fell.

Yeah, I was surprised at how much it affected me. Guys aren't supposed to that sentimental.

I'll have to dig out the CD and DVD archives and scale the photos down to a reasonable size before I can put up anymore... Might be a day or 2.

Gotta get off this machine and get about the business of life at the moment.
(But I'll be back!)

Besides... I came here to learn about OK.

Originally Posted by peggydavis

I like to read to viewpoints from non-natives, like Jessaka, Schouse, and LadyRobyn to name a few. Maybe Redbird. I mean non-natives to OK so Redbird is a non-native in that respect. It is interesting to look at things I take for granted from another point of view.

View points from transplants are as important as the natives.
I came here seeking diverse views...
We all have to live together...

Originally Posted by peggydavis

I like all kinds of music but don't listen to country stations very much. I like Johnny Cash among some other country artists. I have been thinking of making an Oklahoma version of "I've Been Everywhere."

I was totin' my pack along the dusty Wapanucka road.....

I'm into rock, blues, some jazz, and even some classical...
I even acquired a taste for Bob Dylan... After I turned 40.

Thanks, for the post!

M.

[Synopsis]

I think the Oklahoma jazz hall of fame is in Tulsa, and if you're ever up that way you may want to check out Caine's Ballroom. They have some really decent acts that come through that place.

As far as info on the tech scene, it is much better in Oklahoma than in the past. Since OkC is bigger than Tulsa, the opportunities there would be more numerous.

There are no 100 degree days with 100 percent humidity. The higher the temperature gets, the lower the humidity goes. Living down here in this heat island we call Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma summers are a piece of cake to me. It's usually a good 5-10 degrees warmer here (and more humid) during the summer.

BTW, you live in a very beautiful area. Those pictures are gorgeous. The only scenery that you will find similar to that is in the Ouachita Mountains of SE Oklahoma.

[TheComputerGuy]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

I think the Oklahoma jazz hall of fame is in Tulsa, and if you're ever up that way you may want to check out Caine's Ballroom. They have some really decent acts that come through that place.

I forgot about seeing anything "cultural" since I moved up here.
(Short of the awesome nature and the few hokey... I mean quaint little things available here.) The streets close at 8pm...
Which is OK with me these days. I've learned to go to bed very early and get up really early. (Especially on work nights!) I'm getting old I guess.

Originally Posted by Synopsis

As far as info on the tech scene, it is much better in Oklahoma than in the past. Since OkC is bigger than Tulsa, the opportunities there would be more numerous.

I've seen pictures of Tulsa... It looks a little like Boston (Not a fun place to drive in!)
OKC looks HUGE.

I could do pretty well within driving distance to a few cities with populations of around 50+K or so. If Tulsa or OKC aren't as bad to navigate as Boston was,
that would be a plus, but I probably don't need to work in the BIG cities...
We'll see.

Originally Posted by Synopsis

There are no 100 degree days with 100 percent humidity. The higher the temperature gets, the lower the humidity goes. Living down here in this heat island we call Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma summers are a piece of cake to me. It's usually a good 5-10 degrees warmer here (and more humid) during the summer.

I wasn't kidding... I've read that a few times on this forum.
From other things I've heard here, like how windy it is, and the fact that as I get older I get colder, it might be do-able. I'll have to see for myself.

Originally Posted by Synopsis

BTW, you live in a very beautiful area. Those pictures are gorgeous. The only scenery that you will find similar to that is in the Ouachita Mountains of SE Oklahoma.

Those weren't the GOOD pictures, those were just a few I had conveniently available.

It is beautiful here, and I count us lucky to have lived here...
Not too long ago, I couldn't imagine leaving... Ever.
But... (You knew there was going to be a but didn't you?)

The economy is going down. If I wasn't self-employed I'd probably be UN-employed.
The "neighbors from H*ll" moved next door last Summer.
(I could keep you guys in stitches with the stories about them.)
There's always the constant noise of small engines like chainsaws and worse from sun up to sun down. These people who live here in the Great North Woods seem to hate trees! (They ought to move to the city!)
Property taxes are ungodly! (But we have no income tax)
While the people are reasonably friendly for the most part, there has been an influx of totally inconsiderate folk moving in... Big time!
We have 4 seasons... Mud and black fly season, temperate Summers, beautiful Falls, and 5 months of harsh Winter with usually 2 - 3 weeks that stay at about 20-30 below 0. (Although I'm used to them and don't mind too much.)

And the worst part is that New England has turned WAY too Blue State for me.
I feel like an Alien here these days. It's awful!
I'd like to be amongst a majority my own kind if possible.
(Down to Earth family-friendly folk.)

It also doesn't have much to offer my kids as far as a future goes.
They'd have to move too far away to have any kind of decent career.
There aren't a lot of opportunities here for young adults.

I could go on, but I'd prefer not to be so negative.

I sure hope this thread stays alive, because I have so many questions and so much to learn about OK. It's really starting to look viable for us.

Thanks for all the info (everyone). Keep it coming!

M.

[peggydavis]

Well, it is not that beautiful in OK as NH is in your pictures. OK has its own beauty that you learn to appreciate, and the camera is not big enough to take a picture of it. SE Oklahoma is probably the most beautiful part of the state.

Tulsa & OKC are nothing like Boston when it comes to traffic. People from other states laugh at us when we talk about traffic.

OKC looks huge on the map, but it is spread out. Some people call it sprawl, but we like to have elbow room. I was just a kid when I lived in the east, and the crowdedness bothered me then. I could never live with that again, but it will be fun to visit.

I like the way OK has opportunities for my children to make a living without moving away. All 4 of our kids have a great education courtesy of OK, nice places to live, and a good place for our grandkids to grow up.

Five months of harsh winter. 20-30 degrees below zero. I lived in Wisconsin for 2 winters and I thought that was cold. It was not windy there, though. I got tired of no sunny days there. Now I wish for cloudy days.

Keep us posted. We would love to have you here, as well as Montanamom and Coleeng.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by TheComputerGuy

I've seen pictures of Tulsa... It looks a little like Boston (Not a fun place to drive in!)
OKC looks HUGE.

They ARE huge. Sometimes, during rush hour, it takes almost 40 minutes to go from one side of town to the other.

Originally Posted by TheComputerGuy

I wasn't kidding... I've read that a few times on this forum.
From other things I've heard here, like how windy it is, .........

It isn't the country that is all that windy....it's the people. Go into a supermarket and before you are through the checkout, you know the life history of everyone else in line, you have seen the cashiers grandkids pictures, and you've been invited to three different churches.

Originally Posted by TheComputerGuy

The "neighbors from H*ll" moved next door last Summer.
(I could keep you guys in stitches with the stories about them.)

you should have been here a few weeks ago. A fellas pigs got out after dark......you should have heard the cussing and carrying on. Especially when he stepped in a hole and twisted my ankle.

Originally Posted by TheComputerGuy

There's always the constant noise of small engines like chainsaws and worse from sun up to sun down.

We have a fella half a mile away been practicing with his black powder rifle. I think he does archery as well, but I can't tell from here.

Originally Posted by TheComputerGuy

Property taxes are ungodly! (But we have no income tax)

Again, we are in a lot the same situation. Bought 20 acres down the road and the taxes are up to $150 for the year.....and there is nothing on it but weeds and trees.

Originally Posted by TheComputerGuy

While the people are reasonably friendly for the most part, there has been an influx of totally inconsiderate folk moving in... Big time!

Again, I know what you mean....passed three pickups yesterday and only two people waved.

[colleeng47]

Computer Guy said: "It also doesn't have much to offer my kids as far as a future goes.
They'd have to move too far away to have any kind of decent career.
There aren't a lot of opportunities here for young adults."

**********
That's precisely why my family is making the trek west (hubby and I joke about "going west" for a better life for the yunguns' -- makes us feel very Wagon Train). Anyway, in order for our kids to have any kind of life here in NJ, they have to either go for their MBA, law degree, or other highly educated professional degree. Then pay $350,000 plus for a small starter home, pay about $8-$10,000 in property taxes and spend the rest of their lives working 60 hours a week to pay for it all. AND have to commute a hour or more into either New York City or Philadelphia. Don't want that for them. DD is into horses and storms, son wants to make films -- after he gets some training in a trade (like carpentry or such) to have a steady paycheck.

I want to say I really love all the positive and friendly posts on this forum. I'm so glad I stumbled onto it.