[J1ndo]

Originally Posted by caligirl2008

I lived in Cali for 23 years. I've also lived in Ohio and Washington as well. Therefore, I have a good understanding of what a city can offer and what it cannot. I've spent the last 6 years of my life in the Tulsa Metro areas. As you know, there are pros and cons to every area. You've specifically asked for the bad, so I'll give them to you.
1- The roads (city and rural) are horrific (pot holes). Struts are a common item that needs replaced on vehicles, along with tires.
2- The inter-states will nickel and dime you to death. There are toll-roads EVERYWHERE in Oklahoma.
3- Tornados! However, I'd take a tornado anyday over an Earthquake. At least you have advanced warning with tornados
4- Fiddle-backs. Enough said. Spiders that can drop you dead if you don't get medical attention immediately. They can be found everywhere in Oklahoma, but preferably like dark spaces that don't get much interaction, such as an attic or closet. They terrify me.
5- The heat. There's nothing like an Oklahoma summer. I dread them every year. Unless you love 100+ degree weather, plan on spending much of your summer indoors.
6- Poverty. The average income in Oklahoma is relatively low, whereas the cost of a home is significantly rising. Draw your own conclusions.
7- FLAT! No more mountains. Period.
8- NO MORE OCEANS!
9- Unfortunately, racism of both color and nationality. It's still strong here. I don't know why, but it's ridiculous. I don't tolerate it.
10- Two cities to choose from. That's it. It's either Tulsa or OKC. Any other towns outside those areas are commonly referred to as "Yeah, I live in 'Po-Dunk'".

Well, those are my top-ten "cons" of Oklahoma. I love it here, but I could live elsewhere. However, I don't know if "elsewhere" I could buy a home for $110 per square foot. You need to weigh the good with the bad and make a decision based on what's best for your future. Retiring in California, unless independently wealthy, is next to impossible.

I don't really care about fiddle-backs, and I haven't heard many racist comments here, fortunately, but all your other cons are right on in my book, especially the complaint about the roads. The potholes are insane here. I've never seen anything like it.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by J1ndo

......but all your other cons are right on in my book, especially the complaint about the roads. The potholes are insane here. I've never seen anything like it.

Just consider them inverted speed bumps and slow down, take your time, don't be in a hurry, and you will be fine........

[karibear]

Originally Posted by J1ndo

The potholes are insane here. I've never seen anything like it.

If you want to see reeeaally bad potholes, try AK during breakup. Some of the ones on gravel roads and driveways are big enough to swallow Volkswagons whole. The worst were usually on gravel roads when the frost boils started thawing. We had one in one of the trailer parks we lived in that the guy next door dropped the rear end of his tow truck into and had to call another wrecker to get out of. He laid a double high row of old tires with rims along it so we could all drive across it.

[_redbird_]

Okay, Kari, we are getting the picture! ...

Everything is bigger in AK!! The mosquitos, the vegetables, the fish, the mountains, the man to woman ratio, the earthquakes, the weather, the oil spills,...



I had a friend who would always jump into conversations with a sentence which began with, "...When I was in Denver..."

After a while we started imitating him, because he did that so much.

You know I am only teasing you...right? Please don't hit me with your Alaskan sized cabbage and pumpkins!

[karibear]

Originally Posted by redbird4848

Okay, Kari, we are getting the picture! ...

Everything is bigger in AK!! The mosquitos, the vegetables, the fish, the mountains, the man to woman ratio, the earthquakes, the weather, the oil spills,...



I had a friend who would always jump into conversations with a sentence which began with, "...When I was in Denver..."

After a while we started imitating him, because he did that so much.

You know I am only teasing you...right? Please don't hit me with your Alaskan sized cabbage and pumpkins!

I wouldn't dream of hitting you. Besides, that stuff gets old after awhile, and it's one of the reasons I'm quite happy to be here. And while some people did have big cabbages, etc, mine were all stalk and no head. Imagine a cauliflower with a 4" head on a 7' stalk. And if you ever saw some of those men [no all, of course] you'd know why the ratio is so high. NO one wants someone who both looks and smells like he's spent the last 6 months making out with his boat engine!

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by caligirl2008

I lived in Cali for 23 years. I've also lived in Ohio and Washington as well. Therefore, I have a good understanding of what a city can offer and what it cannot. I've spent the last 6 years of my life in the Tulsa Metro areas. As you know, there are pros and cons to every area. You've specifically asked for the bad, so I'll give them to you.
1- The roads (city and rural) are horrific (pot holes). Struts are a common item that needs replaced on vehicles, along with tires.
2- The inter-states will nickel and dime you to death. There are toll-roads EVERYWHERE in Oklahoma.
3- Tornados! However, I'd take a tornado anyday over an Earthquake. At least you have advanced warning with tornados
4- Fiddle-backs. Enough said. Spiders that can drop you dead if you don't get medical attention immediately. They can be found everywhere in Oklahoma, but preferably like dark spaces that don't get much interaction, such as an attic or closet. They terrify me.
5- The heat. There's nothing like an Oklahoma summer. I dread them every year. Unless you love 100+ degree weather, plan on spending much of your summer indoors.
6- Poverty. The average income in Oklahoma is relatively low, whereas the cost of a home is significantly rising. Draw your own conclusions.
7- FLAT! No more mountains. Period.
8- NO MORE OCEANS!
9- Unfortunately, racism of both color and nationality. It's still strong here. I don't know why, but it's ridiculous. I don't tolerate it.
10- Two cities to choose from. That's it. It's either Tulsa or OKC. Any other towns outside those areas are commonly referred to as "Yeah, I live in 'Po-Dunk'".

Well, those are my top-ten "cons" of Oklahoma. I love it here, but I could live elsewhere. However, I don't know if "elsewhere" I could buy a home for $110 per square foot. You need to weigh the good with the bad and make a decision based on what's best for your future. Retiring in California, unless independently wealthy, is next to impossible.

I'll have to disagree with number 7. While the mountains are relatively small, there are mountains. And as far as racism goes, I haven't witnessed it any worse in Oklahoma than most anywhere else. Go to the deep South; even in Atlanta there is a lot of racism in all directions. I was refused service at an I-HOP there in 1995 because I am white.

[J1ndo]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

Just consider them inverted speed bumps and slow down, take your time, don't be in a hurry, and you will be fine........

Hmm, well, speedbumps usually are accompanied with a warning and an appropriate speed limit posting, so inversion isn't the only difference. Cavernous potholes can be found on roads with speeds of 50 and higher, and can darn near knock your fillings out, even when you're driving well below the limit. I do appreciate the positive spin you put on it, though.

[J1ndo]

Moderator cut: edited my original response

I think you can love a place and still have plenty of criticisms about it. Sometimes, because a person loves a place, they can view it with a more critical eye than they would somewhere else.

Her list of negatives is long, but mostly consists of what I would term pet peeves. Besides, the original poster solicited negative opinions, so I'm not sure how this could be considered trolling.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by J1ndo

I think you can love a place and still have plenty of criticisms about it. Sometimes, because a person loves a place, they can view it with a more critical eye than they would somewhere else.

Her list of negatives is long, but mostly consists of what I would term pet peeves. Besides, the original poster solicited negative opinions, so I'm not sure how this could be considered trolling.

You know, after re-reading the opening post, I agree with you. I shouldn't have jumped the gun there. I edited my response.

[brad84720]

I haven't made the plunge yet, but the CA to UT to OK steps made me reply. I was in SoCal for over 40 years and now the last 2 in Cedar City. I think I've gotten use to the small town life (going from San Diego to a town of just 35,000). I'm looking at moving to a farm with my partner. Any things I ought to know before heading out into a small rural town in OK? Brad