[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by Mitch567

Thank you for the reply. The last time I lived in Oklahoma, Barry Switzer was the coach and J.C. Watts was the quarterback. I do believe that was some time ago.

We just received an ice storm here in NH that rivals the one Oklahoma got last year. We have over 400K out of power for the second day now.

So I guess I should sell my snow blower huh???

We don't get bad ice storms every winter. Stillwater hasn't had a bad one in at least 5 years. Stillwater missed last year's big ice storm by just a matter of miles.

Don't sell your snow blower. Some Oklahoma winters are snowier than others. The worst Oklahoma winter I remember for snow was way back in the mid 1970's. It came a big snow storm on New Year's Eve. From then on until nearly March, it stayed cloudy and cold most days, so the snow never quite melted before the next snow storm came. It wasn't until late February until most of the snow had finally melted. The snow got at least 6" deep. Normally we get several snow storms a year that cover the ground by several inches with most of it melting off after several days.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by Mitch567

Thank you so much for your input Synopsis, Fairfielder and Colleen. Colleen, I did read that entire thread and it was very informative. Synopsis, the list you provided is very compelling and thank you.

As for the roads, I can't imagine that any roads would be worse than those in the northeast. The potholes here will potentially bounce you off the road if you're not careful.

We have decided to make the move in September. I was born in Fort Hood, baptized in Midwest City and then moved to Philadelphia when I was six. Then after my stint in the USMC moved to New Hampshire for the last 20 years.

My wife is a military brat and from all over. What would be some of the "Selling" points I can pitch to her in order to make her feel more comfortable?

God bless her she would move anywhere with me. Of course I knew Oklahoma would be a good move but I needed some positive reinforcement and started this post. I was always proud to say I was from Texas and Oklahoma and it will be really nice going back to my roots!

We are homeschoolers also so it was nice to hear that Oklahoma is a nice homeschooling state.

A few last questions, what is the income tax in Oklahoma?? When you purchase a car to you have to pay sales tax on the entire amount? Does anyone know if there is a self-employment tax?

Thank you again, any and all comments are deeply appreciated.

Mitch

What are her worries? Perhaps if you could give us a "not for me" list of stuff she hates then we could assuage her fears.


Go here to check Oklahoma income tax info.I do believe that you have to pay excise tax on a vehicle in Oklahoma, which runs into several hundred if not more than a thousand dollars on the purchase.

As for self-employment tax, I would assume that's the same here in Texas where you are taxed on your income.

There was a NH guy that moved to Oklahoma last Spring. He said that he hated the taxes in Oklahoma. Coming from NH where nothing is taxed I can understand.

Anyway, let us know more about the fears that your wife is having and maybe we can help. Does she think everyone is redneck or racist? That's not the case if it's a fear. Is she afraid of making new friends or afraid she won't make new friends? Okies are some of the friendliest people around; especially the ones in smaller towns and the country.

BTW, if she's afraid of severe weather, namely Thunderstorms, you'll have a hard time selling the move to her.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

Don't sell your snow blower.

Right.......it makes a great conversation piece, and the blower exhaust makes a really nice strawberry planter.

[windowphobe]

Excise tax on a new vehicle is 3.25 percent. (Same on a used vehicle, except that the first $1500 is taxed at a flat $20.)

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

Right.......it makes a great conversation piece, and the blower exhaust makes a really nice strawberry planter.

I was thinking the same thing. I'll bet there isn't a soul in Oklahoma that owns a snowblower. If they do, they would use it for the very same thing that you suggest (strawberry planter).

[linicx]

The storms that spawn tornados come out of the gulf, trash Texas on its way to OKC where it hops on 1-40 and heads east to Tulsa. From Tulsa it follows 1-44 to the MO border where it splits. The storm can either go N on I-71 to KC, or S on US 60 through Neosho and on to Springfield. Been there done that in Joplin and in Springfield.

OK taxes are 7-9%. Car license plates are based on the original factpry price. It is less every year as the vehicle ages. Car insurance is higher in OK than in MO. Self-employed contractors are taxed too. Home prices and real estate taxes are still affordable. In fact, there is a lot of things higher in MO than in OK, but. OK has better hospitals in rural areas and overall it offers a better quality of life.

FYI: The only top-rated hospital in the midwest is Barnes-Jewish at St Louis. St. Francis Hospital at Tulsa has one of the best cardiology units in the mid-west.

Grove, OK on Grand Lake is a kids town. They love kids. The hospital and scools are good and there is a lot of stuff to do all the time. It has one of the best library systems in OK. For a small town it is hard to beat the quality of life here.

Welcome Home!

[Mitch567]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

We don't get bad ice storms every winter. Stillwater hasn't had a bad one in at least 5 years. Stillwater missed last year's big ice storm by just a matter of miles.

Don't sell your snow blower. Some Oklahoma winters are snowier than others. The worst Oklahoma winter I remember for snow was way back in the mid 1970's. It came a big snow storm on New Year's Eve. From then on until nearly March, it stayed cloudy and cold most days, so the snow never quite melted before the next snow storm came. It wasn't until late February until most of the snow had finally melted. The snow got at least 6" deep. Normally we get several snow storms a year that cover the ground by several inches with most of it melting off after several days.

Hey Stillwater!

Maybe I can put the snowblower in a freak show!!!! We had a record year in New Hampshire last year with over ten feet of combined snow. There was many days when I give that snowblower a big ole kiss!!!! Of course I visited Choctaw last December and when I got there it was 55 degrees in New Hampshire and 20 degrees and snowing in Choctaw!!!

Thanks for your reply!!! Mitch

[Mitch567]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

What are her worries? Perhaps if you could give us a "not for me" list of stuff she hates then we could assuage her fears.


Go here to check Oklahoma income tax info.I do believe that you have to pay excise tax on a vehicle in Oklahoma, which runs into several hundred if not more than a thousand dollars on the purchase.

As for self-employment tax, I would assume that's the same here in Texas where you are taxed on your income.

There was a NH guy that moved to Oklahoma last Spring. He said that he hated the taxes in Oklahoma. Coming from NH where nothing is taxed I can understand.

Anyway, let us know more about the fears that your wife is having and maybe we can help. Does she think everyone is redneck or racist? That's not the case if it's a fear. Is she afraid of making new friends or afraid she won't make new friends? Okies are some of the friendliest people around; especially the ones in smaller towns and the country.

BTW, if she's afraid of severe weather, namely Thunderstorms, you'll have a hard time selling the move to her.

Hi Synopsis!

Thank you for the tax information, I saved it and am going to go over it tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

As far as my wife is concerned, here is my worries. She will do exactly what I want to do. What I don't want twenty years from now is her to lash out at me because we moved from New England, took her from her friends, etc.....

She is deathly afraid of tornados as we all are. I promised her that we would have a storm cellar, so she was happy about that.

My wife is such a nice and wonderful person that I think she will be so happy with how she'll be treated by fellow Okies. We are both nice people but I have to admit that when someone is nice to us here in the northeast we can't believe it!

I think her other concerns would be distance to shopping, ability to make new friends, how the kids will like it and so on. We are currently 30 minutes drive from the nearest supermarket so I know she'll be pleased with the proximity of grocery stores in Oklahoma.

I just know Oklahoma will be the right fit. The summers I spent on Lake Eaufala (sp) were some of the very best of my life.

The other concern I have in the back of my mind goes back to when I went to Kerr Junior High School in Del City. While in the seventh grade I witnessed a knife fight on the playground. Visiting from Philadelphia I wasn't overly shocked, but I was horrified that this took place in Oklahoma. I've since grown up and realized that this happens virtually everywhere. I just don't want to park our family where there is gang banger problems and high crime and I feel confident that in the more quiet towns this won't be a problem.

Thank you again and sorry the response was so lengthly!!!!

Sincerely,
Mitch

[Mitch567]

Originally Posted by linicx

The storms that spawn tornados come out of the gulf, trash Texas on its way to OKC where it hops on 1-40 and heads east to Tulsa. From Tulsa it follows 1-44 to the MO border where it splits. The storm can either go N on I-71 to KC, or S on US 60 through Neosho and on to Springfield. Been there done that in Joplin and in Springfield.

OK taxes are 7-9%. Car license plates are based on the original factpry price. It is less every year as the vehicle ages. Car insurance is higher in OK than in MO. Self-employed contractors are taxed too. Home prices and real estate taxes are still affordable. In fact, there is a lot of things higher in MO than in OK, but. OK has better hospitals in rural areas and overall it offers a better quality of life.

FYI: The only top-rated hospital in the midwest is Barnes-Jewish at St Louis. St. Francis Hospital at Tulsa has one of the best cardiology units in the mid-west.

Grove, OK on Grand Lake is a kids town. They love kids. The hospital and scools are good and there is a lot of stuff to do all the time. It has one of the best library systems in OK. For a small town it is hard to beat the quality of life here.

Welcome Home!

Linicx,

Thank you for the information. I did look up Grove, OK and it looks awsome. Unfortunately we will be settling down near my Dad who lives in Choctaw.

You mentioned hospitals and I do have an important question. Our four year old twin boys were three months early and weighed one pound each!! They were in the hospital for six months before we took them home and thank God they are just as perfect as can be!!!

Does Oklahoma have any neonatal units, for instance, the ability to care for newborns born at 24 weeks gestation?? I know my wife will want to know this little tidbit.

Thanks again for your help!

Mith

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by Mitch567

Hi Synopsis!

Thank you for the tax information, I saved it and am going to go over it tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

As far as my wife is concerned, here is my worries. She will do exactly what I want to do. What I don't want twenty years from now is her to lash out at me because we moved from New England, took her from her friends, etc.....

She is deathly afraid of tornados as we all are. I promised her that we would have a storm cellar, so she was happy about that.

My wife is such a nice and wonderful person that I think she will be so happy with how she'll be treated by fellow Okies. We are both nice people but I have to admit that when someone is nice to us here in the northeast we can't believe it!

I think her other concerns would be distance to shopping, ability to make new friends, how the kids will like it and so on. We are currently 30 minutes drive from the nearest supermarket so I know she'll be pleased with the proximity of grocery stores in Oklahoma.

I just know Oklahoma will be the right fit. The summers I spent on Lake Eaufala (sp) were some of the very best of my life.

The other concern I have in the back of my mind goes back to when I went to Kerr Junior High School in Del City. While in the seventh grade I witnessed a knife fight on the playground. Visiting from Philadelphia I wasn't overly shocked, but I was horrified that this took place in Oklahoma. I've since grown up and realized that this happens virtually everywhere. I just don't want to park our family where there is gang banger problems and high crime and I feel confident that in the more quiet towns this won't be a problem.

Thank you again and sorry the response was so lengthly!!!!

Sincerely,
Mitch

Don't apologize for the response; it was interesting!

If you have a storm cellar you'll have no worries. Either that or have a "safe room" built into your house, which is even better. It means you won't have to trek through the storm to an outside shelter. I think FEMA will even help with the cost for building one of those.

FEMA: Safe Rooms

If your wife is as good as you say she is, and I don't doubt that, she won't be lashing out at you in twenty years; more like 5 or 6. Just kidding!

Good luck in your move and keep us all up to date on your whereabouts!