Pleasant View or N.Ogden?HELPPPPPP (Sandy, North Ogden: real estate, home, transfer)

[east_tennessee_family]

We are considering moving to Pleasant View( or a nice small community near Ogden) in a few months and our BIGGEST concern is our son. He's almost 13 and we are non-LDS. We were wondering how he would be accepted with us being from East Tennessee. Yes we do have a southern drawl and have lived in the Appalachian Mountains all our lives. But unlike many opinions we are an educated people. Our daughter is actually continuing her education in Maryland on a full academic scholarship. Our son is active in our Band program at his school. Is there a Band program at ANY Jr High School that stands out? The school he attends now went to Hawaii last year to preform for the Pearl Harbor anniversary and a band close to where we live now has played in the Rose Bowl parade. Also, would 57k be enough to live comfortably in one of these communities? We don't live beyond our means but it would be nice to have extra money in case we would like to go to a movie or out to eat. Any advice would be helpful on any of these subjects. This is scary, moving so far away from everything we have known all our lives and its a very hard decision.

[kittysmom]

I read your post about the possibility of moving to Pleasant View or North Ogden. Actually, I believe the dividing line between the two is only a street. When we came here about 20 years ago, I so wanted to live in Pleasant View, but even then the housing prices were more than we wanted to pay, so we ended up moving to a (very) small farming community about 35 miles north of Ogden, Utah (big mistake). First of all, everyone here is LDS and (where we live)everyone is related. That makes us outcasts on two levels. These have been the loneliest years of my life and were it not for our children (who are now grown and gone), well...I did work for some years, but because of where we live, jobs were somewhat limited and again, there was the religious "thing" . I mean, somehow the interviewer would slip, "ah what ward did you say you were in?", into the conversation. I cannot exactly explain wards, but suffice it to say it pertains to the church. During this time, my husband worked out out state, but he too feels "isolated."

I'm sorry I cannot give you more encouragement. Yes, most of the LDS people are nice, our neighbors surely are, but in 20 years, only two of the neighboring wives have been to our home. When we first moved here, they would come by with their husbands, but would never get out of the vehicle and would stare intently at something on the horizon, never saying a word.

By the way, have you checked real estate prices in Pleasant View/North Ogden? Prices have gone out of site in the past few years, but then, since we are of a "certain age", we think that anything over $100,000 is way too much.

Our oldest son was a senior in high school when we moved here and had, for the past two years, played on the state all star basketball team in our home state. He had also won many awards for his outstanding sports accomplishments. In his senior year here, he was only played 10 minutes or so per game. He became very despondent and left the day after graduation in order to move back "home". Our other two children hated it also, the younger one having to go into therapy for a while because she could not understand why no one was allowed to come to play.

Most of the problems we've encountered were because of where we chose to live. Both my husband and I wanted to have a little farm and at that time, we were able to buy one. However, had I realized what would happen to the children, I would have insisted we live in Salt Lake or Sandy or somewhere in that area. And, as far as the amount of money you mentioned, I cannot comment because we are retired and live on a fixed income. However, before this, we made almost two times the aforementioned amount and found we had to really watch it.

I hope that, should you decide to move to Utah, your experiences are better than ours were. If we would have had another choice as to where we were going to live (my husband's company transferred us here), it wouldn't have been Utah.

[east_tennessee_family]

Thanks so much for you insight into this. It IS a hard decision. We are VERY used to friendly people and its an outrage that these so called CHRISTIANS have made you feel this way. Is this what THEIR church teaches? Its appalling. Maybe you do need ME out there just for the sake of being a friend. Thanks again.

[chazcrew]

No, that's not what the LDS church teaches. Just FYI.

[east_tennessee_family]

WELL, just FYI, is it chazcrew? I don't want to move my family into a community that even remotely resembles STEPFORD WIVES and this poor lady gave me some insight into what things and attitudes CAN be like in your little town. Granted, it could have been 20 years ago, but her families lives were damaged because of the unwelcoming attitude back then. Have you even READ what she said? I WILL make my own judgements and I will come with an open mind. That is IF we even DO come. People on MY side of the country are genuinely welcoming to newcomers. I pray Utah can be to us.

[thompson84606]

Originally Posted by east_tennessee_family

People on MY side of the country are genuinely welcoming to newcomers. I pray Utah can be to us.

Wow, talk about jumping off the handle at an informative remark. Utah gets a horrible rap because there is a strong culture that was FORCED from your part of the country to find solace in these mountains. Chazcrew was merely telling you not to take the experiences of a few to heart as this is not the teachings of the LDS church. The Brigham city area is well known for strange people and towns surrounding with 500 people are no different (if not worse). I can sympathize with the poster considering I moved into an area of Illinois that by majority belonged to the Church of Christ. I have NEVER heard of LDS sitting down at someone's lunch table and asking 'Did you know that your church was started by Satan?'. That's what someone did to me. A group of people that I considered friends cornered me and tried to forcibly convince me to attend their bible group "church of the philippi" because of my evil beliefs, forcing me only to tears. Another "friend" who impregnated a fellow LDS girl in my class began yelling at me during study hall while holding his bible telling me lies about what my church "believed". The constant "So you have like twenty moms right?" was almost more than I could stand during my sophomore year of high school. But I made it through, meeting FANTASTIC friends of Indian and Pakistani decent who are some of the greatest people I have ever met. They were also berated by 'Christians' because of their beliefs and we could relate to each other. 'YOUR side of the country' is well known for hatred of other religions AND races. There was news of a high school in Georgia that in 2007 had its first integrated prom. If you think there are no problems in the south/midwest/northeast/anywhere think again. Check their forums and see all of the issues people have had with race, religion and the like. In the North Carolina forum I've seen people post that the first thing people ask is 'so what church do YOU go to'. If you come here and act towards 'us nasty Mormons' like we're prejudiced and ignorant then you'll get a cold reception. And it won't be OUR ignorance on display.

By the way, despite many of the people in that town, it was the best place I've ever lived.