Hopefully this will help answer questions about moving here from across country (Salt Lake City: real estate, home)

[Jen38]

When people say Utah is very boring I have to wonder how many states they have lived in and have experienced. I have lived in 9 states in 16 years. I have never been the outdoorsy type as far as camping, hiking, biking etc..but now given the opportunity, I incorporated them into my life. Why? Cuz I can! Still no camping though, just don't want to sleep with the bugs or get eaten by a mountain lion. Trust me, anywhere you live is just as dull as the next place if that is how you live. I grew up 45 minutes from NYC and later worked in NYC. I've done the museums, partied til 6am, saw tons of broadway shows and shopped shopped shopped. I also spent a TON of money doing all of those things. I was a buyer for a major department store so 7th ave was where I lived. After 4 years I was more than happy to give it all up. Since then we have lived in every time zone in the US and by far Utah has so much more to offer, especially if you have children. (And no, I am not LDS) If you don't have children I can understand why you think other places may offer more but the bar/club/fashion scene will wear on you soon enough. Also, other than California and NY and possibly Atlanta, the bar scene is not that much better anywhere else.
I have to ask, what is it that you want to do? What will you do somewhere else that you can't do here? There are very few places that offer the lifestyle that Utah does. And as far as getting fit, this is the place. I have lost 10 pounds living here and it's not because I've changed my eating that much. You are just more active - if you choose to be, I guess. I imagine you must want better indoor recreation because as far as outdoor rec, Utah ranks pretty close to the top, so what is it that you want? Yeah, you can get a better steak almost everywhere else in the country but I wouldn't move somewhere just to eat.
Now that we have moved to Utah, when we travel we have met so many people who are either from here or who have lived in Utah at some point and say how much they liked living there and would move back if the opportunity presented itself. I have had a few people who now live on the east coast tell me that they wished they did more when they lived here because now the opportunity is gone. Do you realize that it rained almost every day in the Northeast in the month of April? I was there for Easter and I was freezing! Yesterday it was 92 degrees here, it was 59 in NJ. There is so much more sunshine out here. Did you know Utah has more clear days than Hawaii? Weird huh? Basically, CA, NE, AZ, and NM beat us in sunny clear days for the year. I don't know about you but weather plays a big role in my mood. I love to see those clear blue skies!

You are only going to get out of something what you put into it. What is it that you want?? I would love to hear why other states are so much better than this one. And for now, let's leave out the religious issue because as far as something being boring, religion would not be a reason. You make a choice in what you believe in, you can change that if you prefer. You may think that a particular group of people are boring but again, change who you hang out with. It's all up to you!

[LAFrench]

Good to hear!! I hope all goes well.
Please let me know how ya'll like it there.

Thank you,

LAFrench

Originally Posted by slcbound

We moved here at the end of December from KY. I could not agree more with what TimTimTim has said (we too are non-LDS). The only thing that differs for us is the housing prices. They are higher here than in KY. But, that's a good trade off for us, considering all that SLC has to offer. We started out renting, but are getting ready to close on a house becasue we like it so much here!

[LAFrench]

I would absolutely love to be given the opportunity to move there.
Have to have a job lined up before moving, which is the tough part.

Originally Posted by Jen38

When people say Utah is very boring I have to wonder how many states they have lived in and have experienced. I have lived in 9 states in 16 years. I have never been the outdoorsy type as far as camping, hiking, biking etc..but now given the opportunity, I incorporated them into my life. Why? Cuz I can! Still no camping though, just don't want to sleep with the bugs or get eaten by a mountain lion. Trust me, anywhere you live is just as dull as the next place if that is how you live. I grew up 45 minutes from NYC and later worked in NYC. I've done the museums, partied til 6am, saw tons of broadway shows and shopped shopped shopped. I also spent a TON of money doing all of those things. I was a buyer for a major department store so 7th ave was where I lived. After 4 years I was more than happy to give it all up. Since then we have lived in every time zone in the US and by far Utah has so much more to offer, especially if you have children. (And no, I am not LDS) If you don't have children I can understand why you think other places may offer more but the bar/club/fashion scene will wear on you soon enough. Also, other than California and NY and possibly Atlanta, the bar scene is not that much better anywhere else.
I have to ask, what is it that you want to do? What will you do somewhere else that you can't do here? There are very few places that offer the lifestyle that Utah does. And as far as getting fit, this is the place. I have lost 10 pounds living here and it's not because I've changed my eating that much. You are just more active - if you choose to be, I guess. I imagine you must want better indoor recreation because as far as outdoor rec, Utah ranks pretty close to the top, so what is it that you want? Yeah, you can get a better steak almost everywhere else in the country but I wouldn't move somewhere just to eat.
Now that we have moved to Utah, when we travel we have met so many people who are either from here or who have lived in Utah at some point and say how much they liked living there and would move back if the opportunity presented itself. I have had a few people who now live on the east coast tell me that they wished they did more when they lived here because now the opportunity is gone. Do you realize that it rained almost every day in the Northeast in the month of April? I was there for Easter and I was freezing! Yesterday it was 92 degrees here, it was 59 in NJ. There is so much more sunshine out here. Did you know Utah has more clear days than Hawaii? Weird huh? Basically, CA, NE, AZ, and NM beat us in sunny clear days for the year. I don't know about you but weather plays a big role in my mood. I love to see those clear blue skies!

You are only going to get out of something what you put into it. What is it that you want?? I would love to hear why other states are so much better than this one. And for now, let's leave out the religious issue because as far as something being boring, religion would not be a reason. You make a choice in what you believe in, you can change that if you prefer. You may think that a particular group of people are boring but again, change who you hang out with. It's all up to you!

[VARIETEES]

Thanks Tim Tim Tim. As you and I have briefly discussed, I am also a Floridian who is strongly considering moving to Utah and this is good info. I am curious though as to dcisive's post about depression. Why is this an issue in Utah?

[osugirl2]

Originally Posted by VARIETEES

Thanks Tim Tim Tim. As you and I have briefly discussed, I am also a Floridian who is strongly considering moving to Utah and this is good info. I am curious though as to dcisive's post about depression. Why is this an issue in Utah?

It's a pretty compicated question to answer and not everyone is going to have the same one. Some people think depression is high in Utah because of the LDS religion and all the things that are expected of you as a member, pressure on stay at home moms raising lots of kids, focus on material wealth i.e. big homes. perfect hair and makeup, nice cars...... Honestly maybe that's it, but I think these attitudes can exist anywhere. I think personally it's probably a combination of all these things and that the lack of higher paying jobs in the state is a big factor, along with the nation's tanking economy.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

In any culture with an emphasis on material success as a sign of God's blessing, people are going to be pressured to live up to some ideal standard. It's more of a subtext here than an outright standard.

[Rickd203]

I'm not sure about the happiness level in Utah but I will be going out there in a couple weeks to try to help my brother. In this past year he has been divorced and has attempted suicide six times. He is also drowning in debt. From what I've seen on the internet, I couldn't really afford to live there either so I'm going to have to try to convince him to leave Utah.

[osugirl2]

Originally Posted by Rickd203

I'm not sure about the happiness level in Utah but I will be going out there in a couple weeks to try to help my brother. In this past year he has been divorced and has attempted suicide six times. He is also drowning in debt. From what I've seen on the internet, I couldn't really afford to live there either so I'm going to have to try to convince him to leave Utah.

I think that largely depends on how one lives. I'm from Oklahoma which has one of the absolute lowest costs of living in the country, and I can afford to live in Utah. The prices in the grocery stores are roughly the same as are gas and clothing and necessities. I've heard car insurance is cheaper as well (compared to most places) Eating out is a bit more expensive I've noticed, I was appalled to pay over 8 bucks for a burger deal type meal at Crown Burger (no drink refills either!) but all the more reason to cook at home. As far as housing goes, compare by price per square foot. The homes are more expensive in Utah than here, but they are also bigger for the most part. I would assume Connecticut would be much much more expensive than Utah, but then again I know nothing about Connecticut except it's on the East Coast.... which is usually always more expensive than other parts of the country

[osugirl2]

Originally Posted by Rickd203

I'm not sure about the happiness level in Utah but I will be going out there in a couple weeks to try to help my brother. In this past year he has been divorced and has attempted suicide six times. He is also drowning in debt. From what I've seen on the internet, I couldn't really afford to live there either so I'm going to have to try to convince him to leave Utah.

I'm very sorry about your Brother by the way. I hope things get better for him. It sounds like a move closer to family would do him well during this difficult time.

[Rickd203]

Originally Posted by osugirl2

I think that largely depends on how one lives. I'm from Oklahoma which has one of the absolute lowest costs of living in the country, and I can afford to live in Utah. I would assume Connecticut would be much much more expensive than Utah, but then again I know nothing about Connecticut except it's on the East Coast.... which is usually always more expensive than other parts of the country

You're correct about Connecticut. That's why, before I got word of my brother's situation, I was all set to move to Oklahoma. I lived there for four years and only left because of a military transfer (you go where they need you). I came back to Connecticut because I was gone for a long time and I didn't realize how insane the cost of living had become. What I want the most now is 10-20 acres of land for a little farm like my grandfather had. I can't afford that in Connecticut and it doesn't look like I will be able to afford it in Utah either. I also have very nice memories of the women in Oklahoma. Maybe this time I can find a woman to marry.

My brother's situation is a bit complicated but I wouldn't ask him to move back to Connecticut. Besides me, the rest of the family refuses to even talk to him. They don't want to talk to me either but I got used to it long ago.