City Dwellers Who Have Returned to SD? (Sioux Falls, Aberdeen: renter, car insurance)

[sugarbeet]

I grew up in Minnesota near the South Dakota border and attended college and grad school at SDSU in Brookings. For the past nine years, I've lived in various large U.S. cities (outside the Midwest) and travelled extensively both domestically and internationally. Despite close ties to my family in eastern SD and southwest Minnesota, I've definitely become a city person. (Some would say that tendency was latent in me from birth and it just took city living to bring it out...)

I'm now looking to return to eastern SD (probably Brookings) for a job that will allow me to be closer to family. I know I will love it there for many reasons, but I'd like to hear from others who may have followed a similar path.

Has anyone lived a true urban (not suburban) lifestyle - NYC, Boston, DC, SF, LA - and made the transition back to SD? My main concerns are the lack of diversity among residents and lack of diverse food choices. Although I do love Taco John's(you can't get that in most of the eastern states!) and have noticed that Sioux Falls now has sushi, Indian, Ethiopian, etc., so progress is being made.

Plus...I have noticed insane prices on homes in Brookings! I there appear to be very few listings and comparable homes are the same price there as where I now live in Florida! Not sure how to afford that, given that I will be lucky to make half my current salary if I move to Brookings. I also wonder how other people afford $300k homes on Brookings' salaries!

Please share your reacclimation experiences!

[BusySocialWorker]

Well, not maybe as "urban" as you are talking, but I grew up in SD - town of about 1000 people and then went to SDSU - after graduation we moved to Denver for grad school and stayed for 5-6 years. Just last year we returned to SD to be closer to family.

We decided although we would be giving up many things (arts, culture, foods, shopping, and general lifestyle) it would be the best choice for our family as far as safety, education, and general stability.

Housing here in Rapid is actually more expensive then it was in Denver - we built a new home in Denver and it is more spendy here with quite a drop in income.... we are renting until our home in Denver is sold, then we may just build to try to cut costs, but still get what we want at a more afordable price.

We REALLY miss the variety in food choices and espiecially the authentic mexican / chinese / greek. Also very few upscale seafood places and we really miss our favorite fondu restarunt from metro denver It also feels odd having such a little airport, but my new job does not require much travel so guss I don't need DIA anymore

Also the shopping is an issue - thank goodness for the internet, but rapid is also expanding with several new malls in the works so come on my favorite stores

As far as the positives of moving from a larger metro area back to SD

NO TRAFFIC
SHORT COMMUTES
CLEAN AIR
BETTER SCHOOLS and TEACHER STUDENT RATIOS
NO STATE INCOME TAX
LOWER COST CAR INSURANCE

I guess just in the last year we have returned more to our roots then I thought we would so quickly, enjoying the more simple things in life.

It helps that I love my new job here... we are still waiting for our three year old new home in Denver to sell so that is a stress, but in general we are very happy.

We actually looked at Brookings when we were relocating and I was offered a job at the hospital there - I think it was just too close to family and too small for us.... not that rapid is huge, but for us it was the best compromise - similar climate to denver and still some hills - I also thought it would feel weird returning to my college town (so many memories )

I know Denver is no NYC, but that is our experience - good luck!

[DannyBanany]

BusySocialWorker-

I am thinking of moving to Denver sometime in the future. Whereabouts in the metro area is your old home located?

Is it a good area? How long is a commute? Let me know!

[faulkton]

I grew up in Seattle/Tacoma and moved here (faulkton) about three years ago. Its a huge change and the biggest negative for me is finding anyone who shares similar life experiences or world and political views. The people are very nice, don't get me wrong (I'm white), but i certainly do not have much in common with most residents of this small ag town of 700 people.

The lack of diversity, especially in food, is frustrating at times; i can only eat so much steak and drink so much milk Nonetheless, overall it has been a very positive experience for me. Its so cheap here, i can survive working minimal hours and I decided to go back to school at Northern in Aberdeen. Its a long drive, 65 miles each way, but its still better than traffic in Seattle - at least i can set cruise control and zone out. With graduation nearby, I'm also looking to move to Brookings, for grad school. I think Brookings will be a giant step up from Faulkton, in terms of what Faulkton is lacking.

My mom currently lives in Seattle, but is seriously considering moving back to be closer to her parents and the rest of the family. She is being flown out to Pierre for an interview, and to look at houses, at the end of this month.

The positives have all been accurately enumerated, just make sure you really are ready for the negatives: food, culture, politics.

[sugarbeet]

Thank you for the responses! I think I know what I will be in for (good and bad) if I choose to move back. My husband is hesitant, as he grew up in the suburbs of a 5 million+ metro area, but I think he will like it too. There are many opportunities to start a business and he is always on the lookout for entrepreneurial opportunities.

Pay is probably my biggest concern. I live in Florida and there's no income tax here either. As a middle class person with no kids who uses very few public services, I don't notice much of a difference between the high tax and low tax states I've lived in (other than my paycheck, of course!).

I'm really fortunate to have a job that compensates me very well, has lots of perks, etc. If I could do the job from anywhere, life would be perfect!

Has anyone taken a significant (50% or more) pay cut? Is that wise? Life is not that bad here in FL...I see how cold it is has been back there in SD!

[BusySocialWorker]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

BusySocialWorker-

I am thinking of moving to Denver sometime in the future. Whereabouts in the metro area is your old home located?

Is it a good area? How long is a commute? Let me know!

Hello - it is a beautiful area - new sub-burb development close to DIA, E470 and Boulder Turnpike It is near the big new Reunion devleopment if you konw where that is - 104th ave and chambers area (north east of down town denver) - it took me about 15 minutes to get to work near Down Town and the Boulder Turnpike -

Home is 3 years old (we built it with lots of upgrades) on one of the biggest lots in the community - 3 bed + loft 2.5 bath - 2700 square feet and nice fenced yard with deck Maple cabs all appliances new composite deck, sprinklers and fenced yard, fireplace etc...

We have a renter in right now, but it may be available soon if you would maybe be interested just keep in touch!

[floridadreamer]

Brookings is ok, atleast it's less than an hour from Sioux Falls so you have easy access to multiple movie theatre, dining and shopping.

[indigosd]

Busy Social Worker said it all and very accurately. I moved back from a large city and I also miss the cultural diversity, limited shopping [love online shopping!], the lack of fine dining [created my own restaurant to meet that need-lol] and the absence of really fresh fruit and vegetables most of the year. BUT-you can not put a price tag on the quality of life that we have in SD. Pay cut-oh yeah, more than 50%-I can't even go there and yet it all evens out. Housing is less expensive and also personal insurance. No cost for all the natural beauty and belonging to the community is free! Yes, it gets cold but we don't have hurricaines or earthquakes. I have experienced both numerous times and I will take a good old blizzard any time! I love the beauty of four distinct seasons. We don't have a problem with homeless people in our rural communities-way too cold. If someone is in need, the community assists them. Small town living is vastly different than urban life. I guess it all depends on what you are looking for in your life.