Questions about Spokane (South Hill, Davenport, St. John: rental car, good schools, income)

[photogoddess]

mes3: I too along with many others it seems have been comparing Ft. Collins with Spokane. It is a non-issue for us now because the hubby has taken a job in Spokane, but I really do like the Ft. Collins area very much. Personally, it would be my first choice as well. I think it is well situated between some great places including downtown Denver, lots of outdoor activities, etc. I appreciate you sharing some of the links you have found for Spokane and I wish you luck wherever you decide to go. I wonder why so many people are comparing the two? Whatever the reason, it was interesting to see so many people doing so.
WN: I re-read this entire thread this am trying to get a better idea of why you dislike Spokane so much, and it seems to come down to crime. Is this really the case? Did you like anything about Spokane? I am not being condescending, I really would like to know. I have lived in several places from small towns to big cities and each place has its pros and cons. I read many positive and negative comments, each taken with a grain of salt because ultimately only I will be able to decide if I like it, but with that said I would like to get an overall fair assesment from people, (like you and others) who have lived in Spokane.
I do realize my priorities will be different than yours, but what was it that made you decide not to ever live in Spokane again? We don't have to re-hash the crime issue, but if that is what it was, it is a very valid point.
I am positive we all can have a fair and mature discussion in this forum.

[SoupGuru]

Originally Posted by mes3fils

And.....hysterical??? I don't ever recall feeling 'HYSTERICAL' and I think if I did ever feel hysterical, that I WOULD know.

I sincerely apologize for that choice of words. "Hysterical" was a bit overboard.

I really do admire your tenacity in researching the many aspects of Spokane - well done.

I guess I've never really seen anyone bring up radon maps in a discussion of moving to a certain area... and then hint that moving to the area will give your family cancer. But without a doubt, health is an important issue in determining where to live.

[washinton native]

Given your nasty dig towards me, I am not so sure you'll fit in with the supposed 'humble and down-to-earth' ppl that are known to flourish there.

man mes, i hate being the bearer of bad news, but "humble and down to earth" and spokane residents is an oxymoron.

i assure you this person flourishes in the valley of inversional smog.

[Michiganmom]

I actually thought soup guru was being nice in her term of hysterical towards mes3fils. I have found her plain annoying. You aren't even moving for at least three years, you have never even been to Spokane, and yet you have such an negative opinion about the place and have never even visited. You also lead people who are also looking to move there in the same negative direction. How about laying off on the personal opinions until you have actually moved and have lived there? And a lot can happen in three years in terms of the price of homes, graffiti, school funding, etc. I am not trying to be mean, but please back off a little!

[mes3fils]

"I have found her plain annoying."

Sorry but I am not here to 'please' you or to make you feel 'comfortable'. I feel that the very valid points that my research has provided, are things that you don't want to hear or know about as you already probably have an issue with moving to Spokane yourself, not that you'd ever admit to it. Go ahead and 'stick your head in the sand'...totally your choice. And, if you'd rather not read the many facts that have been brought up in this thread re:Spokane, then stop coming here to lurk. Actually, you have rarely posted, and the past 2 posts from you have been to 'attack' me. In your last post, you tried to 'redirect' me to the Co forum, as you don't want to hear/read any more negatives about dear old Spokane. Sorry your 'stuck' moving there, not our problem.

As for saying the info I have provided is my 'personal opinion', don't agree with you at all there. Most of the info provided by me, was factual and taken from many different reference points. Some was the 'opinion' of my friend who LIVES there! Can you read and understand at the same time?

And, one last thing Michiganmom, what do YOU have to add about Spokane?? What has YOUR research revealed about the place? IMO, if you have nothing intelligent or productive to say, then say nothing.

On a positive note, we may go to Spokane in a few months and just fall in love with it. Negatives and all!

It's too bad that this thread has turned into an attack toward me, but I don't care one bit. It's actually amusing.

[mes3fils]

Here are some links. Don't know if you already saw these sites. Here is a quote from a realtor that I communicate back and forth with re:Spokane schools.....

"Spokane schools- overall. Well, Spokane was named one of the top 7 Intellegent Communities world wide because of it's embrace of technology and the schools have won national awards in almost every category, especially for technology. I know Lewis and Clark High School was featured in Newsweek 2 years in a row as one of the top high schools in the nation. Most of our gradeschools have won state and national awards for excellence in education. Here are a few links to the Spokane School District site. You can click on each school for information, a link to their individual website, and their annual academic reports. The locals tend to flock to Lewis and Clark, Mead, Shadle, and Central Valley."

Oh dear! I actually posted some POSITIVE info about Spokane, can you believe it??? LOL!

[mes3fils]

"I guess I've never really seen anyone bring up radon maps in a discussion of moving to a certain area..."

I guess being an RN, I am more health conscious than the normal person. Do you even know what Radon is? Or the dangers of it? Why do you think that so many homes in mtnous areas install radon monitors in the homes basements?

"I really do admire your tenacity in researching the many aspects of Spokane - well done."

We live in S. FL. We have 3 children, two of them very young. To move from here to Wa without doing the amt of research that I have done, would be extremely irresponsible of me/us. Can you imagine the financial loss from making a move from south FL to Wa. state, and then NOT liking it???? Mock me all you want, go ahead. But, you're not the one who would be paying up if it was a wrong move. I am sure if the roles were reversed and it were your wife (assuming you're a male) doing the research and being concerned about making a wrong decision, you'd be extremely grateful for her persistence/education.

Apparently, your standards in regard to where you would want to settle down and probably rear children, is pretty low. Based on your mockery of my prior posts. You obviously don't feel such an amt of research is necessary. Sorry................................I do.

[mes3fils]

Originally Posted by washinton native

man mes, i hate being the bearer of bad news, but "humble and down to earth" and spokane residents is an oxymoron.

i assure you this person flourishes in the valley of inversional smog.

washintonnative....LOL!!

[SoupGuru]

I think you're reading that post wrong. There was no sarcasm intended when I complimented you on your diligent research. Frankly, I'm doing huge amounts of it myself and it was nice to see some of the results you had come up with.

As far as radon goes, yes I am aware of what it is and it is a valid concern. But if you are using that as a reason not to move somewhere, you are really limiting yourself as demonstrated by the following map:

http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html

It appears Colorado has even more issues with radon than Washington.

I guess that's the big issue I have with the way you've come across regarding Spokane. You seem as if it should be obvious to everyone that Spokane is a hell hole without acknowledging that every other place can have its negative points emphasized to make it look horrible too. I'm sure if we all wanted, we could paint Fort Collins into some sort of hell on earth too, or Minneapolis, or Des Moines, or anywhere. You get the picture.

But we all have different deal breakers. Maybe for you it's radon. But for me it's not.

[mes3fils]

I guess that's the big issue I have with the way you've come across regarding Spokane. You seem as if it should be obvious to everyone that Spokane is a hell hole without acknowledging that every other place can have its negative points emphasized to make it look horrible too. Obvious? Did I use that word when describing Spokane? I think I have posted FACTS about Spokane, of which you obviously can overlook all of. I'm sure if we all wanted, we could paint Fort Collins into some sort of hell on earth too, or Minneapolis, or Des Moines, or anywhere. You get the picture. And, is this a 'bash Ft. Collins post now'? Are you that petty? TIT FOR TAT? But we all have different deal breakers. Maybe for you it's radon. But for me it's not. AND, QUOTE WHERE I SAID RADON WAS A DEAL BREAKER FOR ME!!!!!!!!!

And yes, I HAVE noticed that Colorado's radon map is darker than Spokane's. FYI. However, if we like it there-THEN WE WILL MOVE THERE!

How old ARE you anyway? I would bet judging from your 'immature digs' at me, that you're in your 20's. If you're older, then shame on you.

If you continue to blast me, even if in your subtley sarcastic way, then shame again on YOU!

This forum is to be used for 'informative' (which I have never veered from)reasons and since you posted the other day, it is now being misused by YOU. And Michiganmom! She is just as ridiculous!

Now, I am moving on and am DONE with responding to your 'complete-waste-of-my-time' posts. I am sorry I have wasted even THIS amt of time on them.

Have a WONDERFUL weekend.