Help with the move (Springfield, Eureka: home, job market, college)

[Johnny Yuma]

hey, just wanted a little advice. my girlfriend got a job at a horse farm in Lampe. we were planning on moving down there next month. However, we have always been city people. her and i also have pretty liberal views and have tatoos and such. i'm just worried that i'll be sitting in our home every night because there's not much to do or i will be persecuted for the way i look. i'm not real freaky, just tattoos and trying to keep the 50's alive. (think john travolta in "grease.") anyways, i just want to make sure i can live a quiet life but not have to be a hermit. thanks for any ideas you have.

[aragx6]

Lampe is pretty darn far out there! It's a pretty area, but no there isn't much to do. It takes a while to get to Branson too, because you have to drive around the lake to get there- it probably takes over a half hour, and about an hour to Springfield.

And to be perfectly honest, if you're from a big city, Branson isn't going to provide you with much to do.

As far as persecution- I think you'll be OK. You'll probably get a few odd looks, but nothing major.

[Lake Junkie]

Johnny Yuma...welcome.

Lampe is a fair piece out...I think your nearest clubs will be Kimberling City. There's also a lot to do in Eureka Springs during "the season"...that's only about half an hour from parts of Lampe.

It is generally a retirement area, so the population trends mature......but I think most folks around here tend to live and let live.

If you look, you can find quite a bit to do...and like most of us you'll make things to do. And if you aren't lake people, you might consider trying a bit of boating & all that...it gets pretty addicting. The summer is when things really hop around there!

Kimberling City also has an art guild, a library, a fairly active (although small) live music scene...but be prepared for a drastic change from city life.

[Johnny Yuma]

thanks for your input, i have just one more. the economy here sucks, are there available jobs. i have a college degree and dabbled in many things. what does the job hunt look like? and by the way, i'm coming from detroit.

[8 SNAKE]

White collar work in and around Lampe is going to be relatively hard to come by. You're going to find mostly small business and service work (and even that will be limited), unless you commute to Branson. Best of luck to you!

[aragx6]

It will probably take you a while to find a job down there, but if you are dabbler by nature, you'll probably find something eventually. I woudl definitely suggest having a back up plan until you find something though. Do you have any savings? or can you live cheaply off your gf's income? If so, you'll probably be OK, if not, it could be tough.

[Darlynn0217]

Welcome Johnny Yuma! Lampe is just down the road from me.....I'm in Kimberling. There is some wild life in our area! And I don't mean the animals! Kim Cty has a bowling alley and several "night" spots and restaurants. We fish and frollick in the Lake and generally have a great time in the community. Us Lake folks are pretty liberal...I wouldn't worry about the tats. You'll be fine! No big city life, but who wants that? The job market may be better for you in Branson, or towards Springfield, but we have a couple of new roads that make the going easier. We have all the creature comforts, and hardly any crime! I will be glad to help you gather any info that I can.

[Johnny Yuma]

thanks for all the help. we'll be moving down the first of march. i'm nervous, but it sounds like all will be fine. thanks again!

[SGFNative]

Yuma, be prepared for a serious culture shock. Detroit to Lampe, MO is quite a change. The Table Rock Lake area is beautiful, but you will get pretty bored. Especially coming from a big city.

As far as jobs go..... Obviously I don't know what you do for a living right now, but you aren't going to find a good paying job outside of Springfield. Even if you'd be willing to commute to Springfield every day there aren't that many great jobs out there right now, making it tough to justify the gasoline expense of the long commute. Be prepared to settle for a job you never thought you'd settle for.

[Johnny Yuma]

are there cabs to take from like, say. kimberling city to lampe and vice-versa?