Oh what have I done??? (Bakersfield, Table Rock: taxes, live, shop)

[Nexxie]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

That's wonderful news, Nexxie! Congratulations! You've served as a valuable example to many folks contemplating a move to rural Missouri, and I suspect some of them have decided to stay where they are after reading of your unhappiness in a new home on a secluded 120-acre tract next to the Gasconade River. That lifestyle just isn't comfortable for many folks who think they want a quiet rural lifestyle but after some research have second thoughts and decide the city is the best place for them.

Now, I hope many others will follow your example. Good luck on your return trip and your life in the city.

Although I did not come here by choice and it was something that had to be done, I hope that my experiences here will help others before they hop the fence for whatever reasons they may feel is necessary. Wheather it be personal obligations, work, or you think you want the rural life, have a back-up plan or other options for an emergency escape. Unless you are born into this type of life you may not make it out here and be prepared for some serious culture shock. If you have to come here for whatever reasons, the life here is VERY hard but the Missourian's for the most part are generally good people with a lack of sense of humor. Lighten up Missourian's and don't take life so seriously, it is too short and definitely should not be wasted where you are not happy.

Nexxie

[OA 5599]

I've known a fair number of transplants to the rural Ozarks who have been living here for decades and still love it. My parents came here in the mid 80's from a more polished small city in the Upper Midwest and are still here...they love the Ozarks and so do I. It is definitely not for everyone, however.

I worked at a grocery store when I was in high school, and for awhile a husband/wife pair also worked there. They moved from Las Vegas to find somewhere more family-friendly to raise their children. However, they didn't know that grocery stores in rural Missouri are non-union and pay minimum wage unless you are some sort of low-level manager, and then you'll make a buck or two an hour above minimum wage. I'm not sure what happened to them, but I think they left the Ozarks.

Like living in any other place, it is what you make out of it. I think on a day like today was, it is hard to hate the Ozarks. So incredibly beautiful. I went out for a drive around 8:15 this evening and was awed at the beauty. Lush, green trees, mist hanging over the hillsides, rolling green pastures, and a nice breeze. My window is open right now and I can hear dozens frogs performing their nightly chorus. It is a wonderful sound to fall asleep to.

Even with all of the beauty, there are things the Ozarks lack. As you mentioned, there are few healthy restaurants...if you want healthy food, you either have to cook it yourself (the way to go, IMO) or head to Subway. The people are genuinely friendly, but overall it is not a progressive place to live. Good jobs are hard to come by. The prevailing culture here is nothing like urban/suburban America. I'm usually even culture-shocked myself when coming back here after living in the city for months at a time, but re-adjust within a few days. I think the schools down here are pretty good however...the education I received at my small rural school was great and I've gone on to have a very successful academic and professional career. Many people have a good sense of humor too. I'm about to move to St. Louis...where I have a good job lined up, and more social opportunities for people my age, but I plan to spend many weekends back down here in the Ozarks, enjoying the beauty of rural life.

I wish you the best of your luck in your move back to the Sunshine State, and hope you find a lifestyle more to your liking.

[tambre]

Good Luck Nexxie,

Hope you find your place of joy in this world. It's somewhere different for everyone. Happy Trails.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Nexxie

Although I did not come here by choice and it was something that had to be done, I hope that my experiences here will help others before they hop the fence for whatever reasons they may feel is necessary. Wheather it be personal obligations, work, or you think you want the rural life, have a back-up plan or other options for an emergency escape. Unless you are born into this type of life you may not make it out here and be prepared for some serious culture shock. If you have to come here for whatever reasons, the life here is VERY hard but the Missourian's for the most part are generally good people with a lack of sense of humor. Lighten up Missourian's and don't take life so seriously, it is too short and definitely should not be wasted where you are not happy.

Nexxie

Nexxie,

Your posts should be required reading for all non-Missourians contemplating a move to Missouri, especially a move to rural Missouri, and especially a move to the rural Missouri Ozarks.

I disagree with you, though, regarding our sense of humor. Some of my friends and neighbors are hilarious and keep me in stitches. You have to understand rural humor is primarily storytelling; it's also often delivered deadpan. The funniest people I know around here use wryness, subtlety and understatements. They'll also use self-deprecating humor.

For instance, couple of weekends ago I had to go over to the MotoMart to get some more gasoline to finish up mowing. Ran into a buddy, another old redneck like me, and we were talking outside. Car with Pennsylvania plates pulls up and guy gets out to go inside. We howdy him, and my buddy winks at me. I figger he's planning some fun.

We continue talking. Guy comes back out; I guess he had to go to the bathroom and buy a couple more cokes.

Buddy says, "I see you are from Pennsylvania. Welcome to the Ozarks."

Guy stops and says, "Thank you, we're on our way to Branson."

Buddy says, "If you're a-lookin' fer hillbillies, no need to go plumb to Branson; you done found you a couple rightcheer." We both give him big tooth-missing grins.

Guy laughs and heads toward his Lexus, which is still running so his wife is in the cool a/c.

Buddy says, "Well, enjoy your visit, stay as long as you can and spend as much as you got. We like Pennsylvania money in Missouri. JUST DON'T FORGET THE WAY HOME, and drive carefully."

Then we both laughed real big and the guy laughed with us. He got back in his car and as he backed out apparently told his wife what my buddy said, for she rolled her window down, despite the heat, and stuck out the middle finger of her right hand.

We laughed uproariously, doffed our caps and waved as they drove off.

Pennsylvania women apparently don't have a sense of humor.

I'm glad you are finding your way back home, Nexxie; again, good luck to you.

Ozarks Boy

[breeze823]

You live in a gorgeous area. You have to get out to meet people. Join a MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers).group at a local church. I did that when my kids were small and made some great friends. Enjoy the area for what it is, that's the beauty of it.

[heaton]

ozarkboy.... so when my husband drives up in his Mercedes-Benz you will make fun of him too? Just to let you know, his Mercedes is a 2000 with 75,000 miles and is worth around $9,500.Looks brand new. My Nitro is worth more then the Mercedes. Maybe you guys shouldn't be so quit to judge. What you drive doesn't tell people who you are.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by heaton

ozarkboy.... so when my husband drives up in his Mercedes-Benz you will make fun of him too? Just to let you know, his Mercedes is a 2000 with 75,000 miles and is worth around $9,500.Looks brand new. My Nitro is worth more then the Mercedes. Maybe you guys shouldn't be so quit to judge. What you drive doesn't tell people who you are.

Plenty of people in Rolla cruise around in brand new diesel pickups that cost at least as much as a new Mercedes or Lexus. Even a few high school kids did when I was in Rolla. You'll find those types of folks in Pennsylvania too (central PA reminds me a lot of rural MO).

While living in Rolla I found the jacked-up diesel trucks to be a considerable source of entertainment and humor, although in a different way than OB found the Pennsylvania Lexus to be funny. I lived near the intersection where they'd always drag race each other, and often sat on the front porch with my roommates on weekend nights watching them race and get pulled over. Great entertainment for all, and a source of revnue for the Rolla PD.

Very true too on "what you drive doesn't tell you who you are". I drive a Saturn with nearly 200k on the clock. It is probably worth less than a thousand dollars. I could easily afford a brand-new car, yet plan to keep driving the Saturn. I would rather save my money or spend it on other things than going tens of thousands of dollars in debt for a new car that I don't need.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by heaton

ozarkboy.... so when my husband drives up in his Mercedes-Benz you will make fun of him too? Just to let you know, his Mercedes is a 2000 with 75,000 miles and is worth around $9,500.Looks brand new. My Nitro is worth more then the Mercedes. Maybe you guys shouldn't be so quit to judge. What you drive doesn't tell people who you are.

If he shows up in his Mercedes with Arizona license plates, we'd probably try to have a little fun with him. We good ole boys just like to take a little wind out of high-falutin' folks' sails, bring them down a notch or two on the pride scale. Try to see if they want to fit in. Can your husband take a little good-natured ribbing?

Originally Posted by OA 5599

Plenty of people in Rolla cruise around in brand new diesel pickups that cost at least as much as a new Mercedes or Lexus. Even a few high school kids did when I was in Rolla. You'll find those types of folks in Pennsylvania too (central PA reminds me a lot of rural MO).

While living in Rolla I found the jacked-up diesel trucks to be a considerable source of entertainment and humor, although in a different way than OB found the Pennsylvania Lexus to be funny. I lived near the intersection where they'd always drag race each other, and often sat on the front porch with my roommates on weekend nights watching them race and get pulled over. Great entertainment for all, and a source of revnue for the Rolla PD.

Very true too on "what you drive doesn't tell you who you are". I drive a Saturn with nearly 200k on the clock. It is probably worth less than a thousand dollars. I could easily afford a brand-new car, yet plan to keep driving the Saturn. I would rather save my money or spend it on other things than going tens of thousands of dollars in debt for a new car that I don't need.

OA, the students like to make fun of the locals and the locals like to make fun of the students--and the professors. We all have a lot of fun, making fun of each other while avoiding much contact with the other group.

I can't tell you how many times a bunch of us have laughed about some professor or engineering student who has a lot of book-learning but no common sense.

Every time there's an engineering disaster someplace in the world, someone local will josh about UMR (well, now MST) striking again!

Meanwhile, the students call this place "the black hole" and talk about spending a lifetime here for four or five years. It's all meaningless, but it's great fun.

[Cali BassMan]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

I can't tell you how many times a bunch of us have laughed about some professor or engineering student who has a lot of book-learning but no common sense.

.

Oh Boy you've got that right, after the spending close to 30 years inside the refinery gates I've seen some really bright engineers with zero common sense.I remember this one fresh shaven engineer asks me "so where does the boiler get the heat from" to which I naturally replyed "why from the steam of course" or the one comes up with a blueprint and asks
"Where's vessel 123" ? We are standing in front of it, and there is big stenciling on it that says Vessel 123, So I quite naturally say " well if you go down there to the next corner and take a left and follow that down to the next corner and take a left then go down that road till ya see a street on the left follow it and at the next corner will be Vessel 123"

Then had one that figured he being messed with, he comes to the shop and says, " I think there Fuc--- with me, they said I should see you about a bucket of steam?" I says "Hell yeah they're messing with you, they never gave you lid" and went and got him a lid for his bucket.............

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Cali BassMan

Then had one that figured he being messed with, he comes to the shop and says, " I think there Fuc--- with me, they said I should see you about a bucket of steam?" I says "Hell yeah they're messing with you, they never gave you lid" and went and got him a lid for his bucket.............

Oh, BassMan, my sides are a-hurtin' from laughin' so much. I wonder if those engineers were from the University of Missouri-Rolla?

Few years ago, I was shopping in a local hardware store where there were packages of screws hanging up. Some said "Wood." Some said, "Brass." Some said "Metal." Some said "Machine." A college-aged youngster (I can't swear for certain he was a UMR boy, though) came up to me and said, "Excuse me, do you know if those packages that say 'metal' mean the screws are made out of metal?"

I said, "Why, sure does. The ones that say 'brass' are made out of brass, the ones that say 'wood' are whittled out of wood by guys that sit out in front of the courthouse and the ones that say 'machine' are whittled by machines." He thanked me, took a package of sheet metal screws and left.