Planning To Move To MO From CA in a Month and Need Help!! (Springfield: low income, real estate)

[misplaced1]

Belle,
Oh that will be nice since you have family there! I hear you on the bills in Ca. When I got back from Missouri and started getting my power and water and all those bills here again I was in shock all over again! Even gasoline we have 2.49 a gallon here in town YUK. I'm so thankful it's this low now because wow it was really bad but still it is so much higher than many places.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

You'll find some people who will be stand-offish and might even appear resentful but they will likely be in the minority.

Speaking as a member of the aforementioned minority, let me explain our position of stand-offishness to all who are considering a move to the Show Me State:

1. Missouri became a state in 1821 and has been getting along perfectly well without you ever since. We're always welcome to so-called new, brilliant and progressive ideas, but make sure you actually have one before you open your mouth and tell us how we ought to be doing things here. Otherwise, keep quiet.

2. We reluctantly accept the fact that you, who all your lives laughed at Missouri as a state of inbred hillbillies who talk with a funny accent, now seek the benefits of living in our state and expect us to accept you as friends and equals. Even some of you who have already made the move continue to deride your neighbors in print on city-data as a bunch of rednecks. Then you don't understand why you're not accepted.

3. We resent like all git-out those of you who are nothing more than land-grabbing opportunists looking for cheap property and low taxes. You make the worst kind of neighbors, because you really have no desire to be here. You'd rather be in California (or whatever state from which you came) but it has become so high-priced there that you can't afford it. Missouri is cheaper and the weather is more temperate (you think), so you pick us as the least-worse state to live.

4. We cannot figure out how so many of you don't understand why Missouri, a state that has lower property values than your state and lower taxes than your state, doesn't have wages/salaries equal to or higher than those in your state or as many governmental services as your state. Do you have no understanding of economics? Another thing we can't figure out is why those of you who move to small towns are disgusted with the so-called lack of shopping opportunities. We don't understand why you don't understand why small towns don't have malls or all the major chain stores you're accustomed to. Moreover, those of us who grew up country have a lot more interests than shopping. You city folks were born to shop; that seems shallow.

5. We WILL be civil to you and give you the benefit of the doubt. We will try to be your friend. With many of you, we'll remain standoffish for the reasons mentioned above. We WILL grow to accept, appreciate, like and enjoy the company of the handful of you who actually WANT to become Missourians. So far on city-data, I've only found three of you who fit that description, CaliBassMan, Curmudgeon and SimpleWifeandMom. The rest of you merely want to be transplants, Californians (or others) who are being forced by economics to move to this cheaper state.

OK, ShadowCaver, I am ready for my reprimand. I haven't had one for a few days.

Ozarks Boy

[tambre]

1. From your bio: Birthplace: The state of Georgia

2. If people feel this way about Missourians...they are ignorant. Don't let this bother you.

3. As part native american, I have to really laugh at this one. Anyone who colonized America, or as in your bio is "lilly white" should take a good look in the mirror on this point.

4. It's called culture shock...if a country person moved to the city they would have to adjust, as well.

5. OMG...it's junior high school all over again...

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by tambre

1. From your bio: Birthplace: The state of Georgia

Yep, you caught me. I'm a native Georgian. My dad was in the Air Force and was stationed at Werner Robins Air Force Base. Less than 3 months after my nativity in 1953, he was sent to Japan, and my mother brought me back home to Missouri to live with her folks awaiting his discharge a year later. I've been a Missourian ever since.

Originally Posted by tambre

3. As part native american, I have to really laugh at this one. Anyone who colonized America, or as in your bio is "lilly white" should take a good look in the mirror on this point.

I did not colonize America. I am old, but contrary to popular belief, I am not that old.

Originally Posted by tambre

4. It's called culture shock...if a country person moved to the city they would have to adjust, as well.

Culture shock? Seems to me to be an ignorance of economics. I thought they had better schools than that in the city.

I'm just a simple-minded country boy, born in the South and raised in Missouri, and I figured out early on that low property values and low taxes translates to less in the local government treasury so "services" are fewer. I also figured out that rural areas don't have a big enough customer base to support a mall or large chain stores.

Wouldn't you think me foolish, yea, even stupid, if I were to move to your city and start complaining that it was crowded, there was too much traffic and my money didn't go far?

Originally Posted by tambre

5. OMG...it's junior high school all over again...

I'm just a simple country boy, so I don't understand this reference. I guess it means something, though, and once you get moved to Missouri you can set me, and people like me, straight.

We recognize we are in the minority, so likely you can get by with ignoring us.

Originally Posted by tambre

2. If people feel this way about Missourians...they are ignorant. Don't let this bother you.

Doesn't bother me, really. I just am bumfuzzled why city people want to come and live amongst us. i guess the cheap land outweighs the preponderance of us hillbillies, rednecks, etc.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

Yep, you caught me. I'm a native Georgian. My dad was in the Air Force and was stationed at Werner Robins Air Force Base. Less than 3 months after my nativity in 1953, he was sent to Japan, and my mother brought me back home to Missouri to live with her folks awaiting his discharge a year later. I've been a Missourian ever since.

I just am bumfuzzled why city people want to come and live amongst us. i guess the cheap land outweighs the preponderance of us hillbillies, rednecks, etc.

You're a native Georgian like both my wife and I are native Californians. We're all accidents of birth thanks to the military -- Marine Corps for me, Air Force for my wife. Shortly after my birth my parents and I moved to mainland China. We were also in Japan from 1956 to 1958.

I've never really thought of myself as a "city person" so I guess that's part of what makes the upcoming move to MO so attractive. Same with my wife.

You say "hillbillies and rednecks" like there's something wrong with those. We prefer to think in terms of "salt-of-the-earth!"

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I don't see where Ozarks Boy ever claimed that he colonized this land. He's talking in the present about people buying up our cheap property and sitting on it.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

Doesn't bother me, really. I just am bumfuzzled why city people want to come and live amongst us. i guess the cheap land outweighs the preponderance of us hillbillies, rednecks, etc.

The thing is, the vast majority of city-slickers don't want to leave their cities, and know very well that rural areas lack institutions like PF Chang's and Trader Joe's. I've been living amongst the city-slickers for awhile now (and have sort of turned into one myself), and I can only think of one that wants to move to a rural area (and he is from Montana). You'll of course get a few posting on these board who are moving in, but the vast majority are quite content to stay put in City X with their sports franchises, ethnic eateries, and giant indoor malls. This is why the cities keep growing, and many rural areas grow slower, not at all, or lose population.

On another note, it is really sad that so many people now grow up in urban/suburban areas with absolutely no contact with the natural world. Kids prefer to stay inside and play video games these days. When I was a kid I was outside all the time, playing in the woods of the Ozarks.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

When I was young we fairly often took nature walks and played ball in Grandma's yard.

And I'm 19.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989

When I was young we fairly often took nature walks and played ball in Grandma's yard.

And I'm 19.

I'm not too much older than you at 24

So I was growing up when video games were starting to explode. I'm not going to lie...I definitely played some myself, but I spent a lot more time playing in the woods. These days most of the time I spend outside is running (the weather in Austin is great for year-around running). If I want to get to some secluded spots to do some hiking, I have to drive about 90 minutes....that is my biggest complaint about living in the city!

[tambre]

Missouri became a state in 1821 and has been getting along perfectly well without you ever since.


We resent like all git-out those of you who are nothing more than land-grabbing opportunists looking for cheap property and low taxes.

The people who originally homesteaded and settled in Missouri, god bless them, were also people who displaced native americans. Since OB referenced 1821, my point is that his ancestors are probably guilty of looking for cheap land, and perhaps displacing native americans and taking the land for free. What can I say...karma perhaps.

But back to 2009 for a moment. OB can resent it all he wants. He can have fun, wallow in it. Have a pity party. Keep reminding himself how we all are elitest snobs. Oh, and when a young woman with a small child is crying out for help because she is lonely, and culture shock is hitting her square between the eyes, don't try to help...no, that's a good time to get up on your soap box and condemn her, and her "shopping" kind.

But exactly who is the elitist here. The person moving to Missouri, looking for a simple life and buying land in the country...or the person who is stereotyping all newcomers with a broad brush dipped in the ink of hatred.

Just remember, the land doesn't belong to you. The Missourians who are selling their land are making money. Do you have a problem with them? The people who are building the houses are making money...should they not make a living, just to spite the evil newcomers? Should the realtors and grocers and doctors and vets and feed stores and gas stations also resent us...but take our cash? If I get a job taking care of disabled people...will you resent that, because I'm taking a job away from a Missourian. I really have to stand up against this one sided tirade as I don't think it is fair or just, or does anything to help people live peacefully together. Phewww...that felt good.