Planning To Move To MO From CA in a Month and Need Help!! (Springfield: to rent, crime)

[Belle813]

Hello to all!
My Family and I are planning to move from Los Angeles,CA to MO in the next month or so,but we do have some concerns.I wonder if any of you can help me out.
We are tiered of the stressing life here in LA and we are looking for a nice rural place around Branson area or Springfield.We are a family of 4,My Father(48)my mother(49)my brother(23)and me the youngest(19).We want to know of a town or small city to rent a house and were there might be job opportunities for my father and brother.They both are Caregivers(they provide help to Elderly Gentlemen/Ladies:companionship,exercise,bathe,feed,help out with medication,etc...)my father has 10 years experience and my brother has 3yrs. My brother is also interested in working in a ranch or a farm due to the fact that he has fair knowledge when it comes to caring for horses and cows/bulls or any work having to do with a ranch/farm.
Another big concern is the fact that my mother requires medicine for her Diabetes,and well she needs to be seen by the doctor regulary.We will like to move to a town that is close enough to a good hospital or clinic that can cover that part.
Also,I'm a freshman in college and will love to find a good college to transfer to;but would also like to find a part time job to help me out with my college expenses.
I have hear that the Branson area and Springfield are very nice places to live at due to the fact that they are calm and nice,with good job opportunities(if I'm not mistaken??) Since LA is a very violent and stressing city we figured that moving to a nice rural place would be a nice change for all of us.We figured it would also be a great change for my mother who's health is quite delicate to live in a nice green place where the air might be much more clean than here.
Well those are pretty much our concerns,1.a nice small town/city rural area to rent a house 2.job opportunities 3.health care for my mother and 4.college
If any of you can help me out I'll appreciate it lots!!

thanks a lot!!
Isabel

[misplaced1]

Are you guys planning a trip out to visit or have you been in the area? I have been only in the northwestern part of Missouri so I can't be of any help to you , sorry on that count. Definitely if medical specialists are an issue look for a city not too far out of a larger one. We lived up North and we had to drive 90ish miles to go to hubby's heart specialist and 70ish miles to my sons ear specialist. It wasn't too much fun in the winter.

[Belle813]

Originally Posted by misplaced1

Are you guys planning a trip out to visit or have you been in the area? I have been only in the northwestern part of Missouri so I can't be of any help to you , sorry on that count. Definitely if medical specialists are an issue look for a city not too far out of a larger one. We lived up North and we had to drive 90ish miles to go to hubby's heart specialist and 70ish miles to my sons ear specialist. It wasn't too much fun in the winter.

We are actually planing to move there.We have never been to MO but we have hear a lot of positive things about it.Thanx a lot for your advise,We'll make sure to do that.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by Belle813

We are actually planing to move there.We have never been to MO but we have hear a lot of positive things about it.Thanx a lot for your advise,We'll make sure to do that.

I would strongly suggest that you visit Missouri before you move. Coming from LA, you will likely be in for quite a culture shock. If you read through this forum a little more, particularly this thread: http://www.city-data.com/forum/misso...-where-mo.html you'll get an idea of what I'm talking about.

Missouri is a great state indeed, but you do need to be aware that wages are very low in the Springfield/Branson area, you have four distinct seasons with a cold winter (with snow and ice), pleasant fall and spring, and a summer that can be hot and humid. Shopping will be limited in Springfield/Branson compared to LA, although you will have all the amenities you really need.

I can't speak about employment for caregivers, but the Missouri economy isn't doing great right now, so finding a job will be somewhat difficult, just like most other states. If you end up in Springfield you could transfer to Missouri State University, which is a large 4-year that offers a wide range of degree programs. Ozarks Technical College is a large community college / tech school in Springfield, and several smaller, private colleges (Drury and Evangel) are also in town.

Anyway, if you are looking for a slower pace of life you'll find it around Springfield and Branson, but you should really research this and make a trip out to the area before you move. You need to know what you are getting into.

[Cali BassMan]

Isabel,

As fellow Californian, let me inject some negatives for you, First thing is Jobs, there are 10 times the jobs in California than there are in Missouri, and the jobs that are available won't pay anything. Most jobs in Missouri pay less than the California Minimum wage, so moving to MIssouri without solid employment is putting your family at risk.(imo)
Secondly, you said you've never been there? Prepare for some culture shock, The hiways are mostly two lane, as in one in each direction, not five in each direction like your use to. Often times there will be huge farm equipment chug a lug a luggin about 5 miles an hour down the hiway. So you definatley have to slow your pace of life down, unless you avoid the rural areas...
As for the weather, look thru the ice storm pictures recently posted in the Missouri Pictures section, then read the thread about them, These folks survive power outages that can last over a week, Us californian;s complain if it's out just long enough to miss American Idol...... And in Summers it get's hot, yeah I know LaLa Land gets hot too but if you've never been here you must learn about Hummidity... and Bugs, this place has bugs like you've never seen, they have bugs you'd mistake for a Hummingbird, and they have bugs that are so small you can hardly see them, and they make you itch... Of they even have bugs that shoot lightening out thier butt..... now I won't get started on the snakes....
You folks should really go for a visit for a few weeks in every season to see if you can handle it...
There are alot of CAlifornian's who move here and love it, but there are just as many who don't...I think Missouri is a wonderful place, if your moving there for the right reasons, but employment isn't one of them.................

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Belle813

We are tiered of the stressing life here in LA and we are looking for a nice rural place around Branson area or Springfield ...
Well those are pretty much our concerns,1.a nice small town/city rural area to rent a house 2.job opportunities 3.health care for my mother and 4.college
If any of you can help me out I'll appreciate it lots!!

Missouri has its own set of stresses. Life here ain't all barbershop quartet serenades and summer band concerts in the town gazebo.

A major stress-giver is the weather. For instance, it was 6 degrees when I left for work at 5:15 this morning. That's cold, and it stresses people and automobiles. It's been even colder than that this winter. We've even had mornings when the thermometer read 0 or below. Boy, howdy, when the car grinds and grinds and won't turn over because it is so doggone cold, that can cause stress.

Pay attention to the windchill factor that the weather folks on TV give out every day. You ignore these windchill warnings at your own peril. The temperature may say, oh, something like 22, and that doesn't seem too bad, but the windchill factor can put your skin surface temperature below zero, and you'll get frostbite. Jack Frost nipping at your nose may be a cute line from a Christmas song, but Jack Frost can be deadly to skin. He's a stress giver not a care giver.

Oh, here's something else: This week, we're just getting over a winter storm of sleet, ice and snow; it's only Feb. 4, so we could have lots more of that kind of weather. One of the worst snowstorms I remember occurred on the ides of March, and I've even seen it snow here in April. That can be stressful.

Then it will turn warm and the fruit trees will bud, and you'll put out the bedding plants in the garden, and then before you know it, we'll get a killing frost and there goes the fruit and you've got to start all over with the garden. That causes stress.

We get a lot of rain in spring and fall, and in the rural areas of southern Missouri, we have what are called low-water bridges. These are concrete structures that let you cross creeks that are dry except when you get a good hard rain and then the bridge is covered. Don't try to cross it. Some people do, and they end up getting washed away. Drowning can cause stress.

You need to pay attention to flash flood warnings. These occur frequently during certain times in the year, and although they can be stressful to some people, they need to be heeded.

And, have mercy! The humidity! Oftentimes it is so humid here in the summer that it's difficult to breathe.

The weather balances out, though, because in July and August, we usually have temperatures of 100 or above, and we go weeks without any precipitation. No snow, no ice, no sleet and no rain. It's in these months that the garden you planted in the spring turns brown and gives up. Remember that wind that gave you such a windchill back in the winter. Now, this month, you'd love to have a nice breeze to cool your skin, but try to find one. The air remains still.

Well, the weather is just one part of the stressful life that Missouri offers. I haven't even mentioned copperheads, timber rattlers and cottonmouths. Or the brown recluse and black widow spiders. The "migrating" tarantulas that will scare the heck out of you.

Nor have I mentioned the abundance of ticks that can give you Lyme disease, the mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus or the chiggers that just make life miserable. Oh, my goodness, I grew up a country boy and I would have chigger bites all over my lower half, particularly in the crotchal area. How many times I've stood in the country church on Sunday after playing outside all day Saturday and be surreptitiously scratching my private area to the tune of "Just As I Am, Without One Plea" while pleading with the Lord to take away chiggers off the face of the earth.

So I hope you'll take a second look at Missouri before you take the plunge and move here. I love it here, despite the weather, the snakes, the ticks and the chiggers, but I grew up here so I'm accustomed to these things. Someone from outside, hmmm, I don't know if you'll be able to cope. Make a wise decision based on research; don't just move to Missouri because you've heard it's cheaper and safer than LA.

Good luck to you.

Ozarks Boy

[ozarksboy]

BassMan, I got done writing my little essay, posted it, and yours popped up You, sir, are telling the truth. Perhaps the OP will be more inclined to believe you since you are a Californian and I'm just a southern Missouri peckerwood. Thanks for writing. Your posts have been getting better and better, and this one should win an award for truth-telling.

Ozarks Boy

Originally Posted by Cali BassMan

Isabel,

As fellow Californian, let me inject some negatives for you, First thing is Jobs, there are 10 times the jobs in California than there are in Missouri, and the jobs that are available won't pay anything. Most jobs in Missouri pay less than the California Minimum wage, so moving to MIssouri without solid employment is putting your family at risk.(imo)
Secondly, you said you've never been there? Prepare for some culture shock, The hiways are mostly two lane, as in one in each direction, not five in each direction like your use to. Often times there will be huge farm equipment chug a lug a luggin about 5 miles an hour down the hiway. So you definatley have to slow your pace of life down, unless you avoid the rural areas...
As for the weather, look thru the ice storm pictures recently posted in the Missouri Pictures section, then read the thread about them, These folks survive power outages that can last over a week, Us californian;s complain if it's out just long enough to miss American Idol...... And in Summers it get's hot, yeah I know LaLa Land gets hot too but if you've never been here you must learn about Hummidity... and Bugs, this place has bugs like you've never seen, they have bugs you'd mistake for a Hummingbird, and they have bugs that are so small you can hardly see them, and they make you itch... Of they even have bugs that shoot lightening out thier butt..... now I won't get started on the snakes....
You folks should really go for a visit for a few weeks in every season to see if you can handle it...
There are alot of CAlifornian's who move here and love it, but there are just as many who don't...I think Missouri is a wonderful place, if your moving there for the right reasons, but employment isn't one of them.................

[Cali BassMan]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

BassMan, I got done writing my little essay, posted it, and yours popped up You, sir, are telling the truth. Perhaps the OP will be more inclined to believe you since you are a Californian and I'm just a southern Missouri peckerwood. Thanks for writing. Your posts have been getting better and better, and this one should win an award for truth-telling.

Ozarks Boy

Why thanks Ozark....
I just think that everyone should be real sure before moving is all..I've said it before " California is easy to leave, but hard to return to" When I first started thinking of moving to Missouri after a visit in 1996, My Uncle said "I would'nt quit a good job to come here" and after talking to lots of my cousins, I found that only one had a job that paid even close to mine ( he was a Supervisor with the power company) and most didin't have a retirement just S.S.
So I started thinking maybe of retiring here, for the very reasons you mention, cheaper land, not much crime etc. etc. But I have no illusions of working, my pension benifits will have me above the Missouri Avg wage, but not enough to continue our lifestyle in California. As you know we have some horses that we must board at a local ranch. it costs over $600.00 a month for that, So no way can I afford that on retirement income.
There have been several people on this website who have made the move without being fully aware, only to regret it within a few months, they usually quit posting or move to a different forum, while the folks that enjoy the move continue to post.
Isabel, you should know that I too, am planning to move to Missouri, but as you just read, only after retirement, I am looking for the safety that you mentioned too, and like your brother we know horses, now cows I'm not so sure LOL.... Anyway when we move, we won't have to work, we can work our horses and hunt and fish..when it's cold I can stay in, when it's hot I can stay in, when the power goes out my generator will kick on and I'll just keep on watching the Sportsman's Channel......and if I need to build something I can go to the Lumberyard over in Rolla.......another thing is if you move out in the country, there're aren't alot of repairmen just a call away, so if you aren't handy you might have to do without for awile... Me, I'm to cheap to pay someone to fix my stuff, I figure if I can fix everything in the Oil Refinery I ought to be able to fix most household stuff, Of course sometimes after tearing it all apart I just go buy a new one....

[misplaced1]

I too think it would be advisable for OP to check out Missouri before making the decision. Things are different there but they aren't all bad. I didn't go there first and I had everything set up before we left. I wasn't unhappy about it at all and I personally think the little town we moved to was a little bit of heaven but we won't be moving back there because with my hubby's work we need a little bigger city. Work everywhere, especially smaller towns is an issue.

Cali bassman, I found just the opposite. It was a whole lot harder for me to get out of here, as it is now, than to ever come back.

[Murphysmom]

Cali, I don't know ya, but I wanted to say I always appreciate & enjoy your posts! You, my friend are honest & hilarious!!!!
I have lived in Mo all my life, & have many friends who have moved here. Those who are from Calif, are the ones I get the most enjoyment out of! Just watching the amazement in their eyes is the best.....
Anyway, Thanks for making a true statement about our wonderful area......Don't think I could have explained it any better.
Keep up the good work! lol