Some of y'all are scaring me.

[misplaced1]

bhaze,
Did you ever get out to Missouri for a visit?

[bhaze]

I am coming in November. Made the arrangements today.

Originally Posted by Cali BassMan

Bhaze
Listen, you really do need to visit before moving. You need to visit in every season too. You should visit serveral times in each season. Unfortunaley it sounds like you haven't done your homework yet. Don't make the same mistake as others because Missouri is a long way to go just to miserable.
Regarding animals, my dogs are part of my family just as yours are. I do see a diferent mindset with my rural Missouri relatives, cows, chickens, hogs etc, are worth money and dogs are quickly dispatched when messing with farm animals. So if you move to arural area keep your city dogs close by, I know I will..........

My dogs will be fenced in. I want a private yard and will have one (6 foot redwood fence) built as soon as I get there. Not only do I want privacy, I also want to try to keep the wildlife out of my little sanctuary that will be my back yard. My dogs do not run wild and stick very close to me. I am alpha. My pack doesn't stray far from the alpha.

The links have come in handy. Thank you to the person that listed them. I want good snakes in my garden. Bad snakes...I want outside the fence if I can make that happen.

I briefly lived in Iowa. Talk about hot, humid summers! And the winters? BRRRR. But I lived in snowbound towns before. Ice storms, drifts up to the bottom of the window sill and sometimes higher, chains just to drive to town. Yes..this was in California. I was not always blessed to live on the beach.
I have done my homework very well. I cannot travel to Mo every season. That costs money. Money I don't have. I don't own a McMansion, nor have a butler or own my own jet. One has to go where one can survive when one retires on the piddly sum they get from the government. Can't survive in California. Therefore, I am contemplating coming "home" where my parents hailed from. I will see, when I come out in November. It won't be a long visit, but it will give me time to see what the locals have to say and how I am welcomed..or not.

[tambre]

Well, I'm not from California, but I suppose that the sentiments by the locals apply to most people from other states. I grew up in Pennsylvania, in a place called the Main Line, just outside of Philadelphia. If anyone has ever experienced social society, old-money snobbism, that is an epicenter. It is home to Izod, plaid-pants wearing country club old -money types who frown on even other rich people who made their money in this century. Their thinking is totally insular, and exclusive, and based on who's relative that came over on the Mayflower. People who are raised and living in that social network, don't have an awareness of what else exists in the world. These people don't know any other way of thinking, and have no reason to.

When I read the Missouri sentiment with the Missouri version that all outsiders are unacceptable, it brings it all back. It's just the hillbilly, good old boy version of social prejudice and snobbery. The rules and parameters are different, but the feeling is the same. So Bhaze, don't be totally disheartened, as there is also another group of Missourians who are not like this. It's been enlightening to see just exactly what the local social prejudice is based on. I am thankful for the opportunity to see the paper tiger and know it for what it is.

On the other hand, I do understand the locals not wanting people to move to their area and trying to change things. They like it the way it is. However, town-planning is an absolute necessity. In my town of New Windsor, in Orange County, New York, there has been an increase of 3,000 people in the last ten years. The traffic is horrible, the schools are overcrowded, there has been an increase in big box stores and restaurants, and the taxes are ridiculous, and all other problems associated with a large influx of people coming to an area. I've lived in my house for 23 years, and wouldn't be able to afford it if I wanted to buy it today. We are basically being priced-out of the area. I empathize with the resentment of some of the local people when the land values go up, due to the influx of other-staters coming to Missouri. However, some of the people who are coming to Missouri, are just trying to survive and find a less expensive place to live. I kind of see it from both sides, but hope we all can find some common ground and civility towards each other, and live in peace. Okay, rant over.

[joetownmom]

Originally Posted by tambre

When I read the Missouri sentiment with the Missouri version that all outsiders are unacceptable, it brings it all back. It's just the hillbilly, good old boy version of social prejudice and snobbery. .

A couple of things I would like to say regarding your entire post but most especially the above quote.

First, all Missourians, even those of us who live in the Ozark region, are not ignorant hill folk. We have heard of The Main Line. Heck, some of us have even visited it or have relatives or friends there. It's a global world these days, even for us backward hill people.

Second, there is no overall "Missouri sentiment" that all outsiders are unaccceptable. I am a native Missouri but when moving to regions outside my native city, I have encountered the idea that outsiders or strangers are suspect. But it is not a 100% blanket sentiment from all. THe idea is more prevelent in the smaller towns and in some regions over others.

Most people don't resist change; we live with it daily whether we live in Missouri's largest cities or the tiniest towns or the most rural corners of the state. Change can be good; what some object to is when someone from far away who doesn't know the local situation, the history, the interaction between varied social groups comes in and decides that they are the savior that the ignorant and unwashed have been waiting for.

Your rant is as slanted as the prejudices you want to rail against and with such an attitude, you might well feel that your presence was not welcomed with open arms.

[tambre]

Originally Posted by joetownmom

A couple of things I would like to say regarding your entire post but most especially the above quote.

First, all Missourians, even those of us who live in the Ozark region, are not ignorant hill folk. We have heard of The Main Line. Heck, some of us have even visited it or have relatives or friends there. It's a global world these days, even for us backward hill people.

Well good for you! I never intended, or felt that I implied that hill people are backwards. Just like the people who live in cosmopolitan Main Line Philadelphia aren't backwards. It is the feeling I get when outsiders are considered suspect, which leads me to believe that there are certain posters here who have an insulated mindset. I am trying to say that I understand this, have experienced it before, and in a totally different set of circumstances. That is the point I was trying to make about the Main Line. It comes from living among people who are all the same, with the same social beliefs, traditions, etc. There was no judgment about anyone being backwards. This is your interpretation. I'm astounded that anyone has heard of the Main Line. People here in NY, have never heard of it. I think this is a real chip-on-your- shoulder response on your part. If someone moved to my town in NY and complained about the traffic, or that the people were aggressive or pushy, or that everyone was a snob, or ????, I would probably find out the specifics and maybe agree or disagree, depending on the circumstances. I wouldn't say, you know, if you don't like it here, why don't you go back to where you came from. Or, you know, you would not be welcome here, because you think we are all better than you. However, when anyone says anything negative about Missouri, it always gets back to how "you outsiders think Missourians are backwards". You really need to get over this self-imposed stigma.

Second, there is no overall "Missouri sentiment" that all outsiders are unaccceptable. I am a native Missouri but when moving to regions outside my native city, I have encountered the idea that outsiders or strangers are suspect. But it is not a 100% blanket sentiment from all. THe idea is more prevelent in the smaller towns and in some regions over others.

I think this is true also...it gets back to the point that when you've lived in a certain area, with all the local traditions, and perspectives, which some small towns are partial to, then you can have a basic distrust of anything or anyone that is new to that perspective.

I agree with this. I didn't make my point clear enough to say that where there is a exclusionist Missouri sentiment, about all outsiders being unacceptable, it is not all encompassing.

Most people don't resist change; we live with it daily whether we live in Missouri's largest cities or the tiniest towns or the most rural corners of the state. Change can be good; what some object to is when someone from far away who doesn't know the local situation, the history, the interaction between varied social groups comes in and decides that they are the savior that the ignorant and unwashed have been waiting for.

Your rant is as slanted as the prejudices you want to rail against and with such an attitude, you might well feel that your presence was not welcomed with open arms.

If someone moved to my town in NY and complained about the traffic, or that the people were aggressive or pushy, or that everyone was a rude snob, or ????, I would probably find out the specifics and maybe agree or disagree, depending on the circumstances. I wouldn't say, you know, if you don't like it here, why don't you go back to where you came from. Or, you know, "with such an attitude, you might well feel that your presence was not welcomed with open arms". However, when anyone says anything negative about Missouri, it always gets back to how "you outsiders think Missourians are backwards". To me, this is a self-imposed stigma. It's like playing the race card, but instead, playing the state card.[/

So, if you feel I have proved your point, then I say you have proved mine. But, I still think we can all get over this. We need to see each other as individuals, with all the quirks and foibles that we all have. Cause under the skin, we all bleed red, and we're all human. Amen...rant really over this time, lol.

[misplaced1]

Originally Posted by bhaze

I am coming in November. Made the arrangements today.

Good for you. It isn't always easy to find the right place to live. I'm trying to get back out the end of this month for another visit. I seem to be stuck on Northern Missouri. I lived there for 2 years, coming from California and really if people spoke behind my back so be it but I wasn't treated at all poorly because I came with California tags on my vehicle. We also have family in Joplin who moved from another state and they have no issues from being "outsiders".

The thing I encountered most often was shock at why I'd move from California to Missouri.

[ShadowCaver]

Ok - this and the other post are now closed, at least for a cooling-off time-period. The bantering, bickering, and [to biggest and saddest extent] the misperceptions & items taken out of context have reached limit.

Sad to see that we, "we" being Missourians and/or peoples from other states populating this forum, can NOT friggin speak to each other with more respect and understanding than what is being seen here. There are more similarities than differences, but unfortunately the negatives are being shown herein more than they truly represent the state, and her peoples.

True, MO, or any/every other state for that matter, is not perfect for everyone - every place has its own set of flaws; and likewise every place has its own set of cool attributes. Therefore, its up to us 'natives' of an area to speak to both the positives and the negatives, but with respect for the audience - and for the audience likewise to be understanding of the 'native' side at the same time.

The purpose of this forum is to share facts and opinions of these places - but, as stated before, with respect and understanding.