Springfield newcomer observations.... (St. Louis, Nixa, Ozark: environment, hotel, travel)

[sunshine girl]

Background--we came to Springfield in December, never having been here before, viewing it via the net, our house sold before we had a chance to come here first, so we came anyway. Initially, we thought everything about the town was fantastic. Decent home prices, decent school systems, a variety of job opportunies, a town on the upswing, beautiful topography, and basically a low crime rate. Sounds great, what everyone looking in from the outside wants. While all of the above are actually true, we are nonetheless kind of disappointed in the area. I really don't know how to express some of what we feel very well, or politically correctly either. We read this forum daily to try to get a feel for the area from the folks who live here, and thought it would be more friendly than we have found it to be. All of our immediate neighbors are very nice and friendly, but outside of them, there's a gap. We neighbors are all non-natives to the area, and I think that may be the difference. We have lived in bigger and smaller towns than this, and have never had this much trouble connecting with others. My retired husband likes to visit daily with a coffee clutch group, but is finding the men kind of standoffish. Myself, grown daughter and grown son, all work in Springfield and none of us have been made to feel welcome by but a few of our combined coworkers. It's kind of strange. We are a gregarious bunch, so believe me, we have extended a polite, friendly opening for these folks. If it was happening to just one of us, I would not be so disappointed. Also, there are lots and lots of smokers here. Drivers are not polite in general, don't use turn signals, and cut you off while changing lanes. There is virtually no diversity here, both racial and political. Also, those folks who think they can move here just outside of Springfield and live on 5-500 acres of cheap land with an easy commute to Springfield can forget that one. The developers are ahead of you. It is still cheaper here than more metropolitan areas of the country by far, but finding 20 acres and a house that's livable close to springfield for less than the 100K talked about in this forum is impossible. And the more rural communities surrouding this town are very clannish, they want your money but not your input. I fully realize I will be blasted for this post from those who moved here and absolutely love it, but please understand this is a personal observation and is not meant to be mean toward anyone else. We are staying here for a bit longer, 6 months may not be enough time to test the waters so to speak, and hope that things fall into place for us. We all are looking for a place to put down roots and make our livelong home, so maybe this will work out given more time. Thanks for reading, and try to understand this is just one family's opinion.....

[CaboolBound]

Sunshine Girl,
DO you live in Springfield or one of the surrounding areas? Hubby and I are moving with the kids to Cabool a less than 3 weeks. We visited in October and November but didn't have a lot of time to do the sight seeing thing. We hope things get better for you and your family. I hope we don't run into the same issues. Everyone seemed very friendly in Cabool and Houston. Even in some of the establishments that we went to in Springfield like the Cracker Barrel, the hotel that we stayed at and gas stations. But we haven't lived there yet. Thank you for the info.
God Bless,

Kim and Jim

[kareybear]

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

Background--we came to Springfield in December, never having been here before, viewing it via the net, our house sold before we had a chance to come here first, so we came anyway. Initially, we thought everything about the town was fantastic. Decent home prices, decent school systems, a variety of job opportunies, a town on the upswing, beautiful topography, and basically a low crime rate. Sounds great, what everyone looking in from the outside wants. While all of the above are actually true, we are nonetheless kind of disappointed in the area. I really don't know how to express some of what we feel very well, or politically correctly either. We read this forum daily to try to get a feel for the area from the folks who live here, and thought it would be more friendly than we have found it to be. All of our immediate neighbors are very nice and friendly, but outside of them, there's a gap. We neighbors are all non-natives to the area, and I think that may be the difference. We have lived in bigger and smaller towns than this, and have never had this much trouble connecting with others. My retired husband likes to visit daily with a coffee clutch group, but is finding the men kind of standoffish. Myself, grown daughter and grown son, all work in Springfield and none of us have been made to feel welcome by but a few of our combined coworkers. It's kind of strange. We are a gregarious bunch, so believe me, we have extended a polite, friendly opening for these folks. If it was happening to just one of us, I would not be so disappointed. Also, there are lots and lots of smokers here. Drivers are not polite in general, don't use turn signals, and cut you off while changing lanes. There is virtually no diversity here, both racial and political. Also, those folks who think they can move here just outside of Springfield and live on 5-500 acres of cheap land with an easy commute to Springfield can forget that one. The developers are ahead of you. It is still cheaper here than more metropolitan areas of the country by far, but finding 20 acres and a house that's livable close to springfield for less than the 100K talked about in this forum is impossible. And the more rural communities surrouding this town are very clannish, they want your money but not your input. I fully realize I will be blasted for this post from those who moved here and absolutely love it, but please understand this is a personal observation and is not meant to be mean toward anyone else. We are staying here for a bit longer, 6 months may not be enough time to test the waters so to speak, and hope that things fall into place for us. We all are looking for a place to put down roots and make our livelong home, so maybe this will work out given more time. Thanks for reading, and try to understand this is just one family's opinion.....

Wow! Thank You so much for being honest and straight forward. I applaud you. That is my kind of friend. I hope you are able to put down roots soon. It is very hard to adjust to another city or state. Thanks AGAIN!

[NOLA2SGF]

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

Background--we came to Springfield in December, never having been here before, viewing it via the net, our house sold before we had a chance to come here first, so we came anyway. Initially, we thought everything about the town was fantastic. Decent home prices, decent school systems, a variety of job opportunies, a town on the upswing, beautiful topography, and basically a low crime rate. Sounds great, what everyone looking in from the outside wants.

Yes, that's what we are looking for and hoping to find in a couple of years, when we retire (and that is why I am reading this board).

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

While all of the above are actually true, we are nonetheless kind of disappointed in the area. I really don't know how to express some of what we feel very well, or politically correctly either. We read this forum daily to try to get a feel for the area from the folks who live here, and thought it would be more friendly than we have found it to be. All of our immediate neighbors are very nice and friendly, but outside of them, there's a gap. We neighbors are all non-natives to the area, and I think that may be the difference. We have lived in bigger and smaller towns than this, and have never had this much trouble connecting with others. My retired husband likes to visit daily with a coffee clutch group, but is finding the men kind of standoffish. Myself, grown daughter and grown son, all work in Springfield and none of us have been made to feel welcome by but a few of our combined coworkers. It's kind of strange. We are a gregarious bunch, so believe me, we have extended a polite, friendly opening for these folks. If it was happening to just one of us, I would not be so disappointed.

I am expecting for it to take a bit more time to establish friendships in a small town like Springfield. When I was a little girl fifty years ago, my grandparents lived there so I know a little bit of the background. Back then, nearly everybody knew everybody and was into everybody's business. Also back then, many of the people were very unsophisticated hicks with no money and no future because the local economy was so bad at that time. (That is why my parents were thrilled to be able to move to St. Louis in 1931, and why I have never lived in Springfield). The area was really, really backward compared with today's Springfield. Not quite as bad as the L'il Abner comic strip, but close. While Springfield has come a long way in just fifty years, I can imagine that locals might be a little reserved around people from elsewhere, at least until they get to know them. It's possible that some of those you have met are concerned about being thought unsophisticated or boring (when really, you would just like to get to know them). Probably a big step in the right direction would be to join a local Protestant church. I won't be able to do that, since I am not religious but I would think that might help (if you are).

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

Also, there are lots and lots of smokers here.

That's probably a remnant of the past that still remains. I remember people chewing tobacco on their porches in Springfield back in the 1950's. Not my grandparents, but my grandfather did smoke a cigar. My grandmother would not allow it in the house.

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

Drivers are not polite in general, don't use turn signals, and cut you off while changing lanes.

Sounds like Southeast Florida or Houston. Not that I want to live in either of those places, but I don't think I have ever seen a turn signal used in either of them and people drive so fast! In Louisiana, people are so polite that they will come to a halt on a major street, to let someone get out of a driveway. That can be annoying as well. Still, I like the way people wave at each other down here. I miss that when I am driving in Houston or elsewhere.

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

There is virtually no diversity here, both racial and political.

I do expect that to be the case. I guess the Christian, conservative, white nature of the community has been discussed here now and then.

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

Also, those folks who think they can move here just outside of Springfield and live on 5-500 acres of cheap land with an easy commute to Springfield can forget that one. The developers are ahead of you. It is still cheaper here than more metropolitan areas of the country by far, but finding 20 acres and a house that's livable close to springfield for less than the 100K talked about in this forum is impossible. And the more rural communities surrouding this town are very clannish, they want your money but not your input.

I would rather live inside the Springfield city limits, within a mile or two of businesses like a grocery store and gym, and I cannot live without city water and sewer, so I hadn't really looked into any of the above. I am too much of a city girl. Sorry to hear that things are so tough.

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

I fully realize I will be blasted for this post from those who moved here and absolutely love it, but please understand this is a personal observation and is not meant to be mean toward anyone else. We are staying here for a bit longer, 6 months may not be enough time to test the waters so to speak, and hope that things fall into place for us. We all are looking for a place to put down roots and make our livelong home, so maybe this will work out given more time. Thanks for reading, and try to understand this is just one family's opinion.....

I don't think anyone will blast you. You sound genuinely heartbroken, with your dreams of a wonderful hometown shattered. I am so sorry!!! It still might be worthwhile to stay for a year, and see if you find some friends by that time. You sound lonely and like you really, really miss your friends from your former location. That is perfectly understandable. Hang on and maybe things will get better.

Meanwhile, please post here about it when you want to! This is great information for those of us that are thinking of moving to Springfield. I will be thinking about what you have said. Maybe I should rent instead of buy, for my first year in Springfield.

[sunshine girl]

Thanks for all your words of encouragement. We truly DO want to stay here and establish roots. We live just south of Republic road, on the south side of town. That is the dividing line of city limits where we are. So we are just outside city limits, but you would never know the difference just by driving it. It's almost all subdivisions, all with city water, sewer, cable, etc. I really did not want to paint a terrible picture, but I do feel some of the reality is being a bit softened here and there in some comments. Be wary of claims of it's 10 minutes or 20 minutes to Springfield from ...you fill in the blank.... Maybe at
2AM, but during the day, and if it rains at all anytime, you face traffic. It's not the traffic of Chicago or LA, but when you are lead to believe that it's an easy 10 minutes, it's really not. The south is where most of the growth is in toward Nixa, Ozark, and soon to be Clever and Sparta, because folks are running out of room to build. They are all lovely places, but if you work in Springfield and live out there, you WILL be in traffic. And all that extra time travelling to work and back comes out of your day, every day you work. And that's where my earlier comment about the drivers comes in. If folks would just use their turn signals, I would be much happier. It seems like you have to play chicken at every intersection sometimes! I am no expert on this area by any means, and don't try to be, but if nothing else, I feel I am honest about what I see and feel. If I can help anyone with anything I do know, I'd be glad to do so. Please don't let me dissuade anyone from coming here, there are many plusses to this area. It is as beautiful as any of the occasional pix that folks post. But it is a big small town, and not a small city. Thanks again for listening to me vent, I feel better....

[2beamissourian]

I think what you are experiencing is what most "small town usa" will have. I presently live in a small town and ..honest I can go to the store and my husband will know what I buy before he gets home from work!!
I just ignore that stort of stuff!!

Where I live there are things happening that I do not like and that apparently nobody can change .. (political)
So to move on ..where land is reasonable...........and one can live in a peaceful environment .... thats our plan ..

Can I ask what sort of things you have been involved in? I think you posted your age? Not sure? I had a very hard time in my early 20 and such making friends .......... I was at a different point in life ....I found ppl older than me lots more fun to be around (I had children early...my friends were all having partys and doing bar seens - that was not for me) ............
Anywhere anyone is ... you sometimes have to step out of your safety zone and be the one to do something to make the other feel welcome. It maybe you are the new person ...
I think the days of June Cleaver and the neighborhood welcoming committee is gone...

Start something new

Good Luck .. I know it can be hard! Find some newbies in the area and make friends with them ............pretty soon the old neighors will wonder why the new neighbors are having such a great time...

I myself plan to live out!

[NOLA2SGF]

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

Thanks for all your words of encouragement. We truly DO want to stay here and establish roots. We live just south of Republic road, on the south side of town. That is the dividing line of city limits where we are. So we are just outside city limits, but you would never know the difference just by driving it. It's almost all subdivisions, all with city water, sewer, cable, etc.

That looks like a really nice area, online. I had been looking at houses online that are around Republic, but in areas with 1/4 to 1/2 acre lots rather than acreage. Since I would be retired, I would only be driving to get to a gym or to a grocery store.

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

I really did not want to paint a terrible picture, but I do feel some of the reality is being a bit softened here and there in some comments.

You didn't! And besides, those of us that are wanting to move there, want to know the minuses as well as the plusses of moving to Springfield so that we know what we might be getting into. It's helpful to read these things.

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

Be wary of claims of it's 10 minutes or 20 minutes to Springfield from ...you fill in the blank.... Maybe at
2AM, but during the day, and if it rains at all anytime, you face traffic. It's not the traffic of Chicago or LA, but when you are lead to believe that it's an easy 10 minutes, it's really not. The south is where most of the growth is in toward Nixa, Ozark, and soon to be Clever and Sparta, because folks are running out of room to build. They are all lovely places, but if you work in Springfield and live out there, you WILL be in traffic. And all that extra time travelling to work and back comes out of your day, every day you work. And that's where my earlier comment about the drivers comes in. If folks would just use their turn signals, I would be much happier. It seems like you have to play chicken at every intersection sometimes!

I know what you mean. I live 5 minutes from work here in New Orleans, and many of my co-workers live an hour away on the North Shore. I go home, put my feet up, and think about them battling traffic. I hate traffic and eliminated the North Shore the first time I drove up there.

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

I am no expert on this area by any means, and don't try to be, but if nothing else, I feel I am honest about what I see and feel. If I can help anyone with anything I do know, I'd be glad to do so. Please don't let me dissuade anyone from coming here, there are many plusses to this area. It is as beautiful as any of the occasional pix that folks post. But it is a big small town, and not a small city. Thanks again for listening to me vent, I feel better....

Do you happen to know of any good, high quality gyms there? Given the traffic situation, it would probably help if I lived close to one. Here in New Orleans, I go to a gym that is a little more expensive than most, has a whole lot of top of the line equipment, is associated with a local hospital, and doesn't have child care. So, it has mostly older clientele. I really like my gym and go there more days than not.

[Versatile]

Sunshinegirl's post is a reflection of what can happen when you move to quick.Her post would fit right in with those moving to Costa Rica and being dissatisfied. At least it won't cost her an arm and a leg like it would be to move back to the USA from CR.
imo It is about 3-5 yrs before locals will actually accept an outsider.
Go to where you are interested and don't think these forums will do all the work for you. IMO i HOPE THINGS WORK OUT FOR HER.

[lhermey]

I moved to CA from NJ 15 years ago and still I find the people here to be very stand offish. Fortunately, I was able to make a couple of friends, but back in NJ I lived alone just as I do now (no relatives in CA.) People in NJ who hardly know you would think nothing of inviting you over for barbeques and the holidays. Unless I travel back to NJ or PA, I will, and have spent many holidays by myself in CA. Rather then dwell on it I just count my blessings.

[Ittybitty24]

It's so funny how people stereotype certain areas and then you get there and it's completely different. I live in the metro DC area in Virginia now. I am from a southern state. I find the people in this area to be so nice and not at all what I had imagined. I would assume Springfield, MO to be very nice as well. However, everyone assumes certain things from certain areas. When I went back home to visit my mom, I was shocked at how judgmental people were and how rude I felt that people were in my own hometown in the south. But, people are sooo scared to leave my hometown because there thoughts are vice versa.