Help!! a possible job relocation to the Tulsa area.. need advise!!

[Raelyn28]

And where is Merritts???

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

I truly appreciate your post here and the encouragement. Moving is always hard and we are moving a long way. We have lived in the PNW for the past 20+ years and there is a beauty here that will truly be missed. I was very fortunate to have been able to enjoy all three states on the west coast (California, Oregon and Washington). Well.. now it is time to move away and return to my roots. I was born and raised in Nebraska and Tulsa is much closer than the PNW.

I will miss the ocean and the mountains but I am sure that Tulsa will have many things that are missing here. Every place has positives and negatives. I have learned from moving so much to take in the good with the bad and enjoy each and every place. You never know how long you have in a certain location before it is time to leave and go somewhere else.

With that said, I am truly grateful that you shared your story with me. The words were very encouraging and extremely timely...

Thanks

[BigOkie]

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

And where is Merritts???

Welcome to Merritt's Bakery On-Line!

[musicmom]

Originally Posted by lasomeday

Tulsa is very multicultural. I think that you should worry more about living in an area that is safe with friendly people than multicultural. I am tired of everyone trying to be PC!

Look up Tulsa in Wikipedia and see if you can find where it would not be multicultural.

Honestly people? Do some research! Tulsa is in the heart of Native American country. There are all different ethnicities in cities over 150,000 people.

No one here in particular is trying to be PC. Everyone is being very helpful and friendly so far. No one has complained, thus far until your post that it.

Also, I have already researched the crime statistics and asked people elsewhere about friendliness. So, yes I should be asking about the multicultal aspect at this point, since my other ques. have basically been answered. For alot of minorities, the multicultural aspect is just as important. If you are not one then you cannot understand how or why we may feel that way.

[Emery'sMommy]

To the original OP, I haven't read through all the replies yet, but I'm sure both Union and Jenks have been mentioned in regards to schools with great sports teams. Their football teams win state like practically every year! Definitely great schools if your football player is wanting to play college one day.

The Jenks area, south of 91st street and west of Memorial Rd is absolutely beautiful. Green trees and hills that will remind you of the NW. I can highly recommend the Forest Trails neighborhood (if you can afford it- probably starts 200-300k). I dated a guy who lived there and wow it was absolutely beautiful scenery with large 1/2 acre lots. Here's their website: Tulsa, Oklahoma real estate - Darryl Baskin - Forest Trails News

Brookwood I & II have some older unique homes as well in the hills along 91st and Yale.
If you're looking for newer homes, Broken Arrow and Owasso are great areas.

[Emery'sMommy]

Raelyn, I apologize for not reading your previous posts and concerns over a competetive sports team before my last post! Jenks and Union will be the worst for that...their athletes are INSANE! Rumor is they will pay for families to relocate to the area in order to gain skilled players...just what I've heard though.
Anyways, I would hate for your boys to be heartbroken if they didn't make the team. My husband experienced that when he tried out for the baseball team here in Mustang, Ok (Sw suburb of Okc). And he was moving here from the PNW, Alaska to be precise.

I'm not sure what Sapulpa and Sand Springs teams/schools are like, but there are some nice areas out there, full of hills and homes on acreage. It is a quick commute to downtown as well.
You might like Tulsa proper as well- midtown is a nice area, with mid-century homes, most if which have been updated. The Peoria/Utica area is beautiful but wow, it IS pricey!
Southern Hills is a nice area as well, as long as you stay south of 51st. There are some nice homes along Yale, between 61st and 71st, near St. Franscis Hospital. I'm pretty sure that is Tulsa school district, someone correct me if it is not.
I'd recommend steering clear of homes directly in the 71st & Memorial area- we lived right at that intersection and wow, traffic was HORRIFIC during the Holidays. Woodland Hills Mall is a mad house during the holidays- I worked there for 3 yrs mainly b/c I lived right across the street.

Anyways, if you need help with specific neighborhoods in South Tulsa let me know...I remember them quite well since it's only been 4 yrs since I moved out to Okc.

I think you will absolutely LOVE Tulsa. If we could move back there I would but we stay here b/c of Dh's good job at Hobby Lobby Corperate and both of our families live out here as well.
But there is something special about Tulsa that is indescribable.
My family life was difficult at times but I could *always* find a place to escape, rather it was the 31st Street Bridge, Google Image Result for http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/6814169.jpg, or Woodward Park- there was always a beautiful place to sit and take my mind off of things.

Best of luck with your move- let us know where you end up!

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by Emery'sMommy

Raelyn, I apologize for not reading your previous posts and concerns over a competetive sports team before my last post! Jenks and Union will be the worst for that...their athletes are INSANE! Rumor is they will pay for families to relocate to the area in order to gain skilled players...just what I've heard though.
Anyways, I would hate for your boys to be heartbroken if they didn't make the team. My husband experienced that when he tried out for the baseball team here in Mustang, Ok (Sw suburb of Okc). And he was moving here from the PNW, Alaska to be precise.

I'm not sure what Sapulpa and Sand Springs teams/schools are like, but there are some nice areas out there, full of hills and homes on acreage. It is a quick commute to downtown as well.
You might like Tulsa proper as well- midtown is a nice area, with mid-century homes, most if which have been updated. The Peoria/Utica area is beautiful but wow, it IS pricey!
Southern Hills is a nice area as well, as long as you stay south of 51st. There are some nice homes along Yale, between 61st and 71st, near St. Franscis Hospital. I'm pretty sure that is Tulsa school district, someone correct me if it is not.
I'd recommend steering clear of homes directly in the 71st & Memorial area- we lived right at that intersection and wow, traffic was HORRIFIC during the Holidays. Woodland Hills Mall is a mad house during the holidays- I worked there for 3 yrs mainly b/c I lived right across the street.

Anyways, if you need help with specific neighborhoods in South Tulsa let me know...I remember them quite well since it's only been 4 yrs since I moved out to Okc.

I think you will absolutely LOVE Tulsa. If we could move back there I would but we stay here b/c of Dh's good job at Hobby Lobby Corperate and both of our families live out here as well.
But there is something special about Tulsa that is indescribable.
My family life was difficult at times but I could *always* find a place to escape, rather it was the 31st Street Bridge, Google Image Result for http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/6814169.jpg, or Woodward Park- there was always a beautiful place to sit and take my mind off of things.

Best of luck with your move- let us know where you end up!

Great post. Very thoughtful.

[musicmom]

When does it start to get cold in Broken A. and Tulsa (what month)?

How long does the winter usually last?

Basically, what are your winters like, ie: lots of snow, ice etc.?

Thanks.

[Emery'sMommy]

Musicmom, we usually have our 1st cool front in late Sept/early October. And by that I mean with highs in the 60's/low 70's. For the months of Oct and Nov, the weather flip flops around sometime back up near 80, occasionally down to the 30's with an early first snow (1-2") in November. More than likely though, the first snow does not occur until December. In general, winter weather is mild here, with highs in the 50's, lows in the 30's. Some years we have several small snows (1-3") and every few yrs we'll get a "snowstorm" with 6+ ". I remember back in 2002 maybe, Tulsa had snow/ice on the ground for weeks b/c it never got warm enough to melt. But that hasn't happened since that I know of (ive been in okc since 05).

Yes, there is at least 1 ice storm a year. Usually in Feb or even March. They shut things down for a few days and can cause damage to trees/power lines. Safest thing to do is to purchase a house or rent an apt with a fireplace in case your power is out for a day or more. Usually though, the ice melts in a few days and we all get on with our lives. It's the rural areas that have a hard time recovering.

The worst thing about Ok winters is the wind chill...it can be brutal at times so it's worth investing in a warm hooded ski jacket for those days when just walking to the car is bad.

Usually spring is in full force by April and you won't have to worry about cool temps again for another 6 months:-)

Both fall and spring are beautiful in Tulsa- the leaves change in late Oct/early November. In spring, the flowers and trees bloom again and Woodward park in particular is absolutely beautiful.

[Raelyn28]

You know, I had to go with the Union Schools. All of the schools in Tulsa are big and good at sports so I had to make a decision. We are NOT into driving into town everyday so SandSprings and all the towns in the outskirts are out of the question for us. We did that when we lived in the Portland area for four years and I hated it. My kids are very active and get bored in a small town. In fact, we just visited Owasso a couple of days ago and we were stuck on the freeway. I said no... I will not be doing this again. We chose BA in the Union District and we will be fine. My kids will learn to adapt and will have to work hard at their sports if they want to play. I already have my boys trying out for a travel ball team outside of school. If they don't make the school teams then they don't... Sports is a good thing but shouldn't come before the happiness and well-being of the family or academics. Anyway, thanks for your suggestion and help. I really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Emery'sMommy

Raelyn, I apologize for not reading your previous posts and concerns over a competetive sports team before my last post! Jenks and Union will be the worst for that...their athletes are INSANE! Rumor is they will pay for families to relocate to the area in order to gain skilled players...just what I've heard though.
Anyways, I would hate for your boys to be heartbroken if they didn't make the team. My husband experienced that when he tried out for the baseball team here in Mustang, Ok (Sw suburb of Okc). And he was moving here from the PNW, Alaska to be precise.

I'm not sure what Sapulpa and Sand Springs teams/schools are like, but there are some nice areas out there, full of hills and homes on acreage. It is a quick commute to downtown as well.
You might like Tulsa proper as well- midtown is a nice area, with mid-century homes, most if which have been updated. The Peoria/Utica area is beautiful but wow, it IS pricey!
Southern Hills is a nice area as well, as long as you stay south of 51st. There are some nice homes along Yale, between 61st and 71st, near St. Franscis Hospital. I'm pretty sure that is Tulsa school district, someone correct me if it is not.
I'd recommend steering clear of homes directly in the 71st & Memorial area- we lived right at that intersection and wow, traffic was HORRIFIC during the Holidays. Woodland Hills Mall is a mad house during the holidays- I worked there for 3 yrs mainly b/c I lived right across the street.

Anyways, if you need help with specific neighborhoods in South Tulsa let me know...I remember them quite well since it's only been 4 yrs since I moved out to Okc.

I think you will absolutely LOVE Tulsa. If we could move back there I would but we stay here b/c of Dh's good job at Hobby Lobby Corperate and both of our families live out here as well.
But there is something special about Tulsa that is indescribable.
My family life was difficult at times but I could *always* find a place to escape, rather it was the 31st Street Bridge, Google Image Result for http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/6814169.jpg, or Woodward Park- there was always a beautiful place to sit and take my mind off of things.

Best of luck with your move- let us know where you end up!