How many transplants now like Wisconsin? (Milwaukee, Madison: property taxes, wages, jobs)

[sdeweese]

[quote=FormerMexifornian;1750730]I am a transplant from Mexifornia (San Diego, CA) where I was born and raised. But I escaped there 7 months ago and couldn't be happier.

Southern California used to be a wonderful place to live. But the illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America have taken over, and now the once lovely middle-class neighborhoods resemble the 3rd-world slums of Mexico. There are chickens running around in the streets, laundry hanging all over the yards, 20-30 people living in 2-bedroom houses, filth everywhere, and rising crime like you wouldn't believe.


So, you've exchanged the perceived social demise of So. Cal. for the perceived (by many-not all) physical discomforts of another locale. That can work... as long as those problems from So. Cal. are truly left there. I am a third generation So. Cal. person and learned to adjust to the influx, from all over our country, and Mexico. I trust that Wisconsin will not become as cynical about its immigrants as you have about California's.

[stefyc]

Originally Posted by FormerMexifornian

Southern California used to be a wonderful place to live. But the illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America have taken over, and now the once lovely middle-class neighborhoods resemble the 3rd-world slums of Mexico. There are chickens running around in the streets, laundry hanging all over the yards, 20-30 people living in 2-bedroom houses, filth everywhere, and rising crime like you wouldn't believe.

Wow-wee! I live in So Cal, and have never seen chickens running through the streets, nor have I known 20-30 people to live in a 2 bedroom house. A dozen, maybe but 30? Come now LOL...

That said...

I am going to be embarking on a move to Wisconsin from my home here in Los Angeles next year, and I don't expect it to be easy, especially coming from LA, where everyone is a transplant. However, I will have the added benefit of having my husband's family and long time friends to help me assimilate to my new "home", which I know will benefit me and my children a great deal (my husband is from a small town in WI, he was killed earlier this year, I am moving my family there for the support system and, financially, a better quality of life).

I've been to his hometown several times, and I think that there are many people that are friendly and, enevitably, many who I'm sure won't be, but not everyone is going to like you or want to be your friend no matter where you live, and I know and understand that before even embarking on this journey. I've lived in LA pretty much my whole life, and have done well to make "fair weather friends", but I've found through my current situation who my "real" friends are. They are truly my husband's friends from Wisconsin...

I will say that I am a little frightened to be going from "observer" of small town politics/gossip/etc. (again, wow wee!), to being prime for the picking (though I don't "flaunt" it, I do like nice things, and I know there will be some who are going to think I'm a "snob" without ever getting to know me). I am going to give the benefit of the doubt that the people there understand that you can live nicely and want a quiet, wholesome life.

So I will go forth with hopeful optimism and make the experience the best that I can

[janeannwho]

Anecdote
My ex husband's family lived in the same house on the same corner of the same small town in Pennsylvania since 1820. His dad moved away for seven years to work. When he brought his wife (also a former resident of the same small town) and his kids back to that same house to live permanently, they were considered outsiders.

Now that is a tight community. We found when we were moving with the military that the reason people who do not move fear making friends with people who do move is because they miss them too much when they leave. So what we thought was blatant indifference, actually turned out to be a protection mechanism. But we now have friends all over the world, but of course, there are those we stay in close contact with and those that do tend to fall away with distance.

But we are thinking of looking for a house in the Kenosha area, so if you are that way, drop by, I will cook you dinner.

[deegers]

This was a great thread to read about WI and some of your experiences. Great stuff guys!

[quickdraw]

I've lived in Wisconsin, Illinois, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. I've found people to be friendly everywhere.
Some a bit more open, and some a bit more reserved , but I've made friends everywhere.

I probably can't speak on the true small town experience though because I've always lived in college towns, purposely. If you live in a college town, you know there will be at least some brainpower within the city limits.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

I've lived in Wisconsin, Illinois, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. I've found people to be friendly everywhere.
Some a bit more open, and some a bit more reserved , but I've made friends everywhere.

Because I am sure YOU were friendly everywhere. Old tired saying,but we get back what we give out .

[berries]

in wi we have a saying.....we . hate everyone equal. and it's true. f we like ya and your not a weiner,,,all is good, if we dont we dont and you will be ostrcized the way it is everywhere small

[intrigued_llama]

I have lived in SE WI for 13 months and I love Love LOVE the area!

The people are warm and friendly, the fishing is ridiculously fantastic all year long, the school district is excellent, everyone is always outside walking or biking, the scenery is incredible, and the weather isn't as bad as out-of-staters might believe. (the more snow, the better for skiing!!)

I have lived in Columbus, OH,(several cities in OH, actually) Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, and all have been lovely places to live and work. But I am in LOVE with WI! It is so clean, crisp, and progressive.

C-bus was a great town and as an Ohio native and Buckeye Alumni, it will always be my heart's home. Boston was grand with it's architecture and history, of which I am a fan. Detroit was my least favorite city, as it is bleak, depressing, and dying, what with the auto makers all going belly-up and jobs non-existent, but it had some surprisingly excellent shopping.

I have not had any trouble finding nice people in my community, both native and transplant. I have met many transplants in my area, and quite a few of them are from European countries. I love the fact that my kids are getting a lesson in other cultures just by heading off to school and meeting people from all around the world.

My one complaint about SE WI is people drive as if they are the only car on the road. I have never had road rage before, even in Boston, which is a town I used to declare had the worst drivers EVER. Drivers in WI are, by far, THE WORST. I am considering purchasing a tank because no one would try to bully me on the road then.

Just one example is the guy who flipped me off and mouthed 'b*tch' because I didn't stop as he tried turning into me from the straight lane, (I was in the left turn lane) bypassing the long line of cars in the turn lane by speeding up the straight lane. I know bad drivers exist everywhere, so don't flame me. Just an observation from a traveler who has experience in many cities.

Needless to say, I love WI and I want to stay until my kids graduate! I will go to their graduations in my tank, with a fishing pole rack in the cab and ski rack on top!! haha.

Love you, WI! Proud to call you home, doncha know.

[music7lover]

Originally Posted by stefyc

Wow-wee! I live in So Cal, and have never seen chickens running through the streets, nor have I known 20-30 people to live in a 2 bedroom house. A dozen, maybe but 30? Come now LOL...

Yeah, I was wondering about dem chickens runnin in the streets meself!!

[tinexile]

I just moved to Wisconsin from SoCal (Orange County), and I feel like I've moved to a different planet. A MUCH nicer planet! I'm originally a midwesterner, and hated just about everything about OC. The people here in WI are SOOO much nicer and 1000% more real. I do miss In n Out and Wahoo's Fish Tacos (and Rubios), and I'm not thrilled about soon being reacquainted with snow, but on the whole I am so much happier here, even though there is a lot less to do. I'll take good people and cold weather over cold people and warm weather any day. People here have been extremely welcoming.

I'm sure it will take time to make true friends, but I have yet to meet one person who seemed fake or rude here, while I never met one in OC who wasn't one or the other or both.

And I didn't see any chickens running in the streets in OC either. They wouldn't live long - some maniac doing 85 in a 35 zone would have turned them into McNuggets in about 3 seconds.