leaving wisconsin survey (Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay: taxes, live in, move to)

[susancruzs]

I don't miss that about Waukegan, loud radios, noisey exhaust systems or no muffler at all, boom boxes that could make windows rattle. I hear a loud car or truck here, in the summer now and then, but I can count on one hand how often. In Waukegan, it was at least a dozen times a day.

[CaliGirl57]

I think Yeah! Has the right idea.. Milwaukee is the biggest 'wanna be, but ain't' city I have ever been to. Moved here 20+ years ago, waiting for my son to graduate High School and I am Outta Here! Most of my friends are not even from Wisconsin. Everyone complains about the weather, but then they don't leave. Hmmm. I'm going to North Carolina to live the dream. See ya

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by CaliGirl57

I think Yeah! Has the right idea.. Milwaukee is the biggest 'wanna be, but ain't' city I have ever been to. Moved here 20+ years ago, waiting for my son to graduate High School and I am Outta Here! Most of my friends are not even from Wisconsin. Everyone complains about the weather, but then they don't leave. Hmmm. I'm going to North Carolina to live the dream. See ya

Alot of people are living "the dream" right where they are in Wisconsin. 20 years is a long time to wait.

[suecen]

Cali: What town in NC are you moving to???

[BacktoNE]

Originally Posted by CaliGirl57

I think Yeah! Has the right idea.. Milwaukee is the biggest 'wanna be, but ain't' city I have ever been to. Moved here 20+ years ago, waiting for my son to graduate High School and I am Outta Here! Most of my friends are not even from Wisconsin. Everyone complains about the weather, but then they don't leave. Hmmm. I'm going to North Carolina to live the dream. See ya

How much longer do you have until DS graduates? 20 years is a long time to be miserable.

One week from today we will have been here 3 years and we are already packing up, ahead of listing the house, to head back home. I can't imagine living anywhere, unhappily, for 20 years.

[Nu2pomona]

Since we were life-long residents of Wisconsin, and left two years ago, I guess I can offer an opinion here that actually relates to the title of this thread.

We lived in East-central Wisconsin for over 65 years. We owned a lovely 30-year old home on a half acre lot but paid nearly $3500 annually in property taxes. Our utility bills averages $250 a month (electric & natural gas). We are retired and on a fixed income so these numbers are significant. We left for two reasons; long, cold, difficult winters and high taxes.

We are now in the Ozarks. Our all electric home averages $110 a month. We have a brand new home, 1,000 square feet larger than before on three acres and paid about $900 in property taxes last year.

Our entire fixed cost of living including phone, cell phone, taxes, insurance, electric, and satelite television is roughly the same amount we put in escrow for taxes and insurance alone back in Wisconsin.

We have four seasons; a short winter (about 60 days), a short, hot summer (about 90 days), and long, beautiful springs and falls. The leaves turn color in the fall just like in Wisconsin. We have rolling hills, beautiful lakes, massive forests, good highways, great music and we love it here.

[suecen]

Sounds pretty good! Yes, the high taxes and long winters are making a lot of people I know leave the state - you only have one life to live. Although I do know people that like the snow (I dont)!!

[Meghansmommy]

I have lived here for 10 years so that my husband could be close to his son. He will be 18 next year and we will be out moving then. The school district is awful and I refuse to put my daughter into it. The whole Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee strip is ugly....I miss seeing lots of trees and hills. No place is perfect, but after 10 years I am still not happy here. And it seems like it is always WINDY!

[suecen]

What IS with that wind??!!!!!!!! It's crazy.

[Nu2pomona]

Originally Posted by suecen

What IS with that wind??!!!!!!!! It's crazy.

We were back in Wisconsin for our granddaughter's graduation and almost ran off the road when we saw the huge wind farm between Madison and Fond du Lac. There must be 250 - 300 windmills there. I'm all for renewable energy resources but was surprised by this.