Fond du Lac Area (Appleton, Rio: apartment, city hall, low crime)

[PAGirl]

Hi everyone,
I wil be graduating from Penn State-Erie in Dec with an Accounting degree and my fiancee and I are looking to relocate. If we moved, he would be attending Marian College for Sports Management in Fond Du Lac.

I saw in a lot of postings that Fond du Lac isn't the best place compared to Appleton, however, we wouldn't be able to commute that far, for my job and for school.

I'm also not sure where job opportunities for me would exist. Where are the best places to work in my field? Also, if he is to attend school in Fond du Lac is it a good school?

We would be living on my income only and I would prefer a decent two bedroom apartment. Currently in Erie, PA we have a nicer 3-bed/2 bath townhouse for $680.

I have been doing some research about each of the three cities and it does seem Appleton is the better option, but it would have to wait until he graduated.

If you could give me as much info about all 3 cities and the school I would greatly appreciate it. Maybe what places to avoid to. Anything would be helpful.

[yo vanilla]

i'm not sure what your third potential city is (besides appleton and fdl), do you mean oshkosh? i have lived in all three, and from best to worst they are appleton, oshkosh, fondle sack. (i grew up in fdl, went to school in oshkosh, and now live in appleton. to live, shop, eat, be entertained, appleton is the winner.

however, if you are coming here from school, i'd say just live in fond du lac. its clean, quiet, low crime, and its a long drive from appleton to marion college (which is on the east side of FDL). theres no sense in driving from appleton to fdl every day. keep in mind that (i am assuming you are younger like me) fdl's nightlife is pretty lame. its basically a really big town - picture the bars you'd see in a town of 3000 in the backwoods, and you'll have an idea of fond du lac's club scene. lol. oshkosh is next best, with some decent bars on main st and some decent ones near the campus, and appleton has more bars than madison does so theres no shortage of fun.

p.s. i dont drink a drop of alcohol, just so you know

fdl's one redeeming quality is that it has better restarants than oshkosh (all oshkosh has is a bunch of franchises and one or two decent local restaraunts).

all 3 have low cost of living and you can get a townhouse for what you pay now in all cities. all 3 have low crime too. you might consider oshkosh; there are more jobs to pick from since you can look at appleton as well (and fdl does have some good industry, though mercury marine has been doing alot of layoffs lately). that way your husband can drive to school, and you guys can drive to appleton when you want to do something other than work or school.

[GreggB]

Listen to Yo Vanilla--he is now APPLETON'S local know it all resident. He really has the "Handle" on road conditions there!! LOL LOL LOL

[yo vanilla]

...says the guy who drove a bus in appleton... 30 YEARS AGO

of course, what was i thinking? its absurd to think that things might actually change for the better over time.

[GreggB]

Originally Posted by yo vanilla

...says the guy who drove a bus in appleton... 30 YEARS AGO

of course, what was i thinking? its absurd to think that things might actually change for the better over time.

WRONG AGAIN, Mr. Analyst--drove bus there as recent as 2001. My grandpa operated electric street cars (trolleys) in the 1930s. My uncle worked for the department of public works for 37 years until he retired 6 years ago. I lived there for over 30 years, am there for business reasons at least 4 or 5 times per year, still have relation living there. But what do I know--YOU are now the resident Appleton Expert. So EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE Me.

[yo vanilla]

that was obviously a jab at your seniority, sheesh. bang zoom, to the moon alice.

you always seem to give the impression that you lived here for so long, you have failed to notice any improvements because you see the place as it was 30 years ago, and something you didnt like back then soured your milk for all eternity... maybe i am wrong, but it is easy to do that; i catch myself with blinders on sometimes. i go back to FDL and still complain about what a craphole it is. but i'm young enough to stop myself and actually see some changes. good ones, even! well things change, FDL has changed alot in the 10 years i've been gone. and i can tell you that i have noticed drastic changes in appleton in the last few years including, yep, the road system.

[ihatefonddulac]

I would stay away from Fond du Lac. We lived there for a year and left. Outsiders are sooo not welcome in this place. I would never live there again.

[GreggB]

Originally Posted by yo vanilla

that was obviously a jab at your seniority, sheesh. bang zoom, to the moon alice.

you always seem to give the impression that you lived here for so long, you have failed to notice any improvements because you see the place as it was 30 years ago, and something you didnt like back then soured your milk for all eternity... maybe i am wrong, but it is easy to do that; i catch myself with blinders on sometimes. i go back to FDL and still complain about what a craphole it is. but i'm young enough to stop myself and actually see some changes. good ones, even! well things change, FDL has changed alot in the 10 years i've been gone. and i can tell you that i have noticed drastic changes in appleton in the last few years including, yep, the road system.

There is an age difference between us. I do tend to make comparisons of Appleton, based on what it was like 20 and 30 years ago. IF YOU, would have been there than, you too would understand how so much of the "Character" Appleton once had, has been systemetically stripped away. Most of this due to poor leadership in City Hall, Short term fixes, poor planning and a lot of "Hindsight" rather than "Foresight". SERIOUSLY!! Oh Yes, some things there are better. But I believe that you have no idea of the "Bungled" projects in that city over the last 20 years, that have cost taxpayers Millions of dollars. Do some research. See for yourself what havoc ineptitude can create. In truth, Appleton does have a lot going for it (I'm out on a limb saying that one). I do believe that Appleton could be much nicer, have much more to offer to all and really be a progressive shinning example of a smaller city, if only it had experienced solid leadership over the last 20 years or so. It HAS NOT!!! And it was my distain for it's leadership that finally "Got To Me". I choose to NO longer allow my tax dollars be squandered away. Yep--I have a lot of fond memories of Appleton. And a LOT of hope for it's future. Hopefully some day soon, Appleton will have responsible, educated, non-self-centerd individuals back at the helm. In the mean time, I suggest you keep your "Bailing Pail" close at hand!!