I've had enough!!!! (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Brookfield: for sale, lease, condo)

[becky77]

I registered just to respond to this post. It's all relative my friend. I can not WAIT to move back to Wisconsin. We are currently in Northern VA (for the last 8 years) - for all intents and purposes it's Washington DC. You can't even get a house here for less than $400K. Everytime I go back to visit family it's like a breath of fresh air. The people are friendly, the drivers are courteous, the pace is so much slower, everything is much less expensive, there is a real sense of community. Enjoy what you have there - it's so much better that what you think!

[Putty]

I wanted to put my 2cents in also..........I am currently in NC looking to relocate to TN area. I totally, and unequivocabally miss WI, like you wouldn't believe.

I am also a bicyclist. You have to remember that not all cities are "bicycle friendly" I have lived in a smaller city outside of a larger city here in NC for 14 yrs and I stopped riding on the roads about 3yrs or so ago, and now I have to haul my bike to a greenway, or a park. I am not going to mention the experiences I have had because I do not want to "start" something....

When I was in WI I was not only able to ride on the streets, but the traffic was conscious of me being there, and I had no problems. Also, there sidewalks, and bike paths in most areas if the need arose for getting off the road. Also, what I miss the most is the AWESOME rail to trail system that is hard to find in some places, although they are pretty much all over the place now, but WI is leading in that respect.

It is a tradeoff for the weather really........Yes, I don't want to go back to the cold either, so I am going to try TN but the humidity ? or the lake affect? hhhhmmm, sometimes I pray to feel the wind off the lake! I used to dislike that like the plague.

Employment, is one of the biggest issues here with me, it is TOTALLY different here.

The people, the attitudes, ....Even the grocery stores! I am thinking if TN doesn't work out for me that maybe I will head home also. There is always that sense of missing what u know!.......!!!

People of NC, please do not take offense!

[Turpentine]

wow! I'm pleasantly surprised by the intelligent, insightful responses here
Thanks a bunch to: drover,Chelito23, DaBears (sorry bouth the SB ) GreggB, EnjoyEP(yes, we are about the same age, and you summed up my attitudes to a t),Putty, Becky77, and nyminute, ( I think I got you all) Thanks for all your input, it really opened up my eyes. Maybe I need to rethink a few things before rushing off somewhere else. Although seeing how nice it is in other parts of the US, and here I am in 50 deg w/25mph winds makes me want to do just that
I didn't realize the snobbery that is in suburban Milw, is worse in other places. I figured suburban Chi, or La, or AZ but I guess its a nation-wide thing.
Now I justhave to think real hard where a good spot for me is
Maybe it's here
Thanks again all

[carrot]

Then there's the social climate. Growing up here in the 70's and 80's it was nice here. you had friendly folks, plenty of woods and farmland teeming with wildlife. Most of the woods and farms are gone now, replaced by overpriced Mc Mansions, or "luxury" housing. Most(not all) of the friendly people have been replaced by standoffish, self-centered affluent people, who drive oversized and overpriced SUV's with a cell phone glued to their ears, and their noses in the air. Where fake tans, designer clothes seem to be Government Issue, where people are judged by the car they drive, and their investment portfolios.


Sounds like Atlanta!!!!!!!!!!!

I say enjoy Wisconsin! Its wonderful if you step back and look at it. Beautiful forests, lakes all over the place, generally nice people, seasons (as a southern guy I enjoy the cold weather, nothing beats a snowy run in my book!! I certenly dont miss sweating my you know whats off for 7 months of the year.)

[bostoner]

I visited central Wisconsin a couple years ago in the fall and have been fantasizing about it ever since. You live in a beautiful state filled with kind and interesting people, charming shops, lovely scenery with four seasons, and plenty to do. Consider yourself lucky and take the advice to "bloom where you are planted" to heart. Get out and explore Wisconsin! Take day trips! If you need a change of pace, that's what vacations are for!

[Susan Thurston]

I grew up in Oconomowoc, Wi. in the 50's-60's. A small town of 6000. I left the state to find adventure but returned for the climate and farmlands. South of the Mason-Dixon line are too many insects and humidity for me. I am looking to relocate in the Fort Atkinson area to be near my grandchildren in Janesville. I am retired but do occasional private nursing . Lookig forward to joining a bird watching group and volunteering to work with children. All my family grew up and worked in Milwaukee in the 40's and 50's so I spent much time there. Now you could not pay me to even visit.

[jeanjr23]

I agree with you regarding the weather here in wisconsin. I moved here in 2003, from Florida man I just can't stand the winter. Winter is so long here, and a good summertime to me here is just about 2 or 3 months. Now finally I'm moving back to florida where I belong. Also people there are no jobs in Wisconsin. The only jobs they have here in wisconsin is in the manufacturing industry not appealing to the young college graduate.

[BacktoNE]

It really is all a matter of what you consider to be "home". We have now been here in Appleton for a full year and still don't like it, but honestly, I don't find the winters to be any big deal as they are comparable to winters in northern New England.

I realize that had we moved over to LaCrosse or Eau Claire initially, our experience probably would have been quite different, but too many negative things have occured this past year and now we just want to go home.

I am well aware that people who are born and raised here absolutely love it here and it truly is a matter of perspective. For us, it's not home and never will be and we are still planning to return to New England as soon as we can. Hopefully by the end of this year.

I compare our move out here to someone who is a native Wisconsinite moving to, say, Arkansas. Total culture shock and, more than likely, it won't ever work out. Sometimes there really is such a thing as too much of a change.

[KateDaum]

We have lived all over and can't wait to move to WI. We have had it with the east coast. We love coming to WI and the great friends we have made. Seriously, we came for a visit last week. The neighbors had cut the grass and swept off the porch. They didn't even know we were coming. It is our piece of heaven. And I know when we settle in we will never leave. I think I would be content never to travel east again. My kids didn't want to leave to come back east either. Oh well, soon enough it will be our permanent home.

[BacktoNE]

Kate, I just saw on another post that you are moving to Bayfield? No wonder you are excited, it's gorgeous up there. Very much like most of Northern New England so you'll still feel right at home.