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So I posted earlier about our trip to Hot Springs. We really enjoyed it, and fell in love with the area instantly. What I didn't go into was how unhappy we've been living in North Texas for the past 6 months, mostly because of the ugly (sorry North Texans, just my opinion) landscape and short, sparse tree cover. We're originally from a beautiful area in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest, and although North Texas is certainly a great place to live from the economic standpoint, the lack of natural scenery has actually triggered some depression with us......kind of similar to SAD with people who can't take constant rain or cloudiness. We really miss the greenery, and have always dreamt of anything even resembling mountain living.
A little background on us: Been married to my wife for 5 years, and we have 4 kids, ages 11, 10 (from wife's 1st marriage), 3 and 2. The 2 year old a is special needs child. That's why we're in the DFW area to begin with......she gets treated at a specialty (orthopedic) hospital there, which is just a fantastic facility to the point that we moved to Texas to be near them. I'm an x-ray tech, specializing in CT Scan, my wife is a cosmetologist.
So here's the deal. After being here for 6 months, we already know that we don't want to live here long term, but we also don't want to break ties with our daughters hospital in Dallas. We had been traveling cross country by air for her appointments before we moved down here, and it was very hard to do with a child so young, as I would bring her while my wife stayed home to tend to the other children. It was so hard that we decided to relocate and eliminate it altogether.
We inevitably began discussing moving back north, but there are enough negatives tied to that scenario that I am hesitant to do so at this point. After going to Arkansas, though, I was thinking that Hot Springs comes through for us on 2 major levels in correlation with our situation. It puts us in the natural setting we prefer, but it also keeps us an easy mornings drive from the hospital in Dallas. In addition, we have my side of the family who live in the Atlanta area of Georgia, and that also puts us 4 hours closer to them by car. I fully realize that Hot Springs, and even a town the size of Little Rock, do not even approach what a place like Dallas/Ft. Worth can offer from many other aspects, and we're fine with that, as our family is originally from a small resort town in rural northern Michigan. We would probably still be living there had our daughter been born with her ortho issues, but now that we're gone I really don't want to go back to the 6 month winters featuring 150 inches of snow.
So that's the skinny on us. What I would like to do now is hear from those of you who either live in Hot Springs, have lived in Hot Springs, or know someone who is or has in correlation with actually putting down roots and raising a family there. I've read a lot on here about Hot Springs Village, but I am not interested in a retirement community or paying HOA/POA fees. I'm more interested in Hot Springs and the other immediate vicinities, and especially eager to know about the medical setups over there in correlation with not only my career as an imaging specialist, but for our needs as a family - particularly in the area of women's health and pediatricians. I am not seeking specialty care for our daughter's condition as I said because I want her to remain with her hospital in Dallas, but she and the other kids still need a dependable, competent pediatrician. I've also heard a lot about wages in Arkansas being drastically lower than, say, in Texas. Would appreciate hearing about it from anyone who can offer an experience or knowledge of the subject. I don't expect to make as much as I do here, but I still have a wife and 4 kids to support, even with my wife working as well. Anything else anyone cares to offer about Arkansas living in general, or in comparison to elsewhere would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, one other thing I better add. My wife is borderline entomophobic. She especially hates spiders and roaches. It actually hasn't been that bad here in N. Texas, but we have had a few spiders in the house and she freaks. I told her right off the bat that it's likely far worse in the Hot Springs area due to the thick forests and what not. Feel free to chime in about this as well. What do you have there and more importantly, which ones like to find their way into the house?
I think if I were you I would look at Little Rock. Jobs would be more plentiful, and the Children's Hospital in Little Rock means there are some top-notch pediatricians there. Little Rock is very green because of its location on the river, there are lots of trails, and you're still close to Hot Springs.
I think if I were you I would look at Little Rock. Jobs would be more plentiful, and the Children's Hospital in Little Rock means there are some top-notch pediatricians there. Little Rock is very green because of its location on the river, there are lots of trails, and you're still close to Hot Springs.
I don't want this to turn into a Little Rock thread because we really love and want to live in the Hot Springs area if possible, but since you brought it up I couldn't help but notice that there is nothing on the map in terms of roads or towns going west from LR to HS. Why is that?
I think the reason is because of Ouachita National Forest and then there are some state parks in the area as well. You do have some towns, notably Benton.
I think the reason is because of Ouachita National Forest and then there are some state parks in the area as well. You do have some towns, notably Benton.
Any hospitals/medical facilities in Benton I could work at? Looks to be about 30 minutes from there to Hot Springs, so I could easily do that to work and back. Same commute time I have now.
You might also look into Northwest Arkansas. The region is booming. Arkansas Children's Hospital is opening a new facility in Springdale soon. The big hospitals here are: Washington Regional, Northwest Medical Center, Mercy (Rogers). There is a VA hospital in Fayetteville and a small branch of UA for Medical Sciences.
The mountains are different, in that we are in the Ozarks. Still a very beautiful area, and the economy here is much better than it is in Hot Springs.
I know Benton has a hospital, but I don't know any details about it. Hot Springs has a few hospitals and clinics, too. Little Rock has a lot more because it's a much larger community, because the University of Arkansas has a medical school there, because some of the medical services provided in Little Rock are there to serve the entire state.
You might also look into Northwest Arkansas. The region is booming. Arkansas Children's Hospital is opening a new facility in Springdale soon. The big hospitals here are: Washington Regional, Northwest Medical Center, Mercy (Rogers). There is a VA hospital in Fayetteville and a small branch of UA for Medical Sciences.
The mountains are different, in that we are in the Ozarks. Still a very beautiful area, and the economy here is much better than it is in Hot Springs.
Great post. I actually have given some thought to NWA, as I know at least one person I used to work with who moved there, and am also aware that it's the hot spot in the state for growth. The drawbacks are that it's further (although only an hour, but even an hour is a big deal with kids) from both Dallas, where our daughters hospital is, and from my family in Georgia. There is also no direct interstate access from NWA to Dallas, and from Hot Springs we could practically jump right on I-30 and have a straight shot into town in about 4.5 hours. So basically Hot Springs excites me because it allows us to have the mountain setting we've always dreamed of, while still allowing us to be within an easy day trip of our daughters hospital, and shaving 3 hours off our car trips to Georgia at the same time. Another thing is that I really would prefer to be close to Little Rock and all the perks of the biggest city in the state, which Hot Springs provides also. I really want to validate this potential move by making it beneficial in as many ways as possible for us. Thanks for the suggestion, though. I hear great things about NWA constantly.
By the way, another thing I forgot to mention in my original post is that the time frame for this potential move is 6 months. Our lease is up at the end of March, and we really don't want to be here another year if we can help it (that's why you always rent first if you've never lived where you're moving to). Don't get me wrong, this isn't a terrible place....there are a ton of benefits to living here (DFW), which is why it's grown at such an astonishing rate. The setting just isn't us, though. I really can't explain it any better that that.
Last edited by Tyryztoll; 10-20-2015 at 02:12 PM..
Hot Springs has two hospitals, one large and part of the St Vincent system with many associated large clinics. The other hospital is/was a for profit hospital and I don't know it's present name but I worked there as an X-Ray Tech (I was in the field long before it became Radiologic Technologist ) several years ago and enjoyed it. Oh, I forgot, I also worked as an X.T. at the old St Joseph Hospital before it moved, and later became part of the S.V. system as mentioned above. Although I never lived in H.S., all my experience there has been good and I would not hesitate living there.
Highways L.R./H.S. - I make this trip frequently and you take I-30 from L.R. to Exit 111 where you hit U.S. 70 to H.S. 70 is a good two and three lane highway. From H.S. (depending on where you live) you would be about an hour easy drive to Children's Hospital. From H.S. to Children's Hospital you take U.S.70 out of H.S. for about 25 miles where you hit I-30 East, take it for about 25 miles to I-430 North for about six miles, then I-630 East for about five miles to the Children's Hospital Exit.
My sister and several friends live and work in H.S. and like it there. Some of the friends have retired and have chosen to continue living in H.S.
Good luck and I know you are going through lots of stress in this situation. Hang in there.
P.S. If you have any specific questions I may be able to help you with, don't hesitate to send me a Direct Message. I'll help any way I can.
P.P.S I have been in your shoes but thank goodness that was many years ago and I don't have to worry about it any more.
Hot Springs has two hospitals, one large and part of the St Vincent system with many associated large clinics. The other hospital is/was a for profit hospital and I don't know it's present name but I worked there as an X-Ray Tech (I was in the field long before it became Radiologic Technologist ) several years ago and enjoyed it. Oh, I forgot, I also worked as an X.T. at the old St Joseph Hospital before it moved, and later became part of the S.V. system as mentioned above. Although I never lived in H.S., all my experience there has been good and I would not hesitate living there.
Highways L.R./H.S. - I make this trip frequently and you take I-30 from L.R. to Exit 111 where you hit U.S. 70 to H.S. 70 is a good two and three lane highway. From H.S. (depending on where you live) you would be about an hour easy drive to Children's Hospital. From H.S. to Children's Hospital you take U.S.70 out of H.S. for about 25 miles where you hit I-30 East, take it for about 25 miles to I-430 North for about six miles, then I-630 East for about five miles to the Children's Hospital Exit.
My sister and several friends live and work in H.S. and like it there. Some of the friends have retired and have chosen to continue living in H.S.
Good luck and I know you are going through lots of stress in this situation. Hang in there.
P.S. If you have any specific questions I may be able to help you with, don't hesitate to send me a Direct Message. I'll help any way I can.
P.P.S I have been in your shoes but thank goodness that was many years ago and I don't have to worry about it any more.
Appreciated very much. Thank you.
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) several years ago and enjoyed it. Oh, I forgot, I also worked as an X.T. at the old St Joseph Hospital before it moved, and later became part of the S.V. system as mentioned above. Although I never lived in H.S., all my experience there has been good and I would not hesitate living there. 
