[jdoll88]

Originally Posted by sub

It is different, but nothing special.
Little Rock is definitely more city-like in both good and bad ways.
I like it better than NWA's hodgepodge layout and general dullness. A bit lower crime rate is the only major advantage for the northwest.

some nice college towns in the area though no?

[nmnita]

we have found AR has more positives than negatives. NWA has almost everything anyone could need to be comfortable: 4 seasons, none severe, decent shopping, decent medical care, very low crime, low cost of living, plenty of jobs, with 3 large companies being headquartered here, diversity, etc. And the best, a wonderful mixture of rural and urban life. As for not being progressive, that does than mean to everyone? I may say it is still backwards and someone else may say, it is moving ahead. Why do some say, it isn't progressive enough?

[Dwatted Wabbit]

Originally Posted by AnimeKing5

I was wondering have you decided to move out of Arkansas? I was in Fayetteville for two years and decided to move to Michigan. No offense but Arkansas isn't exactly the most progressive of states.

If by "progressive" you mean ultra-liberal, then you should move to NY, NJ, MA, CT, RI, CA...MI will be too backwards for you because there are two parties at work.

If you mean "progressive" as in sophisticated city slickers, well no, you're not going to be dining in SoHo or Bezerkeley every time you step out. Some think that's good, some don't.

Do your research before you move again. It will cut down on your time among the rubes.

[JWG223]

Originally Posted by AnimeKing5

I was wondering have you decided to move out of Arkansas? I was in Fayetteville for two years and decided to move to Michigan. No offense but Arkansas isn't exactly the most progressive of states.

I left the NWA area from the SWMO area. Lots less taxes. Still work in NWA though, still like the area, only other place I've considered is Idaho.

[Kerguelen]

I was born in NW Arkansas and spent my childhood there. It was alright. Of course, I hardly "moved out." Still a couple hours drive from NW Arkansas.

I'm thinking about leaving the general region though because it's a bit hot and humid for me.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Kerguelen

I was born in NW Arkansas and spent my childhood there. It was alright. Of course, I hardly "moved out." Still a couple hours drive from NW Arkansas.

I'm thinking about leaving the general region though because it's a bit hot and humid for me.

If you go to anywhere in the Great Lakes region, you leave a large chunk of the heat and humidity behind, but obviously you deal with more snow and cold- for four distinct seasons.

[Kerguelen]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

If you go to anywhere in the Great Lakes region, you leave a large chunk of the heat and humidity behind, but obviously you deal with more snow and cold- for four distinct seasons.

Hey, snow and cold are fine. Maybe I'll look at it.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Kerguelen

Hey, snow and cold are fine. Maybe I'll look at it.

It can be fine the first year or so, but after you pay those over the top heating bills and shovel snow all winter you may not think it is so much fun. good luck, whatever you decide to do or where ever you decide to go. I bet about 60% or maybe more, people we know here have left the upper midwest for that reason alone. Some, who are retired do return to the north for a month or so in the summer.

[sub]

Originally Posted by nmnita

It can be fine the first year or so, but after you pay those over the top heating bills and shovel snow all winter you may not think it is so much fun. good luck, whatever you decide to do or where ever you decide to go. I bet about 60% or maybe more, people we know here have left the upper midwest for that reason alone. Some, who are retired do return to the north for a month or so in the summer.

Experiences vary.
For us, the utility bills evened out over the course of the year, if not just a tidbit cheaper up north. It takes a good amount of energy to keep a house cool in the hot Ozark summers.
Shoveling snow was an "every now and then" chore. Sometimes weekly, sometimes not. Sometimes daily, but for maybe 3-4 days at a time. Most of the places that get 100 inches of snow aren't all that populated. Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago are all highly adaptable places to live in terms of weather and aren't the snowiest places in the world.
Lawn mowing season was a bit shorter, so that evened out as well.
It just comes down to personal preference. Weather gets too much attention these days. The upper midwest is a heavily populated area with a high standard of living, and is also quite pleasant and livable aside from a few inner city areas.
It does get snow. After a few years, it never really bothered us. Cold and snow is not why we left.
No doubt many do leave for that reason.

[Nevada2012]

Originally Posted by Hollynla

So you've considered it without ever visiting the area and are getting your ideas about it from this thread?

If so, you should try Chicago.

I consider alot of areas for retirement without having visited them. It's called a list. Then I go down the list and visit the areas.

My rankings are as follows:

1. Philadelphia - visiting in April.
2. Chicago - visiting in May
3. Portland- been there several times
4. Spokane - visted several times
5. Moscow, ID - visited twice
6. NWA- hence the reason I am on this thread. Plan on visiting in the next two years.

I'm rooting for Philadelphia !