Des Moines IA (Colo, Allerton: living, cost of living, dangerous)

[sholomar]

I always chime in when people mention they are going to live in the larger city and commute an insane amount to get to work. I don't understand why a person wouldn't live in the town they work and commute to the larger city instead. That's a long way to drive to live in Des Moines. In this case I would get used to the small town living. There are no advantages to living that far away. As a man I would not make that commute so my wife could live 60 miles away. It would not be done.

And I thought my 27 mile, 35 minute commute was bad enough the year I did it... now my commute is 7 minutes.

[ElleTea]

The OP did say they were from California and used to a commute. I guess we are all saying the same thing here, it's not plausable.

I think the OP needs to come see for themselves that a 75 mile commute in California on a 4-6 lane freeway is NOT the same as a 75 mile drive on possibly 2 lane (as in one lane each way) highway through farm country. Without the ever changing weather thrown in, it is just not a good idea.

Winters aside, there are plenty of storms in the spring and summer that can be dangerous to drive in. And the possiblity of drving in frozen precipitation runs from November to...well, April anymore! Not just snow, but sleet, ice, freezing rain...and high winds. Ugh.

I am also curious as to what job would be located in a town that small.

[sholomar]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

I am also curious as to what job would be located in a town that small.

I must admit that thought had crossed my mind... what they could possibly need done in a town of 500 that paid enough and was rare enough that someone from CA would take the job. I'm trying to imagine what one of the towns out here that size would offer for jobs and nothing comes to mind that isn't farm related.

I'm not sure what the topography is like where the OP comes from but something else to keep in mind is that part of Iowa is all rolling hills... very few flat spots. It took some getting used too when I drove around in it having lived in flatter areas all my life.

[atler8]

It might be helpful for an update here from the op, right? There has been considerable response, all of it cautious in nature but we have not heard back.
Hellooooo....
LOL!

[duster1979]

I'm curious, too. I guess she doesn't really say he's going there for work, just that he "...might be relocating to Allerton...." Maybe it's a family issue, or maybe he got into some legal trouble while passing through there and the terms of his probation are that he live in Wayne county. But in either of those are the case you'd think they would be familiar enough with the area to not have to pose this question to random strangers on the internet

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by Monwest2004

Hello my husband might be relocating to Allerton IA. However small town living is NOT for us we are from California. We were looking into maybe a suburb of Des Moines. We are used to the commute so that does not scare us. We have 2 boys one in Middle School and one in Elementary. Therefore we are looking for good school districts, Preferably one with a good Gifted and Talented program or International Baccalaureate program maybe Advance Placement classes. Also we will probably rent until we get to know the area little better so a suburb with rent under $1500 is what we are looking for. Thank YOU in advance.

If small town living is not for you I would suggest you not move to Iowa.
There are many small towns in Iowa and the bigger cities like Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Davenport are quite a commute, especially in the winter.

[capitalcityguy]

As far as potential occupation - maybe there is a grain elevator, wind farm, ethanol plant, etc in the area that he will be working at? If a person is running the show, they can make good $$ with job in these industries.

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

As far as potential occupation - maybe there is a grain elevator, wind farm, ethanol plant, etc in the area that he will be working at? If a person is running the show, they can make good $$ with job in these industries.

There's a big dairy, that's all I know of.

And I could see somebody anxious to escape the hustle and bustle - not to mention high cost of living - of big-city life doing something like that, I just don't see it for someone who states up front that small-town living is not for them. Plus there have to be similar opportunities much closer to where they are now, or at least closer to a decent-sized city.

[Monwest2004]

Thank you for your input. We have driven in snow we lived in Colorado for many years, however Colorado Springs was too small for us and we moved back to California.

[Monwest2004]

Thank you that's actually what I was looking for a neighborhood on the edge of Des Moines. I am sure he would be able to work from home he does that quite often here.