Small Farm moving to SOMEWHERE outside KC (Overland, Leawood: transplants, high crime)

[HeartsongHollowFarm]

We are a middle-aged couple, have a small fiber wool-sheep farm with geese and other birds, have one last child to homeschool, love trees and hills, volunteering and anything to do with the arts. My husband now has a research scientist position in Shawnee Mission in KC. We are moving as soon as our house sells. Would love some direction/answers.

1. Are there small/er towns that are welcoming of outsiders that are within say less than an hour commute to Shawnee Mission?
2. Anyone know of art classes or volunteer opportunities for teens in the area?
3. Opinions on hospitals in the area. Which are easier to work with. Which have more options? etc...
4. Are there more common areas to find farms; north, south, east or west side?
5. Worst areas of traffic to stay away from as well as high crime areas.

Oh, and we aren't stuck right now on only living on one side or the other. Should we be???

Thanks, we really appreciate your answers!

[rwiksell]

Quick point of order: Shawnee Mission isn't a town. Can you be more specific about the location of your husband's job?

[Okey Dokie]

Just to expand a bit on Rwiksell’s post, “Shawnee Mission” is actually a post office name in the NE part of Johnson County, encompassing a huge delivery area of all the zip codes starting with 662. It includes the cities of Overland Park, Prairie Village, Mission, Shawnee, Merriam, Leawood, Lenexa, westwood, etc.

[luzianne]

The fact that Shawnee Mission isn't a town is neither here nor there. Exactly where in Shawnee Mission will he be working? If it's south, I would look south from Louisburg to Paola. If west, western Shawnee/Lenexa/Desoto.

[rwiksell]

Originally Posted by luzianne

The fact that Shawnee Mission isn't a town is neither here nor there. Exactly where in Shawnee Mission will he be working? If it's south, I would look south from Louisburg to Paola. If west, western Shawnee/Lenexa/Desoto.

For crying out loud, don't get defensive.

I wasn't putting down Shawnee Mission. I was just saying it's too vague a term to be helpful here. And it's probably important for transplants to the area to realize that locals don't use the term "Shawnee Mission" unless they're referring to the school district.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by rwiksell

For crying out loud, don't get defensive.

I wasn't putting down Shawnee Mission. I was just saying it's too vague a term to be helpful here. And it's probably important for transplants to the area to realize that locals don't use the term "Shawnee Mission" unless they're referring to the school district.

I didn't say you were putting down Shawnee Mission, and I'm not defensive. What the heck? I was only saying that it doesn't make a difference whether Shawnee Mission is a town or not. It's not big, and it's really not important at all. If you say Shawnee Mission, everyone knows what you are talking about. It's not a big deal that the OP called it Shawnee Mission.

I grew up here and it's always been called Shawnee Mission and not just the school district.

[rwiksell]

Originally Posted by luzianne

I didn't say you were putting down Shawnee Mission, and I'm not defensive. What the heck? I was only saying that it doesn't make a difference whether Shawnee Mission is a town or not. It's not big, and it's really not important at all. If you say Shawnee Mission, everyone knows what you are talking about. It's not a big deal that the OP called it Shawnee Mission.

I grew up here and it's always been called Shawnee Mission and not just the school district.

OK, whatever. I should have just said to the OP "please be more specific".

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by luzianne

The fact that Shawnee Mission isn't a town is neither here nor there. Exactly where in Shawnee Mission will he be working? If it's south, I would look south from Louisburg to Paola. If west, western Shawnee/Lenexa/Desoto.

Originally Posted by luzianne

I didn't say you were putting down Shawnee Mission, and I'm not defensive. What the heck? I was only saying that it doesn't make a difference whether Shawnee Mission is a town or not. It's not big, and it's really not important at all. If you say Shawnee Mission, everyone knows what you are talking about. It's not a big deal that the OP called it Shawnee Mission.

I grew up here and it's always been called Shawnee Mission and not just the school district.

Two more examples of what makes luzianne such a valuable contributor here.

OP, luzianne's advice is solid gold.

[rwiksell]

Originally Posted by CrownVic95

Two more examples of what makes luzianne such a valuable contributor here.

OP, luzianne's advice is solid gold.

I'm pretty sure at least 25% of your posts on this forum are to butter up luzianne.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by rwiksell

I'm pretty sure at least 25% of your posts on this forum are to butter up luzianne.

We like each other!


Oh, and my post above where I said "it's not big" - I meant to say it's not a big deal. But Shawnee Mission isn't a huge area, either, so I guess it works to say it's not big too.