[yellowsnow]

Kids adapt easily. They will be fine. The kids in my little area play hopscotch, baseball, and ride their bikes in the street. Almost every neighborhood has a park near by. Usually with large grassy areas, sports fields, tennis, and lots of walking/bike trails. It's a city/urban. The kids here do what all kids who live in cities do. You will need to teach them to hydrate and drink more than they probably do now!

I moved here from Minnesota. I was used to mowing an acre and shoveling a triple driveway. I love it here. You don't have to shovel sunshine and my yard work consists of spraying weed killer and picking up dog poop. Every couple years I have to wrangle my palm trees. And I am not eaten alive by bugs every time I leave the house. We can use the patio! I think life is easier here partly because I don't have that huge yard to worry about.

Education is a concern. If I needed to educate my kids and live in a place with an average cost I would start by looking at a school map. But I am thinking your best options would be in the Henderson area. Education is not well funded here and we are forced to spend a disproportionate amount of the dollars available to educate children who do not speak English. It is what it is. If you are an involved parent and you are willing to help your child, it can all work out. There are also advantages to being educated in a diverse environment. I would encourage my kids to learn as much Spanish as possible.

I don't think Las Vegas is an ideal place to raise kids but it certainly can be done. Las Vegas is an adult playground. Lots of the movie theaters and restaurants are located in casinos and your kids will be exposed to things like billboards advertising adult activities. You have to raise kids here to have a strong moral compass and sense of right and wrong. There are slot machines in grocery and convenience stores. There are fun things for kids here too. Circus Circus, the Lion Ranch, Springs Preserve, Red Rocks, Lake Mead. Once you get away from the Strip, it's a much more 'normal' atmosphere.

[airics]

Originally Posted by Camaro5

That's insulting to most of the people that live here. I'm also from the Midwest and not a "reject" as you put it. I retired here, and do not consider this place to be a prison. Quite the opposite.

To me, Illinois was a dreadful place to live for reasons to numerous to list. I was glad -- no, overjoyed, when I left that place for the last time.

If you don't like it here, move. If you're stuck here, that's too bad, but calling people rejects isn't fair to most of the 2.5 million people that call this place home.

There’s a huge difference. You are retired. You don’t work in the public here. He’s right on point!

[Cold Warrior]

The schools are fine. It is student achievement that is poor.

[08grad]

Originally Posted by Camaro5

That's insulting to most of the people that live here. I'm also from the Midwest and not a "reject" as you put it. I retired here, and do not consider this place to be a prison. Quite the opposite.

To me, Illinois was a dreadful place to live for reasons to numerous to list. I was glad -- no, overjoyed, when I left that place for the last time.

If you don't like it here, move. If you're stuck here, that's too bad, but calling people rejects isn't fair to most of the 2.5 million people that call this place home.

Sorry, didn't mean to strike a nerve.

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

Education is a concern. If I needed to educate my kids and live in a place with an average cost I would start by looking at a school map. But I am thinking your best options would be in the Henderson area. Education is not well funded here and we are forced to spend a disproportionate amount of the dollars available to educate children who do not speak English. It is what it is. If you are an involved parent and you are willing to help your child, it can all work out. There are also advantages to being educated in a diverse environment. I would encourage my kids to learn as much Spanish as possible.

If you think that ELL funding is big, you should research special education funding.

[airics]

Originally Posted by 08grad

Sorry, didn't mean to strike a nerve.



If you think that ELL funding is big, you should research special education funding.

08 - you are spot on. People that come here to retire don’t know the workforce world. It’s completely different

They come here and join a little club or two

[Camaro5]

Originally Posted by airics

08 - you are spot on. People that come here to retire don’t know the workforce world. It’s completely different

They come here and join a little club or two

But that's NOT what he said. He called people rejects and did not make any distinctions between working people and those that are retired.

Further, working or not doesn't matter. The people I know, including my wife, are successful in what they do. They are not rejects from anywhere. Maybe the people you associate with are different.

[WestieJeff]

I don't have any kids of my own, but I'm right in the age bracket and all of my friends do.

School wise, if you can afford it, you live in either Summerlin or Henderson (Anthem, Seven Hills, or Paradise Hills) - that's it. That's basically where all the best public schools are located. These are all the areas in which my friends with kids live.

I don't see much in the way of "playing outside" amongst my friend's kids. Depending on the age group of the kids, younger kids tends to involve "play dates" with kids and parents. Lots of visiting "FlipNOut" or "Gravity" or whatever different indoor playground type facility exists. As the kids get older, socializing involves soccer or other sports league, scouts, karate, gymnastics, dance. Basically it's all structured and organized activities. Occasionally older kids might go visit the park, but that seems rare.

When I grew up there was a lot of just going over to my friends' house or the reverse. That doesn't seem to be a thing anymore.

Not sure how that compares to the midwest.

[airics]

Originally Posted by Camaro5

But that's NOT what he said. He called people rejects and did not make any distinctions between working people and those that are retired.

Further, working or not doesn't matter. The people I know, including my wife, are successful in what they do. They are not rejects from anywhere. Maybe the people you associate with are different.

Wow you are one hell of a winner.

[JonathanLB]

Originally Posted by 08grad

I grew up in Michigan. I miss the people, culture, and community in the Midwest. I wish I never left, but there were no jobs. Very few who went to high school with me stayed.

Las Vegas is a prison - A place where the rejects of all the other states (mostly California) migrate to in the middle of a desert, hours away from any other civilization.

On the positive, I am compensated very well by the school district, I don't pay state income tax, and there's legalized sports betting.

I don’t understand how you can live in such an amazing place and think it’s a prison lol. If you don’t like it I’m sure there are many other places better suited for you? It depends on your income and lifestyle too. Las Vegas is a paradise if you have the money - endless sun, entertainment, great food, ideal place to live which is why literally it’s one of the fastest growing cities. The economy is a weaker point so it has grown more in spite of the economy than because of it.

I also think your mileage may vary. I grew up in OR, doesn’t mean I like green and rain. I hate both. Lawns make me think of suburbs and total mediocrity. What’s more boring than a grass lawn?!? Nothing I can think of. Just pointless. Tear that out and put in some beautiful cactuses or xeriscape surrounding a beautiful pool, hot tub, fire pit, and seating area. That’s an outdoors to die for!

PS: I also don’t care about the working world of Las Vegas as that’ll always be something I’m not partaking in so for those of us looking at lifestyle only, Vegas is hard to beat. I could make the argument for beautiful Hawaii but I don’t have THAT much money yet for a similarly luxurious house there nor do I want to be 5 hours from friends, family, and the film industry in LA (45 minute plane flight is awesome!).

[meowface12]

Thank you everyone for the responses and insights! It confirms a lot of what I am finding out and confirms my understandings of what to expect. Trade offs are a good point, it won't be what I am used to but there will be some things better, others worse.

Anyone ever relocate such a long distance when kids were young? Is that a nightmare logistically.