[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by JeanLucPicard

I think I initially let myself get overly scared of crime. I'd rather avoid a 40 min drive, especially in winter. I'm not old or young, somewhere in the middle. I'll look into that area once I know if I'm going.

Except in really obviously bad areas, crime is pretty insignificant here. But then we came from California where it is more of a general problem.

[JeanLucPicard]

Ok, one more question for now. What's Saginaw Township South like? Safe or avoid?

[MikeBear]

Originally Posted by JeanLucPicard

Ok, one more question for now. What's Saginaw Township South like? Safe or avoid?

It's safe enough, but quite a few very old neighborhoods in there, and some you'd likely not want to live in. Stay away from West Michigan Ave - St Andrews road area along the river, as it floods frequently every Spring.

[Narmowen]

Personally, I'd choose one of the more rural areas around Saginaw.

I live in Vassar and work in Bridgeport (just south of Saginaw with a saginaw zip-code) and my husband (obviously) lives with me and drives to Saginaw for work. We have a half-hour drive, maybe 40 minutes on bad roads. The state highways are usually kept up, so if you live rural, just make sure one of the state highways is nearby.

[michigan91]

Saginaw is just a smaller version of what you find in other areas of Michigan. A city center trying to rejuvenate (Saginaw urban renewal is not doing so hot, relatively speaking) surrounded by bad neighborhoods, a few so-so suburbs, and then some more monied municipalities.

I like Saginaw better than Bay City and Midland in terms of atmosphere--there is a more diverse mix of people there. It's less towny. This might not be important to you, depending on how you see yourself fitting in.

I'd probably want to live around Bay Rd. if I was going to live in the area again. It's not very far from the VA (10-15 minutes) and is in close proximity to most of the things you'd regularly need.

[JeanLucPicard]

A month later, I'm one step away from their final offer. It's been a long process. I saw some rental townhouses with garages north of the VA. Hoping they'll have one open if/when the time comes. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll really benefit from a garage and not having to deice a vehicle. On the bright side of the process taking a while, I probably wouldn't start until late March / early April, so I got to skip winter.

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by JeanLucPicard

On the bright side of the process taking a while, I probably wouldn't start until late March / early April, so I got to skip winter.

Does someone want to break it to him now or do we let him enjoy that particular fantasy a little longer?

[scorpio516]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

Does someone want to break it to him now or do we let him enjoy that particular fantasy a little longer?

Hey, early April is shorts weather!

What, people in Texas don't wear shorts when it's 50 and sunny? Just a T shirt when it's 45 and sunny?

[JeanLucPicard]

Ha ha. I remember snow in April when I lived near Cleveland. But you guys know what I mean, winter is mostly over

[MikeBear]

Waterside apts is a good place to check out, and only 1.5 miles North of the VA hospital. Yet it's close to all the shopping, and restaurants you could ever want. Also has a huge lake recreation area that was dug out when they created the expressway years ago. We used to swim in it back when it was just a gravel pit, before they took it over and made it real nice.

Change to satellite view, and look around:

https://goo.gl/maps/87gkkS3XhqUzvQP16