[Bluefly]

The towns up north, especially Marquette, are a LONG way away from a lot of the stuff that young people enjoy.

Welll, perhaps. But there is a university here full of young people who, by and large, quite enjoy living in Marquette.

I'm not advocating they move here - perhaps Ann Arbor would be better. I was just giving them the reality. Huge difference from Miami, but downstate people tend to dismiss the UP and they mentioned the UP so I told them about the UP as someone who came from another large city culturally lightyears away from the UP. It can be done.

[Joanie B]

Chiming in for SW Michigan and Holland.
Of course, I'm biased, but the Holland area would also be perfect for you guys. No, it's not all wood shoes and Dutch, not even.
All About Holland Michigan

It's a vibrant, very affordable community.
We even have a film studio!
TicTock Studios
Michigan has just passed a 40% tax refund incentive package that will make film making in the state a lot more appealing.
Also, the first movie to be filmed in the state since the passage of the incentive will be in Holland. No, it's not a big name, big budget deal but it's a start!
Holland will be location of independent film 'Tug'.

We also have fabulous downtown with retail and restaurants galore, you could even commute to Grand Rapids to work in one of the bigger malls/stores.
Downtown Holland

Also, Holland is on the coast of Lake Michigan, not 1/2 or hours away.
Webcam at Holland State Park

We have beaches! The water is crystal clear and the beaches are sugar sand.




There's even a surfing community in the area. They do a lot of surfing in Holland and Grand Haven.



Sunsets at Holland State Park.




Let's not forget boating and, of course, 'Big Red'.



Saugatuck 'The Art Coast of Michigan' is a lot pricier but only 12 miles away (from Holland) and is a wonderful place too. Potential for jobs and entertainment there.
Saugatuck Michigan
Saugatuck is also the home of the Waterfront Film Festival - coming up this month.
Waterfront Film Festival 2008

Where ever you decide to go, Michigan is a beautiful state.

[Bluefly]

^
I second Holland. You have the small city Lake Michigan coastal culture, the artistic culture, and you're within shooting distance of Chicago when you realize how much you still actually like vibrant, big cities.

[Joanie B]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

^
I second Holland. You have the small city Lake Michigan coastal culture, the artistic culture, and you're within shooting distance of Chicago when you realize how much you still actually like vibrant, big cities.

I forgot about Chicago (my hometown) - 2 hours by car and there's also daily Amtrak service (3 hours).

[suydam]

For artists, I'd say Saugatuck. Saugatuck is a very art-friendly community. Full of galleries, professional artists, and on weekends the people with disposable income to keep artists afloat swarm the place. It's a good mix. Plus, Saugatuck is home to Michigan's best film festival by far: The Waterfront Film Festival.

If you need some nightlife, live in downtown GR, and you can still go to Holland or Saugatuck when the mood strikes.

If you need the northeastern university liberal vibe, Ann Arbor is your best bet. I live in GR, I love where I live, but I think Ann Arbor is the best city in Michigan.

Have fun. Move here. It's a pretty cool state.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

......That said, its Alaska-lite dynamic also draws many interesting characters running away or to something intangible. A lot of really interesting people live in this relatively desolate area. Seek them out, because there are also a lot of people very naive to the world beyond, very provincial, and very uninteresting to be around. Many people - from doctors and professors to artists and everyday people - have found their nirvana living here and couldn't be dragged away by a thousand wild horses. Many others can't stand it here. There's a mystical power here that most people accept without even thinking, not unlike Sedona, Arizona.....

Yes -- that's it. Some places have a mystical power for certain people. If someone is drawn for some unexplained reason to a place that might seem crazy to many, then it might be that they are being called.

Sometimes you know you are meant to go somewhere because when you tell people, they look at you and ask if you're nuts. It's not something that can be explained easily, and also some people are meant to try out different places.

The UP would have that mystical something, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo would not, they would be practical places to go.

[snow4461]

I live in Southwest corner of Mich. and it is great here. We have SouthBend , Indiana for big shopping and night life. We have St Joesph for beaches and some night life, lots of going ons in the summer, free concerts on the beach ,we are ON the Lake Michiagn cost so LOTS of water stuff to do, ect... We are only 90 min or less to Chicago, and you can take the train there cheap ( 11 $ round trip ) we have lots of small bar and grill type places with live music and free also most the time, all kinds of festivels, a just newly built Casino ( Four Winds, check it on line ) 2nd biggest in the US so they say. Golf courses ( I never play but they are there ) the list goes on.....check out the area on line...I think there are websites for ...New Buffallo, Sawyer, oh and Harbor Country .com ? ( that would be a good one I think ) Good Luck

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by malamute

Yes -- that's it. Some places have a mystical power for certain people. If someone is drawn for some unexplained reason to a place that might seem crazy to many, then it might be that they are being called.

Sometimes you know you are meant to go somewhere because when you tell people, they look at you and ask if you're nuts. It's not something that can be explained easily, and also some people are meant to try out different places.

The UP would have that mystical something, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo would not, they would be practical places to go.

Wow. You nailed it. I had everything going for me in a conventional sense of the word living the big city life out east. I can't tell you the crazy expressions I got moving here (at least from people who knew where "here" even was). People kept telling me I should go somewhere bigger, warmer, closer... whatever. One woman even said I was too attractive to live in the Upper Peninsula. Huh???

But, I was drawn to the south shore of Lake Superior beyond reason and logic by nothing more than an intense intuitive feeling that I absolutely had to be in the UP. I had no idea how I would support myself or why I had to be here. I didn't know anybody for about 500 miles in any direction.

That was 5 years ago. I now know why. Vast wisdoms of the universe have been revealed to me. It's a powerful place.

To the OP, though - perhaps you two should let your intuition guide you. If you're drawn to Michigan from Miami, there might be a reason you do not yet understand.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Wow. You nailed it. I had everything going for me in a conventional sense of the word living the big city life out east. I can't tell you the crazy expressions I got moving here (at least from people who knew where "here" even was). People kept telling me I should go somewhere bigger, warmer, closer... whatever. One woman even said I was too attractive to live in the Upper Peninsula. Huh???

But, I was drawn to the south shore of Lake Superior beyond reason and logic by nothing more than an intense intuitive feeling that I absolutely had to be in the UP. I had no idea how I would support myself or why I had to be here. I didn't know anybody for about 500 miles in any direction.

That was 5 years ago. I now know why. Vast wisdoms of the universe have been revealed to me. It's a powerful place.

To the OP, though - perhaps you two should let your intuition guide you. If you're drawn to Michigan from Miami, there might be a reason you do not yet understand.

I always find it interesting when people want to go to the "weird" places or have no good solid conventional reason for wanting to relocate somewhere.

I've known a handful of Americans who ended up going to live in Spain. One guy had a vacation there but ended up leaving behind a good job and income, sold a house, applied for residency in that country and went. When people would ask him why, he could only say that there was just something about the country and the people that made him have to go.

It's always understandable when someone leaves to go for more money, for education, for more cultural kind of activities, but those aren't the only reasons to go some where. Sometimes it's the "road less traveled" that is the road for you, when you're looking for something that isn't about money, big city life, career advancement.

I've known college graduates who worked in national forests, doing park ranger or research work, living extremely simple lives far removed from the typical things people expect college graduates to want and need, and they were completely content with that lifestyle. I've met people who work on Indian reservations in the West which means they are far from a mall and somewhat socially isolated because even if they aren't shunned they will be viewed as outsiders but they are quite happy living like that. It's in that word you used "mystical".

For most people, the best times for that would be when young and independent or after their children have gone.

[suz7731]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Wow. You nailed it. I had everything going for me in a conventional sense of the word living the big city life out east. I can't tell you the crazy expressions I got moving here (at least from people who knew where "here" even was). People kept telling me I should go somewhere bigger, warmer, closer... whatever. One woman even said I was too attractive to live in the Upper Peninsula. Huh???

But, I was drawn to the south shore of Lake Superior beyond reason and logic by nothing more than an intense intuitive feeling that I absolutely had to be in the UP. I had no idea how I would support myself or why I had to be here. I didn't know anybody for about 500 miles in any direction.

That was 5 years ago. I now know why. Vast wisdoms of the universe have been revealed to me. It's a powerful place.

To the OP, though - perhaps you two should let your intuition guide you. If you're drawn to Michigan from Miami, there might be a reason you do not yet understand.

bluefly, where in the UP do you live? i'm originally from the garden penninsula (in between manistique and escanaba). also, what is the OP? i went to college in marquette... this was after serving 4 years in the military and becoming a single mom. i lived in the small community of gwinn (before KI Sawyer closed), and LOVED IT!! of course, you do have to be prepared for the winters and all they entail... it's going to be a HUGE adjustment coming from miami. i live in georgia now and miss michigan so much! but after being gone from michigan for 12 years, even i would have to re-adjust to the winters!

i think marquette is a wonderful place for a young couple to relocate to. i remember it being artsy and whimsical in areas. i think marquette is a good recommendation!

and cutter89... that's a bit harsh wouldn't you say? give us some more information... why is living in michigan having "low expectations?"