What misconceptions did you have about Missouri before you came here? (Ozark: rent, house)

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by SW Missouri Dave

These here olig ... oleo .... otrph .... oh whatever he called em lakes might be purtier than an old sow wallering in the back forty, but I figure lakes filled with bass, crappie, catfish, and money dropping fishermen and tourists, is a might more productive than 10,000 postcard purty swimmin' holes pert near anytime.

Now that you have educated me, I don't want nothin' to do with none of them oligopolic lakes if they ain't no count for nothin' but splish-splashing around in. I can do that standing in the wash tub on Saturday night. I want a lake for fishin'.

Besides, ain't it too dang cold to go swimmin' up 'ere in the north most of the year anyway?

[marmac]

I was at Table Rock Lake in March.

Despite temps in the 70's, didn't see a single person at the beach.

Wussies !

[brushrunner]

Well I've been to every state and can say I have enjoyed something in every one.But I've always been at home in Missouri.Figure this way if I wanted I could drive over night any direction and pretty much enjoy whatever else different the U.S. has to offer.

Hey I even like NYC and LA but I'm weird like that.

brushrunner

[brushrunner]

Originally Posted by marmac

I was at Table Rock Lake in March.

Despite temps in the 70's, didn't see a single person at the beach.

Wussies !

Well at least we can go Gigging at night on the river in January and not have to cut ice Wussies!

brushrunner

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

Now that you have educated me, I don't want nothin' to do with none of them oligopolic lakes if they ain't no count for nothin' but splish-splashing around in. I can do that standing in the wash tub on Saturday night. I want a lake for fishin'.

Besides, ain't it too dang cold to go swimmin' up 'ere in the north most of the year anyway?

Northwoods lakes have giant walleye and perch. Still remember some fishing openers on Gull Lake in Brainerd from the 1980s.
That was generally before the era where all the city slickers started building tons of 2nd homes in that area that were far larger than the traditional lake cabins.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by STLCityMike

Living on the east coast for several years before moving back to Missouri, I learned that many people thought Missouri was one of the flat states in the middle, and that we are all farmland. I love to show nay-sayers pictures of south-central Missouri and the Ozark areas, as well as pictures of both St. Louis and Kansas City (though, most of the each cost people thought Kansas City was in KANSAS). While there is a Kansas City in both states, what most people associate with Kansas City (sporting team, downtown, airport, plaza etc) is in MISSOURI

Kansas people don't believe this. They also don't get why it's so annoying to Missouri people.

[marmac]

I always laugh when someone from SW or SC Missouri buys a few acres to call himself a " homesteader" then state they own---prime farmland.

Kinda hard to find---prime farmland--below I-70.

[GreenScoutII]

I spent a couple of weeks in the Joplin area back in 99'. My ex wife had family there.

I can't say I had any preconceived notions about the place but as a native Coloradoan I was greatly impressed with the novelty of a place that can support lush, green vegetation without artificial irrigation...

Also, I liked the fact that virtually ALL fireworks are legal and for sale year round.

The fishing was incredible. I caught my first large mouth bass of any size there.

There is a lot of lakes and other bodies of water.

Ok, I confess I thought it was going to be "humid". Being from Colorado, we don't really know what that means. People from "humid" places always tell us it's bad, but I found I rather enjoyed it.

Real estate, particularly rural properties were very, very affordable by comparison.

No jobs there though. Even back in 99' when the economy was exploding everywhere else, there didn't seem to be a lot of work in the area. I checked it out because, as I stated, my ex had a lot of family there and wanted to move to the area.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by GreenScoutII

No jobs there though. Even back in 99' when the economy was exploding everywhere else, there didn't seem to be a lot of work in the area. I checked it out because, as I stated, my ex had a lot of family there and wanted to move to the area.

So, have you moved there since? I guess we're fortunate that we moved her for retirement and our incomes are not tied to local employment conditions. Housing costs and the beauty of the Ozarks were and remain major considerations.

[Ozark Homesteader]

Yup, nothing like a Missouri hillbilly trying to act "cool" by degrading rural guys from other states.

Its just too easy.

I always laugh when someone from SW or SC Missouri buys a few acres to call himself a " homesteader" then state they own---prime farmland.

Kinda hard to find---prime farmland--below I-70.

Your right again, we dont have any farmland at all south of I-70 and there is no reason for anyone to come down here. Aint nuthin but hillbillys sittin around makin fun of other states rural folks and wishun we had some of them oligopolic lakes Minnesota dun stole from us.