[silas777]

I would like to hear , about Oklahoma, we have been looking at moving south for a while now, have mainly been focused on Texas and Alabama. I have been doing a little research on OK lately then lo and behold my wife has been reading a book from a Gal that lives in Ok & now is ready to come check it out. I am interested in any info about the state, we are in Western Wash and despise the weather and politics up here, some of our interests are.....First there is the obvious, we want to be where the economy is good for employment and business relocation ,yet homes are still relatively affordable. Would like to stay out of the threat of tornadoes,"is that possible in Ok". Do not want to be in a big city, or deal with heavy traffic. Things that are important to us: Very good schools, private,Christian, Military. Very good Football program. Water skiing. Horses. We are very family oriented. Acreage. Things that are not that important to us: diversity, night life, cultural sort of things. My experience with Oklahoma has been limited to driving across 40 at night. Appreciate any input thanks.

[_redbird_]

A good start would be reading some of the threads already posted which discuss life in Oklahoma.

Originally Posted by silas777

Things that are not that important to us: diversity, night life, cultural sort of things.

If you don't value cultural sort of things, then should we list diversity and cultural sort of things as "bad" or "ugly"?

Culture covers a lot of territory.

Unfortunately, (if you see it that way) we have a lot of cultural events, and those reflect our diversity. From music from country to classical to blue grass, pow wows, rodeos, we have it.

[ERISAjunkie]

Originally Posted by silas777

I would like to hear , about Oklahoma, we have been looking at moving south for a while now, have mainly been focused on Texas and Alabama. I have been doing a little research on OK lately then lo and behold my wife has been reading a book from a Gal that lives in Ok & now is ready to come check it out. I am interested in any info about the state, we are in Western Wash and despise the weather and politics up here, some of our interests are.....First there is the obvious, we want to be where the economy is good for employment and business relocation ,yet homes are still relatively affordable. Would like to stay out of the threat of tornadoes,"is that possible in Ok". Do not want to be in a big city, or deal with heavy traffic. Things that are important to us: Very good schools, private,Christian, Military. Very good Football program. Water skiing. Horses. We are very family oriented. Acreage. Things that are not that important to us: diversity, night life, cultural sort of things. My experience with Oklahoma has been limited to driving across 40 at night. Appreciate any input thanks.

Well, the economy is good but you may have to live close to Oklahoma City or Tulsa. I don't know what business you're in so it's hard to speak to that point. There are wonderul suburbs that ring both OKC and Tulsa. There is a wealth of information out there including threads on this forum that speak to individual towns and regions.

I really can't speak to schools as I've no children. You have just entered football heaven though. The major team is OU though I kinda follow OSU. Lakes are plentiful in OK as well as all outdoor activity including horseback riding and raising horses on acreage. For my money there is no better place to raise your family. I think you'll find what you're looking for.

I suggest a road trip this summer for you and your family. Speak to people and try to line up interviews for jobs. Speak with your family and pray over the matter.

[_redbird_]

Good post, ERISA.

I think newbs should just remember, this is Oklahoma, it's not TX, AL, or WA. And for the most part, the people in the small towns and rural areas, love it for what it is, and not what it could be or should be.

We accept the lack of amenities in trade for the lack of squalor and noise, pollution, and high density populations that other areas have.

I also believe to some degree some people are happy where ever they land, and others will carry their unhappiness with them where ever they go.

We have a doctor from FL who said she never thought OK was a place for African Americans, and I told her Wewoka is probably the most diverse place, because it is almost 1/3 AA, Native American, and white.

If I had to say the bad, it is I do miss the ocean and the forests like northern PNW or redwoods of coastal California. But personally, I have cultural ties and roots in Oklahoma which make it home for me.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by silas777

............Things that are important to us: Very good schools, private,Christian, Military.

Not sure there are any very good private Christian military schools around. We do have a few good schools around, we do have private schools around, but I can't think of any military schools anywhere. Oklahoma Military Academy went defunct a long time ago and is now Rogers State University.

Originally Posted by silas777

.......Very good Football program.

If you are from Washington, you will find our junior college football programs as good as any you have in Washington. But if you want good football, Northeastern and Northwestern both have good teams. Then if you want great football we have OU and OSU.

Originally Posted by silas777

.......Water skiing Horses.

We have a lot of horses in this part of the country, but never seen one water ski. OTOH, we are ranked #4 for the total number of horses in the country, and #1 in horses per capita.

Originally Posted by silas777

.......Acreage.

Yep, we have acreages

Originally Posted by silas777

.......My experience with Oklahoma has been limited to driving across 40 at night. .....

You've probably seen the best of it.

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

We have a lot of horses in this part of the country, but never seen one water ski. OTOH, we are ranked #4 for the total number of horses in the country, and #1 in horses per capita.

Ask, and ye shall receive!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n4zULZf8Vw

I was going to say for the good see Howest or BigOkie, Bass n Catfish, etc,

for the Bad, see Raelynn, and a few others who shall not be named...

and for the ugly, well,
Wiiiiiilllllll-burrrrrrr!

[Ecovlke]

I've lived in both Eastern and Western WA. I absolutely loved living in Seattle. Love the climate, the mountains, the people, and the diversity. Everytime I return for a visit the people are open, accepting and friendly to me.

Having read a few of your posts, I think Alabama might be a better fit. If you're set on moving to Oklahoma, I suggest the panhandle.

[silas777]

Originally Posted by _redbird_

A good start would be reading some of the threads already posted which discuss life in Oklahoma.



If you don't value cultural sort of things, then should we list diversity and cultural sort of things as "bad" or "ugly"?

Culture covers a lot of territory.

Unfortunately, (if you see it that way) we have a lot of cultural events, and those reflect our diversity. From music from country to classical to blue grass, pow wows, rodeos, we have it.

Seems you took offense to that part of my post, some might post the opposite, where they were looking for a place that has a lot of diversity and different culture is important to them ....would that have bothered you as well? I am not making a judgment on that so no I don't consider it bad , it just is not the most important thing to our family.

[silas777]

Originally Posted by ERISAjunkie

Well, the economy is good but you may have to live close to Oklahoma City or Tulsa. I don't know what business you're in so it's hard to speak to that point. There are wonderul suburbs that ring both OKC and Tulsa. There is a wealth of information out there including threads on this forum that speak to individual towns and regions.

I really can't speak to schools as I've no children. You have just entered football heaven though. The major team is OU though I kinda follow OSU. Lakes are plentiful in OK as well as all outdoor activity including horseback riding and raising horses on acreage. For my money there is no better place to raise your family. I think you'll find what you're looking for.

I suggest a road trip this summer for you and your family. Speak to people and try to line up interviews for jobs. Speak with your family and pray over the matter.

Thanks for the info, I have already been planning a trip, just wanted to get a feel for places that some absolutely love or hate.....for example, if you talk to people in Tennessee they will tell you Memphis is not somewhere you want to move to.....etc thanks again.

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by silas777

Seems you took offense to that part of my post, ...

LOL. Not at all. I just know Oklahoma has a lot diversity, racially and geologically. It is not 85% -90% white only, like a lot of other places due to the Native population.

Also, the way the OP is worded, could be a magnet for those who LOVE to hate.

The questions you pose has been answered over and over on these threads and very few people take the time to actually go back and read. Instead we get new threads asking the same thing over and over.

Is Oklahoma right for me?

Will my family be happy in Oklahoma?

Are there jobs in Oklahoma?