[Chickrae]

Originally Posted by brad84720

I haven't made the plunge yet, but the CA to UT to OK steps made me reply. I was in SoCal for over 40 years and now the last 2 in Cedar City. I think I've gotten use to the small town life (going from San Diego to a town of just 35,000). I'm looking at moving to a farm with my partner. Any things I ought to know before heading out into a small rural town in OK? Brad

Wow..the same states I live in. I moved here due to the fact that I married someone from OK. We are heading back to Utah in two years. Just bought a home in St. George. I disliked CA when I lived there. (although loved San Diego when visiting)
I think you will love Oklahoma...I do. The people are very friendly, will wave to you all the time, are helpful and courteous. Probably the friendliest people I have ever met. Very religious also, since you are in the bible belt.There isn't snow like in Cedar City. Ice storms occasionally. What part of Oklahoma? We live north of Tulsa in Owasso.

[colleeng47]

I've often heard that people in OK are very religious, and they probably are. But, if you're not religious it doesn't seem to be held against you. My family are not church goers, and we've all, at separate times, been invited to a church, but no one is offended when we say thanks anyway. Actually we say something to the effect of "thanks for the invite, maybe sometime."

My daughter goes out with friends who pray at restaurants before they eat (which she doesn't), but she just patiently waits until it's done and doesn't comment. No problem with those friends. I work with a couple of bible quoters, but we have no problems between us.

I find if you leave the religious alone, they leave you alone. I find OK very tolerant of everyone, actually. Now, I know there will be those who disagree, but I'm saying that "I" find OK tolerant. Doesn't mean my experience is duplicated for everyone else.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by Carolinemoveswhere?

Hello all. As I've posted many times before, we are thinking of moving to OK. I've recently noticed quite a few discusssions regarding moves to/from California/Oklahoma.

I'd love to pick your brains a bit. For those former Californians who moved to OK, why? What were your reasons, if you don't mind sharing? How are you doing in OK? What were some of the lessons that you wished you knew? What would you change? What do you think you did right? How did you/family adjust? Any surprises? What was the easiest part of moving? What has been the most difficult? What do you miss the most? What about your future? Will you stay, go back to CA, move somewhere else?

Please, don't bash Oklahoma or California. Please be thoughtful in your comments. I certainly appreciate it.

My children live in LA and SD, so I spent a lot of time there. I love many things about California but not I-5 traffic. I spent 25 years in OK. When I didn't live there I spent weekends with friends. the first thing to undersand is OK is not CA. The nearest Trader Joe's and Costco is St. Louis, MO. The best written newspaper is Tulsa World. There is no Pacific Ocean or Ralph's, but there is 24-hr Walmart with groceries, Aldi's, and all the big box stores. Tulsa is beautiful, arty, upsale and fun to shop. You will definately like Utica Square. Ms Jackson's, and the grocer with imported goodies, Sonoma-Williams, etc. If you are Jewish there is a very nice Temple not far from Utica Square.

What I didn't know is Tulsa is in the bible belt, a little less progressive and a little too churchy for me. or that the state is soundly Republican

But ... I found a town that is less expenive, progressive, smaller and reminds me a lot of California because of the lush scenery, big lake and surrounding bluffs. A lot of folks from CA chose this area because it is a top 3-4 ranked retirement area.. It is self contained, yet it is mid-way beetween Tulsa, KC, St. Louis and a little farther to Dallas. COL, housing and taxes are reasonable - about 2/3 less than the COL of CA. .

Local politics lean toward Democratic, but national is always Republican. Good city council. There is an excellent Cardiologist. Thie hospital is pretty good, has some pretty good doctors, EMT and a life flight service.
It is not CA, but it is pretty darned good for what it is.

There is an airport and rented hangers, nice private sailing club, small golf course, great state park with camping. There is also, hunting, fishing, japanese garden, a small town sized antique museum, new library, junior college, new movie theater, seasonal lake cruises. You can also find national motels and food chains along with awesome BBQ. and friendly people.

OK is the native state. Grove, where I lived, was once the most northern part of the Cherokee Nation. If you like casinos there are several nearby. It isn't too far from Branson. Mo, or Precious Moments and the hardware store with everything at Cathage, MO - including hardware and tin ceilings for Victorian homes along iwth grandfather's clocks and lace, and a few other surprises. I lived there and couldn't wait to go back to Grove. The only thing I missed wias the hardware store and the aweome 18- hold golf course. I didn't miss the golf, but the park is enormous and awesome.

We moved back home to be close fo family. And when the econmy imporves and we sell the house Grove is in my future. Grand Lake is 60 miles long and takes 4-5 hour to drive around.

The other thing I did not know is west bound past Tulsa - which is lush with greenery - the landscape turns to red clay. It's dusty. I never cared for any political town, so I never spent a lot of time in OKC.

To my way of thinking it is important to not be far from a hospital, doctors and pharmacies. Even five miles can be far away when waiting for an ambulance in any town.

OK weather is a mixed bag. OKC has norrific tornaodes that can hit Tulsa, too, and even Joplin and Springfield, MO. In my way of thinking - and after watching weather reports for 25 years, the southside of Grove is propbably one of the safest places in the state during tornado season. But I have not lived all over OK. I just traveled it.

Keep an open mind and bring a camera. There's a nice Best Western not far from things you might like to see or do.

[Annemieke Roell]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

I'

I find if you leave the religious alone, they leave you alone. I find OK very tolerant of everyone, actually. .

As a non Christian I fully agree with you, Colleen!!

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

I've often heard that people in OK are very religious, and they probably are. But, if you're not religious it doesn't seem to be held against you. My family are not church goers, and we've all, at separate times, been invited to a church, but no one is offended when we say thanks anyway. Actually we say something to the effect of "thanks for the invite, maybe sometime."

My daughter goes out with friends who pray at restaurants before they eat (which she doesn't), but she just patiently waits until it's done and doesn't comment. No problem with those friends. I work with a couple of bible quoters, but we have no problems between us.

I find if you leave the religious alone, they leave you alone. I find OK very tolerant of everyone, actually. Now, I know there will be those who disagree, but I'm saying that "I" find OK tolerant. Doesn't mean my experience is duplicated for everyone else.

I'm not Christian but have faith and one of my neighbors was perfectly receptive to discussing it and was fine with my choice. This is much more tolerance that I found in California. People here are very friendly and helpful as well. I couldn't wait to get home after visiting back in Cali for Thanksgiving.

If you don't mind things taking longer to do and won't miss the variety of culture in cali you should like it here. Its a whole different world and I am so glad I had friends who talked me into visiting them so I'd discover it.

[linicx]

I am a water rat. I fell in love with Grove when I rolled out of the hills and saw Grand Lake. The others are absolutely right about religion. There ae some areas that area very stiff-necked about it and others that are not. If is my opinion that most real Christians practice love thy neighbor and don't push church dogma on others. I am certainly glad my neighbor brought us to Grove to swim at midnight. We moved and never looked back.

[sameoldsonganddance]

Try Oklahoma. You might like it! I think a few things may take getting used to. Like the wind! I lived in the San Joaquin Valley for half my life. I don't miss the smog or the crime or the traffic. Yes, Cali has beautiful mountains that I dearly love. But, truth be said, you can't even see them most of the year for the smog. And my house faces the mountain where I am now living. People here are very nice. Laid back and friendly. That part fits my Louisiana roots. I do miss some of my fave restaurants. But, my main complaint is sometimes its too windy. That being said, I am at the top of a hill. We have some of the most beautiful skies here. And no smog. As for traffic, if I pass more that 5 or 6 cars on our main road it looks like a lot of traffic. You just have to find the spot that fits "you". Good luck!

[Synopsis]

I was born in Ada and raised in a small house East of Calvin off highway 1 and we moved to Gerty when I was just a few years old. If I could return to Gerty and live out the rest of my life, I'd be a content man. Sadly, that probably won't happen.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by sameoldsonganddance

Try Oklahoma. You might like it! I think a few things may take getting used to. Like the wind! I lived in the San Joaquin Valley for half my life. I don't miss the smog or the crime or the traffic. Yes, Cali has beautiful mountains that I dearly love. But, truth be said, you can't even see them most of the year for the smog. And my house faces the mountain where I am now living. People here are very nice. Laid back and friendly. That part fits my Louisiana roots. I do miss some of my fave restaurants. But, my main complaint is sometimes its too windy. That being said, I am at the top of a hill. We have some of the most beautiful skies here. And no smog. As for traffic, if I pass more that 5 or 6 cars on our main road it looks like a lot of traffic. You just have to find the spot that fits "you". Good luck!

Ditto the air pollution. Who cares whats there to see if you can't see it for the grey muck. I really love air you can't see.

Wind... I lived right smack in the middle of the santa ana wind tunnel, where the last gasp of costal moisture meets the desert air and maked humidity. 20mile and hour winds aren't winds. they are a breeze. When you get to the 50mph gusts then you notice them. Everyone says its so windy here. Once in a while it clearly is but that is sort of normal for me. Just your gentle normal breezes are dissapointing.

And my skin is always dry since the humidity seems to be lower here (not that I have a problem with that .

So if someone says its windy or humid or cold, check it against what your used to.

[mkfarnam]

Originally Posted by nightbird47

Ditto the air pollution. Who cares whats there to see if you can't see it for the grey muck. I really love air you can't see.

Wind... I lived right smack in the middle of the santa ana wind tunnel, where the last gasp of costal moisture meets the desert air and maked humidity. 20mile and hour winds aren't winds. they are a breeze. When you get to the 50mph gusts then you notice them. Everyone says its so windy here. Once in a while it clearly is but that is sort of normal for me. Just your gentle normal breezes are dissapointing.


And my skin is always dry since the humidity seems to be lower here (not that I have a problem with that .

So if someone says its windy or humid or cold, check it against what your used to.

So true.........
I could'nt believe how fresh and clean the air was here in OK after living in So Cal for 36 years. And that's just one of the many differences between OK and CA.


What wind? Oh you mean from the Tornados? I'll have to say,,,that is quite a breeze