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The guy said he got the idea to move to Oklahoma from an article about moving to Oklahoma for retirement. I've never heard of Oklahoma being a retirement mecca, but it probably beats moving there hoping to find a decent job.
The Fox clip didn't say what his employment plans are, but hope he has something lined up as the employment situation in Oklahoma is not great.
There is a thread on this, so those who are interested could go there for details, but as I recall the tax base is declining as companies like Seimens relocate to other states.
The state's financial situation is not good. Cuts to school funding resulted 4 day school weeks in a number of districts.
Perhaps they are planning on homeschooling. Many in Oklahoma do this as public schools have never been more than marginal. Teacher salaries have always been near the bottom.
I've lived in Oklahoma and I wouldn't go back if you paid me. It has the worst weather of any place I've ever lived in my entire life
The only time the wind stop is when the temperature reaches 100 degrees.
In the winter, the wind whips across the prairie land and doesn't slow down no matter how cold it gets. Got in the -20s when we lived there. Ice storms that snap power lines are not an uncommon occurrence.
Then there are the tornadoes. In 2010, there were 90 tornadoes in May alone. Our neighbor's barn was destroyed one year. The following year it was their house.
Now, there are "clusters of earthquakes." Apparently, due to fracking.
There is a reason this couple was able to buy 10 acres for such a low price.
While true, Oklahoma is a bad state to live in, that California family did select one of the not so bad places. There is no talk of going to a 4 day school week there. The school district is well supported with work just begun on replacing a third old elementary with a sprawling new one. Oklahoma Legislature recently passed higher pay for teachers, but remains to be seen if opposition to the higher taxes required will be able to thwart it on the ballot in November. But much work remains to better support education.
If the family wants to visit California or go elsewhere out of state, they are only a few miles from an airport with free parking that offers jet passenger service to Dallas, but to Dallas only. If they want to visit a much bigger city in Oklahoma, they are just off from access to the turnpike to Tulsa, an hour's drive away. Oklahoma City is also an hour away.
Outside of the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas there are really few not so bad places to live, unless one has low expectations. Most towns outside of the two big metros have been declining or at best stagnant.
When the weather is normal or average in Oklahoma, it's not all that terrible to endure. But too often the weather wants to venture to very unpleasant extremes. Several years ago, drought and day after day of highs in 100s all summer long was an extreme no permanent resident had lived through before. But, heck, Texas got it even worse. It's also rare for lows to drop below zero. But then sometimes the extremes strangely enough go off in the opposite direction. This year, Oklahoma has never in recorded history gone so long into a year without a tornado happening. At least the bad, often changeable weather makes Oklahoma a great place to study to become a meteorologist at OU.
True, how the employment situation isn't great in Oklahoma and is well reflected as such when you go into a fast food joint and see some of the workers there sure don't look high school or college age. The minimum wage is still $7.25.
To explain why Oklahoma might be a good retirement place, it does not tax Social Security. Also there is no estate or inheritance tax. Health care specialties are mostly limited to Oklahoma City and Tulsa, so people with serious ailments shouldn't locate too far from there.
Frequency of earthquakes have been on the decline in Oklahoma. But the California family picked fairly near some hot spots that still act up from time to time.
Last edited by StillwaterTownie; 04-29-2018 at 03:29 PM..
Last time I looked, differential in taxes paid vs take home pay has very much to do with COL when comparing different places to live.
NOTHING compares to the cost of housing in CA. That is the biggest reason people leave. Not being able to deduct taxes may factor in for a few people but by and large it's the astronomical cost of buying a home that causes people to leave.
When there are only two real parties to chose from one has to pick the issues that are most important. I don't agree with the democratic party when it comes to gun control or immigration but there are other issues that mean more to me. I'd imagine many Republicans don't agree with some tenents of the party but have to make a choice based n what matters most to them.
California mainly has horrid traffic in the metro areas of large cities. Same traffic issue for many other large cities in other states. So really, the traffic is related to big cities, rather than entire states.
For example, traffic is bad in the metro Atlanta, GA area but not in other parts of Georgia. Atlanta has some bad smog pollution days in the summer too.
California mainly has horrid traffic in the metro areas of large cities. Same traffic issue for many other large cities in other states. So really, the traffic is related to big cities, rather than entire states.
For example, traffic is bad in the metro Atlanta, GA area but not in other parts of Georgia. Atlanta has some bad smog pollution days in the summer too.
But it's a walk in the park compared to Los Angeles......HOLY CRAP ON A CRACKER DOES LOS ANGELES SUCK!!
That being said, when you get out of California's metro areas, it does have some incredibly stunning scenery......the Redwoods, Pacific Coast Highway, Wine Country, etc.
The funniest part is that this is going to have the complete opposite effect of hurting Democrats in wealthy states and is going to do nothing more than turn once red States into blue ones. Actually, it might not be so bad if it encourages more dispersion of highly dense populated areas. Home prices will get a much needed decrease in many parts for the younger generations.
That being said, when you get out of California's metro areas, it does have some incredibly stunning scenery......the Redwoods, Pacific Coast Highway, Wine Country, etc.
But it's a walk in the park compared to Los Angeles......HOLY CRAP ON A CRACKER DOES LOS ANGELES SUCK!!
That being said, when you get out of California's metro areas, it does have some incredibly stunning scenery......the Redwoods, Pacific Coast Highway, Wine Country, etc.
Well, if you want to stay on the east coast try DC. It'll match LA in some spots. I've never driven in LA but I have lived in the DC area for more than 40 years. Its traffic is horrible, bad, it sucks beyond belief. And thats on good days.
I inherited my fathers retirement home 13 years ago, sold my place in Bethesda and will never, ever live in that city or immediate surrounding areas again. Not ever. I never drive downtown. On trips, my wife and I are night people so if we have to we go thru there at midnight.
A few years ago the truckers were planning to go to DC, said they were going to drive at 55, clog the beltway. Everybody was saying do it, thats 4 times faster than the current speed.
Well, if you want to stay on the east coast try DC. It'll match LA in some spots. I've never driven in LA but I have lived in the DC area for more than 40 years. Its traffic is horrible, bad, it sucks beyond belief. And thats on good days.
I inherited my fathers retirement home 13 years ago, sold my place in Bethesda and will never, ever live in that city or immediate surrounding areas again. Not ever. I never drive downtown. On trips, my wife and I are night people so if we have to we go thru there at midnight.
A few years ago the truckers were planning to go to DC, said they were going to drive at 55, clog the beltway. Everybody was saying do it, thats 4 times faster than the current speed.
" I've never driven in LA but I have lived in the DC area for more than 40 years>
Born in D.C,. commuted from MD for YEARS.
Have been to L.A..
Yes the Wash. beltway is VERY bad BUT, no where NEAR how bad L,A.is.
If you DON'T KNOW, DON't make ASSUMPTIONS.
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