Relocating from Sacramento to St. Louis

[SactoBankerGuy]

First off, thank you all for your input. I can't tell you how valuable and helpful all of this is!

Icy roads.....sounds pretty tricky. Is that a skill that you just acquire? I was born in Ohio and lived there until I was 10, so that doesn't come as a shock, but I obviously never drove there.

In Sacramento, we have separate companies for gas and electric. Is that the same in the entire St. Louis area, or does it vary geographically? Along those lines...is it common to bundle phone and internet service? Is cable TV or satellite TV more common? Right now we have DirecTV, mainly for the purpose of the NFL package. I am a long-time diehard Rams fan. I'm not sure if that makes me crazy or what! After the super bowl win, I dumped champagne over my own head in the backyard!

Thanks in advance!

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Driving on icy roads you just have to be careful. Saying that, I haven't tried yet (still learning), but I don't think my parents have ever had an accident due to ice or snow. Basically, when it's icy outside, just drive slow and watch where you're going. If it's that bad out, then don't travel if you can help it. But as long as you're a good driver you should be able to adapt.

Rams are usually on local stations, if they're not blacked out (but from my understand that doesn't happen that often). The Blues (if you're into hockey) are on FSN on weekdays and KPLR/CW-11 on weekends. Most games are covered. Most Cardinals weekday games are on FSN and most weekend Cardinal games are on KSDK/WB-49. Hopefully by 2010 or 2011 St. Louis will have MLS as well.

Do you guys have a date set for your move? What does your family think about it? Just curious. I hope your neighbors don't think you're crazy for moving to the icy winter in St. Louis.

[SactoBankerGuy]

Probably late in December. Great timing, eh?

Since the Rams games are already on, it sounds like I can dump DirecTV if I wanted to.

I'd appreciate any advice about what phone, internet, and TV services you'd all recommend.

Thanks!

[storey13]

Originally Posted by SactoBankerGuy

Probably late in December. Great timing, eh?

Since the Rams games are already on, it sounds like I can dump DirecTV if I wanted to.

I'd appreciate any advice about what phone, internet, and TV services you'd all recommend.

Thanks!

Be careful about dumping Directv. I would check to see if you are under contract first. If you are and you cancel, you will have to pay cancellation fees. Directv will move you for free, and will usually give you some kind of deal when you move.

[SactoBankerGuy]

Originally Posted by storey13

Be careful about dumping Directv. I would check to see if you are under contract first. If you are and you cancel, you will have to pay cancellation fees. Directv will move you for free, and will usually give you some kind of deal when you move.

That makes sense, thanks. I'm wondering, though, if an apartment or home owner will allow a renter to attach a satellite dish.

[SactoBankerGirl]

Maybe we could leave it for whomever rents our house in Sacramento?

[STLCardsBlues1989]

It probably depends on the landlord. My sister's renting (not in St. Louis though) and her landlord let her get satellite. But when you move you'd probably have to leave the dish there, since taking it back down might cause some damage (just guessing here).

[joe stixpuck]

Even if DirecTV were option for the rental, my preference has always been toward Digital Cable.

So far as the concern about icy roads.... During roughly 15 years of driving back there it was rarely an issue, especially in/near the city. Snow is much more common than ice, and they do treat the roadways. I heard last year was pretty bad in MO for ice, but the last time is was that terrible was back in the winter of 90/91 from my understanding.

[joanie55]

It depends on how important a pool is to you. The swimming season is not long but summers are hot, even at night and I used to love to go swimming at night when I lived there. The metrolink is not as good as most mass transit systems in major cities. Anyway, you will like it there, people are friendly, family oriented and it is affordable. The one thing you might not like is that it's pretty conservative.