Tulsa-Will I survive? (Owasso, Bixby, Woodward: how much, new home, buying)

[OkieAngel]

I found that Manhattan-ite's view of Tulsa was a little harsh.
I'm currently living and going to school in Toronto, Canada which seems to pride itself on desperatly trying to imitate NYC.
But to me my one visit to NYC was not what I'd call fun. Its too big, too crowded and everything is overpriced.

Tulsa on the other hand while it is smaller than NYC it has a charm that you can't find anywhere else which is the reason I'm moving there as soon as I gradutate.It may not have everything you'd find in NYC but what it does have is good enough I find that it's a mid-sized town that is quite cosmopolitan and sophisticated as others were saying. Just visit Utica Square.

But this is nothing but a newbie's humble opinion. I don't mean to offend

[Manhattan-ite]

Hello OkieAngel,

It is true that Toronto tries hard to be like New York and it just can't. It'll never be.

I agree that my view of Tulsa was harsh, a bit (but only a bit) exaggerated.

I never said you "MUST" like Manhattan. Many people don't. Because it's too big, too chaotic, too alive. It's not for everyone. My Tulsan family for example is happy in Oklahoma and wouldn't move to New York.

When I paint Tulsa as a dull, unremarkable and kind of backward place, I'm not saying "New York is better". I'm just saying that Tulsa is not and will never be "cosmopolitan" or "sophisticated". It really is not, in my opinion.

And the "charm" you mention I don't see it. I found rural Arkansas to be charming, but not Tulsa.

But of course the debate could go forever. Because everyone's opinion is different.

[OkieAngel]

Originally Posted by Manhattan-ite

Hello OkieAngel,

It is true that Toronto tries hard to be like New York and it just can't. It'll never be.

I agree that my view of Tulsa was harsh, a bit (but only a bit) exaggerated.

I never said you "MUST" like Manhattan. Many people don't. Because it's too big, too chaotic, too alive. It's not for everyone. My Tulsan family for example is happy in Oklahoma and wouldn't move to New York.

When I paint Tulsa as a dull, unremarkable and kind of backward place, I'm not saying "New York is better". I'm just saying that Tulsa is not and will never be "cosmopolitan" or "sophisticated". It really is not, in my opinion.

And the "charm" you mention I don't see it. I found rural Arkansas to be charming, but not Tulsa.

But of course the debate could go forever. Because everyone's opinion is different.

You're right this could very well go on forever.
What area of Arkansas are you referring too? I'm truly interested cause I'm always interested in visiting new places

As for Toronto I've gotten tired of it's lack of identity and desire to be one of the big american cities or a few of them all at once LOL

[Mauigranma]

Aloha y'all!
I too am moving to the Tulsa area. I love all the back and forth I'm reading, and I love that everyone has an opinion and a different outlook. It would be pretty boring if we were all just alike.
My husband and I are originaly Calfornians - born and bred. He's a little conservative, and I'm a left leaning liberal atheist! Somehow we haven't killed each other in the last 40 years!
We have lived on Maui for the last 16 years. When we told our friends we were moving they ALL said "WHAT? WHERE?!!!" But then I e-mailed them a few pictures of the Real Estate in Tulsa, and you should hear them now. We are selling our house here for a RIDICULOUS amount of money, and for about a fourth of that we can buy just about anything we want in the Tulsa area, put the rest in the bank, and live like princes for the rest of our lives. We can also see our grandaughter grow up without having to worry about gangs, crime, lousy school systems etc etc. You can't drive a car in Calif (Bay area and LA area) without taking your life in your hands, and you can't get a decent education on Maui unless you go to private school (at $740 mo.) So, though there are great things to be said about Calif and Hawaii (I will definitely miss the weather!), there are great things about Oklahoma too. I'm going to keep an open mind and try and enjoy what's good and ignore what I don't like. This forum will help guide me to the things I enjoy. Anybody know the name of a good Thai restaurant, that's also clean and cute?

[sallybell]

Thanks for all your replies. I so appreciate them.

Manhattan-ite, NYC is my favorite city ever. I have traveled all over the world and really nothing can compare. So I do value your opinion.

Philco, you CRACK ME UP. Especially about the Honeybee remark. No further comment.

Unfortunately I may not have a choice about moving there. I am trying desperately to keep an open mind, but it is hard. Sorry to say but I was not impressed after my three day visit. The people were nice enough but something tells me we are just different. And the food... horrible. I sort of revolve my life around eating so that's a big negative for me....LOL.

One other question? Where are the people in Tulsa? Do most people drive there all the time? Where I live now you always see people walking their dogs, shopping, exercising, jogging, walking baby strollers etc. We drove through some of the "trendy" areas of Tulsa and I saw no-one. Like Cherry St for example. Where are the shoppers? Neighborhoods seemed dead. I saw no one gardening or walking their dog. When I asked the realtor about neighborhoods that were within walking distance of Utica Square she seemed puzzled. Like "why would I want to walk there"? I told her that sometimes, believe it or not, I like to walk my dogs over to Starbucks to get a cup of coffee.

Maybe when you come for your once a year pilgrammage, you can look me up to see if I am still breathing.

[Manhattan-ite]

* Okiangel: I only explored a tiny part of Western Arkansas, around Siloam Springs and not reaching Bentonville (famous for Wal-Mart). It was very rural, seemed very poor and SO beautiful. Unspoiled nature and forests and rolling hills and just a great drive through real America. Coming from New York, it was a very welcomed change of a road trip.

* Sallybell: I had the same impression of Tulsa when I went there. There was nobody out in town! It was as if a nuclear bomb had dropped in downtown. Where are the people? Probably in their houses or driving. I should ask my Tulsan family.
So much for their "sophistication": even that Utica Square place they say is so cool is just an outdoor MALL (upscale, though) where Starbucks is listed as "specialty foods" and their restaurants include more Starbucks and Olive Garden. Take that.

* Mauigranma: But there must be a reason for you to move to Tulsa beyond cheap housing and escaping the California gang land. As my wife says, we could move to Alabama and be filthy rich with our Manhattan salary. But what's the point? We live in the greatest city on earth for a reason! And, as Philco well said, there is also a reason why houses are cheap in Tulsa. (Almost) nothing to do! (in my opinion).
You'll have a ton of money, but will you have enough to do and be entertained? Hope you find stuff.

Cheers-

[sallybell]

Manhattan-ite!!!

Please ask. Inquiring minds want to know why the streets are deserted. Almost reminds me of a U2 song....

[OkieAngel]

Was there a rumor about snow? LOL
Maybe everyone's at home hiding. I hear that the whole town shuts down when it snows haha.

Manhattan-ite: thanks for the tip I'm a major travel buff so I'll go anywhere at least once just for the sake of exploring

[Philco]

Sallybell - Where are all the people in Tulsa? I have no idea, but that's both good (no one on the freeways) and bad (no one to talk to)... For nighttime socializing you might try the Brookside area (Peoria between 33rd and 41st streets) but its mostly watering hole places, or a few places on Cherry Street (old 15th street between Peoria and Utica). Why do the neighborhoods seem dead?...because they are. My impression is that for the most part, Tulsans don't get out much. I guess the satellite dish has taken over (you will see people at the movie rental places...) If you get really desperate for human contact, you can always venture into the indian casinos, I guess, if you simply must play bingo. However, while I grew up in Tulsa thru high school I haven't lived there since 1982 and only go back once a year to visit unlucky family members... and grandma, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

As for the Utica Square area, there's nothing special about it, but I grew up around Woodward Park and can say the park usually has people walking their dogs/ hanging out/ looking for other humans.

Good luck, but if you feel yourself developing a shortness of breath after a few months of "life?" in Tulsa, don't rely on the doctor's insistence that you must be a life-long smoker....its just that there's no life in the Tulsa air...

[MamaJo]

Its very enlightening to read all of your comments about Oklahoma life.

Ya'll seem to have a big need to be entertained at all times. Reminds me of when my boys were teens and whined that they were bored. Those darlins just needed jobs. But I digress.............

Don't any of you have friends and/or family? Ever just have each family bring a dish and take turns at different homes for food and poker or other games? We do that almost weekly.

Do you ever support the school kids by attending to sporting events? When Tulsa Union plays ball, thats where you'll see half of Tulsa.

I love people and I love to travel but I don't neccesarily have a need to be with big groups of strangers very often. That seems to be the difference is between Big City Yankees and Okies.