Life changing decision, Need input

[Sledgie]

We live 30 minutes south of Manhattan Ks in the Flint Hills and love it. Our 3 kids went to Kansas State U there and it was very affordable. KU in Lawrence in known as "Snob Hill" and KSU is known as "Silo Tech". One Lawrence tshirt reads "My belt buckle wasn't big enough to go to KSU". My brother lives in Santa Monica, and it takes him longer to get to his car on the 8th floor of his condo and down to the street than it takes me to get in my car and drive the 4 miles to town. I have to think the stress of my life compared to his should add years to mine. Welcome to Kansas!

 

[Eyecatcher]

I left San Diego at the end of my Navy career, and ended up in Salt Lake City. I was born and raised in Nebraska, scooped snow off the grinder in boot camp at great lakes, but there is nothing in this world to compare to the cold (say cold wind) of the Salt Lake Valley. Couldn't wait to get back to Cal.
Moved to San Jose, and loved it - but - state income tax, high real estate cost and congestion. Had the opportunity to come to Florida, and have been here every since. (45 yrs). NO SNOW, no state income tax, reasonable real estate costs and cost of living if you avoid the big cities. You have to get used to the humidity, but they say once you get sand in your shoes, you'll always come back!. I wouldn't live anywhere else. Presently live on 10 acres,
high and dry, in the poorest county in the state. 1 mile to hamlet, 6 miles to grocery store, but I don't lock my doors or take the keys out of my p/u.

 

[LazySusanFarms]

Just another suggestion. You might want to check out Iowa City, Iowa. Same as Lawrence - big university nearby and surrounded by farmland. Went to graduate school there and loved it.

 

[Depmandog]

I live at the edge of the Kansas City metro, Missouri side. I can be in Lawrence in about 55-60 minutes from our place.

I love the area. Definitely have four seasons, most summers you will have 100 degree days and most winters a few -10 nights. It is humid, but not coastal.

KC is a sprawling metro area with huge landmass. Not much in the way of public transportation other than Metro buses. Everyone drives everywhere and many commute from areas such as Lawrence or farther into the city to work. Traffic usually isn't too bad, and if it is, there is always an alternative route.

There are several very large lakes in this part of the country. The Missouri Ozarks are close, and provide excellent outdoor recreation. The Branson area in SW Missouri is an excellent family vacation destination.

We have NASCAR, professional sports, fine arts, several great zoos in the area. Lots to see and do.

As others have mentioned, Lawrence is a bit left, but a nice place. There are numerous other communities around. We happen to be in a small town of 3,000, but 15 minutes to just about anything we need. Housing is very reasonable. Land prices are cheaper the further out you get.

What line of work are you in? GM has a newish auto plant on the KS side, Ford has an older but very stable plant on the MO side. Both plants are near the tops in production - unit wise. The area economy isn't bad, compared to other areas of the country. KS is a right to work state, MO is union. The unions in KC are not super strong, compared to back east.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[crazyal]

Can't help with the location but if your health will allow you to have you (or your wife) thought about a part time job at a college? Usually if you work for a college your kids can go there for much cheaper. Just an idea.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Regarding moving and paying tuition, if your kids attend college in your new state of residence, I would expect it take only 6 months to obtain residence status, maybe less. Check with a few colleges in your destinatin state.

 

[Superduper]

I want to thank everyone for their input. They really help. This is the type of feedback that you simply can't get from any website. I understand that residence as opposed to non-residence tuition is more costly. But this would be a permanent, likely forever move for us. So if it can't be established immediately, we might just have to pay more the first year (or semester).

Sorry for my ignorance but I'm not sure I quite understand the meaning behind this quote:

KU in Lawrence in known as "Snob Hill" and KSU is known as "Silo Tech". One Lawrence tshirt reads "My belt buckle wasn't big enough to go to KSU".

Maybe Sledgie can elaborate on that?

I am going to probably toss or give away most of our furniture. A 1500 mile move is not cheap and it might simply be cheaper (or not much more costly) to just get new furniture. I also need to decide if I should trailer my JD3120 to the new location. It's essentially new as out here in Cali, there isn't much land for it to do any "real" work. Out there, I do want some land so I suppose the tractor will come in handy. Also need to figure out how to trailer all the implements too if I decide to take them. That Vrismo flail I have is only a 4 footer but I swear it's about 850 pounds or so.

 

[smstonypoint]

Maybe Sledgie can elaborate on that?

In case Sledgie doesn't respond, his comments are examples of jibes exchanged between land-grant university students and graduates and their counterparts at non-land-grant universities. The land-grants are the home of agricultural colleges, thus the agricultural/cowboy references.


The folks in Kansas seem genteel. I have heard much harsher (and funnier, although sometimes obscene) exchanges between the folks associated with NC State and UNC, Clemson and USC, Virginia Tech and UVA, Auburn and Alabama, Texas A&M and Texas, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, etc.).

Steve

 

[bananaman]

Have you considered Texas? No state tax and parts of Texas (like Waco) have a really low cost of living. Of course wages for the general public aren't that high either. In the Bible Belt, so pretty conservative too.

 

[PhysAssist]

Have you considered Texas? No state tax and parts of Texas (like Waco) have a really low cost of living. Of course wages for the general public aren't that high either. In the Bible Belt, so pretty conservative too.

If you aren't settled on Lawrence, KS yet, or if something changes your mind, try: www.findyourspot.com- very comprehensive and informative information about many town and cities...