Cedar Rapids is the armpit urban embarrassment of Iowa...natives call it "cedar crapids".

We have lived right next door to Appleton WI [Oshkosh] and the lake is STUNNING..white sand bottom, beautifull weather, ...last check poor economy.

The area we have been in limbo in is also beautifull and right on a HUGE HUGE lake. [south central missouri]

This is an waterfront community...they have restaraunts you can drive your boat up to and dock.

There is lots of nifty wildlife like armadillos, deer, BEARS apparantly [I rethunk those nonarmed hikes...lol], all manner of reptiles and lizards and spiders and herons and snakes.

Turtles crawl right out of the lake and up to the front door and look inside..lol

It is pretty cool and property prices vary according to location...some are VERY high...some are pretty low...there is a lot of available land... BUT there is a drug problem.

The economy in Appleton is still somewhat depressed, but it's just such a cool place. I'm a WI lover, what can I say.

An old friend of mine's family had a horse ranch outside of Cedar Rapids (well, out in the countryside) and it WAS beautiful.

Noodle,

My dad was born and raised in Flat River, MO. It was the coolest place with rope bridges, caves. So many places to explore outdoors. And the people seemed so much more friendly than up here.

I hear Lapland is very very nice....

Here is a picture of their coat of arms...
just picture hanging it high and proud outside of your "hut" (urban Lapland term for crib)

MEDCS NEW ADOPTED COAT OF ARMS

ARKIE ARKIE ARKIE

SHADDUP! We are trying to keep it a secret! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Fox (a western Montanan)

MEDC,

West Plains Missouri...

It isn't in the north, but they do have 4 distinct seasons though winter is pretty mild most of the time. You can't go ice fishing, but hunting is the typical past time for most folks. They close the schools and most businesses for the first day of turkey season and the first day of deer season.

Land is cheap. Houses are cheaper! Taxes average about 400 bucks a year or so. You can get new construction typical suburban houses on an acre for about 120 grand.

The one problem is that there isn't much work. Other than jobs to support the retirees that have moved there from somewhere else, Walmart is one of the top employers. But if you're ready to retire, slow down and lead a completely different kind of life, it is a cool place to be.

The "big" towns in the area are Cabool, Willow Springs (home of Hill Billy Junction), West Plains and Thayer. Schools are decent but stay out of Arkansas as they would close the schools entirely if they could keep the football and basketball teams eligible.

A little further east is Poplar Bluff and to the west is Springfield. In between are a bunch of tiny little hamlets and Mark Twain National Forest as well as great hunting, fantastic fishing and a bunch of rocks and trees, which is why the economy isn't made for yuppies. (Can't support a bunch of yuppies with rocks and tress, and that's pretty much all they've got)

The folks there seldom lock their houses, even when they are gone for the day (some even don't lock up for vacation...the neighbors can't check up on the house while you're gone if you lock it) and almost nobody locks their car (though around homecoming weekend it might be a good idea).

As long as you aren't in the "city" you can shoot your guns off any old time. If a deputy stops by because he heard the shots, he likely just wants to know what kind of shooter you've got.

Check out bakerealty.com

Mark

Fox....another sister of mine is in Manhattan...more Dutchies and Calvinites, I'm told.

Minnesota is full.....sorry medc.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

LAPLAND LAPLAND LAPLAND LAPLAND LAPLAND LAPLAND LAPLAND

ark, your killing me. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mark...too funny about Arkansas. I can't believe you wrote that.

weaver did you SEE the coat of arms...
that is EGGZACTLy how I picture Medc....
don't you???

arkie....
in fact I think I'd be first on his list to be clubbed

lol

Oh yes, I did see the coat of arms, and yes I know that is how you were picturing him...heck, otherwise you wouldn't have posted it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I am not going to say how I picture him, but I will say it's three steps up from how I was picturing him a few months ago. Growth is a fine, fine thing to watch. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

you guys crack me up!

it's always funny to me how people imagine me to be....they are seldom correct...but ark did come the closest! lol

Weaver...

Was the ranch toward the Iowa City area because THAT is some gorgeous prairie. When H and I met he and a roommate were renting a 100+ yr old farmouse for 100 a mo [that's right..50 bucks each] with the stipulation that they go collect the farmers cows when they got loose.

It was so pretty with it's iron woodburning stove heat and big porch...imagine my jealousy paying 10 times that to rent ONE ROOM two blocks from campus!

Still...I'm not sure I'm quite up to the task of bullying reluctant bulls back onto their own property even if the price is right.

We LOVED living in WI and have considered moving back sometime IF the economy ever straightens out.

I have noticed that south of the mason dixon line people do seem to get friendlier [although it may very well be in a "bless her heart she's such a sl*t" kind of way] although I challenge any northern midwesterner to be as rude and insensistive as the east coast population where I once had someone mop OVER my sandaled feet [read bare exposed feet] with a gross dirty mop WHILE I was still eating. Guess I can't take a hint or something.

I have to admit that of all the places I have lived [and that's a lot of places!] MO is the most geographically beautifull so far. The colors and mountains and caves and geodes and lakes and rivers are all breathtakingly painfully beautifull.

Well, MEDC, I was gonna suggest Mississippi...but, then I remembered you want actual seasons. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> We only have two down here: Summer and January. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Taxes are looooow, housing is plentiful and cheap, jobs are plentiful compared to most other states, the people are polite, our schools are level 5 (the best!), gun totin' is the norm, and we have loads of wildlife. Heck, I've had a 4' black snake, a racoon, and an armadillo in my office. A big 'ol Mississippi Mud turtle layed her eggs right outside my office window last year, which a racoon promptly dug up and ate. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

If your boat is a bass boat, you'll fit right in! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

They do let Yankees in down here (I was born and raised in Delaware), but you'll forever BE a Yankee...no matter how long you live here. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

It's worth it just for the biscuits and cornbread dressing, man. Seriously. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Lori

I have a house for sale in OH, near Toledo if you're interested! Toledo is on Lake Erie, lot of nice islands to visit with wineries, history, bike trails, etc.. It also has a first class zoo and museum and performing arts center. Also near MI and IN for lakes, Detroit 1 hr. away, Ann Arbor 45 min., Cleveland 2 hrs Chicago 4 hrs. Great place to raise kids, lots of parks, organized sports etc.

Our house is in the country in one of the top school districts, taxes are $5k/yr. We have a pond and pool, lots to do.

Downside, economy, job market is tough, that is why we moved back to NJ.

I've also lived in Syracuse, NY, another great place to live, nice people there.

Good luck in your search

I love this thread! Talking about different places.

Noodle,

I don't know if it was by Iowa City, it was like 25 years ago. What I do remember is the beauty, and my friends dad wore Wranglers every single day of his life. I had grown up in the military with a pilot for a dad...and had NEVER seen anyone's dad wear jeans. LOL... the things that get our notice.

They had to catch cows? Too funny.

People are friendlier down south. And I don't care if it's only to your face or not, at least they talk to you.

I had tended bar in Oklahoma, and I swear on my first night I had people inviting me to concerts with them and their families, and to church all in the same invitation. (these were girls too, if you can believe it) I went to. Oh, and after church it was fried catfish for lunch.

I have to agree with you on MO, too. When visiting my grandma we used to hang out down at this creek, laid way down low between two higher hills with a rope bridge to cross on. We would swing on a rope into the river. The good ole days, with my parents no where around. Nowadays I break out in a cold sweat even thinking about my daughter around water without at least three lifeguards and the coastguard to boot. How times have changed, eh?

Ah...Manhattan, Montana. Bozeman/Manhattan/Belgrade area are getting WAY too pricy. Alot of the non-natives live in that area, as well as more north-western in Kalispell.

Those areas are way too expensive for us natives.

Manhattan is not too far by MT standards from where I am....next time you visit give me a shout.

Fox

Well we are due to be in the New jersy area pretty soon so I'll be able to give a critique of that area as well.

I admit my hopes are not high because I seem to recall that it's roughly an hour and a half north of where we were before when we lived in VA.

Maybe an hour and a half makes all the difference!

At the very least the rats can't be BIGGER than they were in DC.

Noodle...I am quite familiar with Jersey and it is filled with all kinds of rats...
Newark and the Pine Barrens come to mind.