OT-- thinking about moving to Michigan
Hey there,
I was in Washington for the first time of my life this past summer (drove from Spokane to Seattle) and fell in love with those two cities. Here's my take on Michigan, if your hubby can get a job her there's much to be offered. Detroit gets a somewhat deserved bad rap -- the recent mayor being a prime example, but on the other hand it has so many people and companies trying to revitalize it. There is a thriving arts scene in and around Detroit, 3 casinos including one the new MGM that is extremely nice. It's not a Seattle or Spokane though.
Ann Arbor, well I'm a U of M graduate and miss living in that great city. They've got U of M sports of course, an incredible music/arts scene, and all the things that go with a major university. It's a neat and beautiful city. On the west side of the state you've got Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, both are doing better economically than the Detroit area. The northern part of Michigan is truly second to none. There's a reason why many people from Chicago go to Traverse City to vacation/spend their summers.
If you've never been around the great lakes it's hard to describe them. People have a hard time understanding just how large and beautiful our lakeshore can be. I live at the base of Lake Huron, on the Canadian border and marvel every time I drive by the St. Clair River and the base of Lake Huron, in all my travels I haven't seen anything like it.
Now here's the thing about Michigan that I can't explain: there is a passion from so many of us about our state. Maybe it's because we are truly a destination state -- there's no driving through Michigan to get to another state. Even in Detroit there are so many people and companies that fighting with their blood, sweat, and tears in addition to their $$$. A great example of this is the Kalamazoo promise: https://www.kalamazoopromise.com/. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't hear of things like this many places. It's an indescribable pride in the state we live in.
Now the bad: yeah it's 1 degree right now. . My city got 5-11+ inches of snow yesterday, lol. Winter can be brutal, but it can also be beautiful. The other reality is that the job market is bleak to say the least. Unemployment is huge and forecloser is even worse. I've heard we currently have enough homes on the market to fuel home needs for the next 2 years. Many of us are sitting in homes that are worth at least 30-40% less than they were worth 4 years ago. I'd guess any of us on this board know somebody who has taken at least a $100,000 loss on their house. The flip side, if you're moving here you're going to get one hell of a deal!!!
Research it out, there's a lot to be offered here. The auto industry is still the main driver of our economy and it's no secret how that's doing. i
--Sax
I was in Washington for the first time of my life this past summer (drove from Spokane to Seattle) and fell in love with those two cities. Here's my take on Michigan, if your hubby can get a job her there's much to be offered. Detroit gets a somewhat deserved bad rap -- the recent mayor being a prime example, but on the other hand it has so many people and companies trying to revitalize it. There is a thriving arts scene in and around Detroit, 3 casinos including one the new MGM that is extremely nice. It's not a Seattle or Spokane though.
Ann Arbor, well I'm a U of M graduate and miss living in that great city. They've got U of M sports of course, an incredible music/arts scene, and all the things that go with a major university. It's a neat and beautiful city. On the west side of the state you've got Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, both are doing better economically than the Detroit area. The northern part of Michigan is truly second to none. There's a reason why many people from Chicago go to Traverse City to vacation/spend their summers.
If you've never been around the great lakes it's hard to describe them. People have a hard time understanding just how large and beautiful our lakeshore can be. I live at the base of Lake Huron, on the Canadian border and marvel every time I drive by the St. Clair River and the base of Lake Huron, in all my travels I haven't seen anything like it.
Now here's the thing about Michigan that I can't explain: there is a passion from so many of us about our state. Maybe it's because we are truly a destination state -- there's no driving through Michigan to get to another state. Even in Detroit there are so many people and companies that fighting with their blood, sweat, and tears in addition to their $$$. A great example of this is the Kalamazoo promise: https://www.kalamazoopromise.com/. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't hear of things like this many places. It's an indescribable pride in the state we live in.
Now the bad: yeah it's 1 degree right now. . My city got 5-11+ inches of snow yesterday, lol. Winter can be brutal, but it can also be beautiful. The other reality is that the job market is bleak to say the least. Unemployment is huge and forecloser is even worse. I've heard we currently have enough homes on the market to fuel home needs for the next 2 years. Many of us are sitting in homes that are worth at least 30-40% less than they were worth 4 years ago. I'd guess any of us on this board know somebody who has taken at least a $100,000 loss on their house. The flip side, if you're moving here you're going to get one hell of a deal!!!
Research it out, there's a lot to be offered here. The auto industry is still the main driver of our economy and it's no secret how that's doing. i
--Sax
I am originally from Louisiana, definitely warmer even in the winter. I have been here for 20 years, starting with year 1 it wasn't bad, but, progressively it has gotten worse in the winter, seems like they are getting colder and longer.
Employment sucks tremendously. Housing depends on which side you are on, foreclosure or purchasing. If it wasn't for my daughter and 2 grandbabies living here, I'd hightail it somewheres else.
In the summer and fall Michigan is beautiful.
Investigate everything long before you make a decision.
Employment sucks tremendously. Housing depends on which side you are on, foreclosure or purchasing. If it wasn't for my daughter and 2 grandbabies living here, I'd hightail it somewheres else.
In the summer and fall Michigan is beautiful.
Investigate everything long before you make a decision.
Kajun
My husband was in the Navy for 16 years before he got out and we moved to Michigan. (Muskegon) He got a fantastic job with Consumer's Energy. (In the navy, he was an electrician's mate for 12 years, then went through Officer Candidate School. He retired as a Lieutenant.) We were actually stationed in Washington before he got out also! (Bangor... we lived in Silverdale.) That was almost 5 years ago, before the economy took a huge nosedive! If you can get lucky and land a good, stable job - great! But they are few and far between around here these days.
- I will learn to let go what I cannot change, but I will change whatever I can. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
Have you taken your vitamins today? 
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