Considering moving to Minneapolis, need advice

[golfgal]

Hmmm I;m not sure about that...It was DARN cold in August last year... I found pix of my kids on the last day of school in June and they had jeans and sweatshirts on...We always joke that they need snowpants until at least July

The schools here are 3000's better than the schools we had in Toledo and the people we have met here are extremely friendly and very welcoming. We still comment on how everyone is so friendly here. Now, the drivers??? Well thats a different story, and one we just won't expand further on...lol

We had a cold October this year but it was in the 60's for most of November. Last summer was unusually cold though. Since the golf courses open late March/early April around here there is no way winter lasts through April though.

Drivers here are WAY better then pretty much everywhere else we have lived or traveled--but that isn't saying much either. I don't know of anywhere that has good drivers any more.

 

[SaraJayne]

Hmmm I;m not sure about that...It was DARN cold in August last year... I found pix of my kids on the last day of school in June and they had jeans and sweatshirts on...We always joke that they need snowpants until at least July

The schools here are 3000's better than the schools we had in Toledo and the people we have met here are extremely friendly and very welcoming. We still comment on how everyone is so friendly here. Now, the drivers??? Well thats a different story, and one we just won't expand further on...lol

LOL

I have a friend who's son goes to college at St. Olaf's. They are from Virginia. His parents came to visit him there and when she got back, she asked me, "is everyone in Minnesota always so ~ nice?"

 

[SueM in MN]

We were transplants from Wisconsin to the Twin Cities in 1991. We found it to be a pretty friendly place - even the people who lived here their whole lives.

Someone commented on the arts - there are 2 great museums. The Minneapolis Art Institute is really wonderful - and admission is free of charge.
Then, there is the Walker Art Museum which has an outdoor sculpture garden.

The winter can be hard (today was a high of 12 and a low of -1), but this year, it was not really bad until nearly the end of November.

It's a nice place to live; exactly where to move would really depend on where your job is. You can find nice places to live whatever direction you need.

 

[abdmom]

I beg to differ with pretty much everything you said in your post-ESPECIALLY the winter from October to April-sorry, not even close. The housing market here is not very depressed, it is back to normal after the huge RE bubble and the schools here are SIGNIFICANTLY better then anything in California. I am curious to know where you lived that the schools were so bad?

As far as socializing outside of your "circle". That can be said for pretty much everywhere in the nation. People develop friendships and there are only so many hours in the day to do things so it isn't uncommon not to spend a lot of time with new people. I have also found that those that come to a new area, Minnesota or wherever, and are friendly and outgoing and don't complain about everything in the new area make friends much faster than those that constantly tell everyone how much better their old place was.

I consider winter to be any time that snow flies or I have to wear a winter jacket, and yes, I was wearing jackets from October to April. I have no knowledge of schools in California, sorry. And I never said that the schools were bad, just that they are not as good as people think they are. And I never complained about anything to anyone when I lived there. I actually told people how much I liked it. I guess you're just expressing your Minnesota nice?

 

[mkaccountant]

I knew my dis peeps would fill me in! To answer an earlier poster, no we do not have children. In the future, maybe. I am so happy to hear about Free admission to Art Museums!!! Locally, museums are pricey for what they house.

According to the average temps, looking at a 20 degree drop on both highs and lows in the "winter" from current location. For DH, he may have to start wearing jeans! His normal winter attire is shorts and a T! However, I may have to get a heavier coat!

As far as the job market, I have been researching and have found jobs to the nth power in the Twin Cities verses the current market which has maybe 300 jobs posted. Locally, if you are not in the medical field or have a relative already with the company, the few white collar jobs are unobtainable. Is there something I am missing with the job market in the Twin Cities?

Want to send out good study and knowledge absorption wishes to Luv2Scrap for the next 15ish months! I just finished in December and it is such a relief to be finished.

Thanks funnygarcia for the link! I will definitely be reading up on that board!!

Thanks again for all the info sharing so far! I welcome more input!

 

[funnygarcia]

October to April winter can happen, not often, but sometimes we have those late spring storms that blow through quickly (and melt quickly). Weather is typically the first topic of MN discussion, followed by "what are the kids up to?".

Fargo? really?? okay maybe a little bit but really unless you live "up north" you will not hear dont'cha know and ya, you betcha.

As for jobs, I really have no clue. Anything in the education field is difficult if not impossible, competitive with many local colleges creating highly qualified teachers ( new grads are sought after by out of state districts every year). As well as many retired teachers willing to rejoin the workforce. My dh accepted a job in California as a new grad for one year, his classmates that stayed in MN still do not have teaching jobs 3 years later.

We have a great deal of museums in the area that are free or low cost. Art, science, history, music and children's museums. You can check out museum and zoo passes at the library, totally free!

You will find that family ties are important, but anything that ties can bind and gag too. Part of my family lives in the metro, the others still live near Duluth. I ran far away from Duluth as soon as I became an adult, I'm happy that my parents don't live near me.

Housing.. depends on the neighborhood and school district. School districts that are in trouble tend to have lower priced homes. Any big city will have a glut of foreclosures right now, good time to find a gem!

 

[curious3069]

I lived in St. Paul for years and loved it. Lots of parks and trees...I lived in or close to St. Paul, (Highland park area first, Roseville second) but it never felt like a city. Also made sure I lived close to my job, so no experience with the commute. There are so many things to do and lots of diverse restaurants. Yes it is cold in the winter, but when spring comes it is amazing.

 

[golfgal]

I consider winter to be any time that snow flies or I have to wear a winter jacket, and yes, I was wearing jackets from October to April. I have no knowledge of schools in California, sorry. And I never said that the schools were bad, just that they are not as good as people think they are. And I never complained about anything to anyone when I lived there. I actually told people how much I liked it. I guess you're just expressing your Minnesota nice?

Well, that makes a big difference how you "define" winter. No one wears a winter coat here in October or April-most people are wearing shorts still. I didn't put on my winter coat until mid December this year. We are out golfing by April so no winter coats then either.

 

[SaraJayne]

Well, that makes a big difference how you "define" winter. No one wears a winter coat here in October or April-most people are wearing shorts still. I didn't put on my winter coat until mid December this year. We are out golfing by April so no winter coats then either.

I think that for people that grew up here (or have lived here for a long time) winter isn't a big deal. I rarely even wear a winter jacket, regardless of how cold it gets.

A sweatshirt/hoodie is fine for most days ~ unless I'm going somewhere like church or somewhere nice. Then obviously the "nice" winter peacoat comes out. And like most other northern midwesterners, I have a "play" coat, too...for sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, etc.