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Post by sierra on Dec 23, 2003 15:27:12 GMT -5
I did my dump on the curriculum thread. I've about had it with CA schools and a lot of other things about CA these days. Please tell me if you have something positive to say about where you live. Schools. Quality of life. Weather. Arts. Culture. Outdoor activities. All the stuff that makes you glad you live where you live and you're raising your kids there. I hope there's a few people who are happy with where they live for reasons that would make me happy to live there too. I'm not partial to shoveling snow. Might as well make that criterion clear right up front  |
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Post by catseye on Dec 23, 2003 22:12:56 GMT -5
I dont thing anyone likes shoveling snow! But they make these cool contraptions called snow blowers that do the trick!! LOL I have found if you can finds things to enjoy about the snow, the shoveling, and dealing with it arent so bad... I love skiing, snomobiling, sledding, makeing snowmen and snow angels!! That makes it more enjoyable living here...
I live in norther lower peninsula... My opinion is going to be totally biased as I have been born and raised here, and have not traveled much at all!! I love all the fresh water (we live on a lake), I love the 4 seasons (yep all of them) LOL...
The only natural dissasters we have possibilities of are tornadoes, and they are very far apart! I think our last one in my area was 20 years ago... I wouldnt want to live where the ground shakes (earth quakes), or hurricane country... Looks pretty devastating from the t.v. anyway...
We are fortunate with the school district here in my town, it is very "special ed" aware... They have alot of hearing impaired students from surrounding towns that are bussed to my sd's school (sd is adhd/autistic/ hearing impaired)... I believe she is getting alot of attention, and special services that may not otherwise be made available to her...
camping is another biggy on our list of outdoor activities... And of course that is always on a lake!
I like it here and cant imagine living elsewhere...
cat
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Post by Jorgy on Dec 23, 2003 22:27:28 GMT -5
sierra, We are in southern WI. Yes we do get snow but not as much here as people think and snowblowers are FUN!!! We are outside a small town and eveyone knows everyone. We go to a perochial school and the first grade teacher's hubby is the public schools directer of special education and special needs department. We are all on a first name bases! I have never had a problem with eithor our school or the public school system with anything involving our kids. Our school is also small so I know all the kids and teachers and parents in the school. The priciple was with me when I delivered our youngest. She almost delivered him without the docter! Our town is known for it's Norwiegen heritage. We are close to the Dells and farms and lakes and Madison is close so there is lots to do. Come join us! Sue
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Post by LitlBaa on Dec 24, 2003 3:58:27 GMT -5
This is a tough one!
I agree with sierra, I'm tired of CA schools etc. We're working on a long term plan to get out of the state but don't know where to go. I'll be pleased to see your suggestions.
I'm not a big snow fan either, but hate the heat more! ;D
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Post by rosyred45 on Dec 24, 2003 7:52:16 GMT -5
Guess I have to buck the system, I LOVE SNOW!!!!!
I love shoveling, how else can you get out of doing a regular exersize routine..LOL
I'm HHHHHAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPYYYYY: DING DONG THE SUPER IS GONE, RUB YOUR EYES GET OUTTA BED, DING DONG THE SUPER IS GONE AWAY!!!!!!
Our superintendant was the biggest jerk. #1 I had to work for him, #2 I have my kids to worry about.
Please don't hold this against me, as my mom is in the teacher's union and she knows how I feel. I got into child care because I wanted to, I personally didn't see the point in Teacher's having a union.......
Until this jerk. I hate to call people jerk, but it's the truth. He put in his resignation in the beginning of the school year for the end of the school year or until they could find a replacement. Then Last month he announced that he would be done as of Dec 31...YIPEE!!!
He has turned this school off it's rocker. It used to be the finest school in the county. ALL above average grades, curriculum, not a great amount of disipline problems. Now, sheeeezzzzzz, there is a committee for the committee for the committee....... I see the light for the need of a union now. But he is GONE GONE GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I will calmly brag about the teachers at the school. Half of the staff was there when I was, mind you I graduated 8th grade in 88. But they are still there in heart, apptitude and everything. I love them so much.
I can say, He(the super, who is GONE, lost) we are still there, stong as ever and stuck together.
Guess that's another topic
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All
Kaiti
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Post by eaccae on Dec 24, 2003 8:37:58 GMT -5
Hmmmm - I live in Connecticut and there are a lot of things I don't like about living here - the standard of living is ridiculous, my husband's parents - as much as I love them - are too close for me (about a half hour but with such a tight, control-freakish family it is still too close) . . . basically I would live somewhere like North Carolina if DH could ever cut the cord - but he has already stated that we can NEVER leave his mother. What I do like is that the terrain is beautiful - hilly, green, lots of trees - you can barely see your next door neightbor's house in the summer. It can really feel more like being in the country compared with alot of other places yet it is still close enough to Boston, NYC, Philadelphia to get in city time (NYC is about an hour and a half by train). I really like that the closest McDonald's is a good twenty minutes away. |
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Post by catseye on Dec 24, 2003 9:36:36 GMT -5
You are lucky!! My in-laws live right next door!!! And they are the definition of nosey!! There cant be a car in the driveway without them asking who was over... LOL They dont work, so "people" watching is their job, or rather us watching..
cat
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Post by eaccae on Dec 24, 2003 13:39:22 GMT -5
Cat - OMG how do you survive? We would be divorced by now (I kid you not!!!) I love my inlaws to death but I have never met people so controlling in my entire life. (Don't get me wrong - talk to my mother-in-law many times a week) - but we would never survive! God bless you!
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Post by rosyred45 on Dec 26, 2003 9:10:31 GMT -5
Jeez, what do you mean not living next to your family??
I had to marry out of town because we are all related somehow or another. (scary part is, I'm serious, and I found out a couple old boyfriends I had were like 3rd or fourth cousins.)
Besides, I like to know what my husband did before he gets home.HAhahahahahahaha
If I throw a rock, mom will call before it lands. But I like it. Sometimes it irks me, like yesterday, but I guess the cord is slowly unraveling, we've been thinking about moving to Centre County PA. BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY THERE!!!
Kaiti
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Post by BBW4EVR1 on Dec 26, 2003 22:45:33 GMT -5
OK-for the record-once again-SNOW is beautiful. It is a magical display of Mother Nature preparing her children for a fresh and fragrant start in the spring. Shoveling, cold, snow boots, hats, mittens, snow pants, rosey cheeks, bright red noses, snow ball fights, trees bowing with beautiful white branches, it doesn't get any better than this! It is amazing how a fresh coat of snow can make the spirits of even the most sinical "Scrooge" soar like an eagle! I love where I live! Population 600+. Hubby's mother across the street. Hubby's best (and lifelong friend) across the street. Helping hands everywhere you turn! A wave and a hello from everyone you pass on the street! Meetings of the neighbors in the middle of the street as slowly, one-by-one we all come out to say hi! Phone calls to let you know you left your garage lite on-phone calls to check on you to make sure all is well because your car isn't put away or your house lites are on later than normal. Christmas gifts exchanged between young and old because we "want" too, not because we "have too." Walking to church on Christmas Eve and greeting everyone on the street. Wow, what's not to like--well except maybe the few 90 degree days of summer with 70 percent humidty! But then, I just think winter! Summer only lasts about 60 days here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin! All of the seasons where I live are filled with warmth, happiness, and beauty--because we are blessed to be surrounded by people we love and people who love us!! That's what matters most of all!  |
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Post by rosyred45 on Dec 27, 2003 6:44:46 GMT -5
I agree with BBW. I live next to a sherriff's officer, who used to live next to my aunt, and his dad used to be my pop-pop's boss that the glass factory. My kids have my teacher's for teachers. I know what they ate for lunch. I know that they ran to school and didn't look when they were crossing the road.
This is what I wanted to get away from growing up. NOW, I couldn't stand the thought. I'd miss it too much Ithink.
Kaiti
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Post by finnmom on Dec 27, 2003 12:39:28 GMT -5
HI I live in a small communn of 8,500 inhabitant´s. Right in the middle of 2 lake´s, one of those is the second largest lake in Finland. We have a beautifull canal between those lakes, lot´s of sailor´s at summertime. Wonderfull skiing and skating possibilities at wintertime(although I dont skii that much, but there is always the possibility  ) An o´kay school, I know lot´s of people so arranging thing´s is quite easy. this is beautifull place to live! BBW and Rosyred; I couldn´t live in the commun I grew up, it would make me crazy knowing that all those theacher´s knew me and would be theaching my kid´s  I live quite near, only 25 km from my parent´s, but in an other communn, so I can atleast fake like everyone woulnd´t know all my bisness. (This is only a dream, I know, because I work in a quite visible post, so a lot of people do know me ) I like living in here, make´s me relaxed to know that it only take´s me 10 min to get to forest, walking on my own. I love having winter, spring, summer and autumn, expesially autumn!! I freeze at wintertime, but it really is beautifull!! Marja |
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Post by rosyred45 on Dec 27, 2003 16:24:20 GMT -5
Just thinking about the snow thing. If we get snow, since we are in SOUTH, SOUTH Jersey, close to the Delaware brigde, most people around here are manical.
You'd think we never saw snow before. No Bread at the store, no milk. Everything is gone. Except the few stupid morons that think the speed limit is the same whether is is sunny and 90 or blizzard like and icy.
The guy down the street,albeit bless his heart, will plow the sidewalk acroos the street. UM it snows, 2 inches buddy. You could let it look nice for a few seconds.
Anybody know a snow dance. Since the kids don't have school, they need something to do!!
Kaiti
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Post by britishmacaroni on Dec 27, 2003 20:01:50 GMT -5
Hmmmm thats a tough question, I live about 20 miles north of houston in the Woodlands.......It is EXTREMELY HOT in the summer, and rarely gets below 40 in the winter....I don't particulary like the school system here but have never had a major problem with it. I love that they have a field hockey team here, my daughter played in England and was devastated when we moved to America that they probably wouldn't have a team...As far as snow goes you don't have to worry about that here ....We used to live in California (Thousand Oaks) and absolutly loved it there. |
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Post by sierra on Dec 27, 2003 21:25:57 GMT -5
I think what I'm looking for is a small town with a good university. By small I mean 150K or so max. I miss the big city a little even though the SillyCon valley was way to silly for my tastes. But I was an easy drive to San Francisco or Berkeley. Or better yet easy public transportation. Plus lots of good bands, good plays, the symphony, opera, etc. I don't think there were too many places where I could have gone to see Ladysmith Black Mombasa during apartheid. Still have my tshirt. Gave it to Bean Sprout when he grew into it. I don't expect to have those kinds of opportunities in a new state. But I really have had it with California politics. I'm tired of schools and fire districts and police departments being held hostage every time there's a budget crisis. Or even when there isn't a budget crisis.
I don't expect that quality of cultural life but I'm a little tired of the boondocks. Looking for a happy medium. If you knew my family you'd understand why I put most of a continent between me and them. The phone calls and annual pilgrimages are plenty. Family you're stuck with for good or bad. Count your blessings if you're stuck with good.
I'm afraid I have to be adamant about the snow. I'll drive to snow to play in it but I will not live in it. Maybe a university town in Oregon or New Mexico would work for me and the family.
I've learned that while you can't take the southern lilt out of my voice, you sure can't take me back to the humidity of the gulf coast and make me like it. Besides. The sprouts would mutiny if I took them too far away from snowboard havens.
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