Thinking of moving to Missouri

Hello all. I'm a California message boarder. My husband and I are seriously thinking about leaving here and moving out to the Springfield area (his Dad is in Marshfield). Any info would be greatly appreciated. We are both one and a half years post op. No kids. We're presently going through foster parent licensing to hopefully adopt a baby or two (or three!) But seriously want to live in Missouri. Are we nuts? Was our one week visit their a TEASE? We could sell our house in Ca and buy a small house there, cash or a nicer house with a big down and a small mortgage. I am an LVN/LPN and I COULD take a travel assignment for three months to see what life is really like out there. I guess that is our safest bet at first. Wait on the home buying. Live there for 3 months and see how we like it. We can always become foster parents there. We are literally weeks away from havinga child in our home now. It kills me to stop after all the work we've done to become foster parents, but we've waited this long. So, any advice? Anyone here move across the country and leave their family behind? (my family is ALL here, in town) His family is all over. I mean it's only a flight away right? Are we nuts? I just can't stand this crazy state anymore. The people are rude and actually that is enough to make me wanna leave today!!! What do you guys think???? Thanks in advance for your insight~~Kristen

Hey there, I have lived here all my life, in missouri that is. We live in Windsor, my husband, my 2 kids and me. My husband and I love Springfield, compared to where you are it will be small but it just the right size for a family trying to down size but have conviences in town. Missouri does have alot to offer. If you live in Springfield you will only be 45 minutes away from Branson. Branson is so cool. There is Silver Dollar City (a down home like amusement park but also there is alot of craft booths and old time things), Shows and fun shopping. Living in Branson would be a pain in the butt but to live close and be able to go whenever you wanted to would be really cool. Missouri only has 2 major cities (St. Louis and Kansas City)between these cities there is alot of small towns and farmland, something I am sure you are not use to. I can understand not wanting to live in California, but I would love to visit. The only thing that I hate are tornados. Springfield does get a few here and there. Missouri is tornado alley so there are tornados between March and June but there can be some anytime. I would be scared to death of earthquakes!!! I wouldn't want to live in any other state. For the most part you will find nice and hospitable people that would help you out in any situation thus we are called the bible belt. I hope some of my comments have helped, so come on down here and see what we have to offer. Penni

Thank you so much for your response. The people are really different there. I mean you would NEVER ever think of leaving your car door unlocked where I live! But as for farmland, I am smack dab in the center of farm land. My city has a pop. of almost 300k. But we are on the edge of town and all around us are farms, dairies, you name it, it's probably growing out here. My Mom's boyfriend is a tree fruit farmer. Big business out here. Now the small towns, that is what I'm not used too. We have small towns out here, but they are mostly hispanic towns. I would be even more of a minority than I already am! LOL I want to find a nice quiet small town or nice neighborhood near springfield so that I can drive to work (without being scared outta my wits from ice, snow, rain, and tornadoes!!!---which we have none of in my town---OK we DO get 2 inches of rain a year...does that count? LOL) As for earthquakes, I have felt maybe two in my lifetime in Ca and none big. I'm sure "the BIG ONE" they always talk about will come soon. Maybe we better get out before it gets here!! I have to remember that people have lived in tornado country forever and it's not that big a deal for them. I would learn to deal with it like anyone else. I mean, atleast you get a warning! And driving in the storms and snow, that scares the crap outta me. Is it something I will get used too? Even the curvy back roads scare the heck outta me! LOL we are pretty flat and our streets are straight out here, so a bit of a change. But it sure is BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY out there and a good place to raise kids!! Not to mention, I could live in a house that is not four feet away from my neighbor!! Thanks again for the response! Take care, Kristen

Wow you sure do repsond quickly. Yes you will get used to the tornados, atleast there are warnings. There is a small town near Springfield called Bolivar---so cute. Little but there is a Baptist College there so it does have some things. You should check it out. We would only be about 1 and a half from you. I think you would love it here. Penni

We looked at some houses online and found some nice ones in Bolivar. Wasn't sure about the towns. I found a great site http://www.city-data.com/ that gives all the info about towns (population, income, etc) But it's best to hear from people who've actually BEEN THERE for firsthand information! I'm so excited abotu going now. My husband says he has found a bunch of jobs out there (he's a truck driver, who drives tankers now) and he's just waiting on me to find a travel assignment. THat would be amazing. In fact, I could do a travel assignment (full time) and that would be enough money to pay all of our bills (mortgage here in Ca) and he could just take time off (he'd get bored!!!) and visit his Dad whos health is poor. (we went back there last week to visit him in the ICU). THis wasn't our first trip, but it was the one that made me want to live there. I actually feel instead of homesick, Missouri sick!! Like that place is my home! I fell like I need to get back there right away!!! Very weird, I've never felt this way, almost like a broken heart feeling! Well, thanks for the info. and keep in touch, Kristen

Sometimes when I feel like you do about something I have to wonder if God is trying to tell me something! I am so excited for you, I have never known anyone be so excited to come to Missouri. I am not sure exactally what is in Bolivar but I do know that with the college there there will be along of college kids there. I don't know if you like that sort of thing--I do. When I was little I went to a camp called super summer and it was at the college there. I always had such a great time there. The town, when I was there, was very clean and the people were sweet. You would be real close to springfield where you could go major shopping. By the way, I graduated from Chillicothe Missouri back in 89. Marshfield isen't far from there. Its a nice area as well. If you are planning on having kids growing them up in Missouri is a good choice, expecially in a small town. I think it is very personable to be foster parents. My husband and I have acually thought of being foster parents ourselves. Missouri does need good homes for needy children. Well, keep in touch with your decisions. Penni

For some reason, I just received the email that said you posted a reply to my post! We are in Marshfield right now at my father in laws house. We found a house here and are going to make an offer tomorrow. Hoping it works out. If not, it just wasn't meant to be! But we'll keep trying! Take care, Kristen

Hi Kristen! I may not be the best source of info...I have lived in Missouri all my life! Right now, we live in a small town just south of Kansas City but we are anxiously waiting to be able to move to our farm just a little west of here. My husband and I seriously considered moving to the Springfield area a few years back. We had friends who have family there and when we visited we fell in love. We've been back several times. The only thing that actually kept us from moving was our church family. We couldn't bear to leave them. I think Springfield is an awesome area, especially Carthage, what history! Then there is the Ozarks, another beautiful area. And the Hillbillies are nowhere to be seen! My folks lived in California for 7 years and I dutifully visited them twice a year for the whole 7 years. I hated it...but then again, I'm not from there. (My mom was miserable, she hated everything about CA) They lived in the High Desert-yikes. The movies want you to believe CA is all sun and beaches! I'm sure not all the Californian people are rude (you're not!) but to me, there IS a different attitude and lifestyle on the West Coast. I think you are on the right track...especially thinking about visiting before committing. Home prices are cheap compared to CA and the cost of living is pretty good, too. The only thing about Missouri is the humidity-it stinks! I can see the turmoil you are going thru in making this decision, especially since a child may be with you soon, but there are foster programs here, too, if you feel like jumping thru all those hoops again. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I understand how this would change your whole life and it is not a decision to be made lightly. Keep asking everybody you can and if you decide Missouri is for you, Welcome! Keep us posted! Blessings, Peggy

Oh, you all are so great in you responses. This is exactly what I'm looking for. Tomorrow I will start looking for a travel position out there. Hopefully I can get a three month contract in the Springfield area and then we can decide from there if it's the place for us. Gonna go look at real estate on the web. Noticed carol jones is the big realtor out there. We saw her name EVERYWHERE! Thanks for your kind words and understanding! Take care, Kristen

Hi, I'm a fellow Californian lurking in this thread! I know Kristen from the California board, and from some get-togethers at her house. (SHE IS AWESOME!) Interestingly enough, I happen to live in the high desert in CA! Yuck is right, LOL! The people here where I live (population 26k) are actually really nice, and because it's isolated it has a small town feel, but like Kristen, I am SICK TO DEATH of California. Right now our homes in this town are going for $300-$500k and gas is $2.70/gallon! It just is not worth it. I fell in love with Ozark, MO 10 years ago when my ex-inlaws moved there. I have wanted to move back ever since. My husband and I are now seriously contemplating it. We were thinking we could live in Ozark and commute to Springfield (12 miles) for work. Anyway, just had to say hi ! Add me to the list of Longing to Live in Missouri Folks!!! Susan