4 ms·

I grew up in a town with 30,000 people (much smaller than Cedar Rapids) in the PNW. It's rabidly republican. Also 30% Hispanic. Sure, there's racists around, pr

I grew up in a town with 30,000 people (much smaller than Cedar Rapids) in the PNW. It's rabidly republican. Also 30% Hispanic. Sure, there's racists around, probably more than your average city, but it's not an intolerable amount. > Additionally: Their nature sucks. I hope you're fine with never hiking through any interesting terrain, going skiing, or rock climbing, or really doing any interesting outdoor activities. ( I guess hunting is popular? ) That's a pretty broad generalization. Around the edge of my hometown we had tons of hiking trails in the foothills. If you were up for a short 30 minute drive you could get to some real interesting terrain. If you were determined enough and wanted to invest a whole day or a few days in to it you can trek through a literal wilderness. It's also 45 minutes from a ski resort, and about the same distance for two great rock climbing spots. Oh, plus there's a 10 mile paved trail at the waterfront that loops around the entire center of the city. Lots of biking, mountain biking, plenty of good water, etc etc... We have people from Seattle move here all the time for the nature, enough to have an effect on the housing market even. > What if your kid wants to start a rock band, or be a painter, or do anything creative or interesting? Oddly enough, I did start a rock band in my hometown. We had a great little punk scene. Someone would throw down the money to rent out a building then we'd pass out flyers around school and charge $5 a head. Usually got between 100 to 200 kids to show up. A couple of my friends went on to build careers in the industry, and actually do work for big names in Seattle now. > Also.. where are you going to work? I'm a software developer: Where am I going to work in Cedar Rapids, IA? Some insurance firm doing meaningless banking bullshit? You can work remotely, number one. Bu there's actually a lot of businesses in rural areas that have a really, really hard time getting software developers, to the point where they sometimes just stop looking. You're not gonna have job offers in spades, but you can definitely find something. You paint a really ugly picture of small towns, but I think it might be clouded by whatever negative experience you had in Cedar Rapids.

5ourpuss 9y ago
> grew up in a town with 30,000 people (much smaller than Cedar Rapids) in the PNW. It's rabidly republican. Also 30% Hispanic. You grew up in a completely different part of the country than what I am referring to: The Midwest, specifically the Cedar Rapids area, so I don't really see how your arguments about how somewhere completely across the country is a better place to live is applicable. In fact: Your statement that the nature around you is great is EXACTLY MY POINT! The Midwest is flat and we've butchered all of our forests in order to plant corn fields. Don't move there. The cheap land isn't worth it. Yeah, the PNW is amazing. I think living there would be great, which is why I'm moving there in the next few months. edit: A apologize if I came off smarmy in my reply, it's obviously my fault that I wasn't clear enough that my feelings are very specific to the midwest, and even more specifically for the cedar rapids area.

5ourpuss 9y ago

> grew up in a town with 30,000 people (much smaller than Cedar Rapids) in the PNW. It's rabidly republican. Also 30% Hispanic. You grew up in a completely different part of the country than what I am referring to: The Midwest, specifically the Cedar Rapids area, so I don't really see how your arguments about how somewhere completely across the country is a better place to live is applicable. In fact: Your statement that the nature around you is great is EXACTLY MY POINT! The Midwest is flat and we've butchered all of our forests in order to plant corn fields. Don't move there. The cheap land isn't worth it. Yeah, the PNW is amazing. I think living there would be great, which is why I'm moving there in the next few months. edit: A apologize if I came off smarmy in my reply, it's obviously my fault that I wasn't clear enough that my feelings are very specific to the midwest, and even more specifically for the cedar rapids area.