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elaborate_hoxha t1_iujju4f wrote

Unsolicited advice: If you’re young or have never left, for gods sake just go live somewhere else for a while. See what you’re made of, what you like, what you don’t. Get some perspective. You can always come back if it doesn’t work out.

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Embarrassed_Feed_145 t1_iujyz46 wrote

i agree. i actually moved here at 18 y/o from texas and getting out of my hometown was really really good for me.

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VictoryTheScreech t1_iujz36r wrote

This. Moved out if Springfield to live in Colorado for a while. Love, love, LOVED it there. I did move back because I missed my family. But I worked in the most prestigious hotel in the US and got to experience so much out there. Next stop, ARIZONA!!

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EcoAffinity t1_iuixli0 wrote

Nope, I've lived in small and big cities out West, and I still visit out there yearly, but I'll only keep it visits unless I get a substantial raise that's above and beyond. Growing up, my mindset was different, but I definitely appreciate Springfield now that I've moved back and I'm more involved in the community and have a group of similar-minded friends as a late 20s adult. Out west, like in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, San Francisco, I see a lot of sadness in the permanent and growing homeless populations. Everyone is being priced out unless they have generational benefits like homes or pooling resources.

Springfield has shitty aspects of it, but that happens everywhere, including the far right&religious groups that pisses a lot of people off. But Springfield offers a great cost of living mixed with enough amenities that life isn't too bad. We've got some amazing access to the public outdoors, like Greenway trails, lakes, and rivers; and we have some really great hikes within 1-2 hours. We don't have natural resource challenges to the degree the West is increasingly having (water, energy, climate change effects). We have all the major consumer amenities (Costco, fancy whole foods type stores, movie theaters, decent accessible airport), and major concerts/shows are just a few hours away. Plus we've got a dozen decent breweries, a decent downtown that continues to improve, and a great restaurant scene if they can survive the coming recession 🙃

I have found that inserting myself into the community through volunteering and civic engagement really increased my feelings of wanting to fight for the good I see in Springfield. We have a lot of people in the trenches who are always fighting for a better Springfield.

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[deleted] t1_iujgltl wrote

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imbrucy t1_iujklry wrote

I'd be curious to see your data. Everything I have seen shows Springfield below both KC and STL. It might have grown more in Q3 than those, but I believe it's still less in absolute numbers.

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bobone77 t1_iujx0nj wrote

I read the headline wrong a few months ago, it seems. We were 3rd highest among metro areas, so still behind KC and STL.

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EcoAffinity t1_iujoadb wrote

I'm not aware of that, and I would like to see your sources for that information. I find it interesting that cost of living would be calculated on a quarterly basis as I would think some of the factors are better determined on a longer scale.

Nevertheless, I think KC and StL, while similar in basic living costs, sacrifice some things that I enjoy in Springfield. Commute, safety, and proximity to outdoor recreation, to name a few.

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Reality-Normal t1_iuioorj wrote

Moved 2 weeks ago to England

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EdBlake1986 OP t1_iuip9go wrote

God Save The King!

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Reality-Normal t1_iujjv7q wrote

I preferred the Queen, it’ll take a bit of getting used to!

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ayyeitsdaniel t1_iujur0k wrote

i am thinking of moving myself to england. but i know it’s a very extensive process. if you don’t mind me asking, what’s the first steps to moving to a whole new country, specifically england?

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Reality-Normal t1_iujx6iv wrote

I’m originally from England so not specifically me but I married an American girl and she moved to the UK so it’s really just a case of making sure you meet certain criteria. So you have to earn I think a minimum of £18,900 a year and that’s pretty much it to be able to petition. The easiest way would be if you met an English person and ended up marrying. If you do end up in a long distance relationship it’s surprising how much quicker you move in that relationship opposed to what would be considered a normal relationship. Without marrying a citizen, you’d be looking at getting a degree in a field where you could easily get a job in the UK or you could study in the UK. There are US companies who have offices in the UK so it might be worth finding a company who would be willing to let you relocate and it would be on their dime. My Dad used to work for ITV in the UK and they have offices in the US which he would have opportunities to work, and I know he did say that some people had moved there for good so it does happen like that.

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MacAttack2015 t1_iuj641v wrote

I’ve always thought living in the UK would be awesome. Good for you.

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Reality-Normal t1_iujk5h9 wrote

I actually love both the US and the UK, they both have their pros and cons, I definitely will miss having 6-7 months of warm sun every year that’s for sure!

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Lachet t1_iuk32ab wrote

Dual citizen myself. Don't think it'll be quite as soon as 12 months, but we're looking to get out at some point in the medium-term.

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MacAttack2015 t1_iuj7f6d wrote

My husband and I would like to move at some point. I grew up near KC and our shared friend circle is still mostly there, so that’s the most realistic option. I prefer denser cities because it’s easier to live life without a car, but our three-year stunt in Chicago made it really evident that we wouldn’t hit some life goals on our income (home ownership being the principal one) if we stayed in a more expensive place long-term. I think we may more seriously consider the UK or Europe once our parents pass on, but that’s a ways down the road in all likelihood.

Springfield is a nice enough place. We are gay, and it can be hard to see the good in a place where closed-mindedness is more common than in a place like Chicago. It sucks that we don’t feel comfortable holding hands while walking downtown. That’s honestly one of the biggest motivators for us.

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Reality-Normal t1_iujl25r wrote

You would have no issues whatsoever in the UK, nobody cares what other people are doing and I honestly can’t think of an area where you would feel uncomfortable. I know Germany is very liberal, I have a gay uncle from Germany and he does drag shows all over Europe. You and your husband would be more than welcome over this side of the pond!

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throwawayyyycuk t1_iujq793 wrote

How easy is it for people with no desirable skills to move to the uk from the us?

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Reality-Normal t1_iujvui0 wrote

The easiest way is marriage to a citizen, I have no idea what sort of job skills someone would need and which visa they would need if it was through work. I was the other way, I did UK to the US with being married to a US citizen. I found settling into the US was pretty straight forward once I’d got my green card and my wife when she moved to the UK when we married settled in pretty well so you wouldn’t have any issues if you did move I think. If you’re young enough I’d say getting something lined up with education in college which could get you a job here could be a route. It might be worth seeing if there are any companies in the US with UK offices and seeing if they could let you move.

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defmartian0031 t1_iuiw01n wrote

moved to branson about a year ago for work and I hate it here. I *Thought* I hated Springfield...

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itsjustajoe t1_iuiwd9w wrote

the only thing i liked when i lived in branson was how empty the target always was (except for the starbucks inside)

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Wildfirethetiger t1_iuisb0x wrote

Im heading to KC in July, if not sooner. Got a friend with land up there willing to rent me a room.

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[deleted] t1_iuioi0f wrote

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[deleted] t1_iuitr9k wrote

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Delicious-Mouse-4681 t1_iuiwwz4 wrote

No kidding. But the ones that bitch the most are always waiting to “get their shit together” first. They seem to have lots of set backs lmao

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EdBlake1986 OP t1_iuion69 wrote

What part of California?

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[deleted] t1_iuiorme wrote

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Goge97 t1_iujvvnv wrote

Not recommended. Native Californian here! Go for a vacation, lots of fun stuff to do! While you're there, drive through ALL the neighborhoods, well not the ones controlled by gangs.

Look into places to live. View some apartments in your price range. Walk the streets a bit in SF. Check out how poorly tens of thousands of unhoused people are treated.

Drive some freeways during rush hour - from about 4 am to 10 pm. Imagine that to commute to work, you have to live hour(s) away from your job. That's to find a place you can barely afford.

Check out the schools - chain link fences and police guards.

Of course all of California is not like that. But go into it with your eyes open!

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mcnew t1_iuj03bl wrote

I moved to St. Louis in February.

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FatalPenguins t1_iuj3h9f wrote

Not right now but I plan to move back to Colorado once kiddo is of age. Miss my fellow hippies and mountains

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Saltpork545 t1_iujg8o1 wrote

I am. Not because 'fuck this place'. I've just lived in Missouri my whole life and Springfield for 17 years and want to live in a couple of other places before I figure out where I settle down, which very well might be back in this state.

I've travelled to or been to the entire CONUS, but I haven't lived elsewhere. Think of it as my mid-life crisis. I want to find some land and a place I can grow food, raise some animals, have a gun range, and still work in tech. Will probably end up using Starlink.

My first stop is either N Carolina or W Virginia. I haven't decided yet.

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WendyArmbuster t1_iujx6g9 wrote

I took a motorcycle trip through West Virginia and did some rock climbing there, and thought, "Why is this place so empty? It's amazing!" I can't believe it's not getting the Colorado treatment, with tons of people moving in and driving up the prices of everything, but the last time I was there, it wasn't. People still seem to be moving out of the state, and especially out of the small towns, which are really cool, but poor. I predicted Prince would get blown up first. Nobody lives there but it has an Amtrak station!

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Big-Teach9813 t1_iujwvqr wrote

Moved to Colorado last month for school. My life has never been better

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GinWithJennifer t1_iuj2jxo wrote

Everywhere is like this and it's better like this than some other places like this. Even though I miss the more quiet town life I grew up in. I really dislike that people think I'm pissed off because I'm quiet. Idk what it is with people in this city but it's possible to just be somewhere and chill. And I think this is an idea for any age of adult. Whether you're young like 18-21 or 60 you can just enjoy things without FOMO. You can just sit in a doctor's office and chill.

But but, I came to this understanding this year. I used to think all of you were desperate for attention and entitled and stuff but I came to this revelation. The sound of silence makes yall uncomfortable. It finally made sense to me. The sound of silence makes yall uncomfortable. I promise you though it's OK. You can just chill most places. Maybe not all places but most. You can just sit at the park or enjoy something

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KTfl1 t1_iujhu9b wrote

I get this sentiment. People in this area like to talk. They want to interact. I believe there are many people from rural areas that just really appreciate their neighbors. I also been to places where young people and old people don't talk. Here, I think because of the strong family ties, you see more age diverse groups hanging out.

We have places around us where it is just you and trees.

Just my two cents. Everyone perspective is different.

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GinWithJennifer t1_iujk5lb wrote

Yea there's nothing wrong with it but it makes me very uncomfortable when random people try to talk to me. Like man I'm just here O_o idk. I stopped going to some places I used to like to just sit and enjoy the atmosphere of because people would talk to me. I get exhausted entertaining people. I know it's crack for extroverts but they draining my mental energy like a vampire. Nothing makes my brain more exhausted than entertaining people. Like 2 hours of that feels like 8 hours of work.

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Marqueso-burrito t1_iuixs3a wrote

I’ll say this, I’m partial to pennsylvania on account I grew up there but it is an expensive commonwealth to live in. The minimum wage is still 7.25 and the cost of living I think is number 11 in the country, that being said if you have a trade you’ll live a very comfortable life in a beautiful state. Steer clear of philly, central pa is gorgeous but it’s run by the Amish so if you are in a town it’s small and if not you’re 40 miles from the closest one haha. Western pa is great, south of pittsburgh is a little slummy, north is great and being gentrified like crazy. Most of my childhood was spent in butler county, I was 30 minutes to pittsburgh and 25 to butler, perfect for my gunsmith father. Otherwise I’ve heard great things about living in the SLV Utah from my gfs family, just took a trip out there. Frankly from the air quality if you have asthma or dust allergies I wouldn’t recommend living there, but again, if you have a trade you will live a comfortable life up there.

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arcticmischief t1_iujncbd wrote

Pittsburgh was my favorite place I’ve ever lived. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

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Marqueso-burrito t1_iujoxf7 wrote

For real, I grew up in arnold/new ken until I moved, not the best area but proximity to pittsburgh was nice

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Reality-Normal t1_iujm5ce wrote

I can say that Pennsylvania is a beautiful state, I don’t know what I expected from the place but we drove through there to NY a while back and it reminded me so much of the open countryside in England. I would have definitely stopped the car and spent 5 days there instead of NY if I’d known how much I wouldn’t have enjoyed NYC.

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Marqueso-burrito t1_iujorb1 wrote

Yeah I mostly stuck to the Allegheny river, had a hunting cabin up in tidioute and lived in a cabin in middlesex, absolutely beautiful and I miss it every day.

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Oceanhippo1 t1_iuja6rj wrote

Not planning on moving soon. But if I were it would probably be somewhere in FL or in the south. Not really politically motivated to live anywhere in particular, just prefer the weather and being near the ocean. Cost of living and food also play a role.

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Expensive_Cover_9943 t1_iujpity wrote

We're planning on Kansas City next year. Not that I have any problem with Springfield, I actually really like it here and don't really understand all the hate it receives. It seems like some people just want to leave and talk down on the city for no reason, or like you've failed if you don't move to some giant metropolitan hellscape. The only reason we're leaving is because my friends moved up there for work, and there's more to do for a mid 20s guy.

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BetterMakeAnAccount t1_iujtyfn wrote

I’m thinking either Minneapolis or somewhere in Colorado

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zenos_dog t1_iujvt9i wrote

Nice try real estate agent.

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EdBlake1986 OP t1_iujxwpc wrote

I actually am in the business but my reasoning for asking is a more for a side project.

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Tia_Freyre t1_iuj2anp wrote

Me and my girlfriend are planning on moving to Denver at the beginning of next year

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FlyWhiteGuyActual t1_iujmivp wrote

do yourselves a favor and stay out of Aurora and 'the springs', best advice i ever heard moving there. I've got stories for days, spare yourselves lol.

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Tia_Freyre t1_iujnikg wrote

We are avoiding those both! The Springs seems like Springfield

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Goge97 t1_iujx8cu wrote

We chose to live here after living in various areas. It suits me fine. Beautiful countryside, reasonable housing, responsible people generally, multiple generations interacting, very little traffic, friendly folks.

The bad things are bad everywhere and worse in a lot of places: drug use, petty crime, and few people agree with my politics. The worst for me is racism and fascism.

I've never found a perfect place to live, but Springfield is more than just good enough, in the spirit of not making the perfect the enemy of the good.

By all means, travel, move, experience other places. I already did that.

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Use_the_Loofah t1_iuj56u6 wrote

Yup, hopefully moving back closer to family (Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota). I can't wait to be closer to friends and family again. This last year and a half has felt very lonely.

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sillyrabbit420 t1_iujxkof wrote

Grand Rapids, Michigan next month. Will be relocating jobs along with a promotion, it’s recreational up there, winters will be snowy, summers will be mild, and it’s just beautiful as heck with so much to offer! Also having 5 mini oceans within half of a days trip is a huge plus

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WuppTravelingBard t1_iujy7fp wrote

Absolutely, I personally really like the work that I do but know there are better prospects for this field in other locations, I'm personally really wanting to move to the Pacific NW but know it will be a shock In the cost of living.

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