Oklahoma?

I have a friend who moved from the Bay Area to OK.

Things she loves: super cheap housing

Things she hates: tornadoes, small town life, isolation, hot weather in the summer

She had not mentioned politics a lot, but she has encountered a lot of sexism in her workplace ( I think that can exist everywhere.)

She did not have an exactly easy time raising her daughters there....but that is girl drama and it exists everywhere.

If she could move back to CA she would in a heartbeat, but the housing price difference keeps here there,

We live in Texas and visit Oklahoma often. It is a beautiful state! Really gorgeous. It is also a state with tons of culture, lots of museums, art classes, etc. I don't think you'll have any trouble finding cooking classes. Traffic is no problem.

How exciting for you to think about the possibility of a big move! :)

I think the world is very much the same everywhere. You will find beauty everywhere pretty much, not the whole state but areas, you will find liberals, conservatives, in between. People are people. On the whole we in the mid west are more conservative but I'm sure you could find like minded people too. I would visit before I make my mind up against it.

Well, my motto is "bloom where you are planted" Look for the good. Weather and people are great. Parts of it are gorgeous (parts of it are not!)
William Sonoma has free monthly cooking classes. The community colleges should offer cooking classes as well. You will be just across the border from DFW. We are a huge metroplex. You can get anything your heart desires here, just a day trip away.

I don't think you will find like minded people politically, but that's ok. I'm a Texas Democrat. We're almost as mythical as a jackalope, but we actually do exist! It's ok. I dont need to be surrounded by yes men that back me up and agree with me. It sharpens my debate skills. :)

Look on Greatschools.net and search for a good school.
Plan a visit. Go see the waterfalls, an Indian PowWow. Get out in the morning commutor traffic.

I've never lived there, but my husband is from there and we visit a good bit. I was actually surprised at how pretty it is! I envisioned all flat, open, treeless prairie land, and there are lots of very pretty places. Would you be going to Oklahoma City? That's where most of my experience has been. My FIL is VERY liberal and so are his friends and his girlfriend and they've lived there forever. Just like most places, there are some of both, but it IS a red state, so it's not going to be like living in, say, the city of San Francisco (but few places actually are). I've also heard that Tulsa has a vibrant artsy and more "left" community.

I can tell you -I've never experienced ANY traffic there, and I've been driving around OKC at many different times of the day and night.

As to kids' activities and cooking classes -it just depends on where you'll be. Certainly -plenty exists along those lines in OKC and Tulsa, but I'm not sure about other places.

If you come with an attitude that you are better because you are a super liberal person from Seattle and want to teach these backwood people, your life will be miserable.

My suggestion would be to visit before making a decision. Wouldn't want this to be too much of a shock to your system.

I know my comments are a little snarky but you make it sound like you are moving to some foreign country.

Trust me, there is life outside of the Pacific Northwest!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news....

I'm a Washingtonian who has transplanted to the mid-west. I am lucky to live in nice area in mid-Missouri...but if I had moved straight from Seattle to Oklahoma...OMG, I'd have hated it.

I've lived in MO for 6 years and I still miss WA. This area is so flat and brown and HOT.

The people are nice, but don't talk politics or religion with them.

I stongly recommend that, if he's considering a job in OK, you all take a trip to see everything before he accepts. EVERYTHING is different.

The biggest plus: The cost of living out here is ridiculously cheap. Gas today is $2.39/gal. Milk $2.89/gal. My rent is $650 for a 3 bedroom 1 bath HOUSE with a garage, yard, full basement, hardwood floors, and brand new appliances. If it weren't for the cost of living being so very high in WA...I'd have moved back by now.

We are more diverse than people think, and yes we are more conservative, tha other parts of the United States, but I have many friends with many different points of view. OKC ( Okla. City) has a top 10 zoo, many museums, lakes, parks, hiking and biking trails. We have many different cooking classes, ethnic resturants, malls, universities, school choices. The traffic is not bad. Our downtown area has become a great place to hang out. As someone pointed out our landscape does vary quite a bit. But fireworks are not legal in all areas of the state. We are also not all cowboy and Indians, yes we do have them and are very proud of our heritage, as is everyone about the state they are from. No matter where you move it will be a change and adjustment. Please come visit the Great State of Oklahoma and call the tourist info and they will send you all kinds of stuff for you to look at before your visit. Oh and yes you will only get bored with the weather in the summer. I was asked by someone from N.Y. if we have running water and I said yes we have creeks, lol.

I am from OK and have traveled all over the US working for the airlines and I have learned you make your own fun wherever you go. Find the good in places. Yes- it's VERY different from Washington but both have their good and bad sides.

Liberal Oklahomans exist, they just can be few and far between! I put my Obama sticker on my car proudly and just have to ignore the (most of the time joking) snarky comments. Mainly from my inlaws and spouse. If you are truly a super liberal person, than you just have remember that everyone has the right to their opinions (no matter how wrong the are!). Anyways, OK is like everywhere else: unique. You may like it, love it, or hate it, but unless you come and look for yourself you'll never know! Tulsa is a great city, bit enough to have culture, attractions, universities, and good shopping, but not insane traffic. OKC is more spread out, but has the same small town big city feel. The more rural you are, the more of a culture shock it will probably be for you coming from Seattle. As for tornadoes, I've yet to see one and I've spent 26 of my 28 years here. Summers are hot and winters are cold, but it's commonly said if you don't like the weather than wait 15 minutes. Good luck with your decision, moving anywhere is a huge change! Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions, I've been here a long time.

We lived in Southeast Oklahoma for awhile...I loved it :)...but we're kind of weird...lol. It was totally po-dunk (is that a real word??). There was a pond (1 acre...I call it a lake...my husband calls it a pond...) outside the backdoor...we'd go fishing in the morning and cook them up for lunch...my kids would explore...sit with their toes in the creek...we'd take walks in the evening and watch fireflies....we accidently caught a snapping turtle once while fishing and made turtle soup...the kids beg for it now...but turtle meat is hard to come by! I loved the slow life. Anyway...good times...a lot of days I REALLY miss it...wouldn't send my kids to school in the area we lived in...but they were all little...so no biggie. What part of OK area you thinking?

I would visit first and I would discuss other job options for you and DH. Honestly - I would NOT move to Oklahoma. I lived in KS for 3 years and would never live in the mid west again. Sorry to the people who live there but it's good to know what you can tolerate and what you can't.

First, the traffic can be horrible. It might take you 40 minutes to commute 35 miles. On a good day, you might be able to make that 35 mile commute in 30 minutes.

You can always find super liberal people where ever you go, but in OK, you are most likely to find people are self-reliant, honest, and believe you should work for a living rather than sit at home and have their hand always out. Most likely you will find good church going families that live their religion for more than just one hour a week, so they are NOT super liberal. If you break down beside the road, they are likely to stop and help you, and if you by chance run out of gas they will probably give you a ride to the closest gas station where you can buy some gas and they will probably take you back to your vehicle. They believe in paying your debts, and not spending more than you earn, and living within your means and figure the government should do the same, so they are not super liberal.

I have found the people of OK to very friendly, helpful, kind and hard working. When you move in, they will probably knock on your door and invite you over to their home for dinner or bring something for you and your family to eat.

In OK, the west is flat and dry (Arid), and the east is rollling hills and forests. BTW, fireworks are legal in OK, so you can actually celebrate the 4th of July with "the rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air". If you are open minded and willing to learn, you will LOVE OK.

Good luck to you and yours.

Could you be more specific?

Tulsa is much different than OKC. If he is looking at Weatherford or Miami then you are talking hours and hours apart.

More info please.