Macybaby, what do you mean about the state getting involved in people's lives? And anyone have goo suggestions for cheap real estate in the Moose lake area? guess I'll have to watch grumpy old men, I think I saw it once, or half of it anyway.... And if you have a million day hours in the summer, does that mean you get 2 hours of day in the winter? I'm getting kinda excited about this, I hope it doesn't fall through.
Macybaby, what do you mean about the state getting involved in people's lives? And anyone have goo suggestions for cheap real estate in the Moose lake area? guess I'll have to watch grumpy old men, I think I saw it once, or half of it anyway.... And if you have a million day hours in the summer, does that mean you get 2 hours of day in the winter? I'm getting kinda excited about this, I hope it doesn't fall through.
Yes, Winter days are short, but not much shorter than you'd have there in Pennsylvania. I've only seen a little difference in Winter daylight length from my previous home in Illinois. You can plug in different states and see daylight length at this site: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/Dur_OneYear.php
It's funny, because I've had the opposite of WIHH's experience with skin color. Because I was able to be outside so much this past summer in Minnesota, I ended up with more color than I usually had in Illinois (although I'm naturally very pale, so "more color" just means that I didn't look ghostly white). Back in Illinois, July and August were miserable due to the heat and high humidity, so I tended to stay inside except for morning hours. Here in MN, I could comfortably be out any time of the day.
Just so it doesn't look like I'm trying to sell you on Minnesota, I'll tell you some of the negatives I've found:
1. It's more expensive than I expected. I was expecting costs of living to be comparable to Illinois, but it costs us more to live here. Housing is higher, as are groceries and other living expenses.
2. While the people have been friendly overall, I've found them to be pretty reserved and it's a bit harder to break through and make friends than what I've experienced in the lower Midwest. But that could just be unique to Duluth. I'm not familiar enough with Moose Lake to know how welcomed you'll feel or how easily you'll make friends.
I love it here. I am way up north about 90 miles from the Canadian border. We didn't get any snow this year until after Christmas. There is still not enough snow here to cover the ground. This is a warm winter for us.
The summers are beautiful. The long days make for great gardens and there are tons of places to fish, swim, boat etc.
If you dress properly the winters aren't bad either. For me it is not the temps but the wind that makes me cringe at times because where I live there are few trees and nothing to stop the wind.
There are no poisonous critters here either.
It can get very hot here in the summer months and that is when you "tan". There are jobs in our area too. Check out Digikey Corp. in Thief River Falls as they pay well and have great benefits. There is no sales tax on clothes, shoes here either.
Good luck with your decision.
Mooselake is a nice little town. You have your state facilities there, a good sized supermarket, schools, couple good restaurants, couple good mechanics, a theater, library, hospital, bank, credit union, senior facilities, small businesses, dairy queen, car dealership, hardware store, lumber yard, implement place that sells 4 wheelers and snowmobiles.....pretty much everything you would need to survive.
Next town up the line is Barnum...smaller town...also schools, restaurants....especially a small hole in the wall across the street from the senior apartments...awesome home cooked food...folks drive from all around to eat there. Oh, and let me not forget the Barnum Muni.
Next town up the line is Mahtowa....smaller than Barnum....still lots to offer....excellent mechanic just 2 miles out of town, 2 churches, awesome country store...TJ's...they get their meat from farm that raises natural beef and pork...no growth hormones, etc.....make their own sausages, etc....awesomily delicious...folks come from miles around to buy their meats. TJ's also has Sunday farmers market, various days they celebrate...western days; music, good food, "bank robbery" of the store....Hot rod days; locals and non-locals come, bring their cars..prizes awarded...Brat rod days; those brat rods are awesome....Salsa Days;contest for best homemade salsa, prizes. Highway 61 Folk Featival......good music and eats. Can't forget Mahtowa Tavern...good eats, bingo on Saturday night.
Next stop up the line is Atkinson...good vehicle repair spot...Elmwood Inn for good eats.
Next stop up the line is Cloquet; town of about 12,000. Schools, churches, industry, 5 screen theater complex.....small business.....hospital, clinic...nice town.
Next town up the line is Esko....small town, schools, some small business.
Then you come to Proctor...nice town...good schools, nice folk...railroad hub.
Then you are in Duluth...about 88,000. Lot to offer.....dining, theater, plays, symphony, harbor, lift bridge, antiques, art galleries, good hospitals and clinics.....anything a large city can offer, Duluth can also. I love the town.
And then you can head up the north shore....I spend much of my time up there....
well, a brief description of the area...I am sure others could add much more.
Last edited by willowworker; 01/22/12 at 10:45 AM.
If you like to gamble there is an Indian casino just south in Hinkley. Good hunting and fishing. The Kettle River is a kayakers dream. Far enough north that the interstate traffic is not bad except weekends, and fishing and deer openers, and a straight shot to Dallas LOL.
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Uh, no. Definitely not. It's adequate enough, though, that I only get the urge to go down to the Cities about once every year or two.
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"Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."
The fact that about half the people born here leave is a great plus. Only the very best remain!
I'd imagine the old saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" would be in effect... those that do survive a winter or two are some tough old birds...
I'm thinking it'd be a great place to be, if the world shut down for good... as long as you have about a dozen strong sons or a passel of slaves to cut firewood every day, to keep everyone from freezing to death. Without gasoline, chainsaws don't work none too good, and making firewood with crosscut saws and axes is just plain exhaustively backbreakingly hard work... One good point.... couldn't imagine the "Golden Horde" of urban refugees heading up toward the 'glaciers' looking for 'relief'.
Of course... I've never been there. Cabin Fever, WIHH, Tinknal, etal could be pulling the wool over this here good ol Texas boys eyes... it could be a subtropical paradise where you can walk out and get fresh fruit any day of the year... and all this frozen whiskey and snow is just a ruse to keep us 'rubes' out! btw... it's an effective strategy!
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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming
Hey, come on up, Moose Lake is only about 40 miles from me !! Most of what I read here is true. It's a great place to live. Do you have kids ? It's also a great place to raise kids. School usually runs right after Labor Day until end of May. We usually only miss a day or two for snow days. My son (22) just came home with his limit of Crappie from one of the local lakes. Fish fry tonight, YUM !!
We lived in Winona for 5 years earlier in our marriage, 3 blocks from the Mississippi river. I loved it, my dh hated it. I sometimes wish we'd stayed there, but it wouldn't have worked out. Life there seemed quieter and simpler than anywhere else we've lived. Spring and Fall are beautiful and were much appreciated.
Moose Lake is a great area. It has great recreational activities available - a state park, a snowmobile / biking trai (google Munger Trail), lots of lakes to play on, and is with in driving distance of Duluth and the North Shore. DH and I have always said if we had to live somewhere else, Moose Lake would definitely be the place. The land around Moose Lake is reasonable, but you might want to look towards the Kettle River or Barnum area, it seems like if you go further west the land prices drop. There are a couple real estate co in the area, I would suggest United Country, they specialize in country properties. There are quite a few horse organizations around here that go on a lot of trail rides. Many of our neighbors participate.
Willowworker has given a great rundown of the area. I would highly recommend all the places suggested, especially TJ's for their bratwurst. My only concern would be trying to find a job if you needed too. There is a state prison in Moose Lake, but I am not sure how often they hire, otherwise Cloquet and then Duluth are the closests employment opportunity areas.
34Likes
So funny- so true!
