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.
Best of luck to you on making your decision.
I've found this to be somewhat true all over the state, at least the parts I have lived in. We are a reserved people. I guess I am much the same. I want to make friends, but I don't know how to break the ice. I think it just takes time. Currently I am in the southern portion of the state.
I've never lived anyplace else other than MN, but we do seem to be in the top lists when it comes to high taxes. But that does come with some benefits. You drive through some states and you wonder why their roads are so bad. Considering how hard the winters are the roads are kept up pretty good here. We also have miles and miles of biking, walking, snowmobiling and horse riding trails. That all comes at a cost, so I guess you get what you pay for to some extent.
The guberment is involved in many things and that costs taxes too. Some county's are worse than others, not sure about Moose Lake. As Tinknal mentioned that area is good for hay. Just south of Moose lake a little closer to Hinkley you'll find sod farms. Lots of peat bog ground so good growing. Just south of Hinkley is one of the largest grass fed sheep operations in the state run by Janet McNalley, http://www.tamaracksheep.com/ her sheep are outside year round. But, you get a little further north of Moose Lake and you hit the ore mining grounds and lots of rock, so shallower ground.
I'm just south of Tinknal and we have horses outside year round, we just have a run in shed for them. We've had cows, sheep and chickens over the years with no issues. We do keep the water thawed with electric heaters for the horses, but all the other animals ate snow for water in the winter. We grow a huge garden in raised beds and have no problems with the short growing season, the heat can be to much in the summer.
I love it here. My friends in Arizona tell me I'm crazy for living here. I put it to them this way. In july in Arizona I cannot take off enough clothes to stay cool, but I can put enough clothes on in January to stay warm.
WIHH - My BIL is a Finn from Hibbing. I have another BIL that is norweigen. THey like to tease each other quite a bit.
I grew up and lived just north of the Twin Cities for most of my life, gives one a different view of Minnesota - being one of those darn 612'ers. Though that was before they divided it all up.
Others are right about paying taxes and having more services. Other than plowed roads, I don't find I miss it, and I sure don't missing forking over the extra tax money. People in SD are way more easy going about the weather, if it snows they don't expect you to make it in, not like MN where employers seemed to expect you to make it in to work no matter what the weather was doing.
I also get the urge to head into the Twin Cities for shopping about once a year. Helps me to remember why I don't ever want to live in a populated area again.
I'm actually leaving South Dakota for Minnesota soon. I waited 20 years for my husband to get on board, and finally ran out of patience. We just got back from checking out a few places just outside of Duluth. I'm hoping to get up there by spring.
My take on SD vs. MN and taxes...you get what you pay for.
I'd agree with what's being said here...you really have to love winter, but it's easier than you might think, as long as you're prepared. But then, that's one of the nice thinks about Minnesotans- they don't freak out and cry at every snowfall! Here in Sioux Falls, every snow is followed by everyone complaining about it. You'd think after a few winters, folks would kind of be expecting it come December or January, but nope....the flakes fly, and the whining starts anew!
Yep, I've definitely seen the "aloof" thing. Personally, it really doesn't bother me much, since I'm an introvert already. I blend. I always chalked it up to having to deal with obnoxious tourists all year...unless you're a local, they're probably sick of dealing with you....lol!
now you got me trying to figure out how many generations my family lived in MN - my great grandfather came from Canada, and they were traced back in Canada to the mid 1600's, so I come from a long line of freeze babies.
Looks like the relative that moved to MN ended up there about 1868 after living in the states and moving around enough to fight on both sides of the Civil war.
So that makes fourth generation MN, now living in SD. Got two more generations still in MN now. Family has been prolific over the years.
I did rent grumpy old men, it was funny, but the winter didn't look that bad. I got to say, it's kind of crazy, I expected at leas 50% would hate it anywhere you went, but it seems to be an alright kinda place. I won't know anything for another 2 weeks still and I'm starting to get impatient.
I did rent grumpy old men, it was funny, but the winter didn't look that bad. I got to say, it's kind of crazy, I expected at leas 50% would hate it anywhere you went, but it seems to be an alright kinda place. I won't know anything for another 2 weeks still and I'm starting to get impatient.
Just so you know, even though griping about the weather is the second most popular winter activity you can do without a parka, most of us love it here.
(of course the most popular is cribbage)
__________________
Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi
I did rent grumpy old men, it was funny, but the winter didn't look that bad. I got to say, it's kind of crazy, I expected at leas 50% would hate it anywhere you went, but it seems to be an alright kinda place. I won't know anything for another 2 weeks still and I'm starting to get impatient.
Hummmm? Grumpy Old Men didn't do it, eh?
Well, I now want you to rent this movie ==> "New in Town."
__________________ This is the government the Founding Fathers warned us about.....
I love going to crookston to see my mother. All the folks , at the mt or in the city are the best. Great area, if it were possible, I would say , go for it!
Grew up in Duluth and just north of Two Harbors now. I have to say there is nothing bad I could say about Minnesota except I wish all my friends lived here too. 75 degrees IS hot and -40 IS cold, but luckily most days are inbetween those temps.
Jeff Foxworthy On Minnesota
By Rook on January 18, 2009 2:57 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
Jeff Foxworthy on Minnesota :
If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you're proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights a year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you have ever refused to buy something because it's "too spendy",
You might live in Minnesota.
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March,
You might live in Minnesota.
If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there,
You might live in Minnesota.
If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You might live in Minnesota.
If your town has an equal number of bars and churches,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you know how to say... Wayzata... Mahtomedi... Cloquet... Edina... and Shakopee,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy,
You might live in Minnesota.
If vacation means going "up north" for the weekend,
You might live in Minnesota.
You measure distance in hours,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know several people who have hit deer more than once,
You might live in Minnesota.
You often switch from "Heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again,
You might live in Minnesota.
You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching,
You might live in Minnesota.
You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events,
You might live in Minnesota.
You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked,
You might live in Minnesota.
You think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and Venison,
You might live in Minnesota.
You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them,
You might live in Minnesota.
There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Mill's Fleet Farm at any given time,
You might live in Minnesota.
You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You might live in Minnesota.
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and -- of course -- road construction,
You might live in Minnesota.
You can identify a southern or eastern accent,
You might live in Minnesota.
Your idea of creative landscaping is a plastic deer next your blue spruce,
You might live in Minnesota.
If "Down South" to you means Iowa,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know "a brat" is something you eat,
You might live in Minnesota.
You find -10 degrees "a little chilly",
You might live in Minnesota.
34Likes
Maybe we should have a get-together....maybe even in Mooselake...???
