Move to Des Moines (West Des Moines, St. Paul: live, temps, work)

[tollfree]

Originally Posted by runewell

I'm sure RonnieJonez thinks we are such Des Moines-loving zombies that he expects we'll say you should quit your job immediately, that the sooner you live here the better.

You can even get a zombie burger in Des Moines. Try doing that in NYC.

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by runewell

I'm sure RonnieJonez thinks we are such Des Moines-loving zombies that he expects we'll say you should quit your job immediately, that the sooner you live here the better.

But I think you should find a job first. What type of employment are you looking for? There are several sizable white-collar employers around here - Principal, Wellmark BCBS, Wells Fargo, lots of insurers...

You won't need a job in Des Moines. The awesomeness will sustain you.

[supermodel2]

Originally Posted by runewell

I'm sure RonnieJonez thinks we are such Des Moines-loving zombies that he expects we'll say you should quit your job immediately, that the sooner you live here the better.

But I think you should find a job first. What type of employment are you looking for? There are several sizable white-collar employers around here - Principal, Wellmark BCBS, Wells Fargo, lots of insurers...

Wow you guys are too funny.. Thanks for the advice friends.. I'm currently a youth outpatient counselor, but I also enjoy working with families too.. I have my eye on CFI(Children/Fam's of IA). I just thought it would be difficult to interview when I'm bout 4hrs away.. I know this is 2013, so I guess interviewing via the phone is an option.. Not sure if employers will take me serious if they see an IL address though..

[runewell]

Originally Posted by supermodel2

Wow you guys are too funny.. Thanks for the advice friends.. I'm currently a youth outpatient counselor, but I also enjoy working with families too.. I have my eye on CFI(Children/Fam's of IA). I just thought it would be difficult to interview when I'm bout 4hrs away.. I know this is 2013, so I guess interviewing via the phone is an option.. Not sure if employers will take me serious if they see an IL address though..

Well, the best way to not get the job is to not apply.

Yes, employers might take a preference to someone who lives closer and is more likely to stay put. But I don't imagine coming from IL is a major hindrance. I would expect that they would contact you first and then decide if they want you to come in for an on-site interview - there's nothing particularly difficult about it aside from you going there to meet them...

[Meemur]

There's all teleconferencing software, like Webex. I haven't been to a face-to-face meeting in months.

I don't miss it, either.

[cheeruppeople]

Hello. you sound like a really nice person. I moved from Portland, Oregon to a Des Moines suburb about 15 months ago. To be honest your description of Minnesota sounds a lot like Des Moines.

Well I liked the milder temperatures in the West. But I think Des Moines, Is about 3 degrees warmer for the average temperature in winter. Its not huge but its slightly better. When I see the weather they always seem 3-5 degrees cooler and it is not always grey here you get a lot of sun but still cold for me.

The schools in Des Moines are not good from what I hear and see on Television. I repeat not good and usually that is the case with city schools. The suburbs are better and here are the best ones based on peoples opinion that I have spoke with.

Johnston, IA and Waukee, IA I think would be the best. West Des Moines, IA and Ankeny are pretty good.

I would stick to suburbs North and West of Des Moines for schooling. Also the crime is very low in these areas.

People are not very friendly. Just like you described in MN but they are not terribly rude either.

My advice would be if you are going to go through all the trouble to move to a different state you might as well make it somewhere that is a little different than where you are coming from. Now if you are doing it for a good job that would be a perfect reason to make the move.

I am still warming up to this place. I have not decided if I like it yet or not. I am married and have 2 kids and my wife is very happy with the schools and life here.



I know some of these questions may have been addressed, and I've sorted through some posts for info, so please bear with me...

My husband and I are in my mid-30's with two young children. We are natives to MN but are ready for a change (we currently live in a Minneapolis suburb). We would like to complete a move before our daugther starts school in a few years. Initially we thought a total different part of the country, but have been drawn to the Des Moines area after a handful of visits--a very nice city!

First, it appears the school systems are good in all areas. Is one suburb better than another? It appears the Des Moines is good as well (here Minneapolis would not be considered as good as a suburb school district). What is the best place to live for a young family. We would like to be in a good neighboorhood/school district with some younger families and friendly area.

This leads to my next question, which may be a bit silly...are people generally friendly? MN is often coined for being "surface nice" meaning people are nice for small talk, but it's difficult to make a real connection with, especially with outsiders/transplants. I'm a native to MN and I often feel this! I've joined groups and classes and have found it hard to find some "true" friends. I don't expect to have a best friend the minute I step into Iowa, but what is the general feel? I know making friends takes time and every place and person is different, but just wondering if anybody has any experience/thoughts on this.

One more question...what is the weather like? I know it is similair to MN and we like the change of seasons, but do struggle with the many months of cold, dark and dreary days. Is Des Moines quite as cold, or does spring arrive a bit sooner then here?

Any help would be great! We are in the very early stages of even starting to think about a major decision like this, but again have found Des Moines to be a nice area. For anybody who knows about or has lived in both the MN twin cities area and Des Moines have any insight? Would moving to Des Moines essentially be just like living in the twin cities?[/quote]

[runewell]

For a good school system, you can hardly go wrong anywhere in the NW suburbs: Ankeny, WDM, Johnston, Waukee. Clive and Urbandale should be OK too, housing is a bit more dated.

Des Moines certainly has a winter season, and people like to complain about it. Having lived in the Twin Cities I can say that they have little to complain about. A week or two it got down to -10F there, and it only got down to maybe 0F here. There is still a winter but the lows are more bearable, the snow melts more quickly, and spring seems to come several weeks sooner. But don't sell your snowblower, you'll still want it!

MN surface nice? IA is probably a little better than MN in this respect. But you aren't going to have friends overnight.

I made the move in 2006 and am very happy here and have no plans to change. The traffic is better here also.

[tollfree]

Iowa is really not that friendly at all (similar to Minnesota, except they can admit that). Iowans generally have a much harder time admitting there's anything they dislike about the state (besides the weather). If they ever do admit they dislike something else, it's usually followed up what they do like it about it to balance out the previous statement.

The reason Iowans don't notice is because of these 3 things.

1. Local politics (it's just a huge deal in Iowa and it's magnified in Des Moines)
2. State fair (all Iowa)
3. Iowa/ISU football game (from the Missouri to Mississippi rivers)

Then whatever the big event that weekend is, high school wrestling, baconfest, etc. The caucus is another thing that can be overbearing, especially when within 2 years of an election.

Anyways, these things keep Iowans so occupied they will never notice much else. Des Moines sort of has its own culture that really isn't mentioned much as well here. You have a lot of people from rural towns in Iowa moving to Des Moines and thinking they're in New York City now, so the culture can be a bit unusual. There's also several groups out there who's sole mission it to prove that Des Moines is this world-class, international, major city and the local media falls for this too.

[Tek_Freek]

To the OP: If you haven't already figured it out RJ has a feather up his butt about DSM for some reason. You will be advised by pretty much everyone to ignore him and his negativity.

No one knows what happened to him in DSM to cause all this, and we can't figure out why he hasn't left since almost anywhere in the entire country is better than here (According to him).

[tollfree]

Another Iowa thing, you must agree with the tribe at all times.