Ok, we are thinking mabye moving to Missouri (from California). Actually, I have been stuck on that state for no actual reason. Do you like it? What are the ups and downs of the state? Mainly looking in the southern part, but any information you can give us would be great. We will eventually take a road trip, but just curious what the inhabitants have to say......

-- Carleen (netorcs@pacbell.net), April 26, 2000

Answers

Lived there 15 years (St.Louis)..loved it...hubby and I were seriously contemplating relocating back to MO., but especially the South Central region..great land, low taxes, fine people..darn near perfect , except for us....we decided we hate snow in our advanced middle age..It snows in Missouri...The only thing I did not enjoy were the thunderstorms..seemed as if God and Steven Spielberg had gotten together and come up with a terrific show once in awhile.I personally think it is one of the best places to live IF you don't mind snowflakes....have fun looking !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Lesley Chasko (martchas@gateway.net), April 26, 2000.

I have a question about Missouri, too -- the same area. Here in NH the ground is half (or more) rocks -- what about there? I don't really want to just trade one rock-pile for another!!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 27, 2000.

I, too, have been considering MO as a place to retire to. Since I am originally from New Hampshire, I don't mind some snow but I was curious how much snow there is and when the planting season starts. Also, since I now live in Virginia and find the summers way too hot, I would also like a description of the summers in MO. MO does seem to be a nice place for homesteaders.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), April 27, 2000.

What about tornados???

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), April 27, 2000.

I've lived in Missouri-central and northwest-for 18 years, not a native by birth but by choice. Right now, I'm about 100 miles west of St. Louis. Tornadoes? Yep, we got 'em! Earthquakes? Yep, we have the potential fault zones and not just the famous New Madrid area. There is a fault zone in the Springfield area and another north of Kansas City and those are just the ones I'm familiar with. In southern MO, there areas as rocky as anything you'd see in New England. You can drive down some roads and see piles of rock contained by woven wire cylinders and more to be picked up. The growing season can be very long, easily from March through October but I've seen years when we had last frost the week after Memorial Day and first frost just after Labor Day. According to the USDA zones Missouri falls into zones 5 and 6 but there are microclimates depending on lay of land and nearby rivers and lakes. Some years we get no snow. Some years we get a lot in the fall, October and November, and some years we don't get any until March. Some years you don't think you will see anything but white ground again. We can go from a dusting to 20+" and drifts 3- 4'. (Some of you in really snowy regions are snickering and saying, "She ain't seen nothin'!" but we don't generally have the arsenal of snow removal equipment you have either) One year since I've lived here and I don't remember which, we had the hottest month, coldest month, wettest and driest month on record. In 1980, I think it was, when Columbia MO set the nation's high temperature at 118o in the middle of a very hot dry spell. In December of 1989, we had 2 weeks of subzero temperatures with ambient temps of -28-30o at night and wind chills of -55o and -60o. Right now we are in a drought situation having ended '99 with a 10+" rainfall deficit and we are already 2+" below normal for this year. Ponds, lakes and streams right now are really low. It can be as humid as where I grew up in the Deep South. But then it's all balanced out with a year like '92 when we had just enough of everything: cold to reduce pest populations, heat to make crops grow well and rain for the same reason. It's far enough north and far enough south that you don't run into extremely long seasons either way.

As far as people are concerned, you find what you are looking for usually but I would suggest that you interview potential neighbors where ever you plan to buy. Just read the recent thread about good/bad neighbors and I could tell you stories about one neighbor we had for ten long years that would curl your hair.

In reference to another recent thread, we have snakes galore, more in the southern part of the state than north of the river. Some are poisonous, most are not. We have chiggers and ticks in abundance. We're in the spring turkey season right now and there's another in the fall. Deer hunting is good in Missouri--we have way too many deer--and I hunted on this farm last fall for the first time in my life. I had to wait until it was legal to shoot to kill a 6 point buck right under my stand. There are bears in southern Missouri that have migrated up from a 1950's relocation project in Arkansas and recently the existance of 2 cougars was reported in the Missouri Conservationist.

We love it here and my tears would probably raise the Missouri River to flood stage if I had to leave again.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 27, 2000.

Ditto to all of the above..it was 1980 when the heat was worse than Guatemala..I remember, because I was a zillion months pregnant that year.The humid summers, thunderstorms,ice storms, whatever...are all worth it (unless you are in your 50's and hate snow)..Missouri is pure heaven .....rocks??? you just build really nice walls for your garden..

-- Lesley Chasko (martchas@gateway.net), April 27, 2000.

Someone emailed me to ask how I could live in Missouri 18 years and still be here in 1980. Simple. I should have said I have lived in Missouri for 18 of the last 22 years. I was routed back to the South for 4 years but I'm HOME now! Marilyn

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 27, 2000.

I was born in Missouri around Sedalia. And it is the only place I would ever live. I have lived in Wisconson, Kansas, nebrasca and Arkansas. The bad points: ice storms, tornadoes, drought... The good piont:small towns, good growing seasons, and if you don't like the weather stick around 10 minutes and it will change.

-- cindy (redhen@fiberia.com), April 28, 2000.

i have 3.7 acres in wright county which is about 50 miles east of springfield. i have been here for 2 years. i like it but it is dry this year and as i use rainfall for watering garden and livestock i am having to haul more water this year. land is reasonabe but remember when land is less expensive it is usually due to low wages in the area which is the case here. if you can buy and pay off from where u r it is a good deal but paying for it on local wages can be hard. but taxes here for my land with a house and some outbuildings is at $43.00 a year i know it will go up when if finally get a well but in many areas taxes are almost as bad as paying rent. my auto insurance is 25.00 a month for liability only again not bad. from what i can tell we have 4 seasons but not real extremes. i am currently down with a back injury and as i am living off cash advances from credit cards and some help from the state i am glad that with utilities(phone, elec., dish, trash, internet access) auto liab ins, land payment comes in at about $150.00 per month. i have a thread asking about a possible roomate to share some expenses and to learn if living a rural life is for u or not. if anyone would be interested e-mail for more information. i like living in the ozarks and think u might too. gail

-- gail fick (gef123@hotmail.com), April 28, 2000.

hi all ibeen lurking for quite a while but just had to respond tocarleen and kathleen on mo.i have lived here most of my 65 yrs.i also have worked heavy const.in all 48 states and i always vote for mo. we are retired on a 260 ac farmstead total taxes inc.school are less than 750.yearly no rocks bottom land black dirt 7 to 15 ft deep hill gound usally 1ft black then clay but very produtive iraise 1or2 ac.sweet corn for summer income otherwise SS is all the income we need to live very comfy.we also live in the smallest co.in mo. with lowest TAX base in state .also our home is 36 by 60 ft. makes our tax higher than normal.well cheers to youall thanks for listing to me ramble don in worth co mo.

-- don summers (doningrant@webtv.net), April 29, 2000.

Well, I have to agree with all of the above answers. I'm a born and raised MO native and wouldn't have it any other way. I'm 32 and raising 6 children and wouldn't want to do it anywhere else. The only thing I have to add is don't settle in the following counties because they have way too many restrictions and codes to follow: STL, STL county, Jefferson, Franklin, & St. Charles counties. These I know for sure they almost make you declare how many times you sneeze yearly so they can tax you. And you can't hardly build a chicken coop without a special permit. Would highly suggest MO though it is a wonderful place to be!

-- Sondra (wollbrtg@i1.net), May 01, 2000.