Life Tell me about Iowa - Page 3

**LoneWolf** · 02-20-2022, 09:02 AM

I have been offered a great job in Pella, Iowa. I have a few days before I have to give them an answer. Tell my why I should or should not move my family to Iowa.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 02-20-2022, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

It's a shithole

I thought you loved shitholes ???

Graystoke · 02-20-2022, 10:10 AM

Iowan here and I love it.
I’m in the northeastern part of the state so all the things I love to do such as trout fishing, motorcycling kayaking are at my doorstep.
The Driftless area is stunning and sparsely populated.
The people are nice and I can’t think of a better place to raise kids and grandchildren.
Great public schools with educators and more importantly parents that care.

As I age I am becoming tired of the longer winters but you just need to keep occupied and continue to search for opportunities outside, like hockey, skiing and winter trout stream runs.

**Iowanian** · 02-20-2022, 10:11 AM

Pella is a clean town and it’s true you’ll do better if you start your name with vande- It’s a litt stuff and they want everything to look Dutch. There is a college in town and they have a big tulip festival that draws in more people than you’d think. You could do worse than pella. They also have a private school if you want your kids to play on a team full of recruited 6’7 high school kids against local communities.

If you’re looking Des Moines it’s got some things to offer. Altoona on the east side or bondurant are growing. It would be an easy drive.

You can find what you want in Iowa and you’ll get out of it what you put into it. If you’re a bike rider there are tons of trails that craft beer snobs peddle on brew tours. If you like parks there are tons of outdoor things and state parks. Lots of live music and hippy shit if that’s your thing.

Also the legislature just passed a tax chance and the state income tax will now be a 4% flat tax which is very competitive.

Don’t worry about the cold because I’m leaving my truck running to speed up global warming. Busch light is the beer of choice but if you like snob beer there are lots of places to get it. Breweries and wineries everywhere.

And billay, if you shit talk Iowa again I’ll chin check the ginger off of you.

KCUnited · 02-20-2022, 10:15 AM

Nothing to add other than I had no idea the Dutch were so notoriously cheap until I met a few over the last couple years. Apparently its an acknowledged thing among them that I had never been exposed to.

Best of luck with your decision.

**Iowanian** · 02-20-2022, 10:20 AM

Also…buy your local honey from me and a bottle each for each of your Kansas family members when you go home to visit.

**Buehler445** · 02-20-2022, 10:20 AM

I wouldn’t think the difference would be that shocking. Weather is obviously different.

I was through there in the summer and I just as well have been in a different planet. I went through a hilly spot and the corn at the top, on the side and at the bottom all looked the same. With that I’m sure comes humidity. But you’re in Wichita so that’s not astronomical a change. They don’t get over 100 much. Like at all. (See hilly Corn comment)

The winter though. That’s different. I stayed in Cedar Falls for a week and it was foggy the whole ****ing week. And it wasn’t even a coffee shop talk item. Nobody cared so it’s obviously not that abnormal. I’m like Superman. I need the sun. It’s further north and that matters in the winter.

The distance from family thing is on you to pick. Kids matter. I just don’t know where your head is there. Obviously it’s not a total deal breaker or you wouldn’t have interviewed. Google machine says it’s 5 hours from Wichita. That’s closer than I thought it was. That’s about how long it is to my in-laws. And while we don’t get back there maybe as much as we’d want, I also work a reeruned amount of hours compared to a normal-type job. A weekend trip isn’t bad. A 3 day trip is better but a weekend thing isn’t bad at all.

That’s also about how long it was for us to my family from Sidney before we had kids and from my family to college. Once your kids are out of the house the trip is really pretty light. Plus you’re all interstate I haven’t ever been.

I will say when we were in Sidney it was about 7.5 hours to my in-laws and that’s much different. That makes weekend trips harder, the extra 20% seems like 40%. That was a little tougher. But as context, I’ve always been 5 hours from anywhere. So my perspective is different probably. My Brother is about 9 hours away, so if he comes, he’s doing a week. Which to his credit he does at least once a year.

As far as the job, I’d fire away if I were you. I’ve never been tethered too close to family, despite running the family farm. I lasted 2 years at a corporate job with limited upside. And that was in 09 when the job market was saturated with skilled labor. One thing I will say is negotiate. My businesses and the businesses I am in touch with (and trust what I’m being told), is the price elasticity of demand for labor is high. I’d say the ceiling on what we’d be willing to pay a guy is probably 20% higher than it was 18 months ago. So negotiate. And maybe it isn’t cash. Maybe negotiate a work from home day a week or something. If you could throw in a WFH day and make it a 3 day weekend on a day your kids have off or something that could really move the needle from a personal utility standpoint. Maybe that’s not doable in a factory setting so maybe it’s a bit more PTO to compensate the distance from family. If they nuke that Maybe you toss a little cash back their direction, I don’t know, but negotiate. I don’t know if anybody that’s happy with their staffing situation.

If I were in your shoes I’d probably be gone. The only hold up would be picking up my kids if yours are still at home.

**Bearcat** · 02-20-2022, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

You can find what you want in Iowa and you’ll get out of it what you put into it. If you’re a bike rider there are tons of trails that craft beer snobs peddle on brew tours. If you like parks there are tons of outdoor things and state parks. Lots of live music and hippy shit if that’s your thing.

Don’t worry about the cold because I’m leaving my truck running to speed up global warming. Busch light is the beer of choice but if you like snob beer there are lots of places to get it. Breweries and wineries everywhere.

Hey, I'm not a snob because I love drinking great beer and not that watered down piss most people drink!

I'm a snob because I'll drive my Beemer halfway across the country to drink it...

**LoneWolf** · 02-20-2022, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieray

That's never a bad thing.

Would this be your last move into retirement?

Or do you think you would go back home?

Lastly and most importantly, how does you babe feel about it? She's the one that has to go up there and make a house a home. How long at your current place?

This would be my last job before retirement, but we wouldn’t stay in Iowa for retirement. Plans are to live 6 months in Hawaii and six months in Kansas during retirement.

The wife is a little hesitant about moving. We went and looked around Pella and Des Moines. My wife is Hispanic and Iowa is pretty white and conservative. That isn’t normally something we worry about, but she does worry a little about being accepted.

George Liquor · 02-20-2022, 10:36 AM

Inlaws live in West Des Moines, it reminds me a lot of Johnson county. But thats probably a pretty decent commute from where OP plans to work

**LoneWolf** · 02-20-2022, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raybec 4

Are you still in manufacturing management or was that someone else? I thought you and I had very similar roles but I could be confusing you with someone else.

Still in manufacturing management.

493rd · 02-20-2022, 10:39 AM

Great album by Slipknot highly recommend!

**RealSNR** · 02-20-2022, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

TG

I make a pilgrimage to Decorah every summer to visit friends… and oh yeah, there’s also Toppling ****ing Goliath

BryanBusby · 02-20-2022, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

The wife is a little hesitant about moving. We went and looked around Pella and Des Moines. My wife is Hispanic and Iowa is pretty white and conservative. That isn’t normally something we worry about, but she does worry a little about being accepted.

Ah yeah, that is true. Wouldn't worry about it too much though as long as you're not moving to small town Iowa.

**ChiTown** · 02-20-2022, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

This would be my last job before retirement, but we wouldn’t stay in Iowa for retirement. Plans are to live 6 months in Hawaii and six months in Kansas during retirement.

The wife is a little hesitant about moving. We went and looked around Pella and Des Moines. My wife is Hispanic and Iowa is pretty white and conservative. That isn’t normally something we worry about, but she does worry a little about being accepted.

Des Moines is “whiter” than Wichita? I mean, I suppose it depends upon where you live, but that seems unlikely.

KCUnited · 02-20-2022, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealSNR

I make a pilgrimage to Decorah every summer to visit friends… and oh yeah, there’s also Toppling ****ing Goliath

Fold in some Pulpit Rock sometime.

02-20-2022, 09:02 AM
LoneWolf Constable of Untruths Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wichita Casino cash: $-758916	Tell me about Iowa I have been offered a great job in Pella, Iowa. I have a few days before I have to give them an answer. Tell my why I should or should not move my family to Iowa.
Posts: 15,345

02-20-2022, 10:10 AM	#32
Graystoke MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Driftless Region Casino cash: $-2410000	Iowan here and I love it. I’m in the northeastern part of the state so all the things I love to do such as trout fishing, motorcycling kayaking are at my doorstep. The Driftless area is stunning and sparsely populated. The people are nice and I can’t think of a better place to raise kids and grandchildren. Great public schools with educators and more importantly parents that care. As I age I am becoming tired of the longer winters but you just need to keep occupied and continue to search for opportunities outside, like hockey, skiing and winter trout stream runs.
Posts: 9,605	1 0

02-20-2022, 10:11 AM	#33
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $1848454	Pella is a clean town and it’s true you’ll do better if you start your name with vande- It’s a litt stuff and they want everything to look Dutch. There is a college in town and they have a big tulip festival that draws in more people than you’d think. You could do worse than pella. They also have a private school if you want your kids to play on a team full of recruited 6’7 high school kids against local communities. If you’re looking Des Moines it’s got some things to offer. Altoona on the east side or bondurant are growing. It would be an easy drive. You can find what you want in Iowa and you’ll get out of it what you put into it. If you’re a bike rider there are tons of trails that craft beer snobs peddle on brew tours. If you like parks there are tons of outdoor things and state parks. Lots of live music and hippy shit if that’s your thing. Also the legislature just passed a tax chance and the state income tax will now be a 4% flat tax which is very competitive. Don’t worry about the cold because I’m leaving my truck running to speed up global warming. Busch light is the beer of choice but if you like snob beer there are lots of places to get it. Breweries and wineries everywhere. And billay, if you shit talk Iowa again I’ll chin check the ginger off of you.
Posts: 62,923	6 0

02-20-2022, 10:15 AM	#34
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $-1361756	Nothing to add other than I had no idea the Dutch were so notoriously cheap until I met a few over the last couple years. Apparently its an acknowledged thing among them that I had never been exposed to. Best of luck with your decision.
Posts: 36,830

02-20-2022, 10:20 AM	#35
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $1848454	Also…buy your local honey from me and a bottle each for each of your Kansas family members when you go home to visit.
Posts: 62,923	2 0

02-20-2022, 10:20 AM	#36
Buehler445 Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scott City KS Casino cash: $-1335266	I wouldn’t think the difference would be that shocking. Weather is obviously different. I was through there in the summer and I just as well have been in a different planet. I went through a hilly spot and the corn at the top, on the side and at the bottom all looked the same. With that I’m sure comes humidity. But you’re in Wichita so that’s not astronomical a change. They don’t get over 100 much. Like at all. (See hilly Corn comment) The winter though. That’s different. I stayed in Cedar Falls for a week and it was foggy the whole ****ing week. And it wasn’t even a coffee shop talk item. Nobody cared so it’s obviously not that abnormal. I’m like Superman. I need the sun. It’s further north and that matters in the winter. The distance from family thing is on you to pick. Kids matter. I just don’t know where your head is there. Obviously it’s not a total deal breaker or you wouldn’t have interviewed. Google machine says it’s 5 hours from Wichita. That’s closer than I thought it was. That’s about how long it is to my in-laws. And while we don’t get back there maybe as much as we’d want, I also work a reeruned amount of hours compared to a normal-type job. A weekend trip isn’t bad. A 3 day trip is better but a weekend thing isn’t bad at all. That’s also about how long it was for us to my family from Sidney before we had kids and from my family to college. Once your kids are out of the house the trip is really pretty light. Plus you’re all interstate I haven’t ever been. I will say when we were in Sidney it was about 7.5 hours to my in-laws and that’s much different. That makes weekend trips harder, the extra 20% seems like 40%. That was a little tougher. But as context, I’ve always been 5 hours from anywhere. So my perspective is different probably. My Brother is about 9 hours away, so if he comes, he’s doing a week. Which to his credit he does at least once a year. As far as the job, I’d fire away if I were you. I’ve never been tethered too close to family, despite running the family farm. I lasted 2 years at a corporate job with limited upside. And that was in 09 when the job market was saturated with skilled labor. One thing I will say is negotiate. My businesses and the businesses I am in touch with (and trust what I’m being told), is the price elasticity of demand for labor is high. I’d say the ceiling on what we’d be willing to pay a guy is probably 20% higher than it was 18 months ago. So negotiate. And maybe it isn’t cash. Maybe negotiate a work from home day a week or something. If you could throw in a WFH day and make it a 3 day weekend on a day your kids have off or something that could really move the needle from a personal utility standpoint. Maybe that’s not doable in a factory setting so maybe it’s a bit more PTO to compensate the distance from family. If they nuke that Maybe you toss a little cash back their direction, I don’t know, but negotiate. I don’t know if anybody that’s happy with their staffing situation. If I were in your shoes I’d probably be gone. The only hold up would be picking up my kids if yours are still at home.
Posts: 59,925

02-20-2022, 10:36 AM	#39
George Liquor Forklift Certified Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: House of the Rising Sun Casino cash: $-700150	Inlaws live in West Des Moines, it reminds me a lot of Johnson county. But thats probably a pretty decent commute from where OP plans to work
Posts: 18,466

02-20-2022, 10:39 AM	#41
493rd GDT Contributor Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: * Casino cash: $-319600	Great album by Slipknot highly recommend!
Posts: 10,189