For those who have lived in KCMO a long time . . .

[Archie F. Swin]

. . . I first fell in love with KCMO in 1985 when, as a 13 year old w/ braces attending WMA, I had to go to the plaza to get my orthodontist work done . . .This made such an impression on me that my wife and I chose to honeymoon there in 1996 (Southmoreland on the Plaza)

Ive never lived in KC or anywhere close for that matter . . . (after a stifleing hot North Texas summer I always tell my wife we need to move up North)

My question to those who have lived there a long time is 'How do you view your city?'

Do you think KC is a special place? or just another city in the wheat fields? When you leave KC for a while (vacation or something like that) do you return saying 'this is a pretty cool town after all.'

Do you think KC is constantly progressing or becoming run down and stagnant? What do you think about crime? culture? recreation?

for Someone who has spent the equivilent of 2 weeks in KC . . . I think you have a splendid city . . . One in which I would like to live . . . or at least close by.
And Ive been to many, many cities across this nation.

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C.R. Pants
(The Resident Liberal)

[This message has been edited by Chief Red Pants (edited 11-28-2000).]

[TheFly]

I grew up near KC (Shawnee Mission). I can tell you that my folks always took us to the plaza Xmas lights. And that has always remained special.

Although over the years I have believed that KC has milked the Plaza too much. There is so much that I like about KC. (No, not the fountains!) I like the stadiums. I like UMKC. I like the suburbs. I like old Municipal Airport. I like parts of Westport. Crown Center. Swope Park in daylight. Union Station. The old stock yards. The change of seasons. The helpfulness of the KC folks when there's a need.

On the other hand, jobs can be hard to come by in a recession. Ford and GM left the area. There are some hi-tech companies. But when things turn bad, a lot of people in KC end up out of work. Which is exactly what brought me to the west coast. Things may have changed in 18 years, but when I do see my brother in Olathe, he tells me hi-tech hasn't changed that much. (He works for Informix) It's feast or famine job wise.

Also, KC is a great place to raise a family and have a party!

:)<BR>

[Mark M]

Besides a seven year stretch during and right after college, I have spent 22 wonderful years here in KC. I lived in Springfield, MO for 6 years, Chicago for three months and D.C. for 10 months.

It's a progressive city in some regards (the 1st suburban shopping area, the stadiums, etc), but slow to change it's faults (no downtown development/revitalization, school issues, etc.).

Crime depends on where you live, as does culture (not many art exhibits in Raytown, but plenty of robberies). Recreation is plentiful if you love outdoorsy stuff. All in all, a safe, quiet and comfy town, depending on where you are (like every other city in America).

The truth is, I have never been in a town where the people truly care about one another as much as they do here in KC. You might not tell it from driving through the Grandview Triangle every morning, but people here are some of the most giving I've ever seen.

Example: A handicapped woman had her van stolen last year some time. A radio station (98.9, the Rock) told the story of this poor woman and how she didn't have enough insurance, $$ for replacement, etc. Within seconds the phones started to ring—even though NOTHING had been said about raising $$, people started to flood the station with donations. They had her a new van by that afternoon. In no other city of this size would that happen. Not St. Louis, Des Moines, OK City, none of them.

And that's why I stay.

It sure the heck isn't to watch the Chiefs win a SuperBowl. I've given up hope on that until Carl goes.

MM
--K.C. proud<BR>

[Mosbonian]

Fly:

When I lived in KC, I worked for Informix just after the Innovative Software/Informix merger. How long has your brother worked for them?

mark
**********

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Kilgore is a noun, not a verb..

[Mosbonian]

Fly:

When I lived in KC, I worked for Informix just after the Innovative Software/Informix merger. How long has your brother worked for them?

mark
**********

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Kilgore is a noun, not a verb..

[TheFly]

Mark, my brother has been with Informix a long time, many years. He came over from Sprint. He's been out in Olathe with Informix I figure about 10 years...

[58Forever]

I've lived here all my life and I've been to many other cities in the US...LA, NY, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Denver...etc...and I can honestly say there is not another city in which I'd choose to live...

I like KC because although it is a large city, it has a small town feel...there is enough culture and entertainment to satisfy all but the most demanding patron...the food is great...in what other city can you live and drive less than 10 minutes and you are in the country "away from it all"...

And of course, it is the home of the Chiefs...which I guess right now is not that great a selling point... :(

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joe

"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."
-Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback and sports analyst

[Bob Dole]

Bob Dole has been gone awhile, but would echo Joe's sentiment that it's a big city with a small town feel. Bob Dole would certainly move back under the right circumstances (none of which have anything to do with the city itself). Bob Dole would [b]not[/b] move back to St. Louis, so it's not just a "Missouri thing."

[redfan]

I've lived in KCMO my whole life.(30yrs) I'm curently residing on the Plaza, about a half block from the Southmoreland. I've been to many cities around the country, and KC stands up to anywhere I've been. I think the people are what makes the city a nice place to live. On the bad side, there isn't enough of an art scene (music, theater, visual arts) to suit me. But there is enough stuff to do outside to keep me occupied. Smithville lake, ATB riding (there's actually a trail right by Arrowhead!), and a lot of golf.
When I come back from a trip, I do say: "What a great town!" YEAH BABY, YEAH!

rh :mad:


[This message has been edited by redhed (edited 11-28-2000).]

[morphius]

RedHed - ATV riding instead of ATB riding?

[Mosbonian]

I must admit some ambivalence in posting to this thread, but here goes.

I lived in KC and the surrounding areas for 32 years of my life. But the following conditions made me decide that KC was not the place to live for me and my family:

1)At the time of my relocation KC was in full growth mode when it came to the Casino scene. I am not against gambling, but I like my casinos in Vegas, not at my back door.

2)The KC School District Desegragation Case- Also at the time of my move, (the Omnipotent) Judge Russell Clark was trying to draw in the suburban schools into the fray. I didn't want to see my child being sent an hour away to go to school {we lived 500 yards from the local Elementary school} just to appease a quota.

3)The job market for people in my profession was [b]extremely[/b] tight. Many of my peers were just trying to hang on to their jobs as it was. I have had many of my friends in my same profession have to move just to get a good job because of the business closing that have happened in KC the past few years.

4) The health of my oldest child. We were advised that a warmer climate would be more conducive to the better health of my son. Since we have moved here to the Southeast he has had very few health issues.

con't...

[Mosbonian]

Having made that post I want to point out the many things that I miss about KC.

1)[b]Arrowhead Stadium and KC Chiefs football[/b]- If you who lived in KC only realized how lucky you are to be able to go to the stadium and sit with 82,000 of your closest friends and cheer for your team. And how nice it is to be able to get Chiefs licensed product without a limited supply.

2)[b]The Plaza Lights[/b]- I gave my wife her true engagement ring the night we went to watch the Plaza Lighting ceremony. Even though I had proposed to here a few months before, I gave her the ring she had wished for that night. [b]That moment was truly priceless[/b].

con't

[This message has been edited by Mark Kilgore (edited 11-28-2000).]

[Mosbonian]

3)[b]Royals Stadium & Buck O' Neill[/b]- Although my son and I attend many games for the local Minor League team, the Capitol City Bombers, his most proud moment was going to a Royals game and catching a foul ball. After the game, when all the high priced prima donas had no time to autograph the ball for him, my wife spied Buck O' Neill, who took time out to sign the ball, talk a few minutes with my son, and even pose for a picture. He can't tell you one MLB player from another now, but he knows who Buck O' Neill is.

4)[b]Snow at Christmas[/b]- It rarely snows here in South Carolina,(it did one time last year in January), and I really miss that. I would love to be able to have a snowball fight or take my kids to a local hill and try to kill myself being 10 years old again sliding on a sled.

There are many other things that I miss about KC but they are too numerous to mention. I will have to say that I find people here in SC just as courteous, and concerned about their neighbors as they are in KC.

Home is always where your heart is.

mark
***************
you can take the man out of Missouri, but you can't take Missouri out of the man


[This message has been edited by Mark Kilgore (edited 11-28-2000).]

[redfan]

morhpius: You know, 'mountain' bike riding? Since there ain't no mountains in KC, I use the 'all-terrain bicycle' moniker. Nothing like riding in the presence of Arrowhead!!

GO CHIEFS!!!<BR>

[kc hopeful]

I'm in the TX panhandle-my heart's along the MO/KS line.
I'll have to have my wife read this-I'm always talking about moving back up there.
Just can't seem to persuade her.