Posted on 06/17/2012 1:46:21 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck
I'm living in a suburb of Chicago, Ill-Noise right now, but might be getting a job offer from Rogers (Bentonville) Arkansas (yes it's associated with Wally World HQ but as a "permanent contractor" i.e. I'd be a perm employee of a contract house). After months with nothing this might be the second of two doors that are opening to me, the first in Madison, WI.
Well, from what little I can look up, Arkansas despite its redneck reputation is Democrat. Democrat Mike Beebe is the gov, versus the Republican Walker of Wisconsin. No idea what the AR legislature is like.
Would a conservative hi tech redneck have a hard time in Arkansas? I actually liked the idea of Arkansas a little better than Wisconsin for this originally Kentucky boy, but the Rats (and the fact that this place gave rise to the Clintoons) are a turn off.
Being a member of applebees... huh, is that how they get around dryness, by being a club?
NW Arkansas is a great area, I went to the University and later lived in Little Rock.
Baptists are theologically a bit overboard about this, IMH biblically literate O.
Theories of grape juice “wine” just seem to fall flat in light of history and practicality. With no refrigeration and no canning or pasteurization, unfermented juice would be a specialty for a few weeks of the year at most. Drinking alcoholic wine, or else abstaining from all grape products, is universally acknowledged as a normal Jewish practice of the time. I don’t drink publicly, though. So I might not fit perfectly into just any ole fundamentalist Baptist church, but by and large I’d get along with them pretty well.
All my family lives in N W Arkansas. Siloam springs, Rogers, etc. I go back there every 6 mnths and am waiting on some family matters to be settled and then we are moving there. It is a beautiful area with lots to do and very friendly people. Actually too friendly for me. Lol. When my cousin and I run to Walmart for some simple thing he winds up spending an hour in there because he sees every one he knows and they have to chat. Shrug. Perils of living in a small town I guess.
You can run up to Missouri or over into Oklahoma For breakfast or lunch.
My cousin and his wife are constantly driving somewhere to other states. We live in California so the idea that you can just run over a couple of states for a few days seems strange to me. Heck it takes us almost all day just to get out of California.
Look at the Siloam Springs, Gentry area. Not far from Bentonville and a very nice area to live.
The south is very high tech. We are not backwards at all.
Thinking of getting Clear internet service here, then taking it along to wherever I go. However the Clear service area in Rogers seems pretty spotty and weak. What do y’all do for internet?
I wouldn't make the decision based on politics. There will always be people who agree and who disagree with you. Of course, getting out of a State that is on the verge of bankruptcy might be a smart move.
One advantage of Madison is that you're close enough to Chicago to visit frequently. Do you have family or friends you would want to see? I also miss terribly some of the restaurants and stores from Chicago.
I interviewed with WalMart, and they botched the interview badly (the people who did my technical interviews didn't know the technology used in the job). Overall, I was glad that I didn't have to make a tough decision about accepting a job from them. Maybe it would be different for a contractor.
Keep in mind that either Madison or Bentonville is that the job opportunities won't be as plentiful or varied as they would be in Chicago. Make sure you'll be happy with the job, or you may be looking at relocating again in a short while.
Take what I say with a grain of salt. I'm currently considering a job in Montana, which will be a horrible shock (temperature-wise) after several years in Orlando! It also has the problem of limited jobs in the area, if this job doesn't work out.
Good luck!
Have been all through there. Yes gorgeous country.
Originally my family was from the Marshall AR area. Went there finally last month when I was there.
Best advice you will ever see on FR...the entire region of New England is a flat-out asylum. Get out before someone checks the gate and cuts off your escape route. Seriously.
***Arkansas despite its redneck reputation is Democrat.***
Arkansas is a divided state. The Ozark Mountain area, including Benton and Washington Counties (Walmart & University of Arkansas areas) are staunchly REPUBLICAN! The flat land plantation rice delta to the south of the state is democrat.
The three richest counties in Arkansas are Pulaski (Little Rock area) Benton (Walmart) and Washington counties.
The poorest county is Jasper County way back in the hills.
50 years ago AR was a strong D state. The NW corner has a good conservative faction now. You’ll be doing all right. Bentonville & Rogers are fairly prosperous. The Waltons are the Big Dogs here. Take a gander at Crystal Bridges while looking. Humidity may be probably higher. Pollen count may be higher. But other than that, you’re upgrading. Lower COL. Benton County is THE wettest dry county in the state (country?). If you have any questions feel free to ask.
***If I didn’t already live here, I’d live in NW Arkansas.****
Years ago when our plant started up, we had people from Texas move into the area in Oklahoma. They were so glad to get their children out of TEXAS schools and into good Oklahoma schools.
Meanwhile, people in Oklahoma were doing all they could to get their kids out of Oklahoma schools and into good Arkansas schools.
60 years ago this area of Arkansas was full of inbred backward hicks who tried to keep the area culturally back in the 1930s. Thankfully those old codgers have died off an a new breed of people is moving our area well into the 21 the century.
***You’re within half a day’s drive to Tulsa****
I can make it from my Arkansas house to the Arkansas river in Tulsa in 90 minutes and NEVER break the speed limit. But why? Bentonville-Rogers-Fayetteville has all I ever need.
But I do miss my Rocky Mountains!:-(
If it is a priority, only look for residence in locations with good DSL/cable internet.
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