[CricketOnTheHearth]

I’m actually mystified as to why the “investors” haven’t piled back into Michigan already. Maybe they are trying to wring out the last of the auto unions before they move back in.

I say this because Michigan intrinsically has a lot going for it.
–It is surrounded by fresh water as another poster said.
–In the south of the “mitten” especially it has lots of prime farmland, and it gets enough rain/snow to water same with little to no supplemental irrigation.
–There are a several very good universities and an additional number of decent universities and small liberal arts colleges. In addition, Kalamazoo has the “Kalamazoo Promise” in which every kid who graduates from a Kalamazoo high school gets a free-ride college scholarship. So, potential to have a highly-educated workforce. (If they didn’t all have to leave the state in search of jobs.)
— The southern tier of Michigan also has I-94 running through it, connecting Chicago to Detroit and directly on to parts beyond in both directions; Detroit connects directly to Windsor, Ontario (Canada), and the harbors and ports feed directly into the St. Lawrence Seaway (e.g. shipping access). In short, goods can be transported in and out fairly easily.
— The landscape is flat meaning Michigan has the same real estate advantage as other flat states (read: Texas)– housing and other real estate is CHEAP.

Long term, if Michigan were its own country, it would be the most able to be self-sufficient of many regions of the U.S. Yeah, the winter weather can be a bummer, and the summer riddled with mosquitos… but the spring and fall are absolutely gorgeous. I didn’t move on account of the weather, anyway, I moved to a good employer (e.g. “Top 100 Places to Work” kind of good) here in Sandy. Put a good employer back in Michigan and I’ll move back there in a heartbeat.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

I’m actually mystified as to why the “investors” haven’t piled back into Michigan already. Maybe they are trying to wring out the last of the auto unions before they move back in.

I say this because Michigan intrinsically has a lot going for it.
–It is surrounded by fresh water as another poster said.
–In the south of the “mitten” especially it has lots of prime farmland, and it gets enough rain/snow to water same with little to no supplemental irrigation.
–There are a several very good universities and an additional number of decent universities and small liberal arts colleges. In addition, Kalamazoo has the “Kalamazoo Promise” in which every kid who graduates from a Kalamazoo high school gets a free-ride college scholarship. So, potential to have a highly-educated workforce. (If they didn’t all have to leave the state in search of jobs.)
— The southern tier of Michigan also has I-94 running through it, connecting Chicago to Detroit and directly on to parts beyond in both directions; Detroit connects directly to Windsor, Ontario (Canada), and the harbors and ports feed directly into the St. Lawrence Seaway (e.g. shipping access). In short, goods can be transported in and out fairly easily.
— The landscape is flat meaning Michigan has the same real estate advantage as other flat states (read: Texas)– housing and other real estate is CHEAP.

Long term, if Michigan were its own country, it would be the most able to be self-sufficient of many regions of the U.S. Yeah, the winter weather can be a bummer, and the summer riddled with mosquitos… but the spring and fall are absolutely gorgeous. I didn’t move on account of the weather, anyway, I moved to a good employer (e.g. “Top 100 Places to Work” kind of good) here in Sandy. Put a good employer back in Michigan and I’ll move back there in a heartbeat.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

I’m actually mystified as to why the “investors” haven’t piled back into Michigan already. Maybe they are trying to wring out the last of the auto unions before they move back in.

I say this because Michigan intrinsically has a lot going for it.
–It is surrounded by fresh water as another poster said.
–In the south of the “mitten” especially it has lots of prime farmland, and it gets enough rain/snow to water same with little to no supplemental irrigation.
–There are a several very good universities and an additional number of decent universities and small liberal arts colleges. In addition, Kalamazoo has the “Kalamazoo Promise” in which every kid who graduates from a Kalamazoo high school gets a free-ride college scholarship. So, potential to have a highly-educated workforce. (If they didn’t all have to leave the state in search of jobs.)
— The southern tier of Michigan also has I-94 running through it, connecting Chicago to Detroit and directly on to parts beyond in both directions; Detroit connects directly to Windsor, Ontario (Canada), and the harbors and ports feed directly into the St. Lawrence Seaway (e.g. shipping access). In short, goods can be transported in and out fairly easily.
— The landscape is flat meaning Michigan has the same real estate advantage as other flat states (read: Texas)– housing and other real estate is CHEAP.

Long term, if Michigan were its own country, it would be the most able to be self-sufficient of many regions of the U.S. Yeah, the winter weather can be a bummer, and the summer riddled with mosquitos… but the spring and fall are absolutely gorgeous. I didn’t move on account of the weather, anyway, I moved to a good employer (e.g. “Top 100 Places to Work” kind of good) here in Sandy. Put a good employer back in Michigan and I’ll move back there in a heartbeat.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

I’m actually mystified as to why the “investors” haven’t piled back into Michigan already. Maybe they are trying to wring out the last of the auto unions before they move back in.

I say this because Michigan intrinsically has a lot going for it.
–It is surrounded by fresh water as another poster said.
–In the south of the “mitten” especially it has lots of prime farmland, and it gets enough rain/snow to water same with little to no supplemental irrigation.
–There are a several very good universities and an additional number of decent universities and small liberal arts colleges. In addition, Kalamazoo has the “Kalamazoo Promise” in which every kid who graduates from a Kalamazoo high school gets a free-ride college scholarship. So, potential to have a highly-educated workforce. (If they didn’t all have to leave the state in search of jobs.)
— The southern tier of Michigan also has I-94 running through it, connecting Chicago to Detroit and directly on to parts beyond in both directions; Detroit connects directly to Windsor, Ontario (Canada), and the harbors and ports feed directly into the St. Lawrence Seaway (e.g. shipping access). In short, goods can be transported in and out fairly easily.
— The landscape is flat meaning Michigan has the same real estate advantage as other flat states (read: Texas)– housing and other real estate is CHEAP.

Long term, if Michigan were its own country, it would be the most able to be self-sufficient of many regions of the U.S. Yeah, the winter weather can be a bummer, and the summer riddled with mosquitos… but the spring and fall are absolutely gorgeous. I didn’t move on account of the weather, anyway, I moved to a good employer (e.g. “Top 100 Places to Work” kind of good) here in Sandy. Put a good employer back in Michigan and I’ll move back there in a heartbeat.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

Hi, guitar187:

I’m another Michigan-born who moved out here 17 years ago but my dad is still back there and I visit once every year or so.

Basically for decades Michigan has been really three economic districts– the Detroit area and Flint, epicenters of the auto industry and cratering of same, located around the “base of the thumb”. Then there is “outstate Michigan”, which is the rest of the “mitten”. In the south along I-94 you have Ann Arbor (as mentioned, doing all right), Battle Creek (doing middling), Kalamazoo/Portage (doing all right). A bit to the north is Grand Rapids, which is also doing OK, and Lansing, which is kind of suffering from the aura of the auto industry crater, I believe.

Further in the north of the “mitten” you have Traverse City and Mackinac Island… their economies have a large tourism component; I’m not sure how they’re doing.

Finally there is the “upper peninsula”, whose country and economy more resembles rural Canada or Minnesota than the southern part of the state.

If you want to invest in Michigan fairly conservatively, I recommend Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, or Ann Arbor. Stay the hell away from Flint and Benton Harbor, they are crime epicenters.

Detroit itself still has a way to fall, unless you can hook something up with the artists & musicians & the like who are moving back in there– if you can, knock yourself out. Musically and artistically I think Detroit is a jewel very much still in the ground, but it has a lot of potential because those artists basically have free rein of the place. See Detroit Lives! to see what I mean.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

Hi, guitar187:

I’m another Michigan-born who moved out here 17 years ago but my dad is still back there and I visit once every year or so.

Basically for decades Michigan has been really three economic districts– the Detroit area and Flint, epicenters of the auto industry and cratering of same, located around the “base of the thumb”. Then there is “outstate Michigan”, which is the rest of the “mitten”. In the south along I-94 you have Ann Arbor (as mentioned, doing all right), Battle Creek (doing middling), Kalamazoo/Portage (doing all right). A bit to the north is Grand Rapids, which is also doing OK, and Lansing, which is kind of suffering from the aura of the auto industry crater, I believe.

Further in the north of the “mitten” you have Traverse City and Mackinac Island… their economies have a large tourism component; I’m not sure how they’re doing.

Finally there is the “upper peninsula”, whose country and economy more resembles rural Canada or Minnesota than the southern part of the state.

If you want to invest in Michigan fairly conservatively, I recommend Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, or Ann Arbor. Stay the hell away from Flint and Benton Harbor, they are crime epicenters.

Detroit itself still has a way to fall, unless you can hook something up with the artists & musicians & the like who are moving back in there– if you can, knock yourself out. Musically and artistically I think Detroit is a jewel very much still in the ground, but it has a lot of potential because those artists basically have free rein of the place. See Detroit Lives! to see what I mean.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

Hi, guitar187:

I’m another Michigan-born who moved out here 17 years ago but my dad is still back there and I visit once every year or so.

Basically for decades Michigan has been really three economic districts– the Detroit area and Flint, epicenters of the auto industry and cratering of same, located around the “base of the thumb”. Then there is “outstate Michigan”, which is the rest of the “mitten”. In the south along I-94 you have Ann Arbor (as mentioned, doing all right), Battle Creek (doing middling), Kalamazoo/Portage (doing all right). A bit to the north is Grand Rapids, which is also doing OK, and Lansing, which is kind of suffering from the aura of the auto industry crater, I believe.

Further in the north of the “mitten” you have Traverse City and Mackinac Island… their economies have a large tourism component; I’m not sure how they’re doing.

Finally there is the “upper peninsula”, whose country and economy more resembles rural Canada or Minnesota than the southern part of the state.

If you want to invest in Michigan fairly conservatively, I recommend Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, or Ann Arbor. Stay the hell away from Flint and Benton Harbor, they are crime epicenters.

Detroit itself still has a way to fall, unless you can hook something up with the artists & musicians & the like who are moving back in there– if you can, knock yourself out. Musically and artistically I think Detroit is a jewel very much still in the ground, but it has a lot of potential because those artists basically have free rein of the place. See Detroit Lives! to see what I mean.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

Hi, guitar187:

I’m another Michigan-born who moved out here 17 years ago but my dad is still back there and I visit once every year or so.

Basically for decades Michigan has been really three economic districts– the Detroit area and Flint, epicenters of the auto industry and cratering of same, located around the “base of the thumb”. Then there is “outstate Michigan”, which is the rest of the “mitten”. In the south along I-94 you have Ann Arbor (as mentioned, doing all right), Battle Creek (doing middling), Kalamazoo/Portage (doing all right). A bit to the north is Grand Rapids, which is also doing OK, and Lansing, which is kind of suffering from the aura of the auto industry crater, I believe.

Further in the north of the “mitten” you have Traverse City and Mackinac Island… their economies have a large tourism component; I’m not sure how they’re doing.

Finally there is the “upper peninsula”, whose country and economy more resembles rural Canada or Minnesota than the southern part of the state.

If you want to invest in Michigan fairly conservatively, I recommend Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, or Ann Arbor. Stay the hell away from Flint and Benton Harbor, they are crime epicenters.

Detroit itself still has a way to fall, unless you can hook something up with the artists & musicians & the like who are moving back in there– if you can, knock yourself out. Musically and artistically I think Detroit is a jewel very much still in the ground, but it has a lot of potential because those artists basically have free rein of the place. See Detroit Lives! to see what I mean.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

Hi, guitar187:

I’m another Michigan-born who moved out here 17 years ago but my dad is still back there and I visit once every year or so.

Basically for decades Michigan has been really three economic districts– the Detroit area and Flint, epicenters of the auto industry and cratering of same, located around the “base of the thumb”. Then there is “outstate Michigan”, which is the rest of the “mitten”. In the south along I-94 you have Ann Arbor (as mentioned, doing all right), Battle Creek (doing middling), Kalamazoo/Portage (doing all right). A bit to the north is Grand Rapids, which is also doing OK, and Lansing, which is kind of suffering from the aura of the auto industry crater, I believe.

Further in the north of the “mitten” you have Traverse City and Mackinac Island… their economies have a large tourism component; I’m not sure how they’re doing.

Finally there is the “upper peninsula”, whose country and economy more resembles rural Canada or Minnesota than the southern part of the state.

If you want to invest in Michigan fairly conservatively, I recommend Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, or Ann Arbor. Stay the hell away from Flint and Benton Harbor, they are crime epicenters.

Detroit itself still has a way to fall, unless you can hook something up with the artists & musicians & the like who are moving back in there– if you can, knock yourself out. Musically and artistically I think Detroit is a jewel very much still in the ground, but it has a lot of potential because those artists basically have free rein of the place. See Detroit Lives! to see what I mean.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

@flu 5:21 pm:

I absolutely agree, and in fact that is one of the “Plans B” I am thinking about. I know damn well I have skills and expertise that are invaluable to the program I am currently working on.

I give these guys 3 more months to show me something concrete and if nothing, then I’m huntin’.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

@flu 5:21 pm:

I absolutely agree, and in fact that is one of the “Plans B” I am thinking about. I know damn well I have skills and expertise that are invaluable to the program I am currently working on.

I give these guys 3 more months to show me something concrete and if nothing, then I’m huntin’.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

@flu 5:21 pm:

I absolutely agree, and in fact that is one of the “Plans B” I am thinking about. I know damn well I have skills and expertise that are invaluable to the program I am currently working on.

I give these guys 3 more months to show me something concrete and if nothing, then I’m huntin’.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

@flu 5:21 pm:

I absolutely agree, and in fact that is one of the “Plans B” I am thinking about. I know damn well I have skills and expertise that are invaluable to the program I am currently working on.

I give these guys 3 more months to show me something concrete and if nothing, then I’m huntin’.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

@flu 5:21 pm:

I absolutely agree, and in fact that is one of the “Plans B” I am thinking about. I know damn well I have skills and expertise that are invaluable to the program I am currently working on.

I give these guys 3 more months to show me something concrete and if nothing, then I’m huntin’.

[CricketOnTheHearth]

Another anecdotal data point here.
My pay has not gone up *at all* since about 2002, yet the rent for the apartment I used to live in has increased ~ 50% from then– from $1100 to $1600. And of course we all know how berserk housing prices have gone in that same time.

I am an “almost-professional”– scoped as a technician but doing an engineer’s work. It seems if you are not scoped as an engineer or other technical professional you have been SOL in this economy.

Call me a sucker if you will for staying with the same employer. The coworkers and culture are great; the pay sucks. I could apply across town to a place where I could get a job scoped as an engineer, but I don’t know aobut the culture– especially as far as discrimination. I’ve worked in disrespectful, discriminatory workplaces before and vowed never again. But if I continue to piss my financial future down the drain as I am here, I may have to before it’s too late.

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