How to find the right place....

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I am not sure how to put this in the right context, but I only know how to be me, so here goes....my husband, Joe, and I are wondering how to go about finding a place in the country that is not...say, backwards or non-progressive, I guess, in their tolerance in certain situations? Now, we are pretty conservative...so don't get the wrong idea, but we would like to find a place where we won't be in close company of predjudices due to color or race, in particular. Joe says he's afraid we may have that problem if we want to go rural as it will be a smaller group of people and maybe less exposed to others. Is this true? We are not predjudiced and don't want to be where people are...it would make us uncomfortable. We have a lovely son-in-law to be that is in the Navy and happens to be black, so we want to know that when we have them for visits, etc...that they and us would be just as welcome to live in the community as anyone else. I know this sounds wierd, as I don't know how else to inquire about it...but I'd really like to know how we would go about finding something like this out before we are really ready to go buy! I got the book by Gene Larue (think that is the name) and it is wonderful...but I would like to know the mechanics of "how" to do the research! Can't just ask people to say if they are racist or not!! So sorry if I have offended someone, never meant to, this just is a real question in our minds. Thanks much for any input. Kathy

-- Kathy Grosky (VaUSMCwf@home.com), April 17, 2001

Answers

Kathy: I'm not sure if this is the answer you're looking for, but I (we, wife & I) moved to a rural area in south Louisiana about six years ago and found this area to be non-racist/prejudiced. We are white, have neighbors that are black, and some that are white. We are friendly with both, and all are very helpful in areas of advice pertaining to planting of crops, fertilizer recommendations animal husbandry, etc. we've never regretted our move, and never plan to leave; we are both 60.

Good luck in your search, but if you go rural, I'm sure you will find that for the most part, people live by the golden rule and the ten commandments. Gerald

-- Gerald Boudoin (gerald_boudoin@internationaltesting.com), April 17, 2001.


Unfortunately prejudice and intollerance can be found just about anywhere. Having lived in several different states, I would say it pretty much depends on the geographic area of the country, and then on just the individual people. I know that I've had problems just taking black friends with me some places.

All I can say for sure is that my little town here is about the most open and friendly I have ever been in. I can't talk about much else, as it would only be generalizations, and unfair. Wish I could be of more help.

For research, you might take a look in the county records. Newspapers are faster and easier if the place you are looking at has a LOCAL paper, and not just a local edition of the paper from a big town nearby. The local section of a local paper will tell you generally about what types of people live there, and the letters to the editor will tell you about attitudes... Be sure to get at least a months worth of papers if doing it this way - you will get to know all the most vocal people and have a better knowledge of the general population.

At the very least, you will get to know things like... prices on foods and clothing, what stores are in the area, hospitals, what issues are important to that locale, real-estate listings, and a host of other things that one wouldn't normally think to check into!!! There will also be listings for local organizations... The ones that specialize in helping people move are most helpful!! They provide a whole host of information on just about any topic, and can lead you to others as well.

I wish you all the best!!! (Can I talk you into becoming a neighbor?? LOL!)

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 17, 2001.


Kathy, I don't know if this will help any but it will give you the crime statistics and the make-up of the different races in each county you're interested in. Good luck. \link{http://www.crime.com}

JackD

-- JackD (jdenterprises@centurytel.net), April 17, 2001.


I also believe that you will find prejudice no matter where you go. There are unhappy and insecure people everywhere. You will also find wonderful, open and loving people. When you find a place you are interested in, have a heart to heart talk with the leader of whatever religion you choose to follow. Ask him or her for an honest answer and you will probably get one. Best of luck.

-- Peg in NW WI (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), April 17, 2001.

Kathy: California is where ya want to be! You would be surprised how much tolerance We have here. Of course we have plenty of other problems......Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), April 17, 2001.


Kathy, when I decided to go for my dream I knew I would stay in California for two reasons. The first is I am a state employee and want to continue to add to my retirement (I am a teacher) and the second is because of all the places I have lived in my adult life it is the most tolerant. That doesn't mean that everyone everywhere is tolerant,9California is a BIG state you know) just that overall the atmosphere is more tolerant of individual differences. I have chosen the northern coastal area for my search and hope to be there in a year or so. Happy hunting-betty

-- betty modin (betty_m9@yahoo.com), April 18, 2001.

California can be very tolerent in the more populated or enlightened areas, but some of the inland, south and north portions of the state in small rural areas you can find alot of narrow minded people too. I am there now and can't wait to get away! I could go on all day about it; I guess if you look up local sites on the net and kinda scan the general educational/intelligence level of the area you might get a better guess.I suppose that nothing will ever replace a visit, but you might narrow it down that way. I think every state probably has it's enlightened areas.

-- maureenb (firegirl102@hotmail.com), April 18, 2001.

We are pretty close to Fort Knox, Army, and we have all kinds of people around town. Allot of people retire here from Post, and it's really mixed, not a big deal I don't think to many folks. There's White, Black, and German mostly, allot of service men marry girls overseas and then they settle here. There's lots of farm land to be had for good prices here. We're about 12 miles out of Elizabethtown, about 25 maybe from Post, and about an hour south of Louisville. If you want to homestead, go for it! Try www.move.com, and south central Kentucky, and search Hardin, Meade, and Breckinridge counties. Let us know how it goes along.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), April 18, 2001.

I live near an Army base in the interior of Alaska and find the comments above to be very true. Lots of military personnel of all races and creeds settle near military bases because of the hospitals and shopping.

As for Alaska, I would recommend it. Though Alaska is conservative in many ways (gun control, strong religious groups in some areas, Rebublican leanings, etc) I've found that the state as a whole is generally very tolerant towards racial issues. Even in small towns like the one I live in, people tend to stay out of each other's business and leave you to yourself. Furthermore, the native population here has a strong influence which positively affects race relations. Coming from the South originally, I've found the communities here to be highly moral but without bigotry or bias.

-- Michael Nuckols (nuckolsm@wildak.net), April 18, 2001.


Many towns and regions have an internet community message board. Reading the messages posted to these boards can give you an idea of the local attitudes and level of intellegence.It is does not neccessarily reflect the community as a whole, but it is one guage you can use. For example here is the message board for Sandpoint Idaho. Let me know what your perceptions are after reading some of the posts on their message board.

http://www.sandpoint.org/election/wwwboardE/wwwboardE.html

-- Name With Held (northwoodsbear@altavista.com), April 23, 2001.



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