Any Amigans in Illinois?

[redrumloa]

I'm actually entertaining the idea of moving to a small town in southern Illinois and was wondering if we have any Amigans here from IL? If so I have a battery of questions for you:-)

Why Illinois? Well obviously I'll have to explore it extensively before making the jump, but it looks like I could buy a house for about the price of a pack of gum, and looks like it could be some nice rural areas. Get the kids out of the cest pool that is South Florida and into small town USA. Slow life down a few notches, and go into semi-retirement.

Thoughts? Better areas of the US? My first desire is Alasksa but the wife is dead set against it, and the cost of living is HIGH. The closer to FL (relatively) the easier it will be to convince her. The criteria would have to be rural, low population, cheap cost of living and no backwoods klan mentality.

[redrumloa]

Hi!

There are a few Amigans left in Illinois. There was a big users group in Champaign-Urbana

I think that's further north than I was looking at. I was looking at Mount Vernon and Decatur. What are your impressions of these areas, if any?

You can find very cheap housing in the area as long as you don't move to northern Illinois.

That's my thinking.

You would have to get used to 4 seasons, but, not many hurricanes here.

4 Seasons sounds like a very romatic idea to me. I literally have lived in South FL my whole life and have never seen snow.

There are areas with a Klan mentality but not many

This is a big deal to me. I have zero tolerance for this type of bigotry.

In fact the community I live in fits most of you criteria.

Could you give me more info on the city you live in? very interested.

[redrumloa]

Mt Vernon is much smaller and more rural.

Cool, sounds like my kind of place. What are the people like? Any idea at all about the schools? We could just go the home school route, but the interaction with other kids would probably be good. I like the idea of rural.

Rantoul sounds linteresting. Maybe I can get you to mail some real estate flyers and local newspapers? I'd be willing to pay for your time, of course:-)

[redrumloa]

The more I look into it, this is insane! 4 bedroom 2 story houses in Mount vernon - ~$10,000?!? In Decatur $20,000?!? Sure they probably need TLC, BF I can do the TLC myself!

OHFY, 1-2 years max and were outta here:-D

Pay off my debt, student loans, put a few K into this duplex and sell it off. Hell I could buy a house cash there, fix it up, buy a few rental properties and maybe open a mom and pop shop of some sort. Work part time, play with the chillin and just generally slow the F down.

[redrumloa]

I have not been in sothern Illinois for awhile but that area is very rural. Mt Vernon is about the same size as Rantoul. It is an agricultural area.

Agricultural? Hmm.. I may have to take a (long) drive up there in January to check out a few towns.

If you want info sent to you PM me and give me an address. Glad to do it.

Very cool:-) PM sent.

[redrumloa]

re:Bloomington

What kind of schools are on the rural areas outside By schools I mean elementary through high school. Public and/or private. Any idea? What kind of price range is the houses on 5-10 miles out?

[redrumloa]

Argo wrote:
Ever thought of Vermont?

No not really.. What is your thoughts?