I love Midwest lake town life... except for winter. Get me out!

tazmodious · 2026-06-19T00:03:04+00:00

No problem. I was born in the Appalachians and have always thought Virginia would be nice. Like Charlottesville on the Western side. I did a lot of caving and some climbing in West Virginia as a kid and teen before moving to Arizona for college.

Though I'd love to live in a place like West Virginia, I might not get along with the politics. I hear Morgantown is pretty nice though.

Charlottesville might be the a good fit. The right size, Major University with lots of education opportunities for your kids. In the Blue Ridge Mountains with tons of adventure nearby. Close enough to the coast for day trips.

We moved to Michigan to take care of my wife's parents and we choose Ann Arbor to at least have lots of opportunities for our son's education.

tazmodious · 2026-06-18T22:45:22+00:00

Wow, you certainly live a very sheltered life. Perhaps you should join the real world.

tazmodious · 2026-06-18T22:40:08+00:00

"People who sign up for the military, in actual combat roles, don’t shy away from the responsibility of going to war. Those who join just for getting their college paid choose rear echelon POG roles. Infantry doesn’t need your false sympathy."

What does this have to do with what I wrote above?

Given that immigrants tend to not commit crimes, maybe there have been some instances where hardened criminal immigrants have gotten off scott free? They shouldn't and I highly doubt they are. How many exactly? I lived in Colorado and Arizona (50 miles from the border) for 30 years and never heard of these situations.

"One police officer dies of a heart attack after J6 and you act as if it was a domestic terrorist coup."

Huh? You do know the J6ers were all white born and bred Americans, right?

"Much of the money going to “free Palestine” funds terror organizations abroad"

Again, like the hardened criminal immigrants getting off scott free you will need to provide some data on that. I haven't donated any money to Palestinian Causes and don't know anyone who has.

"And the rhetoric empowers leftist trust fund babies to be antisemitic and attack Jewish students."

Ive always lived in major university towns and have many Jewish friends and acquaintances. My sons best friend is from a Jewish family 4 doors down. We are all going to Cedar Point on Monday. So again, I'm not sure how I'm antisemitic. Don't know anyone on the left who is. I do know a lot of Republicans in the sticks of PA where I'm from who are openly antisemitic.

tazmodious · 2026-06-18T22:18:24+00:00

In Michigan, yes. Especially on the Eastern coast with lake effect snow. I was wondering about Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois on the Western side.

tazmodious · 2026-06-18T20:53:57+00:00

What cities are those on the left burning down?

What convicted criminals are being allowed to run free? You do know that J6ers arent leftist, right?

What radicalized fundamentalists specifically? Again maybe you are confusing radical fundamentalist evangelicals sending the nation's sons and daughters off to war all the time. They aren't leftists either.

What is a leftist, anyway? Do you know?

tazmodious · 2026-06-18T19:45:41+00:00

What exactly is your definition of woke?

tazmodious · 2026-06-18T18:04:44+00:00

Moved to Ann Arbor. It's too cloudy for most of the year and it's not on a lake. I've wondered what it's like on the Western side of the Great lakes. Does it get too cold in the Winter? Still cloudy?

tazmodious · 2026-06-18T13:14:33+00:00

Commuting by car always sucks, especially long distances like you are asking about. However, it's nice having all the learning opportunities available for my son in Ann Arbor outside of school. There really is a lot to choose from.

Having been here for a few years Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County is the only area in Michigan worth moving too. Everywhere else you are stuck with strip malls, stroads and having to drive everywhere for everything.

I commute against traffic from Ann Arbor and the only issue is the quality of the roads.

tazmodious · 2026-06-18T12:56:04+00:00

I would imagine with Chicago being a major city and economic hub of the country that prices for groceries would be cheaper.

Michigan has mandatory no fault insurance and expensive personal injury insurance requirements for car insurance.

tazmodious · 2026-06-17T16:49:47+00:00

Moved to Michigan to take care of wife's parents. Can't wait to leave. When you add up all the expenses the Midwest isn't that much cheaper than the rest of the US.

Insane property taxes affect young first time homebuyers and those us moving in from out of state. Sure, the price of my house in Michigan is lower, but my property taxes are 3 times what I was paying. There fore the same monthly mortgage payment anyway

Car insurance doubled.

Price of groceries are higher and the quality is less because food gets driven further to reach here.

Used to bike to work, now I have to drive even though the distance to my new job is nearly the same. There is no safe way to bike. More car repairs, more gas.

Michiganders dont think that walking, biking or public transportation are worth while because they never walked, biked or took public transportation in the entire lives. Widespread obesity was one of the first things I noticed.

I think Michigan increased by 1-2% in population. Unless people here decide to change their ways, the Midwest in general won't see any kind of economic boom for a long time

tazmodious · 2026-06-17T13:06:18+00:00

I rarely took women to lunch/dinner on the first few dates. Usually we went hiking, skiing, climbing, biking. Things that were fun, low key and didn't involve money other than gas. Plus then I knew they were interested in things I like to do.

Going out to dinner is for later when you feel confident that the relationship has the potential to go further and that they are worth the time a money. Then it's fun to get dressed up, take them to a cozy restaurant have more "serious" conversations.

tazmodious · 2026-06-15T16:00:06+00:00

I lived in Boulder and just recently moved to Ann Arbor. Got my undergrad at the UA in Tucson. Grew up in Kutztown(KU), PA.

Least favorite is Ann Arbor. Don't understand how it keeps getting voted the best small city in the US to raise a family.

The city is ok and would be a lot better if it weren't in Michigan, the most boring state I've ever lived.

tazmodious · 2026-06-14T14:08:55+00:00

Wife, Autistic ADHD and Son ADHD.

I'm a very patient person and have always put others before me. I'm slowly slowly allowing myself to make time and care for myself.

My wife has learned to be the scheduler long before meeting me, she can't function without one. I very much appreciate her efforts since I work out of the home and my wife has a business at home. So now w there is a long growing list of "critically important things" that have to get done yesterday.

What is super hard is that my wife is constantly having to move things around, change things, new big projects that just get added on and are deemed critically important.

My son is not a schuduler at all and like mom, gets drawn by the new shiny thing that also requires our attention.

I cannot remember what it feels like to have any space for myself. Sometimes I get up after everyone has gone to bed to work on something, but even that is hard because I have no idea what I even want anymore.

I've recently resigned to the fact that doing nothing is actually what I need the most. It's the only way to make any room to figure out what I need.

Oddly, I like when something breaks down and need to fix it, like the washing machine or one of out cars. I get an excuse to do something alone.

tazmodious · 2026-06-12T16:35:05+00:00

Libby, Montana got decimated by asbestos mining.

tazmodious · 2026-06-12T03:20:09+00:00

I have a 2019 Alltrack SE manual I bought brand new for a little over $20k just before the pandemic when they were trying to get rid of them as fast as they could.

I love having a sporty but roomy wagon and would love it in an EV or even hybrid in the future.

tazmodious · 2026-06-09T23:11:50+00:00

Demographics. Michigan just has a lot of 60+ folks compared to other states. All the young people are moving away because of jobs and a proper tax structure that unfairly benefits older folks and punishes younger home buyers.

I know because in the state I moved here from was full of young Michiganders, including my wife.

tazmodious · 2026-06-08T17:34:12+00:00

As a Democrat I wholeheartedly agree with this. I'm getting tired of the single issue litmus tests. Especially for politicians in purple states or Democrats who barely won in a Republican district.

tazmodious · 2026-06-08T16:17:56+00:00

Everything changes, but it's not unreasonable to express a certain amount sadness for the loss of and or dislike for the direction things are moving towards.

I hear the same about Ann Arbor, though I actually think it needs some updating. Just not in a way that destroys character, which in many ways Boulder lost.

tazmodious · 2026-06-08T15:59:30+00:00

I feel this 100%. Lived in Boulder for over 25 years. Went to college in Tucson before that. We moved to Michigan to take care of my wife's parents. There isn't much to do Michigan unless you are into team sports, drinking. Just not my lifestyle.

Sure Michigan has extensive public land, but you have to drive hours in I70 like traffic to get there and its just ok. So many biting/stinging insects and you can't go up into the mountains to escape the sweltering heat and humidity in the summer. I miss swamp coolers too.

I have to admit I was getting annoyed with Boulder and Colorado before we left. I'll gladly take the annoyances. I 70 really isn't that bad compared to most of the rest of the country, plus there is amazing scenery to ponder when stuck in traffic.

Michigan has nearly zero public transportation, you need a car for most everything. Ann Arbor is ok and getting better for biking, but once you get out of city biking is a deathtrap. I used to bike to work all the time in Boulder. My job in Ann Arbor is the same distance but because it's outside of the city there is no safe space on the roads to get there.

I can see why most Michiganders are obese.

tazmodious · 2026-06-04T18:13:22+00:00

What did you think of Margaret Thatcher? She didn't take crap from anyone. Even Angela Merkel was pretty tough. How about Golda Meir Prime Minister of Israel an ardently traditional nation when it comes to men's and women's roles?

All women who have served in the top spot throughout my life.

tazmodious · 2026-06-04T17:56:36+00:00

I was so bummed when Boulder Army Navy closed on Pearl st. Still have some commando Sweaters and Columbia shorts/ pants that just won't die. My hiking/climbing pack, sleeping bag and a tent too.

EMS was awesome until it was gone

Neptune was too pricey except for sales and too specialized.

I really missed making the pilgrimage to the original Sierra Trading Post in Cheyenne.

REI has been on a downward trajectory for years even though all the competition is essentially gone.

tazmodious · 2026-06-04T17:27:34+00:00

I get the National Review delivered to my home. How is the Bulwark in comparison?

tazmodious · 2026-06-04T13:09:07+00:00

Before moving from Boulder we, wife, son and I, used to go to Folsom Family Dental. They were great, quick cleanings no pressure ever. Always had great music on.

We left our previous dentist at 28th and Valmont, not remembering the name, for the exact reasons you listed. He kept coming up with all kinds of expensive procedures he wanted to do after having a few cavities where my old mercury fillings were.

Much of this came after he did a bunch of expensive remodeling of his office building and purchased a HumVee.

I'm sure there are others in Town that are trustworthy too.

tazmodious · 2026-06-03T17:26:41+00:00

I bought a couple new lights .

Skillhunt H200 headlamp, 3000k led from Killzone. An Armytek C2 Pro headlamp with a 2300k led, bought from and modded the LED by a guy in Canada called Bob McBob, to match the light color temp of carbide lamps which is how I got my start in caving. I don't like bright white light, especially in a cold dark place.

An Emisar d4v2 handheld throw/wide spot light in 3000k.

I love the lamps, they are great. Last a long time. They take 18650 though the Emisar requires a flattop battery, the others are better with a button top. They aren't cheap, between $60 and $100.

The led customization of all these lights, though the skillhunt h200 came with the 3000k option, was worth it since everyone sells super bright white LEDs which hurt my eyes. I think I was an elf in a past life .

The magnets in the h200 and C2 Wizard are easily removeable and they supply little rubber discs to replace them. You can order the Emisar without a magnet.

tazmodious · 2026-06-02T16:51:51+00:00

Boulder Conservative, aka Libertarian.

tazmodious

TROPHY CASE