What is life like in Oklahoma?

[KOPBET]

-28 degrees and 25" of snow on the ground. A week later it's 79 degrees and sunny. But no hurricanes.

 

[Thomas]

Teacher pay in Oklahoma is set at a minimum by state statute.

Most of the private schools and urban districts pay better than minimum (or so I am told.)

http://sde.state.ok.us/Teacher/Salary/default.html

 

[BReeves]

I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but Oklahoma is not the best place to live.

I was born and raised here, lived here my whole life except for a year that I spent in Arkansas going to school. Our politicians are pretty much morons and are running the whole state into the ground. We have a budget crisis still looming. I started my current job in December of 2008, six months later we took a 5% pay cut and I just barely made it through the lay offs by the skin of my teeth. My wife is a teacher and hasn't been able to find a full time teaching job here in the last 10 years that we've been married.

Because of the lack of funding in the educational system and the low pay for our teachers, most of the really talented teachers have defect from Oklahoma to $$$er pastures over the last 15 or 20 years, causing a drought of quality teachers here. Not good for your kids. (Hell, most school districts here aren't even paying their substitute teachers any more).

Crime isn't all the bad, but our roads suck and are littered with garbage. There's little to nothing to do that isn't weekend bar hoping, movies or Indian Casinos. Our educational system is in shambles and most of the school systems are laying off teachers, not hiring new ones. And we always get at least one, usually two major snow/ice storms that pretty much cripple the state every year. Our 2A situation is pretty much the same as Florida's and you have access to all the same NFA stuff so that shouldn't be a reason to leave.

Sure there's plenty of outdoors stuff and some state parks, but they are just run of the mill. Nothing super interesting. Given the easy access to the coast line and it's associated "scenery", the mostly mild climate, and all of the unique wildlife in Florida, I can't see a reason to leave for Oklahoma unless you are being offered a really, really good job.

Pretty sure you would be singing a different tune if you had ever lived in Florida or Southern California. I have lived in 13 states and look where I ended up. 5 years ago we bought 7 1/5 acres 20 minuits from down town Tulsa for 60,000. I can walk out my back door and shoot my guns without anybody caring. Our gas prices are always some of the lowest in the nation and the cost of living doesn't require a 6 figure income just to survive.

 

[Shootin 4 Fun]

I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but Oklahoma is not the best place to live.

I was born and raised here, lived here my whole life except for a year that I spent in Arkansas going to school. Our politicians are pretty much morons and are running the whole state into the ground. We have a budget crisis still looming.

Yeah, we're the only state experiencing this problem.

I started my current job in December of 2008, six months later we took a 5% pay cut and I just barely made it through the lay offs by the skin of my teeth.

This is happening in every state.

My wife is a teacher and hasn't been able to find a full time teaching job here in the last 10 years that we've been married.

There's gotta be more to this story.

Because of the lack of funding in the educational system and the low pay for our teachers, most of the really talented teachers have defect from Oklahoma to $$$er pastures over the last 15 or 20 years, causing a drought of quality teachers here. Not good for your kids. (Hell, most school districts here aren't even paying their substitute teachers any more).

Yet....your wife can't find a teaching job.

Crime isn't all the bad, but our roads suck and are littered with garbage.

The roads do suck, but it seems like they are all under construction.

There's little to nothing to do that isn't weekend bar hoping, movies or Indian Casinos.

You just aren't looking hard enough.

Our educational system is in shambles and most of the school systems are laying off teachers, not hiring new ones.

You've already covered this, except you said that the schools can't find good teachers...which is it?

And we always get at least one, usually two major snow/ice storms that pretty much cripple the state every year.

oh waaa waaa

Our 2A situation is pretty much the same as Florida's and you have access to all the same NFA stuff so that shouldn't be a reason to leave.

Finally, something positive.

Sure there's plenty of outdoors stuff and some state parks, but they are just run of the mill. Nothing super interesting. Given the easy access to the coast line and it's associated "scenery", the mostly mild climate, and all of the unique wildlife in Florida, I can't see a reason to leave for Oklahoma unless you are being offered a really, really good job.

why are you still here?

 

[Roadking Larry]

I've lived all over the country, both coasts and the FL panhandle, New England and Hawaii. When I got out of the Navy I came back to Oklahoma.

Evey state has it's good and bad. You just have to decide if the good out weighs the bad.

 

[shooterdave]

I hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but Oklahoma is not the best place to live.

I was born and raised here, lived here my whole life except for a year that I spent in Arkansas going to school. Our politicians are pretty much morons and are running the whole state into the ground. We have a budget crisis still looming. I started my current job in December of 2008, six months later we took a 5% pay cut and I just barely made it through the lay offs by the skin of my teeth. My wife is a teacher and hasn't been able to find a full time teaching job here in the last 10 years that we've been married.

Because of the lack of funding in the educational system and the low pay for our teachers, most of the really talented teachers have defect from Oklahoma to $$$er pastures over the last 15 or 20 years, causing a drought of quality teachers here. Not good for your kids. (Hell, most school districts here aren't even paying their substitute teachers any more).

Crime isn't all the bad, but our roads suck and are littered with garbage. There's little to nothing to do that isn't weekend bar hoping, movies or Indian Casinos. Our educational system is in shambles and most of the school systems are laying off teachers, not hiring new ones. And we always get at least one, usually two major snow/ice storms that pretty much cripple the state every year. Our 2A situation is pretty much the same as Florida's and you have access to all the same NFA stuff so that shouldn't be a reason to leave.

Sure there's plenty of outdoors stuff and some state parks, but they are just run of the mill. Nothing super interesting. Given the easy access to the coast line and it's associated "scenery", the mostly mild climate, and all of the unique wildlife in Florida, I can't see a reason to leave for Oklahoma unless you are being offered a really, really good job.

Sounds like you and the guy from Florida need to sell each other you homes. It also sounds like Oklahoma as a whole would win on both accounts...BTW, I am a State employee and my wife teaches. Guess what? We are both employeed and have been for over a decade with the State. As a State, we may be a bit short in the accounting dept, but at least we can count that high! Many states are looking at Billions and tens of Billions of shortfall. Oklahoma is looking and appx. a 500M shortfall from the plateau of a couple of years ago. The state has already taken many steps to make up the difference in early retirements, lower FTE through attrition, steamlining of some departments' management style, etc. My agency has been furloughing 8 hrs. a month all of this physical year. The point is: as a state, we are doing something about it, not just whining on CNN. As for your wife not being able to land a full-time teaching job for 10 years, maybe she could get certified in a few more subjects to be more marketable? That or be willing to commute a bit? I know lots of teachers and none are having problems finding jobs.
Oklahoma is a great place to live. That being said, I dont expect fancy digs if I go to a state park to stay, I know the roads suck, so I drive a truck, I like talking to my townsfolk at the store or bank, I don't really have any neighbors so I cant comment on that. Yes, the cell phone service is $hitty in some spots, but im not all that excited about getting calls in those places. If I go to Pushmataha County for the weekend it probably has a lot to do with getting away from the cell phone and what it represents.

Bottom Line:
If you are looking for hustle and bustle, the fast lane, jet setting, etc. Oklahoma is probably not for you. If you expect six figure salaries as a second-grade teacher, better go elsewhere. If you need an autobahn-smooth super freeway for your fancy sportscar you might want to look into another region of the US or even Europe. However, If you are tired of all that crap and people who think they need it, this is a good place the set up house. It is cheap to live, we still have property that can be bought for a decent price, Schools are good enough if you do your part as a parent, and you can go to Tulsa or OKC a couple times a year to remember why you moved into the sticks in the first place...

 

[gearys 5600]

Yeah, we're the only state experiencing this problem.



This is happening in every state.



There's gotta be more to this story.



Yet....your wife can't find a teaching job.




The roads do suck, but it seems like they are all under construction.



You just aren't looking hard enough.




You've already covered this, except you said that the schools can't find good teachers...which is it?



oh waaa waaa



Finally, something positive.




why are you still here?

LOL I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Biggsly]

It has goods and bads, just like most places. I get sick of the wind and the dirt. The east side of Oklahoma is pretty, but the rest is flat with nothing to look at. On the other hand, we have alot of good people here and we have good gun laws.

 

[jp7mag]

I have been living in Oklahoma for 13 years and really like it here. I grew up in Houston and also lived in North Dakota and Virginia so I feel I have a good perspective on how OK compares to other parts of the country. I moved here to go to school and didn't want to leave. We do have some good schools here but they are not all good so if that is important to you it is worth some research before moving. I have lived and Norman, Mustang and recently moved to Edmond. They are all great places but Edmond is my favorite so far and it is usually rated high by national publications as a good place to live, work and raise a family. Some aspects feel like a smaller community and the people are friendly but you have good college and pro sports just down the road.

http://www.familycircle.com/family-fun/money/10-best-towns-for-families-2010/?page=1

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL4023200.html

 

[cktad]

I was born and raised in NE Oklahoma but have lived in northern and southern California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Branson, Missouri. I retired at Branson and moved back to NE Oklahoma as my wife and I have family here. I personally love NW Arkansas/SW Missouri, fantastic motorcycle riding country. The countryside is more scenic, the people are just as friendly and the weather was nicer. Fishing and hunting is also as good or better than in Oklahoma. I stay here because of family but really wish I was back in the Ozarks.
Roadking Larry is right as all states have pros and cons.