Where everybody is from?

[westbrook]

Hi Scout! ya sneaked in!

[mom11]

What's wrong with Southern Kentucky?

 

Guess it depends on what you want. The schools are quite bad, but I think are being forced to improve, although this seems to happen very slowly. There is an over 30% rate of children, that don't graduate. Few go to college.

 

There is limited employment, which of course, goes hand in hand, with a high drop out rate.

 

Things that have been in place throughout much of the country for decades, aren't in place here...There is no building dept. for the county here. Yes...This is nice, if you want to add a deck on etc. BUT..It is actually the "Enron" of our county. Most peoples' homes, are their biggest investment and homes here, are VERY poorly built, unless one is lucky enough to have an exceptionally honest builder. Home owners ins. is much higher, because the homes aren't inspected.

 

It takes a long time to fit in here. This is a very territorial area. People are usually born here and die here. Newcomers aren't always welcomed. We have lots of friends now, but actually most aren't from here or, surprisingly, are Mennonite or Amish. I am not aware of any Georgians moving here and haven't heard any negative comments about that happening.

 

It also depends on what your needs are. I had 10,000 miles of driving to get my chicks to the specialists we needed, last year. I haven't tallied this years mileage. Services for children with special needs are much more sparse here, then they were in Michigan. I DID NOT want to move here, because I knew we wouldn't have the services my chicks needed and I was right. However, since I wasn't the one with a penis, I lost that battle and it has been exhausting.

 

We do have a long growing season. However, the summer is so extremely hot, that many people don't even try and garden. We are surrounded with farmland and it took me months to find someone with a tractor, that had a plow, that was willing to plow, for an OUTSIDER, even for $$. The temps and humidity can run 90-100 or more, week after week and it is too miserable to do anything, unless you are STUPID me and very determined to have a garden.

 

There is are many wonderful Mennonite and Amish communities here and they do garden and sell their produce for very reasonable prices.

 

Gas is just about the same price here as anywhere else...Way too much, so you need to factor in lots of driving and $$ for gas. You will need to drive a distance for most everything.

 

If you home school, there is little more to do than fill out a simple form, stating your intent to home school and submit it to your school district prior to the start of school. You are free to teach whatever curriculum you choose. You only need to keep track of your days of school. The school system does not like home schoolers here, because of the fairly large number of them and the amount of money they feel they take away from the schools, but so far...They leave us alone.

 

Land is cheap, at least in our county. Houses can be too, but you must be very careful, when house shopping. You can do pretty much whatever you want, at least on rural property. I put a 300 gallon gas tank here, with no questions, no permits, no inspections...Just $$. They must be very liberal with gun requirements, they go off any time, any day, even in the subdivisions, so it must be easy to buy one and a lot of freedom, as to when you can target shoot etc. If you hunt, you would love it here...Right here, on MY property...You could have ALL my stinkin, garden eating deer...Bunnies too!

 

So...No I don't like it here and didn't come willingly. Living here, has only made life so much harder. You all have different lives and needs and it may be perfect for you. I'm old now and am sure this is where I'll have to stay. I wouldn't move my chicks again..It isn't fair to drag them all over, for no good reason.

That has happened too many times already!

 

I did pick up some local real estate papers today, in case some of you homestead hunters wanted to check out the prices here. If you want one, just PM your address to me. You could at least do a little price comparing. It might just be the right place for you...Just wasn't for my chicks and myself. Twice now, we have been uprooted, for no dang good reason...leaving behind older siblings each time..I won't do that again...It isn't worth it. Most of you don't have this many chicks to leave behind...Might just work for you!

[scout]

hey happy camper!

where in orange county?

i've lived in hyde park, wappingers, across the river to pine bush (burlingham), then, my favorite, new paltz.

[Pixie]

I live in BC Canada. A beautiful little town.

 

[Aint2nuts]

What part of Kentucky are you in? I am looking for land, with a house, but can't (not won't) pay much. I can only afford about 400 a MONTH, and that would be stretching things.

[mom11]

HI Aint2nuts!

 

There is land here that will qualify for Farmer's Home Loans. I don't know all the details, but that is how we bought our first house 33 years ago. The payment is adjusted according to your income. Actually, I think the interest is adjusted and goes up and down according to your income. I will see if I can find a number for you to call and see what the info. is now or I could go by the office and talk to someone. I checked to see if they still had this program and they do, but I just gave that info. to a friend, that didn't follow it up.

 

I think you said you have a disability. I could check around and see how difficult it would be for you to get proper care if you want.

 

Are you Mormon? If so, there is a cannery in Hendersonville, Tenn. about 50 miles from here. The couple running the cannery are lovely and have welcomed my chicks and myself with warm, open arms...We aren't Mormon. They will also allow me to can for anyone, that asks me. Last month I was able to bring a load back for one of the chicks' therapists...At least I got one taker!

There are, I think, 2, maybe 3 Mormon churches in Bowling Green. It takes about 25 mins, if it isn't during the rush hours, to get into BG, which is our closest city. They now have most anything, you would have to have..Except pediatric specialists. That is a big problem for my family, but I think they have many adult specialists.

 

I noticed you have some chicks about the same age as some of mine. If you came and wanted to HS, I am sure I could help you put together some kind of curriculum. I have tons of stuff and Nett has just grabbed a great deal...FREE...On lots of text books, so check them out. Maybe you could get some to save for the day, you may get to leave and you would be a step ahead. We are using a Latin centered, classical curriculum, which includes, Bible, Latin, Greek Mythology, Ancient Roman History, Astronomy, math, art, and each child is learning a musical instrument. I do not speak Latin, and actually this has been quite fun. We are learning a lot together, even our music.

 

I read your posts Aint2nuts...I know how badly to you want to, need to leave...If this place isn't right, maybe someone here can lead and help you find the right place. I live in Scottsville, Ky. As I said before, right under Bowling Green. It is about 150 miles to Louisville and about 70 or so to Nashville.

 

Our biscuits are right smack on the Tenn/Ky line. There is no income tax in Tenn and the area above us, is also very rural and could be quite cheap. That is Westmoreland, Tenn. Do they tax disability?...If so, that might be a problem. They only DON'T tax earned income...I think. They also have a very high sales tax, but if you are this close to Ky., you could just come to Ky. to shop. Tenn. is more restrictive, in regards to HS. I think you have to have BS/BA degree or be under an umbrella school or have your kids tested...I'm not clear on this, so maybe someone here could help you.

 

Anyway, if you want me to check into anything, let me know...I will pray you find your way out....I think you will do it, you seem to try so very hard. If you want my number, just PM me.

[Aint2nuts]

Well lets see you asked a few questions in there. I am disabled, all I need for my disabilities are a psych dr and a regular doctor. I don't have any special other needs like others I know (transfusions, special accomodations etc).

 

My income isn't taxable...none of it...

 

I would love to find out about Farmer's Home loans. I will google that and see what I come up with.

 

I am Mormon. Because of my disability I don't go to church, but the kids do. (I have a problem with crowds of people).

 

One of my daughters would love to be homeschooled. The other two wouldn't like it at all. They are very social and love to be around lots of other kids and friends. My one daughter (Katy) loves to be with me, and is a loner as I am.

 

 

[mom11]

Gotta get ready to take Aaron back to school, but HSing doesn't mean close the chicks up in the house...There are so many acitivities, that honestly you could almost be with other children, all day long, every single day. There is a wonderful, HS co-op in BG and our library has 6 programs a month, just for HS kids. We always go out to eat with the other children, right after. We take music at the conservatory, across the street from the library and the chicks are in two recitals a year.

 

Two of my little boys have extremely severe mental illness. That is the biggest problem for me, getting a qualified psychiatrist and when the older one has to be hospitalized, it is usually 100 to 180 miles away, for long periods of time. There is little here for children. I do not believe it is the same for adults. If you are interested in coming here, I can check for you.

 

Is disability...a state program or federal? If state, make sure you would still qualify here and the amount you would get. Also, could you get food stamps? That amount, I believe is different for different states...I could ask a friend that is on them. Actually, I have to go in and do the annual thing , for one of my boy's Medicaid Waiver on Oct. 1. I think it is the same lady, that does the food stamps here. Ky. does have some kind of insurance program for the children, but don't know how that works...Want me to check, when I go in? Mine get the Medicaid, because they are so severe, that the state waives our income and I think the boys get a different Medicaid. Basically KY. wants to make sure, I don't put them into an institution or they will pay big $$$, but I am SOoooo thankful to have this help!

 

OK...It is hot, hot here...Inside, now it is 88 degrees and when my electric bill almost hit $400, I turned the air OFF!

 

[Aint2nuts]

My kids don't have any really special medical needs. Ricky has anger issues related to his adoption. Most of those come out arguing with me. LOL He does see a counselor, but I have taken him off medication. Because my income is so low though, I would need medical insurance for the kids.

 

I don't get food stamps. I make a little too much to be able to qualify for it here between ssi, adoption assistance and child support. (2000 total for four of us).

 

I have a friend who is Lousisiana, who lives bwtween Baton Rouge and North of New Orleans, who runs a blue berry farm. She has 30 acres and is wanting to put mobiles on her property. My biggest problem with that is that I wouldn't be buying the mobile home, I would be renting it. That, even with the fact that she is willing to let me have farm animals, is not a really good thing to me. I want my own place. I don't mind a mobile home, as long as there is a storm cellar near by.

 

I will have to talk to my kids about homeschooling. If it is harder in Tennessee then Tennessee is out that is for sure. I have homeschooled my kids in the past, but one day I was sick, and they took off on me (I was asleep, Ricky was mad at me, they went on an adventure) Anyway, long story short, they called in social services, and by the following week the kids were back enrolled in school.

 

I am afraid of not being able to handle them and keep up with the homeschooling when I get sick.

 

 

[mom11]

If your son has a pysch. problem, he also may qualify for disability $$. I know this comes off of the father's child support, but if it is more than the child support, this might give you a little bump in $. I've known several kids that have gotten this and they got over $700 a month.

 

I thought if the parent qualified for SSI, the children also got something??

 

If your son has anger and aggression issues, he may qualify for Impact Plus, which is a free program for kids. This or Medicaid can give you respite. The law has changed and you can now hire, whoever you want, family, friends etc. They have to pass a criminal check. The respite worker would come to your home and care for your children, as you direct. If they are HS, you just leave the school work for the respite worker. Your children are old enough to work somewhat independently. You could have a supplemental plan for when you might be ill or gone. Then when you are home, accelerate what you do with them. I put down my school year as July 1-July 1, the next year. That way, I can get my days in over an entire year. If I was sick, they could read, do projects, or workbook pages etc. Now, they have to do 4 pages of math and write their prayers in Latin, each morning. I try and do this 7 days a week, while I am fixing breakfast.(If my sister spills the beans about weekends and summer breaks...She is dead meat!) I often do the readings at bedtime, because this is a literary curriculum and it is just like reading bedtime stories to them. They have at least one drawing each week in Bible, Ancient Roman History, and Greek Mythology. They don't need me for this. Astronomy is done with note booking and lots of hands on activities and experiments, but in a pinch, you could get a lot of them done, ahead, in even a weekend. We get Art through the library program and music privately. I help them with anything they need. Latin is new to us all , so we do that together. I am having the kids do writing on the computer, since 3 of the boys have severe hand tremors.

 

NASA will literally send you volumes of stuff to use for astronomy. All the chicks are studying the same classes, taught together. They then work at their own level. They all love this curriculum, but boys especially, since it is high action...Plenty of monsters, blood and guts...Surprisingly my little, girlie girl, loves it too.

 

Just think about it. You will know what is right for your family. I'm just sending you some options.

[Aint2nuts]

My adopted kids get their medical until they turn 18. They should also get support from the state of California until they turn 18 too. If I didn't get that money, since I because disabled, I don't know what I would do. I wouldn't be able to survive. That is part of the reason I want to move somewhere there is a lower cost of living. I actually thought about Mexico, but I am too lazy to learn to speak Spanish. Besides, I like my freedom.

 

 

[mom11]

Be careful...Some states honor the adoptions in another state, such as providing medical care, but some don't. I think it is a state by state thing. Your kids would probably still qualify for the state insurance program, but make sure.

[Cowgirl]

Born in Oklahoma. I've lived in Illinois for most of my life, with one brief detour into Missouri (disastrous for me on a personal level, but the state is beautiful). I love Illinois, its four seasons, its wonderful climate for growing, its mixed forests (yes it is not all corn here), and the peace and quiet of the countryside (OK, with the exceptions of planting and harvest).

[Jeepers]

I was born and raised in Indiana. I lived a few years in Florida as a young child. DH was in the Air Force so we've lived in Clifornia, Texas, Taiwan and Japan. Due to a job transfer (his) I'm now in Ohio. Been here for 17 years. I like it but I'm a Hoosier at heart.

[Clovis]

I was born and still live in the same small county in S. IL. Lived a few monts in the Chicago area in my early 20s and hated it. The only other place(s) I'd rather live are farther south in IL or in Kentucky or Tenn.

[mich@el]

I'm originally from there but now I'm here however, I'm planning on going back there sometime soon.