I do not know much about central MI.

Lived ten miles north of Petoskey just outside of a little burg called Alanson for almost 25 years.

Great area for hunting/fishing, Golf, skiing, and snowmobiling.

Winters were quite harsh, very cold with LOTS of snow. Republicans ran unopposed in most local elections.

quote:

Originally posted by LtJL:
Ohio and Michigan had a war once. (really) They lost and had to keep Detroit.

Good stuff! (Ohio native, here)

Wife is from Cadillac, she even got a chuckle out of that.

Consolation prize for Michigan in the border "war" with Ohio was the Upper Peninsula. A win as far as I'm concerned.

Known as the Toledo war it was a series of bloodless skirmishes between the territory of Michigan and the state of Ohio.

This should clear up the details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War

The following resulted from the war
Ohio claimed Toledo
Michigan was granted the Upper Peninsula
-- I've been to both trust me, Michigan won

Michiganders were nicknamed Wolverines, thinking it was an insult it was actually a compliment as the animal is so vicious it will pick up a pissed off honey badger and beat you with it, simply because it can.

Ohioans are known as buckeyes, a hairless poisonous nut

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:


Michiganders were nicknamed Wolverines, thinking it was an insult it was actually a compliment as the animal is so vicious it will pick up a pissed off honey badger and beat you with it, simply because it can.

Ohioans are known as buckeyes, a hairless poisonous nut

I'm from the Midland area. This state has four well defined and differentiated seasons, and plenty of outdoor recreation from hunting to fishing to hiking and dirt bike or atv trails along with just about anything in between.

Property taxes vary widely depending on location. If you're in a city or highly desirable location, expect to pay quite a lot. As you may expect, smaller towns and rural areas tend to be more reasonable regarding taxes. Make sure to do your research though.

Cadillac is a decent bit farther north than what I'd consider the central Michigan area (Midland, Mount Pleasant, Alma, etc). The terrain is mostly rolling to outright hilly up there.

I was looking around some more, and found White Cloud. Seems a nice area that meets what I want, and is relatively close to Grand Rapids. Anyone know this area, and can comment. I wonder, what airport do you folks in the middle use, to catch major carrier domestic, and international flights? Thanks.

2tonic,

Wife said they fly out of Traverse City domestic most times or Detroit.

She doesn't know much about White Cloud though.

quote:

Originally posted by 2tonicP220:
Thanks a lot everybody. How does handgun registration work - Do you do it with self completed forms, or is a dealer/local Gov involved ($$$). Is an 03/C&R FFL license fully valid? I had looked at the Cadillac area before posting, and found some really nice homes for reasonable cost - Much nicer condition for $$$ spent, then around my area.

I know it is hard to answer, but how is the vibe of the area? Does it feel insular, friendly but reserved, hostile to outsiders? I have never had a problem anywhere, as I respect local customs, and don't try to make my new home, like the last. Seems the drug problem (Meth/opiates) is rampant everywhere anymore, and I wonder about home break-ins, in the more rural areas?

Thanks.

I live in Kent County near Grand Rapids and love the area. You'll have no problem getting along with people. Most are very friendly in that classic Midwest sense. Crime is a lot lower than on the east side of the state; even Grand Rapids is considered low crime for its size. You do get a lot of home for your buck here.

I am not a Class III, but I am sure those federal licenses are fully valid here.

To purchase a pistol, if you have a CPL you can buy and take home same day. There is registration paperwork that is filled out in triplicate at the time of purchase, and one copy goes to your local PD within 10 days of purchase. You keep a copy and the seller keeps a copy. If no CPL, you have to get a permit to purchase from your local PD before buying the gun, and then the procedure is the same.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I'll be happy to help.

Grand Rapids is a really nice area, includig GR itself. Went there for a show a while back, kicked around downtown for a few hours before the show and felt very safe. Clean with lots of interesting things to see & do. Multiple entertainment venues. I don't like cities/crowds but I liked GR.

Thanks so much Fellas. I saw where Grand Rapids was in the top five places in the US, for speed of homes going under contract... Must be doing something right.

Glad to hear this part of MI has traditional Midwest values. I went to university in Indiana, lived there in small towns for 15 years, and know well of what you speak. I now understand the procedure for buying handguns, but how about the procedure for the 15 or so, I would be bringing with me if I should move to MI?

One last question. Do any of you in the area do Airbnb, or have a guest house I could rent, if I come up to the area for a look around? I'm liking what I am hearing, and have seen some really nice homes, that speak to me. Can anyone recommend a good buyers agent I might call? Thanks again everyone.

Just checked an auto insurance quote from USAA, for a similar MI area - It doubles in MI! Dang, 36 years on the road, no accidents, and no tickets. Seems kinda crazy.

quote:

Originally posted by 2tonicP220:
... but how about the procedure for the 15 or so, I would be bringing with me if I should move to MI?
.

I would contact the local police department where you are moving and ask them the procedure they want you to follow. When I moved here I had a few handguns already and I ended up having to bring each one to the police department where they did a "safety inspection" which simply means they registered each one.

quote:

Originally posted by 2tonicP220:
I was looking around some more, and found White Cloud. Seems a nice area that meets what I want, and is relatively close to Grand Rapids. Anyone know this area, and can comment. I wonder, what airport do you folks in the middle use, to catch major carrier domestic, and international flights? Thanks.

White Cloud is a rather impoverished area. Some recent troubles with Meth and Heroin

To P220,

Your one comment says it all about living in Northern Michigan. We do not like people who come here from out of state or downstate and try to change our area into what they just left. I would think you would fit right in.

Getting your CPL is easy. Open carry requires nothing and is becoming more common, at least in more rural areas. Probably not yet accepted very well in Marquette,ask Yooper Sig

quote:

Originally posted by LtJL:
I live on the Ohio side of the line. We have a big sign that says Welcome to Ohio. Please Wipe Your Feet. Ohio and Michigan had a war once. (really) They lost and had to keep Detroit.

More than a little revisionist.

Congress stepped in and brokered a settlement. Michigan gave up Toledo in return for what became Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

We definitely got the better deal, in every respect

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
Michiganders were nicknamed Wolverines, thinking it was an insult it was actually a compliment as the animal is so vicious it will pick up a pissed off honey badger and beat you with it, simply because it can.

"Michigander" is also an insult, which is why I refuse to use the word.

Other Michigan residents may regard themselves as "silly geese," but, I'm a Michiganian.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Politically, it's a blue state these days.

Only in national elections, and, even then: Not entirely.

Legislature is overwhelmingly Republican, as is the State Supreme Court and as have been the last two of three Governors. Most of the leftism nutjobbery is limited to Detroit, the Tri-cities area, Lansing, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Infrastructure is falling apart.

Not so much, any more.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Summers are hot and humid, winters can be a bitch with lake effect snow.

(Looks outside...)

Sunny, dry and a high of 70°F predicted today, with a 30% chance of scatter showers.

Yes: Summers can be hot and humid. Yes: Winters can get bitterly cold and quite snowy. But, compared to elsewhere in the country: We actually have mostly pretty moderate weather. No hurricanes or typhoons. Few tornadoes, and most of those usually F2 or F1. Most of the really deep snow is on the west side of the state (that's where all the lake effect snow occurs) and north of the middle of the LP. No earthquakes of consequence. Few significant forest fires.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I have exactly zero interest in going back.

That works out well, then, as we have exactly zero interest in having you back

Todays weather in the Yoop:
55. Showers. Very wet June, possibly record breaking by the end of the month.
Oh... we have very long days north of the 45Th in summer. Doesn't get dark until 10.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
I have exactly zero interest in going back.

That works out well, then, as we have exactly zero interest in having you back

Glad to hear the infrastructure is getting some attention.

If we don't sell the house this summer (and it's not looking good, not even a nibble since listed) we'll be taking our biennial trip to Mount Pleasant to visit family. Oldest brother lives there, we usually have a jackleg family reunion whenever I can manage to make it back.

I promise I won't stay tho...