(Vanity) Moving to Branson

[ConservativeChris]

Hi, sorry about this, I seldom post and never post vanities, however, the company I work for is moving to the Branson area of Missouri shortly, and I would like some of the same people who helped shred Dan Rather's "Fake but Accurate" document and the "G.I. Joe hostage" to help with the things I have heard (or haven't) about there.

1) How liberal are the School systems?
2) What can I expect from my neighbors, as far as my politics are concerned? (I’m not a liberal)
3) I have heard nothing but good things about the cost of living there, how is it really?
4) How hard is it to find auto parts? Can I find used parts?
5) If I tell them I’m a Nebraska Football fan will they really kill me and eat my kids?
6) I’ve seen lots of attractions, what can I do, as far as activities go, on a limited budget?
7) Are there any city buses or other public transportation? (I didn’t see any on my last visit.)
8) How about the gun laws, how liberal are they? Can I still shoot someone breaking in to my home and threatening my family?

These are only a few of the many questions I have, if you could answer any please do, if you think of something that I haven’t please post that as well, anything you could add would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time. ConservativeChris

[Red Badger]

4) How hard is it to find auto parts? Can I find used parts?

Just look at your neighbor's yards.................

[DuckFan4ever]

Hi Chris. I'm a school teacher in Portland Oregon, the only place Air America is a success. I believe I am there for a reason. We need the good teachers and students to go into the public schools and help make the culture a place where everyone of all political and religious persuasions are accepted. Regardless of a teachers personal politics, as long as they keep it out of the classroom it is fine. If you have kids you are placing in public schools, teach them how to deal with what they may face. They can make a difference for the school and countless other students there.

[null and void]

5) If I tell them I’m a Nebraska Football fan will they really kill me and eat my kids?

Well duh! They wouldn't eat you. Too stringy...

[spectre]

Have you ever been to Branson?

sw

[ConservativeChris]

Yes, I have visited there a couple of times. I need an insiders view though.

[ConservativeChris]

Too funny!

[spectre]

Oops, I went back and read you have been there.

The number one thing to do in Branson is Outlet Mall shopping, and take in a couple of shows that have been there forever.

The best Restaurant is the original version of the "Outback", where you can buy deep fried Alligator.

sw

[spectre]

Insiders view? Most everyone I've spoken with who work in Branson, live elsewhere! LOL.

sw

[rond]

Some answers:

1) Plenty of Osmonds in the Branson public schools.

2) The Ozarks is home to lots of people who hew to the "mind your own business and I'll mind mine" attitude.

3) Housing costs are -- relatively speaking -- lower. But gasoline isn't 19 cents a gallon.

4) O'Reilly for your auto parts. Plenty of salvage yards for used parts, too.

5) They will not eat your kids.

6) The shows, etc., can be frightfully pricey. Come up to Springfield, wander around Bass Pro, steer clear of the Wonders of Wildlife museum and it's a free window-shopping experience. Branson opens its waterfront retail spectacle this season, so more places to gawk.

7) No city bus in Branson, as far as I know.

8) Check your local prosecutor for details. Taney County is pretty conservative.

[Dogrobber]

An answer from Mid-Missouri
1) How liberal are the School systems?
Depends on where you are from and what you think "liberal" means. Branson is in southwestern Missouri. This is Bapist County. It is not a place where the homosexual lobby has a whole lot of sway.
2) What can I expect from my neighbors, as far as my politics are concerned? (I’m not a liberal)
See answer to #1. Missouri County people are not "liberal," they may be Democrats, but they are not liberal. Its sort of a real problem for them, being Democrat and not wanting to be lumped together with those coastal people.
3) I have heard nothing but good things about the cost of living there, how is it really?
You would not believe the kind of house you can get for your money around here. Local people complain on how much the prices have gone up in Branson and people who have come in from the coasts rave about how cheap it is. Generally, all other costs of living are much lower.
4) How hard is it to find auto parts? Can I find used parts?
Hey, sometimes all you have to do is go next door and your neighbor just might have the right part, either in his garage or on a car sitting out back on blocks.
Seriously, auto surplus yards are considered good business in Missouri and the best motorcycle surplus yard in three states is located of Highway 50 east of the Capital.
5) If I tell them I’m a Nebraska Football fan will they really kill me and eat my kids?
Yes. Be very afraid and lie.
6) I’ve seen lots of attractions, what can I do, as far as activities go, on a limited budget?
Can't really say, I have lived in Missouri since 2nd grade (42 years) and I have never been to Branson.
7) Are there any city buses or other public transportation? (I didn’t see any on my last visit.)
Don't think so (see answer #6). There is little public transport outside of the larger cities.
8) How about the gun laws, how liberal are they? Can I still shoot someone breaking in to my home and threatening my family?
Yes we have gun laws. They are not great, but not nearly like other states. A person over 21 can carry a concealed weapon in their car without a permit. A person over 23 can get a CCW permit if you meet the qualifications. If someone breaks into your home and threatens your family - well, as far as most outstate Missourians (people who don't live in St. Louis and Kansas City) that sucker's ticket to H$** is purchased, punched, validated and he is ready to board the down-bound train.

[phil1750]

I live 100 miles away. Life is slower in the Ozarks. Springfield is economic center of the area. Bass Pro Shop is free and like a museum, sporting trade show, and shopping rolled into one. Minor league baseball in town now is also cheap. Missouri State sports great football, baseball, and basketball teams. Cost of living is about the lowest in the US. Shopping in Branson is geared to tourist hohwever.

[jamaly]

Relax, and count your blessings. You are one of the luckiest people on earth. Branson is beautiful, the whole region is gorgeous. You will be close to Springfield, MO where you should be able to buy anything you could ever need. But, I would imagine that Branson has a good selection of every day items.

I have several relatives living in Springfield and it is a very nice size city, not a hick town at all. Some of the small towns around Branson might be cliquish; but, they should be used to strangers moving to town. The whole area has had a tourist boom for years and many people have moved there permanently.

Don't forget to treat yourself to a meal at Lambert's Cafe every chance you get.

[martin_fierro]

1) How liberal are the School systems?

(Missouri) Teacher Regrets Murderous Essay Assignment

(Missouri) Teacher shows nude videos to 7th-graders

Missing teen found, teacher [lover] charged in murder attempt

Ehhh, maybe it's just an aberration.

[painter]

I'm from Central Mo. Branson is in the Springfield area which is the most conservitave part of the state.

1) How liberal are the School systems?

2) What can I expect from my neighbors, as far as my politics are concerned? (I’m not a liberal) They are most likely conservative.

3) I have heard nothing but good things about the cost of living there, how is it really? What you have heard,the price of gas might be a little higher.

4) How hard is it to find auto parts? Can I find used parts? Depends on what you are looking for. If you own a Bently don't expect to find any used patrs.

5) If I tell them I’m a Nebraska Football fan will they really kill me and eat my kids? Don't,You can have a Cornhusker sticker on your car or truck and no one will care .But if you brag on them all the you will not make any friends.

6) I’ve seen lots of attractions, what can I do, as far as activities go, on a limited budget? Table Rock Lake is right there great place for camping,swimming,picknicking.boating,and decent scubadiving.

7) Are there any city buses or other public transportation? (I didn’t see any on my last visit.) That I don't know,not likely. I don't live there.

8) How about the gun laws, how liberal are they? Can I still shoot someone breaking in to my home and threatening my family? As I said above that area is the conservitive part of the state. If someone breaks into my house they will get blown away.

[street_lawyer]

(Vanity) Why should you be sorry about posting vanity? Every comment is a vanity of sorts. Yours just has a topic. We can all decide what to read and what not to read. Personally, I prefer vanity. Frankly the value to me of a news release that is copied and pasted here are the comments that member make about the article.

Keep writing and don’t worry about the fallout. Besides, you will learn from the comments because there are many people online in FR who are quite intelligent, can spell and are good writers. You want to know what they think of your writing if you want to be a good writer. Ignore the worthless comments; there will be some of those also.

[MineralMan]

"5) If I tell them I’m a Nebraska Football fan will they really kill me and eat my kids?"

Nah! Not enough meat on the kids. They'll cook you, instead, on a spit, applying bbq sauce every few revolutions. [grin]

[Prov3456]

We lived in the Branson area for 8 years, and our kids were born there. (The first time we took them back to visit, they were upset that we moved away. HA) IMHO, it is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.

The cost of living is lower than average, the people are God-fearing, friendly and very helpful.

The area tends Republican. Rep. Roy Blunt is the federal representative. (That's good, but he's not as conservative as my tastes prefer.) His son, Matt, is our current governor. Although there tend to be the "haves" and "have-nots" (Silver Dollar City owners/seasonal employees), the people like the government to stay out of their business, to leave them alone to raise their families, and to live as they please, in peace.

You don't say where you're from, but the pace of living in the Ozarks is slower than other areas. The joke was that when you called a plumber (or other handiman), he'd tell you, "I'll be there Tuesday,"--just not WHICH Tuesday.

Springfield is about an hour's drive north, and it is the "big" city. We used to go there to theater events, etc. The St. Louis Cardinals have a farm team that plays there. Besides the "country" and local attractions, Table Rock Lake is nearby, which provides lots of fishing and water-sports activities.

We loved the area, moved away only because the job took us elsewhere in Missouri. At one time, we considered retiring back to Branson/Springfield. We decided against it--because it was farther away from my family in Michigan, no other reason.

I highly recommend the area. If you move there expecting to like it and expecting to find friends and friendly people, you will not be disappointed!

[ConservativeChris]

Thank you all for your input. They (the replies) have been insightful and amusing, thank you again.

[ConservativeChris]

Sorry, I am from the Omaha Nebraska area, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.