I'm considering a career change. I'm currently a calibration technician with the MS Army National Guard (federal Civil Service). I've put in a couple of applications with the FAA to be an air traffic controller. The location I'm applying for is in Olathe, KS. Just so you know, I was born in KC, MO and lived there until I was about five, then moved to FL. Most of my family on my dad's side still reside in the KC area (Blue Springs and Overland Park mostly).

I've looked on various websites about the stats and demographics of the areas, but I'd like some first-hand perspective of what it's like to live in this area. Some things I'd like to know:

- cost of living/housing market in general
- recreational activities - my wife and I are not outdoorsy types, so fishing/hunting is not our bag. She likes cultural type stuff (art, theater, and such), I love to downhill ski and, of course, I dig a good car enthusiast scene.
- attitude of the people in general - friendly, snobbish, open-minded, etc.
- traffic
- any unusual growth or decline of the population, businesses, etc.
- political climate (liberal, conservative)
- law enforcement. I know this sounds a bit strange, but I don't want to end up in some psuedo-**** gustapo police state (like California )

Any other tidbits of info you could pass on to me would be great.

GO CHIEFS!!!

 

I PM'd you a lengthy response which I though was too long to put here.

 

Cold in winter, nasty heat in summer. There are some really good places to eat. People are ok. Don't see many nice cars out there. But then again, I live in socal. Used to go out there to test for Sprint. Freeways are a disaster, takes them forever to finish working on them. It's real flat out there, I don't know where you would ski.

 

worst fking state ever next to Oklahoma. Freeways outside KC are a joke.

 

Yeah, not a lot of nicer cars which makes meets tough from what I can gather. I may make it there myself in the future. Guess I'll have the only Z around.

 

Not anymore. Freakin Z's EVERYWHERE. I was in Springfield saturday..that small *** town we prolly saw 15 Z's.pissed me off, every time we saw one my friends would give me **** because they know I want one and cant drive one. lol even crumb on the map rural town Everton, Mo with population 312 people there are 3 Z's. 2 Intergaloose and a silver. Before June I never saw a Z going anywhere, now they are popping up everywhere. If you ever visit Springfield, Mo swing by *** Hospital and look at the Employee parking next to the E.R. 6 modded Z's all driven by female nurses.

 

sux, plus on on the harsh weather, freaking cold as a witches tit in the winter, hot as hell in the summer. big plus 1 on ****ty roads.

 

Yes, it can be hot here but the OP is from Mississippi so I don't think he's any stranger to heat. Besides, yesterday's high temp was only about 80 degrees. The 5 day forecast calls for 1 day at 90, 1 day at 91, and the other 3 days in the 80's. I'll take that in July!
Yes, the winters can be brutal but sometimes it can be so mild people play golf on Christmas and New Year's Day. Some winter's we get only 1 "significant" requiring the use of my snow blower. Last winter I used my blower 4 times I think.
In the past Missouri roads were rated the worst in the U.S. but MO has finally started spending some money and doing long overdue road work. I'm a traveling salesman and drive in numerous states. I can now drive 71 Hwy to Arkansas, I-70 to St. Louis, or I-29 heading towards the Iowa border without the roads totally trashing my car.
With weather anywhere, it's sometimes a crap shoot what you get.

 

I'm just glad the roads aren't as bad as Oklahoma though. I'll never forget going to Cement, Oklahoma for a funeral in march and potholes were so bad the tanau on my truck bounced open.

As for Winter...here's some pix of the Ice Storm that hit Jan. 12th and left us without power for 17 days.

 

Do you live around Springfield? KC had an ice storm 8 or so years ago and I was without electricity for a week and I live in the city limits of KC. I think St. louis got hit with the same storm that you did.

 

Yea I live outside Springfield and Willard.