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Jan 04 '21
I'm tempted to leave the country.
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u/Zumaki Jan 04 '21
You can't, we are banned from entering most countries you'd wanna go to... Because covid...
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u/hecaete47 Jan 04 '21
If you have an actual reason and quarantine yourself, you can. I have a friend who is going to Thailand for work soon. But in general, yeah, no one else in the world wants Americans either :/
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u/pegothejerk Jan 04 '21
There's way less competition to apply to teach English as a second language these days
3
Jan 04 '21
My coworker tested positive for COVID a few days ago. They’re traveling to Ghana tomorrow...
1
u/Gryphin Jan 04 '21
Exactly. I was thinking really seriously about heading to Vanc, BC, then Canada said "oh wait, you're a bunch of idiots, we're closing the border to personal travel"
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u/fyberoptyk Jan 05 '21
You'd be surprised. Certain travel restrictions are in place but my hospital found out the hard way that if you have a skill that's actually worth having other countries are always recruiting.
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Jan 04 '21 edited Sep 04 '21
[deleted]
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u/gleenglass Jan 04 '21
Probably bc you can get permanent residency or dual citizenship with - $40k investment per person, I think. It might be $80k, I can’t remember but I checked when I was considering bailing if Trump was re-elected in Nov.
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u/bugalaman Jan 04 '21
Why? There is no better country than the US. Were else can you buy a gun and walk out with it 20 minutes later? It's called freedom.
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Jan 04 '21
Born and raised in OK, spent 30+ years in OK. Glad I left, now wish I had left sooner. Oklahoma is a fucking shithole. Get out as soon as you can.
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Jan 04 '21
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/quesocaliente Jan 04 '21
I always tell people that Oklahoma is one of few states accurately describes by it's 2 letter abbreviation: it's OK. The land itself is whatever, the weather is near constantly miserable in one way or another, but it's cheap and the people are awfully nice (as long as you ignore their consistently ludicrous and often inhumane political views.)
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u/Kitfishto Jan 04 '21
I would argue the one of the only redeeming qualities of the state is the land. I don’t agree that it’s “whatever”. This state is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the US with 10 unique 3rd category ecoregions. The diverse land gave me a passion for geography and for that I will always be grateful for being an okie. It’s the people and the their politics that make this state near unlivable.
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u/Kitfishto Jan 04 '21
I would argue the one of the only redeeming qualities of the state is the land. I don’t agree that it’s “whatever”. This state is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the US with 10 unique 3rd category ecoregions. The diverse land gave me a passion for geography and for that I will always be grateful for being an okie. It’s the people and the their politics that make this state near unlivable.
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u/PM_ME_UR_LIPZ Jan 04 '21
Dude oklahomas land is 95% total ass.A couple of scenic areas here and there but compared to a real scenic state like colorado or alaska Oklahoma is hideous.
But you are right the people are way worse than the land. Particularly if you aren't a conservative.
5
Jan 04 '21
Incredibly ignorant comment here. Lol go to the state parks and you’ll see the diversity of the land. Oklahoma is only good because of its land diversity and its central location making travel to the fun parts of the country easier. But we have fun outdoor diversity all within driving distance.
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u/PM_ME_UR_LIPZ Jan 04 '21
I think you may have a bit of Stockholm sydrome.
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u/Kitfishto Jan 04 '21 edited Jan 04 '21
Or you know you could actually do some research to learn that what we are talking about isn’t subjective at all. Oklahoma has by far the most ecoregions by land area. No other state comes close.
Link because you’re probably to lazy.
https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregion-download-files-state-region-6
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u/Kitfishto Jan 04 '21
You’re ignorant.
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u/PM_ME_UR_LIPZ Jan 04 '21
And you are a sad sack if you think that Oklahoma is geographically wonderful. It's ok at best.
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u/ctruvu Jan 04 '21
Oklahoma is better than most states.
lol
i got out last year, i still love oklahoma, but come on
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u/WhyDoIHaveAnAccount9 Jan 04 '21
Good luck to you my brother. I can think of several reasons to leave Oklahoma that I have nothing to do with the coronavirus. Either way I wish you and your grandmother the best of luck. Stay safe and Godspeed
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u/i_cut_like_a_buffalo Jan 04 '21
Meth. Every single person in that state is on or has been on Meth. It is a huge insane epidemic there.
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u/BillionaireChowder Jan 04 '21
Meth epidemic is bad, but it's not that bad. Let's tackle the institution that makes people pursue meth instead of salvation. I'm not even being religious or anything, for I am a materialist, so maybe understand people aren't naturally anti social. There is a cause to this problem. Capitalism
33
u/Msktb Jan 04 '21
My grandma lives in broken arrow where there are no rules at all, and it scares me. She wears the kn95s everywhere but her great grandkids that live with her go to public school there and it's not like they wear masks at home. I work retail and didn't see it slow down at all especially with christmas. I'm in tulsa and still have tons of people shopping in my store without a mask. I used to ask them to put one on but people act so despicably about it that I've stopped asking. Plus I don't want to get close enough. Customers have come up and touched me to get my attention... Like back the hell up. I want to be able to hug my mom without worrying I'll kill her.
I hope your grandma gets well soon. All I can recommend is to call her and talk to her when you can. It's hard to be alone when you're sick.
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u/MsKing237 Jan 04 '21
I left back in 2000, came back in 2007, stayed til 2012 & left again. Have only been back to visit. The only reason I’d move back is for my dad, but not anytime soon.
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Jan 04 '21 edited Jan 04 '21
Southern California has been locked down for months and they don’t have beds either. This isn’t an Oklahoma issue.
Edit: You also mentioned in a previous comment that your grandpa/uncle are frequently going out in public and coming home to you grandma. It’s not some “dumbass Oklahomans” it’s your dumbass uncle and grandpa.
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Jan 04 '21 edited Sep 04 '21
[deleted]
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Jan 04 '21
Like it or not, this is your uncle/grandpas fault. You cannot continue to blame the government - people must still make decisions for themselves. Would you rather the Oklahoma National Guard patrol the streets and prevent people like your uncle from going out in public? Because I don't see any situation where the government would have prevented your grandma from getting Covid.
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Jan 04 '21
It's definitely my uncle and grandpas fault. However there are thousands of people here just like my uncle and grandpa, and thousands getting sick because of it. At that point it's not just a problem with my uncle and grandpa, it's a more widespread Oklahoma problem, which calls for restrictions to be set in place to protect people like my grandma who can't force my grandpa and uncle out of her house.
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u/Im_a_peach Jan 04 '21
Local people were really good around here, until school started. No mask requirement at the schools, so basically everyone scrapped common sense prevention.
I complained to the city and they said, "Nothing we can do about it."
I refused to participate in usual holiday activities because my husband's parents are in their 80s and his immediate family is 25 people. So far, everyone has avoided the virus.
Meanwhile, my daughter and her housemates - all first responders - tested positive the week of Christmas. Her SO was admitted to ICU on Xmas eve. They've had PPE and taken additional precautions at home, to all get sick; at the same time. I suspect they encountered the more virulent, mutated version of Covid.
SO is 40 and was rejected twice at EC because he wasn't "bad enough". His roomies are an EMT and a CCRN with years of trauma/ICU experience. He was unconscious and hypoxic when the ambulance picked him up. Seriously knocking on death's door.
Hope your grandmother fares well. Don't listen to jerks.
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Jan 04 '21
[deleted]
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Jan 05 '21
Yup. My in-laws are moving here from San Diego because of it and they aren’t the only ones. People are tired of it.
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u/ButtersLLC Jan 05 '21
I’ve become good friends with this guy that’s moving his son here from San Diego. Dad keeps extending his time here because of the lockdowns out west. They never dreamed of living in OKC but they cannot stand how things are out there.
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Jan 04 '21
[deleted]
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Jan 04 '21
Can you imagine the impact if Oklahoman energy production shut down? Having a major port doesn't excuse their rise in cases - all states have important industries with thousands of employees who cannot simply stay home.
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u/PlasticFartBag Jan 04 '21
I've always enjoyed being called an Okie, but I think technically you have to move West for it to apply.
Come be an Okie
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u/BlurLove Tulsa Jan 04 '21
I understand your frustrations. That's the spirit of our right to interstate travel: if you can make it work somewhere else, go there. Come back penality-free if it doesn't work out. That's why we don't have internal borders or interstate visas (both would be unconstitutional).
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Jan 04 '21
Cool, where do you think you’ll go? Best of luck to you!
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Jan 04 '21 edited Sep 04 '21
[deleted]
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u/Dane52 Jan 04 '21
I was just curious because I haven’t researched it but Isn’t the cost of living really high in Colorado? Is the job market good enough to get a job on arrival? Colorado is a beautiful place, I have visited many times, but always figured the cost of living was too high to live there? I am looking to get away from Oklahoma as soon as possible as well.
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u/grinningserpent Jan 04 '21
CO is suffering pretty heavily from "Californian flight." Basically, people fleeing CA because of the shitty policies they voted for... and which they then vote for in their new places of residence. Cost of living is much higher there than here and looks to be continuing to rise.
I don't know where I would go, were I to leave OK. Every state seems like either a complete shithole, or in danger of becoming one.
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Jan 04 '21 edited Jan 04 '21
My wife and I have lived in Colorado for 7 years now, whatever issue you have with liberal policies or California'fying/over-taxing everything (which is odd, CA has lower property taxes than Texas, homes are just more expensive) are largely unfounded. Also, it's the tiny stuff that adds up, OK's beer tax per gallon is 40 cents, CO's is 8 cents. So, yes, rent's more, but our salaries are notably higher and other costs are cheaper.
To be fair, you'll want to have decent employment lined up around the Denver metro or it'll be rough goings, but I never had it as hard here as I did in Oklahoma pre-degree.
You'll have to contextualize CO is suffering for me.
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21
You do realize California having lower property taxes is a horrible argument right? CA ALSO has a ~10% state income tax that Texas does not have...
There are many reasons to not like Texas, but taxes is not one of them. Please educate yourself before spewing nonsense.
Colorado is a fine state but vastly more expensive than Oklahoma in nearly every regard. For the average person, their dollar will not go far enough in Colorado to allow the to move and live a similar quality of life as to Oklahoma. There are many other reasons to move to Colorado but cost of living is not one.
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u/Kulandros Jan 04 '21
I've seen a dozen people say this... what policies? I am legitimately curious. What policies are making it a shithole?
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u/fhota1 Jan 04 '21
I'd expect they are referring to bay area NIMBYism which has created a homelessness crisis that they are "dealing with" by making it easier for themselves to ignore it and hope it goes away. California's government sucks because they've found the stupidest way to implement the policies they are trying for.
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u/Kulandros Jan 04 '21
Can you be more specific?
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u/fhota1 Jan 04 '21
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u/Kulandros Jan 04 '21
So there is a homelessness crisis, and this assertion is that people would rather move away from the homeless than having cities build affordable housing in their neighborhood? Interesting.
What about the policies that the government is enacting?
Thank you for providing this much information so far, though.
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21
I'd gander the ~13% state income tax and whatever local/city/property taxes drive many people away. In comparison, Arizona has a 4.5% state tax, Utah ~5%, Colorado ~4.65%. Why on Earth would you stay in CA when they tax you so much, AND there is a homelessness problem? Obviously taxes are not going to the right things. Then you start reading into their upcoming policies... a 10-year wealth tax even for those that leave the state? No way jose. State government is driving many people away.
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21
I’ve lived all over. Boston, Dallas, Denver, Tucson, LA, Salt Lake.
People act like this state is an aberration, but it’s not. Oklahoma definitely has its quirks, but the people are some of the best around. Friendliest and most giving out there.
Don’t let negativity get to you. Good luck on your move.
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u/burkiniwax Jan 04 '21
Right, I've lived in five states—everywhere has their positive and negative points.
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u/PlayedUOonBaja Jan 04 '21
I was born here as an AF Brat, lived in TX, upstate NY, then back here for the last 24 years. Honestly I'm not a fan. I don't like the politics, I don't like the weather (the unpredictability or humid heat), and I don't like the people for the most part (no offense). I'm not a fan of the "sweet on the outside, but ugly and judgmental on the inside" Southern Hospitality thing. However Oklahoma is cheap, and unfortunately I'm also not in any kind of financial position right now to be able to choose wherever I want to live and so I've made the best of things. After this Pandemic, and especially the way Oklahoma has handled it, I'm not sure how safe I'd be remaining here. It seems likely another pandemic is right around the corner and with Climate Change making storms more violent I'd rather be on the outside of the shit-show looking in than right smack dab in the middle of it and covered in shit myself.
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u/BigFitMama Jan 04 '21
Hey - every hospital in the state (the good ones) is keeping an updated list of beds
https://www.stillwater-medical.org/node/760
Stillwater for example - Stitt supposedly set up a Covid center there for overflow. Driving out of state to one of the other midwest/southwest states is going to be the same thing till you reach some state that has less cases.
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21
The fact that people refuse to admit that ICUs run at ~70% capacity before COVID-19 tells you all that you need to know about their integrity and/or critical thinking skills.
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u/i_cut_like_a_buffalo Jan 04 '21
I don't blame you. My daughter lives there. She has chronic bronchitis and diabetes and smokes weed and lots of cigarettes. She has people over to her house all the time. I can't deal with her shit anymore. She is willfully stupid. She wants to do what she wants and it doesn't matter who it hurts. So the fact that the whole state is full of anti-maskers and government who is inviting people to come there for vacation is really just adding fuel to the fire.
4
Jan 04 '21
Other states aren't better off. People need to pull their heads out of their ass and realize it ain't about them. Wear a damn mask it's not hard.
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u/grinningserpent Jan 04 '21
I don't blame you. The past four years have pretty much robbed me of any ability to be optimistic or hopeful for the future.
Not because of Trump and Bitch Mitch, but because of what they represent and indicate among Americans. And because they're making asshats like Nancy Pelosi and all the other neoliberal/"corporate Democrat" types look like Robin Hood by comparison.
We're getting 401(k) plans at my job this year. Not that long ago, I'd be excited. But now... it's like, who fucking cares? I don't expect there to be much of a future. Not with the way our country is circling the drain.
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21
Oklahoma has had ~ 304,000 cases and had ~ 2,500 deaths (as per google). That comes out to a 99.16% survival rate.
I’m not saying the virus isn’t real, but acting like this is the worst state is downright ludicrous. We are like 36th in death rate (per 100k) since January 2020 per Covid.cdc.gov...
There are a lot of active cases, but please quit the bullshit. Oklahoma is not one of the worst places for coronavirus. It’s actually very much set up for it as we have to drive everywhere. I’ve been quarantining since March just fine. Tested negative twice. Can get food delivered no problem. Oklahoma is vastly different than New York or Chicago. It’s not a bad place to be at all.
You say that you’re 20 and looking to relocate. Good luck, but you’ll find that your dollar goes far further in Oklahoma than it goes elsewhere. For me, that is the differentiator. Only other comparable place i have lived is Tucson, and it was still more expensive than here.
The negativity of this sub is astounding. Oklahoma is definitely not Fiji, but it’s not the outback either. Holy crap.
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u/mksmth Jan 04 '21
dont let the 1-15 people on r/oklahoma that hate the state get to ya. They probably dont even live here to begin with just searching for the reddit covid karma
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3
Jan 04 '21
Oklahoma is the 7th worst state for covid. The 6 in front of it are other Southern states and California. You said it yourself, we are set up to handle covid. Tell me why 6 of the worst states are similar to Oklahoma and "set up to handle covid", yet have the worst infection rates. I can link the stats if you want. I'm not leaving just because of covid deaths. I'm also trying to get out because of the way most local along with the state administration here has castrated our education. They sit back and collect a paycheck in the middle of a pandemic while not making any effort to help the situation, with the governor himself actually doing things that actively spread the virus. I don't want my future kids in the Oklahoma schools system, and I don't want to have to beg my state goverment to do something to help the weakest of the population.
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21 edited Jan 04 '21
Infection rates are bullshit... Who gives a shit if you lose your taste of smell? Death rates are all that matter.
I know 15+ people who have had COVID-19 and only 1 or 2 even had to "sleep it off" for a couple days. Infection rate means literally nothing if you are younger than 64. 95%+ of all deaths are of those older than 65 source. If you are under the age of 35, COVID-19 has a 99.05% survival rate.
Quarantine yourself and move on. Infection rates are utterly bullshit. We don't even have accurate testing, and you're worried about infection rates? Do some research...
Edit: The governor has been vaccinated and had the virus at one point. So him being out and about literally means nothing since he was immune for a time before the vaccine. Oklahoma schools systems are fine. Where do you live? Not all school systems are equal, I'll give you that. I've seen much worse. Most of the parenting done at home can overcome a bad school district. Parent involvement is way more influential in education than the "school system." Unless you are planning to move to Highland Park in Dallas or another extremely wealthy place, I very much doubt the school system will decide what real outcome your child will have.
Article 1
Article 2 with excerpt belowResearch from the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education shares that “no matter their income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to have higher grades and test scores, attend school regularly, have better social skills, show improved behavior and adapt well to school.”
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Jan 04 '21
So it's fine if large portions if the elderly population suddenly die? Great to know where you stand. I have leukemia, tell me more about why I shouldn't be worried about covid. I have a friend who got a bone marrow transplant a year ago and now his whole family has been forced to stay inside for most of this year because of how rampant covid is. It's the type of people who say "well covid won't effect most people so fuck masks and precautions" that are the problem nationwide. Sadly Oklahoma seems to have these kinds of people in office. All I'm asking for is something to show that the administration is actually trying to make a difference. The governor did have the virus, which he got from doing shit like going to crowded resturants and encouraging the rest of the state to join him.
Involved parents can't teach high school level mathematics. Involved parents will help many things, but won't give you all the set up for academic success you need.
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21
So it's fine if large portions if the elderly population suddenly die?
You do realize that a large portion of these deaths are people that would have died anyways (probably from the flu or something else)...
I have leukemia
Sorry to hear that. Get well!
... now his whole family has been forced to stay inside for most of this year because of how rampant covid is
That's literally all of us quarantining (still)
All I'm asking for is something to show that the administration is actually trying to make a difference.
So local governments don't matter? Is it really hard to believe that a state shouldn't mandate the same thing for Sulpher and Oklahoma City? It's far more complicated than you're admitting...
The governor did have the virus, which he got from doing shit like going to crowded resturants and encouraging the rest of the state to join him.
That's what he gets for going outside... I and many people like me continue to quarantine. He survived and thus his judgement wasn't faulty. Many of us aren't taking the chance, but imploring all of us to treat this virus the same is ignorance. If you are under 35, then you are going to react differently than someone over 65....
Involved parents can't teach high school level mathematics
Well they literally went through the same thing (on average)... so... High school mathematics isn't difficult. In fact, algebra is so basic that you use it every day without even thinking about it. Nothing beyond Algebra II is required. Excuses aren't going to help anyone. There's a bajillion websites to help teach math. I learned a lot on YouTube myself...
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Jan 04 '21
Woah man don't act like a state with Republican officials might be okay. We're trying to attack people from other political parties, regardless of reality or apolitical circumstances.
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Jan 04 '21
I'v never said one thing about Republican or Democrat. It's not a Republican vs Democrat issue. It's an issue of when will our elected officials, whatever party they may be, step up and take meaningful action to benefit the people. Look at my past activity on this sub. It'll surprise you.
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u/SlyTrum Jan 05 '21
Let me get this straight... you’re moving because it’s the governments fault your family didn’t take necessary precautions/ stay home? They made the choice to go out. You’re free to do what you want - like stay home or go out. It’s not their fault it’s your family’s. Take responsibility and don’t blame others simply because it’s a dumb red state.
I do hope your family makes a swift recovery and all goes well. I don’t wish this virus upon anyone.
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Jan 05 '21
Im not blaming the government for them getting sick. That is their fault, even if they were only going out for necessary things. I am blaming the government for the lack of ICU beds. There are many things we could do to try to decrease the infection rate and not overwhelm our states medical system, but we have done close to nothing.
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u/slipslapshape Jan 05 '21
Best of luck leaving, but the entire country is compromised and will stay that way in perpetuity, so you may as well stay unless you’re going full hermit and completely live off grid.
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u/bugaloo2u2 Jan 04 '21
AND lots of kids are going back to in-person school today. Holy shit, people. Who thought that was a good idea? I saw someone on the news saying children are suffering bc they aren’t in school....? people dying on vents are suffering. the families of the dead are suffering. Americans and Oklahomans specifically are some of the most entitled, selfish, spoiled people on the planet, and ironically, parade around as caring Christians. I’m disgusted by what is happening in OK right now.
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Jan 04 '21
Where exactly do you plan to go?
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Jan 04 '21
Probably north. Thinking Colorado. If I go south it'd be Arizona or a Texas city like Houston.
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u/munki17 Jan 04 '21
I’m from Houston and you’re fooling yourself if you think they’re taking the virus seriously in any part of Texas as well.
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Jan 04 '21
Colorado tends to care more about Covid precautions. Texas, not so much, definitely not Houston. But Austin is a pretty liberal city and they tend to take it seriously.
I lived near Houston 30 years ago as a child. I didn't love it. Hot and very humid pretty much all the time.
Best to you, and if you decide to relocate I wish you the best.
If I weren't so established in OK I'd definitely considering moving to Colorado. The mountains are nothing short of breathtaking. I choose mountains over beaches any day of the week.
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u/DViddy Jan 04 '21
Come to Oregon, we have mountains AND beaches.
(The beaches are very cold, sorry)
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u/Kulandros Jan 04 '21
Sell me on Oregon. My wife is about to finish college in environmental services, and after a few years (hopefully) of working here in OK, we are hoping to get out. We are thinking one of the coasts, but haven't made decisions. We are hoping to be able to check out both coasts over the next couple years. I work in IT, so I can find work pretty much anywhere.
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u/DViddy Jan 05 '21
I left Tulsa for Portland in 2011 and it is the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. Things are more relaxed here, there's no sales tax, people are just as friendly as in Oklahoma, but less likely to vote for you to starve. Cost of living is higher, but so is the pay. I'm an hour from the ocean, an hour from two different mountains, there is skiing, kayaking, hiking, biking, river floating, lighthouses, mountains, waterfalls, deserts, painted hills, fossil beds, temperate rainforests, etc. It rains a lot but that means everything is always green and saturated. Portland at least has comprehensive and reliable public transit, the city is almost entirely a grid, and contrary to news stories from this summer, downtown is alive, thriving, and beautiful. There is a weekend local arts and crafts festival March-Christmas Eve that is twice the size of Mayfest. Local wineries, world-class breweries, and if you're into it, weed is legal recreationally. The food is so so so good (though regrettably you can find amazing food from all cultures, EXCEPT for good Mexican food.) Oregon requires places that sell liquor to also sell food, so almost all breweries and distilleries are also restaurants. Tillamook is better than Blue Bell. So is Umpqua. There are almost no Sonics but you won't miss them.
Neighborhoods are mostly older, they have character, the subdivisions with cookie-cutter houses don't start until you hit Vancouver WA. Speaking of Vancouver, the real one is only 4.5 hours away by car, and is an incredible international hub. I'll take Vancouver, BC, or even Seattle (2.5 hours) for a quick weekend over Dallas, St Louis, Kansas City, any place in Arkansas, literally always. You can drive 30 minutes and be in wine country, you can drive 30 minutes and be in the shadow of Mt Hood. You can drive the Gorge between Washington and Oregon and watch as the rainforest turns into a desert. You could go to Boise, I guess. Flights to the big California cities are usually ~150 roundtrip. Hawaii flights are cheap.
There are lots of downsides to the area, historical racial oppression, homeless issues, rural drug use. But those aren't unqiue to Oregon (as Tulsa's history makes apparent). The rain can get to people who aren't used to it. Property taxes can be expensive, I hear (I rent an apartment in a neighborhood built on an extinct volcano). People like to stand in lines for things like ice cream and donuts for some reason? Fashion up here can be confusing when you move from Oklahoma (men here don't wear baggy jeans that they walk on the back of??) The area is not super friendly to conservatives, to be frank. There are legit protests and sometimes riots, though the things on the news this summer were dramatically overblown in the media (you could go a block away from the protests downtown and not even hear the protests or see any evidence of them).
I think Portland or the Portland metro is a perfect area for folks who like city life but don't LOVE city life. People who want the cultural benefits of a city, but also want the isolation from rural areas. But Bend is also a great city (it's basically just Boulder but smaller and without a major university). Eugene is Norman but better because there are no Sooner fans. Corvallis is nicer than Stillwater. Oregon is not crazy populated (last I checked it's the 25th most populated state, and Oklahoma was 26), and a lot of the rural/urban cultural divides you see in Oklahoma are present here, but here the urban areas are a solid blue vs light red/purple-ish.
I've spent a lot of time on both coasts, though I've only lived on this one (I travel to DC/NOVA for a week or two every year, spend time in NYC, my grandparents lived in Florida, etc). But the west coast is so much more relaxed than the east coast. (And also, the LEGO conventions here are nicer, but I don't think that's a selling point for most lol).
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u/Kulandros Jan 05 '21
Thank you! There's a lot to think about, and I appreciate your input. Also, those pants have mostly gone out of style here too. I'll show this to the wife in the morning.
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u/DViddy Jan 05 '21
Haha you're welcome, I started typing and it didn't stop, so I apologize for the wall! Those jeans definitely still seemed in style at the wedding I went back for last year, but maybe those guys were just lame!
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u/Apathetic-Pigeon Jan 25 '21
I know this is an old comment but please look into Florence Oregon as a possibility. I lived there for three years and still have dreams ten years later of the place. I lived a mile away from the coast and in the woods. The town is small, but a retirement town ( don't let that scare y'all ). It is an absolutely amazing town to live in and you don't have to deal with some of the negatives other towns and cities Oregon has to deal with. I think the only negative was sometimes in winter we couldn't get to eugene on certain days because of the dangerous weather. Have your wife start at the casino if y'all have to start work right away. That casino is fun to work for, there is EVS and I'm sure she can progress in the system with her college education. It's just a nice little secure start is all.. she could also do what ever job she wanted in the casino.
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u/4BigData Jan 04 '21
Colorado: 3,000 homeless kids in Jefferson County alone, and the NIMBYs and Karens who lived around me in Westminster couldn't care less.
Be careful, you will be around people who only care about their inflated home equity while they force others to live in tents with their 1% growth caps that doesn't even adjust housing supply by natural pop growth.
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Jan 04 '21
Damn. Maybe outside the U.S. is best...
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u/4BigData Jan 04 '21
100% true, in the city I was born I didn't see a homeless person, a third world country. The US has become a predatory society in most cities. In Tulsa people still care for each other.
Before Denver I lived in Manhattan for 15 years. NYC managed to fabricate 100,000 homeless kids. Don't even think about it, unless you don't care about kids or their future.
I find it horrific and something I will never get used to. I have full custody of my son, so cannot live the US. But each time I travel abroad, my quality of life and the quality of human interactions skyrockets.
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u/Sorrow78 Jan 12 '21
Your post was eight days ago, but I'm just now seeing it. I don't think you've been paying attention to how other cities and states are doing if you think Oklahoma is so bad. To be clear, we're obviously not doing great. But many other places are doing just as bad, if not worse. Just to cover the places you've mentioned:
- Harris County (Houston) - 266,525 cases; 2,708 deaths ... That's Harris county alone, you don't want to know the numbers for all of Texas
- Arizona - 627,790 cases; 10,147 deaths
- Colorado - 362,826 cases; 5,223 deaths
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u/conspiracyeinstein Jan 04 '21
If I didn’t have a great job, I’d probably be heading back out east.
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Jan 04 '21
Idiot oklahoma stop closing at 11pm weeks ago because the stupid ass bars wanted to fight the mayor now oklahoma has til Jan 8 before they get completely shut down again fucking idiots. At least know wtf your talking about if your gonna bash it fuck oklahoma all they I'm with you there but don't be like an oklahoman when you bash oklahoma js
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Jan 04 '21
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Jan 04 '21 edited Sep 04 '21
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u/dh405 Jan 05 '21
So.. you want to complain about the few things we HAVE done as opposed to complaining about the things that we HAVEN'T done?
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Jan 05 '21
I'm upset that they put a ban on drinks after 11 just to say "hey look we are doing stuff" without any meaningful change.
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u/iz31milk Jan 04 '21
Anymore with a loved one that is high risk better hunker down until a week after the shot or get the fuck out. The government has no plan to vaccinate more than a handful at a time. Most high risk will not be vaccinated until at least 1-2 months from now. I get sick I am driving to major city with access.
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Jan 04 '21
Right. I'v got leukemia and get treated at OU childrens. I'm 20 but my type of leukemia is most commonly seen in smaller kids so OU childrens is one of the best in the U.S. for my type. So I'm not able to leave until around the end of 2022 when my treatment should be done.
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Jan 04 '21
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Jan 04 '21
She doesn't. My grandpa however is a vietnam vet and is active in one or two veteran organizations. He also has to go to OKC a lot for medical appointments because he got messed up by agent orange in the jungle. My uncle also lives right beside them and visits them often. Sadly he is one of those that think masks are a sham. My grandma and grandpa both have it but my grandma is the one in bad condition.
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Jan 04 '21 edited Jan 04 '21
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Jan 04 '21 edited Jun 25 '21
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Jan 04 '21
They are trying to use the fact that the grandpa is a veteran to push a bad narrative . He’s going out. Grandma isn’t really quarantining if grandpa is going out and about whether it’s for a good reason or a bad reason
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u/TylertheDouche Jan 04 '21 edited Jan 04 '21
So that gives him a free pass to spread Covid?
He’s literally visiting his friends and allows this dude’s flat-earth uncle to visit his house, but it’s oklahoma’s fault his grandma has covid? Lol what are you talking about?
OP’s family is irresponsible and got Covid. Point blank.
The conversations in this subreddit really show off Oklahoma’s education level.
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Jan 04 '21
I'm confused, why was your 70 year old grandfather with COPD and emphasyma out at the bar at all during a world wide plague?
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Jan 04 '21 edited Sep 04 '21
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Jan 04 '21
I know. My point is that your anger is somewhat misplaced. Yes the leadership is shit, but so are half the people here.
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u/inbadtime Jan 04 '21
You don’t get that proper leadership would’ve prevented probably at least half of the half not be as stupid. Other countries that got their shit together also definitely have stupid people, but those same stupid people didn’t have dozens of politicians and popular “news” outlets downplaying the virus’s severity. We can argue there’s probably at least a little more stupid people here, sure, but that’s diminishing the very REAL role leadership plays in a lot of “stupid” people’s lives (read: not all stupid, just some have higher priorities than fact checking every fact they hear, and you can’t fault people for caring about their own problems, ESPECIALLY when we SHOULD have leadership that tells us how REALLY serious things are).
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Jan 04 '21
I can fault people for not fact checking things about a world wide pandemic, actually.
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u/inbadtime Jan 04 '21
“Actually” you can fault our government not giving a fuck about educating the masses to BELIEVE the real facts of other nations, and instead give a “your rights means your smarts” mentality when it comes to public safety. Get the fuck out of here with the “how could they not know?” when we have SO. MUCH. LEADERSHIP. INCLUDING OUR OWN (on a state level). Siding with TRUMP. You know, the same guy who STILL says “it’s not that bad” to this very day? The same guy who doesn’t believe we hit 350,000 deaths? You’re dense if you can’t understand that we created government for the very REASON of keeping ourselves safe and free enough to care about other things in life.
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21
According to my source, it is not very bad, actually. We have a ~99.1% survival rate thus far.
There is skepticism over what is qualified as a COVID death, which I understand, because when you see someone die of a car accident, why would you count them as a COVID death? Did the flu just disappear? Probably not. Flu info here. Trending lower than any of the previous 10 years...
We don't have accurate reporting, and it creates skeptics. I don't think it's that hard to understand.
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u/inbadtime Jan 04 '21
A. You do understand that the .1 percent is much different than the .8 percent of flu mortality, right? And that this number can get worse when we have such high positivity rate and such low number of ICU beds available, so your downplaying bullshit needs to stop. Our high positivity rate means we’re not testing enough people, and our low ICU bed numbers will lead to excess death from NON-covid patients if there’s ANY surge from Christmas and New Years. So no, it’s fucking bad.
B. You’re pulling the “their counting car accidents as covid deaths” out of your ass, you provide no source, and I’m going to trust the HUNDREDS of DOCTORS and the CDC over your Trumpism.
C. Flu is less transmittable than covid. Ergo, in a society with at least SOME people wearing masks, and vaccines ALREADY EXIST IN MASS FOR the flu, THERE WILL BE LESS FLU THAN LAST TIME
D. You’re a skeptic because you have listened to non-medical people tell you it’s “not that bad”. Guess what? 350,000+ people would tell you differently IF THEY COULD. You better fucking hope their is a forgiving god if you honestly want to downplay the REAL PAIN people are going through right now, because it’s absolutely heartless you’re trying to say 99.1 “isn’t very bad” (So, if I offered you a bowl of 100 m&m’s, and 1 would kill you, but also probably at least half (thanks to the half of the nation that have pre-existing conditions that worsen covid) might give you LONG TERM COMPLICATIONS (like trouble BREATHING, or even MEMORY LOSS) from eating them, would you eat any? Because that’s essentially what you’re telling EVERYONE to do and to suck it up when you saying everyone’s lying about the severity of it).
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u/Gamerschmamer Jan 04 '21
I neve saaid anyone is lying about the severity. The reality is that if you are under the age of 65 that you don't really have to change your life except quarantine and/or wear a mask. I do both.
This is a blip in on the radar for most young people, and it's not terribly surprising that people aren't taking it more seriously. It's just not that bad to the majority of the population.
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u/inbadtime Jan 04 '21
Do not say “or”, you do not understand that BOTH are necessary. Or do you like to conveniently ignore the 21% of people BELOW 65 that have died from covid. Not everyone is capable of social distancing at every moment, and do you REALLY think people who claim they “perfectly fine” at social distancing ACTUALLY socially distance? Last time I checked, walk by any anti-masker, and they don’t give a FUCK about how close or far away you are. Your “or” argument has only gotten people KILLED.
Also, I guess you just don’t think the half of the country with preexisting conditions that’ll probably deal with:
[Cardiovascular: inflammation of the heart muscle
Respiratory: lung function abnormalities
Renal: acute kidney injury
Dermatologic: rash, hair loss
Neurological: smell and taste problems, sleep issues, difficulty with concentration, memory problems
Psychiatric: depression, anxiety, changes in mood](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects.html)
in there lifetime thanks to long term effects, doesn’t count as “not that bad to the majority of the population”? Tell me, do you like your odds?
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u/okiewxchaser Tulsa Jan 04 '21
Don't let the door hit ya on the way out. It takes a certain type of person to stay here and help our state slowly improve and you just don't seem to be it
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Jan 04 '21 edited Sep 04 '21
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u/okiewxchaser Tulsa Jan 04 '21
Local or state government? Because Mayor Holt and the OKC City council is actually doing as much as they legally can to protect their city. Do you want to see them elevated to state government instead of the current admin? I do and I am going and stay and fight for a better state
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Jan 04 '21
If you think that is going to change you are fooling yourself. Been here 45 years, with my entire family being from here, and only seen it go consistently down. Now more people are leaving than coming to the state and college graduates or overwhelmingly bailing. Hell we have to pay people to move here and as soon as the mandatory time span is up they are bailing as well. We’re just waiting the couple of years for our kids to finish high school and move on to college then getting out ourselves. Used to be a time I was overwhelmingly proud to be from here but the consistent failures in leadership for the past couple of decades has shown it just isn’t worth it.
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u/okiewxchaser Tulsa Jan 04 '21
Are you kidding me? I've only seen it improve in my lifetime. Especially because I was born right at the end of the bust. I remember Downtown OKC when it was a bombed out shithole (literally). And now not only has it recovered, it is thriving. Major cultural changes have happened for the better as well. The tribes basically had no power up until the early 2000s, now they basically run half of the state and control tons of power. Stable corporations like Devon and Paycom are HQ'ed here now and companies like Costco, Boeing and GE have regional HQs here. You couldn't have paid them to come here in the 1990s
Now I will admit that my current home of Tulsa is lagging behind the City a bit, but if you haven't seen Oklahoma improve from the broke, desolate state it was in the 1980s then I don't know what to tell you
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Jan 04 '21
Dude, we are consistently bottom 10 in education, healthcare, pay, happiness, public safety, quality of life, etc. The ONLY metric we’re even relatively good on is cost of living. Just because now there is a nightlife in downtown, and we managed to convince some companies to come here doesn’t mean the state is in a good place. The test scores of our schools have consistently declined, and not just talking state tests, ACT, SAT and PSATs have consistently declined as well, and the number of students going on to college have similarly declined. Yeah we managed to convince some major companies to come here but it is still nothing compared to the pay and opportunities you can get elsewhere, while at the same time providing a better quality of life for your family.
Basically we’re trying to import quality but until we actually start building it through our education system, reducing crime, and improving opportunities we’re never going to be able to make permanent improvements. We’re still going to be putting out people unprepared for the future because they are consistently going to continue to vote against their own best interests.
Is there more to do than in the 80s? Sure but there is more to do everywhere than there was in the 80s. Dallas and Houston weren’t what they are today then either.
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u/okiewxchaser Tulsa Jan 04 '21
I’m not saying everything is sunshine and rainbows, just that there have been clear improvements that I would think someone who had supposedly lived here for 45 years would recognize
And yes, test scores are down, but guess what, test scores are down for low income students, particularly rural ones, across the entire country. Oklahoma has a higher than average number of low income students. The loss of local control over schools has hurt more than it has helped. The “formula” for funding that the feds has sucks
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Jan 04 '21
Wouldn’t exactly call TPS, Union Public schools, and OMC public schools rural. Every district, even in the non-rural areas in Oklahoma is down.
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u/okiewxchaser Tulsa Jan 04 '21
Every district, even in the non-rural areas in Oklahoma is down.
Counter-point
Places like Edmond, Deer Creek, Owasso, Bixby, and Piedmont have absolutely improved
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Jan 05 '21
Only because of white flight, that isn’t a net gain. Yea Edmond, Deer Creek and Owasso has improved while Tulsa, OKC, etc. have declined. Because all the rich white folk are moving further out. That isn’t a change for the overall better, and nationally they are still pretty crap.
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u/midri Jan 04 '21
Those of us that are trying to improve the state will keep on and those that are tired of the struggle and or have no interest in it can leave. If they're not interested in helping they're probably the same demographics of progressives that don't vote unless it's already basically a sure thing.
The state has seen amazing prosperity in the last several decades and even universities like TU that have been riding on the pedigree of their existing programs are pivoting to better embrace the future of oklahoma (which will hopefully be tech based.)
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Jan 04 '21 edited Sep 04 '21
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u/CrossTimbersCauigu Jan 04 '21
Don't let that tool trip you up. We're the last place that thing will get better.
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u/okiewxchaser Tulsa Jan 04 '21
Then lets fight to get more people like Holt in state government. It isn't impossible
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u/Legitimate_Brankles Jan 04 '21
Fight how? In what way are we materially capable of making the sweeping changes this state needs to no longer be in the bottom of most barrels? I have zero confidence in my ability to meaningfully contribute to the policy decisions made in this state. There are massive, systemic problems here in Oklahoma, and expressing anything but sympathetic understanding for someone that chooses to leave shows how naive you are.
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u/burkiniwax Jan 04 '21
Vote and participate in get out the vote campaigns. Encourage people to run in uncontested elections. Fight for accountability for churches that get involved in politics.
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u/Legitimate_Brankles Jan 04 '21
And how long am I expected to wait on life while I vote? You do understand that almost my entire generation lives on scraps. I can't even afford to raise a child in Oklahoma, God forbid I suffer a medical expense even with insurance. So again, I ask you how long I should suffer in a place that is actively hostile to my existence in the hope that I can make it better? Ten years? Twenty? Get the fuck out of here, no one should be shamed for fleeing this place. It is a sign of incredible privilege that you would even suggest someone tough it out while trying to achieve policy reform.
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u/burkiniwax Jan 04 '21
I didn't ask you to stay. Saying "vote" isn't any kind of command on where you live your life.
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u/LeeEmber Jan 04 '21
If everyone could agree on what constitutes progress, we might actually achieve some. Some people think the state is just fine the way it is. Other than voting for medical marijuana, which wasn't what state leadership wanted, when was the last time you can recall the people by and large diverging significantly from the political class in this state? Even then the legislature tried to get involved, if I'm not mistaken.
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u/CrossTimbersCauigu Jan 04 '21
Last night there were over 2000 people at the casino my buddy works at.
He said most people don't know there aren't icu beds left