OK...Girls...what is it like to live in Salt Lake, Utah? Tell me about the people, the weather, the cost of living, etc. Don wants a report. He is looking at applying for a job there.
lived there most of my life so I feel pretty opinionated about it.
the mountains are incredible and there's a million things to do outside - you travel three hours in any direction and you have a different kind of scenery. TONS to do in the southern part of the state - Zion, Lake Powell, Moab, Bryce, The Grand Canyon - but you gotta be an outdoorsy, camping type girl.
You should check out Miss Dub's blog on the subject - a couple months ago she did a Hot Topic Tuesday on living in SLC and there were TONS of commentors.
As for Jay and I, we don't think we'll ever live there - when we got married we decided we would not live in the same city as either of our parents - mostly because I grew up ten minutes from both grandparents and I think that's a bit too close for comfort. That's why we chose Colorado - all the fabulous seasonal Rocky Mountain weather and just far enough away that we aren't expected home every weekend and holiday. Maybe if my parents didn't live there we might...or maybe not. Check out Miss Dub's entry - it's super informative.
i've never lived in SLC, but I worked there for a year after i graduated from byu. i can picture you there, as long as you live IN slc. you're a city-ish kinda girl, and there is lots to do in the city, where the population is pretty cosmopolitan (at least for the west). i have 2 sisters-in-law who live there. i'd be glad to give you their email addresses if you'd like. Hey! I just realized, they're Louisianans living in SLC. So they'd have a good take on things for you! i always said that if we were to live in utah, i could only really live in SLC. it's the most mainstream part of the state, there are enough non-mormons that it's not too pervasive. utah is gorgeous. have you ever been?
Good question! I was born in UT, lived there while going to school at BYU, and most of my extended family lives there.
I would not live there...too many Mormons....I'm serious! I grew up "in the mission field" and really like the diversity of cultures, people, opinions that are outside of Utah. Also, outside of Utah, members tend NOT to live close to family....so, members of a ward become "surrogate" families - and there is kind of an acceptance and understanding that we all have friends and supports from various sources. My perception (from 4 years of living there, and decades of watching my extended family and my in-laws) is that in Utah, families tend to be geographically close and so ward families/other sources of support are not needed (or maybe just not used) the same way they are "in the mission field"
It would be a wild ride!! If you do go, maybe consider Park City or closer to downtown SLC where the Mormon population isn't *quite* so dense....
I love living here in Utah. I'm glad that I was able to move back here. I love that I was able to move close to family again. I think that Utah is amazing.
I loved growing up in Utah. The climate is wonderful - you get all four seasons, BREATHTAKING autumn foliage, snowy holidays, and the summers are not too hot! We always spent our evenings in the yard, having BBQs, and relaxing on the porch. People are really into water sports (boating and jet skies), hiking, and snow skiing. It's great for outdoorsy people (which I am).
As for too many Mormons, I didn't think that was a bad thing. Having lived in Houston for 7 years, I can't decide which I like better - living in the majority or out of it. SLC actually is a lot more diverse than the smaller towns (they always have a democrat mayor), so you'll know lots of non-Mormons too. The state excels in public education too.
The cost of living is higher, and I've heard it's harder to find jobs there. Also, the jobs don't pay as well. But I think you'd love it.
I grew up there and so did Matt. We are still undecided about just how close to our families we want to live. All of our family is there. And I have to agree with what some of the others have said about having a "ward family". But if you don't have family already there, you would be more likely to have the ward as your support. I am also undecided about whether it's better to be in the the majority or the minority. You will probably have more mormon friends than not. I never had very many, except through work.
Pluses: Being outside! I miss that the most. Mountains, back yards, doesn't matter. It's all beautiful.
Seasons and no humidity.
Schools are great. Lots of mormon friends for the kiddies.
Minuses: Lots of lotion and chapstick.
Unless you live downtown, not as metro as where you live now.
Art-wise it's not a huge attraction. There is a big art community, especially in Park City, but it's very concentrated and home grown.
Very little diversity. Almost none as far as race goes.
These are just some of the things I keep considering in the same question about moving to Salt Lake.
i've heard the total opposite about public education there, jodie. i'd check into that if you're still considering a move. utah spends the least amount of any state per student, their teacher pay is very low and i've heard class size is HUGE.
just what i've heard. check out greatschools.net or something to get the details.
lived there most of my life so I feel pretty opinionated about it.
ReplyDeletethe mountains are incredible and there's a million things to do outside - you travel three hours in any direction and you have a different kind of scenery. TONS to do in the southern part of the state - Zion, Lake Powell, Moab, Bryce, The Grand Canyon - but you gotta be an outdoorsy, camping type girl.
You should check out Miss Dub's blog on the subject - a couple months ago she did a Hot Topic Tuesday on living in SLC and there were TONS of commentors.
As for Jay and I, we don't think we'll ever live there - when we got married we decided we would not live in the same city as either of our parents - mostly because I grew up ten minutes from both grandparents and I think that's a bit too close for comfort. That's why we chose Colorado - all the fabulous seasonal Rocky Mountain weather and just far enough away that we aren't expected home every weekend and holiday. Maybe if my parents didn't live there we might...or maybe not. Check out Miss Dub's entry - it's super informative.
Dude, just come to Colorado - it's the BEST!
i've never lived in SLC, but I worked there for a year after i graduated from byu. i can picture you there, as long as you live IN slc. you're a city-ish kinda girl, and there is lots to do in the city, where the population is pretty cosmopolitan (at least for the west).
ReplyDeletei have 2 sisters-in-law who live there. i'd be glad to give you their email addresses if you'd like. Hey! I just realized, they're Louisianans living in SLC. So they'd have a good take on things for you!
i always said that if we were to live in utah, i could only really live in SLC. it's the most mainstream part of the state, there are enough non-mormons that it's not too pervasive.
utah is gorgeous. have you ever been?
Good question! I was born in UT, lived there while going to school at BYU, and most of my extended family lives there.
ReplyDeleteI would not live there...too many Mormons....I'm serious! I grew up "in the mission field" and really like the diversity of cultures, people, opinions that are outside of Utah. Also, outside of Utah, members tend NOT to live close to family....so, members of a ward become "surrogate" families - and there is kind of an acceptance and understanding that we all have friends and supports from various sources. My perception (from 4 years of living there, and decades of watching my extended family and my in-laws) is that in Utah, families tend to be geographically close and so ward families/other sources of support are not needed (or maybe just not used) the same way they are "in the mission field"
It would be a wild ride!! If you do go, maybe consider Park City or closer to downtown SLC where the Mormon population isn't *quite* so dense....
I love living here in Utah. I'm glad that I was able to move back here. I love that I was able to move close to family again. I think that Utah is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI loved growing up in Utah. The climate is wonderful - you get all four seasons, BREATHTAKING autumn foliage, snowy holidays, and the summers are not too hot! We always spent our evenings in the yard, having BBQs, and relaxing on the porch. People are really into water sports (boating and jet skies), hiking, and snow skiing. It's great for outdoorsy people (which I am).
ReplyDeleteAs for too many Mormons, I didn't think that was a bad thing. Having lived in Houston for 7 years, I can't decide which I like better - living in the majority or out of it. SLC actually is a lot more diverse than the smaller towns (they always have a democrat mayor), so you'll know lots of non-Mormons too. The state excels in public education too.
The cost of living is higher, and I've heard it's harder to find jobs there. Also, the jobs don't pay as well. But I think you'd love it.
I grew up there and so did Matt. We are still undecided about just how close to our families we want to live. All of our family is there. And I have to agree with what some of the others have said about having a "ward family". But if you don't have family already there, you would be more likely to have the ward as your support. I am also undecided about whether it's better to be in the the majority or the minority. You will probably have more mormon friends than not. I never had very many, except through work.
ReplyDeletePluses:
Being outside! I miss that the most. Mountains, back yards, doesn't matter. It's all beautiful.
Seasons and no humidity.
Schools are great. Lots of mormon friends for the kiddies.
Minuses:
Lots of lotion and chapstick.
Unless you live downtown, not as metro as where you live now.
Art-wise it's not a huge attraction. There is a big art community, especially in Park City, but it's very concentrated and home grown.
Very little diversity. Almost none as far as race goes.
These are just some of the things I keep considering in the same question about moving to Salt Lake.
i've heard the total opposite about public education there, jodie. i'd check into that if you're still considering a move. utah spends the least amount of any state per student, their teacher pay is very low and i've heard class size is HUGE.
ReplyDeletejust what i've heard. check out greatschools.net or something to get the details.