Tell me about Des Moine, Iowa....

[A930Rocket]

Our son has accepted a job in Des Moines, Iowa with a large national company. It's his first real job after graduating from Uni with a degree in CS and he starts in three weeks. We are both happy and sad, as he's a great kid, man really, who would do anything for us or anyone else. I'm really going to miss him. Our daughter moved out a year ago, so this will make us empty nesters.

His office will be in the Johnston area of Des Moine.

He doesn't have much time to get ready, as he needs to give notice to the Fire Chief/Dept where he's been helping out, get the Tahoe ready the long trip and some basics for the new place. The company is paying for his relocation, but he won't be taking much. He'll actually buy mostly what he needs there for the studio/apartment: bed, table, chairs, etc., depending on the size. He wants to get there a week before hand to get the lay of the land and find a place to live.

So, with the vast knowledge of the PPOT community, what advice can you give him on the where to live, where not to live, commute times, weather, 2WD or 4WD vehicle needed, etc.? Any other tips or thoughts for someone just starting out?

Thank you!

EDIT. On his on-site interview, he realized how far away from the beach he will be!

[tcar]

For starters:

It's "Des Moines"....

Both S's are silent, it's French.

[911boost]

I’m not in front of my pc now, but will type more in a bit when I am.

I went to school not far from Des Moines and have been back some. Big change from SC!

[A930Rocket]

That’s the advice you have?

You’re an *******, Frenchie.

Originally Posted by tcar

For starters:

It's "Des Moines"....

Both S's are silent, it's French.

[pavulon]

Great Plains folks can be blunt but most are genuine. How does he feel about bugs, humidity and corn? Go Cyclones!!

[Gogar]

Skip zombie burger and go down the block to tacopocalypse.

The elevator in the embassy suites river front park won’t sound an alarm if you push the stop button.

That’s it from over here

[otto_kretschmer]

they drive like lunatics in the winter

[nvr2mny]

What does your son do? Is he a car guy as well? The reason I ask is that the family we bought our home from here in KC, their son, now 25ish, is a car guy that lives & works in Des Moines. He moved there about 2-3 years ago. Maybe they could connect? pm me and I’ll “introduce” you.

[gduke2010]

Des Moines is a nice city, Think he'll like it, women out number men by a big margin. Lots of things to do downtown especially, on Friday nights. I fly there every September and and go to the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game on Saturday. Wish him good luck. I'm from Iowa City.

[A930Rocket]

Lots of bugs and heat/humidity here too, but we do get a breeze off the water.

He went to Uni in Connecticut, so he’s used to cold weather.

Originally Posted by pavulon

Great Plains folks can be blunt but most are genuine. How does he feel about bugs, humidity and corn? Go Cyclones!!

[A930Rocket]

He has a degree in computer science and will be coding for this company. He’s not a hands on car guy, but is interested in them.

It’ll be nice to know someone early besides coworkers.

I’ll send you a PM.

Originally Posted by nvr2mny

What does your son do? Is he a car guy as well? The reason I ask is that the family we bought our home from here in KC, their son, now 25ish, is a car guy that lives & works in Des Moines. He moved there about 2-3 years ago. Maybe they could connect? pm me and I’ll “introduce” you.

[craigster59]

The longest week of my life was a night I spent in Des Moines Iowa.


Somebody had to say it.

[speeder]

It's not the worst place in the world. There, I said something nice about it.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by speeder

It's not the worst place in the world. There, I said something nice about it.

I hear the corn is good?


I was through there once.... have no interest in returning.

[gtc]

Wow... is the job market so bad these days that kids are resorting to Iowa?!?

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by craigster59

The longest week of my life was a night I spent in Des Moines Iowa.


Somebody had to say it.

lol. It’s not his first choice and not his final destination. While his plans to join the Navy are postponed, he probably jumped the gun on accepting the offer, but the money is good, he’s ready to get out of the house and on his own. He has a career plan and only plans on being there a year to get some experience before moving on.

Besides doing donuts in a corn field, is cow tipping a real thing?🤪

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tcar

For starters:

It's "Des Moines"....

Both S's are silent, it's French.

If the kid is like me....he don't give a dayum...and is gonna sound funny no matter what ....

Good luck to him....I remember relocating out-of-state....solo...sleeping in a friggin' hotel a few weeks for that first corporate relocation....he'll kick butt!

T-Rex

[speeder]

Cow tipping and doing donuts in a field would be the fun part of the year, which only lasts 6 months. Seriously, Des Moines is a city and there aren't any cows, (at least not 4-legged ones).

30 years ago, when my friends were making a movie in Iowa, they invited me to come hang out since they assumed they would be bored out of their minds. I passed but when they got home to LA, they told me that it was surprisingly beautiful and that they loved it. They found some part of Iowa that did not look like South Dakota, somehow.

I've always regretted not going, especially once I saw the flick. It was, "Field of Dreams."

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by speeder

...

I've always regretted not going, especially once I saw the flick. It was, "Field of Dreams."

This place....I'm gonna call it " Iowa". They'll come....

Never saw the movie....never been there either !

[speeder]

Your loss. It was great.