What does anyone know about Bloomington, Indiana

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Yes, Indiana University with music and science programs. Loss of jobs when a couple of companies left. Or is that, large loss of jobs? Seemed like a quiet place but summer being what it is, the university is rather shut down.

We are looking at a rather nice opportunity for me in the area and wanted to get some feedback. Offer package is in the mail.

I would REALLY like this position even if the market did not really (insert expletive here)!!! It has been months without even a nibble...

I'm doing some research on the area on the net. Need temporary housing with a garage for the '83. Then would need land to buy with or without home. Close to major airport so The Wife can fly for her business (it must really be horrible to work from home, maybe some day I could try it...)

Anyway, the area seemed rather nice. Flyover state, decent gun laws (not the best) , lower taxes than other states in the area, cost of living appears lower but not as low as Texas, and we get to be some of the minority conservatives (though we are both generally rather moderate in my mind).

Any thoughts, opinions are greatly appreciated from the braintrust of PPOT...

[LakeCleElum]

I'm no expert, but I was in Bloomington twice last week while attending a m/c convention in nearby Peoria. I had dinner in Bloomington with a relative that is a former college professor.

Bloomington's new larger employer is Mitsubishi. The traffic is light, the town is clean and housing prices are reasonable. Check property taxes, I heard complaints about that. Although Blooming has an airport, Chicago would be a main one.

Winters can be cold with snow on the ground for up to a few months at a time. If it had some lakes and mountains, I could live there!

[JeremyD]

I lived there a long time ago. It's pretty place in the spring=fall. It was a long time ago - the winters get cold - but good people there with just enough influx of college types when school is in session. The IU basketball games are alot of fun. Nice lakes/boating lake Monroe and Lake lemon. Nice drives in the area - go by griffy lake.

[einreb]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

I'm no expert, but I was in Bloomington twice last week while attending a m/c convention in nearby Peoria.

You're describing Bloomington Illinois. He's asking about Bloomington, Indiana.

[legion]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

I'm no expert, but I was in Bloomington twice last week while attending a m/c convention in nearby Peoria. I had dinner in Bloomington with a relative that is a former college professor.

Bloomington's new larger employer is Mitsubishi. The traffic is light, the town is clean and housing prices are reasonable. Check property taxes, I heard complaints about that. Although Blooming has an airport, Chicago would be a main one.

Winters can be cold with snow on the ground for up to a few months at a time. If it had some lakes and mountains, I could live there!

You were in Bloomington, Illinois, where I live.

Mitsubishi is the third or fourth largest employer in town. We also have two large insurance companies and two universities in town. The single biggest profession in town is IT. You clearly weren't on Veterans Parkway at 5:00 p.m. (it is the busiest road in the state south of I-80). My property taxes are about $2,000 a year, so not so bad compared with Chicago. I've flown out of Bloomington's airport dozens of times, and I've had no problem getting to where I need to go.

Bloomington, Indiana is 200 miles southeast of Bloomington, Illinois. Please don't confuse us with that "other" Bloomington.

[Hugh R]

Illinois, Indiana, same diff.

[gprsh924]

been to both, prefer IN to IL

[RWebb]

I did a post-doc there for 4 years (biology).

Bl. is much much nicer than the surrounding area. The IQ drops about 40 pts. when you hit the city limits.

IU is a pretty strong school. The Music School competes with Julliard. There is a fair amt. of music around town, a good beer pub, and a good ice cream place (started by a physics professor who dropped out). Used to have a great pizza place, but they lost their ovens in the early 1980s - so so now.

Molecular Biol. is top notch (top 4 in US - competes with MIT, etc.). Env'l Chemistry is also very good - a buddy of mine did his post-doc there in that. Not sure about the other sciences. What are you interested in?

The climate sucks - I mean sucks totally. Cold as H in the winter but no snow so you can't ski. Hot as H in the summer and terribly humid.

You are not too far from Indy but not much going on thre re restaurants, clubs, music or anything really. You'll have to go to Chicago for night life or anything much. And Chicago is great only as long as you avoid comparing it to Boston, NYC, LA or SFO.

There are some nice browns in the Fall in ... Brown County of course. Decent twisty roads. But you're better off inNew England or Colorado golden aspen country.

What do you want tho? That's what we need to know to tell you the good & bad.

Bottomline: there are worse places (Kansas, Iowa, Miss. etc.) but there are tons and tons of much nicer places to live.

There is a reason why the cost of living is high on both coasts! The Quality of life there is much much better.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by einreb

You're describing Bloomington Illinois. He's asking about Bloomington, Indiana.

Woops, sorry.....

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Yep, Indiana. Not going to get the NYC Philharmonic, but the campus was rumoured to have a great music department.

We don't want to live on the coasts, it is not for us. We need some elbow room, 1/2 acre is not elbow room. Besides, I've worked in wonderful big cities. Nothing like having dead bodies dropped on your door step or people (drug dealers) taking shots at your building so the cameras won't catch them doing business. Yep, don't really miss that.

I saw it goes down to the 20's in winter. I lived for a few years in Wyoming and we were HAPPY when it got up close to 20 in the winter.

I'm interested in where the bar and ice cream places are!!!

What about temporary housing? Anything anyone knows about that we should be aware of? Where to go for good deals? Yep know that the IQ will drop as you leave town. Unfortunately, we will be on the outskirts so we can raise our horses, if we go there.

[RWebb]

pwd72s has lots of room (not quite enough, actually) - he lives in a small town Oregon (which is most of Oregon) - so that is an option - you'd have to drive an hour or 2 each way to get into downtown Portland - most anything closer is wine country & spendy

if you are going to be a student at IU ask them - they will house faculty temporarily - they housed me for 3 years - I got a huge ramshackling old house with no insulation. Myabe htey'll give the same house to you.

ice cream place & good bar was downtown

Mother's pizza just s. of campus

I alos lived in Qyo. - Casper and Laramie both. so I know what you mean - but I could ski there....

Are you wanting a music degree?

I know nothing about music (except by listening to what I like) but do know something about advising students....

do NOT just settle on a single school - pick a dozen and visit; then take a few of the top ones and go back and talk to some profs. in detail. Then apply to those. The profs. may remember you when you apply. IF they don't you at elast have some info at hand. Hang around and talk to the grad. students, the undergrads, etc.

Any good science school will be lit up late at night and on weekends. People work 70-80 hr weeks. Not saying its healthy. Go in and talk to people.

I'm sure the IU Music school is tough to get into, so good luck.

[red911sc]

Just watch "Breaking Away"

[einreb]

Originally Posted by legion

You were in Bloomington, Illinois, where I live.

snip

Please don't confuse us with that "other" Bloomington.

Yes, I suspect it offends the residents of Bloomington, Indiana.

Originally Posted by red911sc

Just watch "Breaking Away"

Me too. "Bonjour, Papa!!!!!!"

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Nope, not going back to school, just being a bit obtuse because I am negotiating with an employer in that region and I'm considering if someone from that group could be reading this post. My violin instructor requested I quit playing so he could focus on children with talent. We just like listening to live classical music and this might present a unique opportunity for us.

I'll drop pwd72s a line. I thought someone here was in that area!

I remember "Breaking Away", good film. Wife has never seen it...

[RWebb]

feel free to Email me for more info - the midWest is very flat - a few hilly areas in So. Ind. and you can drive there and hike. No culture... No ocean; no Gt. Lakes; no Mtns.