RFI Milwaukee, WI Area

[JTO]

My wife has an opportunity in Mequon, WI teaching at the university. She is very interested. They are flying us out in two weeks for a face-to-face with her and a chance to see the community. All paid for.

I make roughly twice what she makes and obviously would have to turn my back on a pretty good gig, living in a place with a pretty good climate. I am in wood products which bounces between shaky and OK.

We have three kids all in school. We are comfortable here.

So, what is life like in Mequon? Are there employment opportunities for a chemist that has a great track record in industry as a technical manager? What's the weather like? What's the quality of life like?

Thanks for any info you can provide.
Troy

[adamred]

I grew up in Meuqon. Parents still live there but I live in NJ now.
Mequon is very nice, beautiful suburb about 20 minutes North of downtown Milwaukee. There is a range of housing from new construction colonials to older single story ranch style homes. Most have decent acreage 1+. Milwaukee is best experienced in the Spring, Summer and early Fall. The weather is beautiful that time of year. It is called the city of festivals with different ethnic and musical festival throughout the summer months (Italian, Polish, Summerfest). There is a beautiful art museum on the Lake Front with plenty of cultural activities throughout the city.
Chicago is only 1.5-2 hour drive due South and Madison about 1.5-2 hours due West. Green Bay is a few hours North.
The biggest downside is the winter weather. The winter is long and it is COLD. I'd say on average we get more snow these days in NJ, but the cold is impressive. It is also a fairly small city, you'll see it all within a few years, but there are plenty of amazing restaurants, Bartolotta has a number of restaurants there, as well as quite a few bars.
It is a really great place to raise a family, Homestead High is an excellent school with a good reputation.
Definitely worth a visit!

[HardDrive]

I lived in the Milwaukee area for 4 years. Owned a home there. I'm originally from MI. We recently moved from Seattle to Columbus, OH after 10 years in Seattle.

Milwaukee is a pretty happening town......during the summer. Trust me. Winter is 100% craptacular, and it goes, on and on.

Having lived in the PNW and visited there for decades (my mom lives outside Salem), I can't say I would recommend moving. You live in Rouge River, OR and you thinking of moving to Milwaukee, WI? Oh hell no. No mountains in Milwaukee friend. Not so sure the temperament of midwesterners will be to your liking either.

[flipper35]

Screw you, us mid-westerners have fine temperaments.

I am from the other side of the state so YMMV culture wise, but Road America isn't that far away if you like such things. As ay other larger city, there are parts of Milwaukee that are Detroitish, but they have a pretty decent ball team right now. Take up snowmobiling if you move out. There is also a good sized lake nearby.

[gatotom]

Myself born and raised in Milwaukee, my wife born and raised in South Milwaukee. I left Milw. after high school and never lived there again.

I do visit almost every yr, my Mom since 1996 has lived in Thiensville, just west of Mequon, nice area and I always love the thin crust pizza of Zaffarro's off Port Washington Rd, yum, yum.

Weather can be cold as hell in winter with not much snow, just cold and maybe not so cold. Summer can be humid and hot or cold. Lake Michigan is a awesome lake if you like to sail or fish. Tons of lakes in the state and also tons of roads, a great place to bike with not too much traffic.

Homestead Hi is excellent and so are most of the schools in the area including UW, Marquette College.

Would I ever move back, probably not, like the PNW too much.

If you move are you interested in a nice townhouse in Thiensville?? My Mom's place.

[jcommin]

Mequon is a nice upper income burb of Milwaukee. I would think schools and neighborhood would be above average compared to Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is about 1 1/2 hours from Chicago. I have been to the Milwaukee zoo, Miller park for baseball and in their downtown area and I liked all of them. Ther is a fair amount of industry, Allen Bradley/Rockwell, Harley Davidson and Johnson Controls to name a few. Wisconson has more gas engine manufacturing/ building than any other state.

The bigger drawback might be the weather, especially if you never experienced snow and cold.

It may not also have the culture to that of a Chicago but it is not a bad drive for a weekend visit.

[Shifter]

I grew up in Grants Pass, and I travel to WI on occasion. I doubt I would care to live there, the weather is a breaker for me. In southern Oregon, you probably have never seen a snow blower in a store, there they have whole departments devoted to them. And they really get upset if you insinutate snow is a man...

Ironically, the temperments of the people I have met in WI are pretty close to the temperment in southern Oregon.

On the other hand, I hear they are working on ramping up Rough & Ready again.

[pavulon]

Having read your post twice, it had better be a heck of a job to leave there for here. If you decide to do it, consider keeping your place in Oregon for a year...just in case winter becomes a deal breaker. In the northern part of the state, this winter isn't quite over yet

[Iggy]

I live in Mequon now, after relocating from Michigan about 4 years ago for work. All I can say is that we absolutely love the area. Winters can be cold/long, but the community is a great mix of homes and farms. If you like back roads and light traffic, you'll enjoy it here. The scenery is beautiful, especially if you enjoy wildlife (deer, foxes, coyote, etc.) and seeing stars at night. The schools are the best in the state, both academics and sports (Homestead High School). Maybe it's just the neighborhood we picked, but it's like we took a time warp back to the 50s: we have neighborhood picnics/bonfires and the kids (we have 5) can run around/ride bikes without any worries. On a scale of 0-2000 for crime rates( (2000 is the worst possible), with 100 being the average, we're a 5 (i.e., 1/20th the national average). Unless you're allergic to Winter, you'll like it here.

PM if you have specific questions.

[Iggy]

Also...check out downtown Cedarburg which is directly north of Mequon. I'm betting your wife will fall in love with the area unless she's more of a big city person.

[BeeMaster]

Sure winter gets cold and it can rain while the sun shines but I wouldn't live any where else.

[JTO]

Great stuff folks! Thank you. I will forward this link to the wife to read.

I lived in Alaska for eight years so know about long winters. I don't like it much, especially as I have gotten older.

The job she is looking at is professor at Concordia. I would be seeking work.

Thanks again.
Troy

[Hugh R]

Weather channel says its 45 there right now with a low tonight of 39.

It's 93 here, but about 20 hotter than normal.

[JTO]

Yeah 90 in Medford. Hard to turn away from this climate!

I'd have to find a hell of a job!
Troy

[NutmegCarrera]

I lived about 40 minutes north of there for about 12 years (Plymouth, WI).
Great, small town attitudes.
Best weather is mid-May through early November.
Winter can be rough - but for every "extreme" winter like this year, there are a few mild ones.
Personally, I relocated to the Atlanta area 2 years ago. Would be happy to be back in WI.
The north suburbs of MKE (Mequon, Cedarburg, Shorewest, Whitefish Bay) are all great. The later are a bit more urban. Easy to get around, lots of community events and happenings. People are generally very friendly, outgoing and helpful.

There is a fair amount of tech in the greater area where a chemist could find work.

Good luck!

(my user profile has not been updated to reflect GA - I'm still in denial!)

[JTO]

Again, thanks all. We will be traveling for the interview and look-around mid-May.
Troy

[pavulon]

Mid may brings the spring vintage races and Shelby club event at Road America!

[Jim Richards]

The Chicago-area Pelicans are a fun bunch, and not too far away.

[Mahler9th]

There are a lot of variables to consider of course, and I am sure there will be some important factors involving children. Of course these may or may not predominate the decision making process. How old are the children? Do they have special interests, hobbies or similar within and/or outside of school? How about you and your wife?

I grew up in MKE, first in the inner city then in the suburbs north. I went to middle and high school in the suburbs in the 70's. I still have a parent and siblings there and quite a few friends and other relatives. I am sure you can get more recent perspective on the schools.

Nicolet and Homestead are two high schools in those northern suburbs that have a long track record of excellence. I was a student-athlete at the former. I still have a core group of friends from those days and they are all highly accomplished. And lots of high school contemporaries are still in that area. Two of my nieces are more recent graduates of Nicolet.

I went East for college but returned for a 3 year stint as a young business executive working at the world headquarters of a GE business. Easy to get around and many, many things to enjoy about that area. Friendly folks, plenty of interesting places to eat and things to do. I think the area is still great for raising a family.

From a professional standpoint, there should be some good targets depending on your specs.

The weather there did not bother me... I used to drive my Porsche year round, and I was a runner year round.

I don't get back too often. Last time was for the memorial service for a very close friend/classmate who worked in the White House (there is a building named after him in DC). That trip was in the winter and I adjusted quickly. Still remember post-services gathering at the Good Omen (which may or may not still be there in Mequon). Many, many great times there back in the day.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Weather channel says its 45 there right now with a low tonight of 39.

It's 93 here, but about 20 hotter than normal.

The temps this spring are unusually low. It will probably be unusually hot when he arrives. Every year is different. It can go from the 40s to -20s and back in days. By the lake it is a little more stable.