I may be moving to Miss after a lifetime in the S.F. Bay area

[OffWithTheirHeads]

Some town named Southhaven in the north west corner. How much culture shock should I prepare for? I have a million questions, alcohol laws, gun laws, Costco? etc. but I'll start slow.

[Harry Monroe]

1. From San Francisco to Mississippi?

Prepare yourself for BIG culture shock!! Ignorance abounds in this state!! Ask away!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. O.K. here is the deal. I retire in a little less than a year.

My stepson has a house that would cost at least $ 600,000.00 here. Apparently it can be had there for About $110,000.00. At that rate, my wife and I could live quite well on our retirement. We will have about 6 grand a month when I retire. If we stay here, we can live in a little condo with no yard, no BBQ, no nothing for about 3/4 of our monthly income or, We can rent/buy his house in Miss. for about $800.00 per month and live in 1,600 sq. ft. on half an acre. I can BBQ, have a garden, have a place to practice my golf stroke. Sounds pretty desirable. I can also get away from California gun laws that, lets face it, are a little too restrictive. I like my guns and am annoyed that I can't even buy a H&K P30 because it holds too many rounds in the magazine.

That said, My politics are often too progressive for even the Bay Area. I just naturally assume that everyone I talk to here is at least progressive and I'm usually correct. I certainly don't expect the same results in Mississippi but I hope that I can find at least a few people who think the way I do.

What we have decided so far is to treat the whole thing as an adventure. We plan on renting for a year while we explore the area. I have an interest in re-creating historical rifles from flintlocks from the war of independence to cap lock rifles from what I assume the folks in Mississippi would call the War of northern aggression and there is a lot of history that I'm sure we would enjoy.

If, after a year, we really can't take it, we will move on but I'm willing to give it a try. I spent a year in Charlotte N.C. in 1980 and was frankly shocked at how far behind the locals were in terms of things I had assumed everybody understood, like, you don't put "Whites only" in your ad for a rental property. Silly me. I'm not going into this blind but I may be going into this assuming that the American Populous has moved farther than I think.

[Harry Monroe]

3. Just so you know what you're getting into...

The Klan showed up today in Oxford and protested before the Ole Miss/LSU game over the controversy of the chant "The South Will Rise Again" which is "traditionally" shouted after a traditional tune played before football games called "From Dixie with Love" (a hybrid of "Dixie" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic"). The chancellor of Ole Miss requested the student body stop using the chant, but a few still refused. So the chancellor banned the song. Hence the Klan coming to protest. Progressive enough for ya? I'm sick to my stomach just thinking about it!!

[onpatrol98]

9. Ignorance

Apparently, ignorance isn't unique to Mississippi.

[MS Liberal]

4. You Will Love It

Mississippi is a well kept secret for affordable housing. DeSota County is one of the fasting growing counties in the nation. Southaven is a suburb of Memphis. The area is not as liberal as SF but many liberals call it home. You can be a big fish in a little pond. Join the county Democratic Party, it includes many Code Pink members. I live a 100 miles away in Grenada County but often shop in Southaven on the weekend or stop by when I leave the VA in Memphis. Its a wonderful area. We need more liberals to move to the state. Welcome.

[MS Liberal]

5. Forgot to mention, your gun is welcome.

You may be too progressive for most, including me but we need more diverse views in the state. Everyone does not need to agree to respect each other. Just like any other state, we have the good, the bad, and the ugly. Your dollar will go a long way here and with Memphis International Airport and Interstate 55 heading north and south and Interstate 40 heading east and west, getting a break from the area is easy. You wont change the area overnight but you will make a difference.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

6. You have no idea how well received your welcome wagon is.

To tell the truth, I have been concerned that I would be viewed as a complete freak. I planned on keeping my mouth shut and just watching. This will be hard as my wife and I are very active in our communities. She is the President of the Neighborhood Action Committee and I am the President of our Home Owners Association. You might think of us as community organizers. Really, though, we are just concerned citizens that are willing to devote some of our personal time to see that our community gets the attention it deserves and are willing to give up some of our time to help improve our neighborhood.

Due to your missives, I am now looking forward to this move rather than dreading it.

Thank you.
I hope we might meet when we finally get there. I especially like the idea that you think that, though I might be more progressive than you, you are at least willing to talk to me. What more can one ask for?
Bud

[mudplanet]

7. MS is full of stupid, ugly rednecks (forgive the redundancy) but

there are a lot of good people there, too. It's a great place to live if you can make a decent living, and you're apparently bringing yours with you. Hundreds of miles of lush, subtropical forest and rolling hills. You'll be within a days drive of Florida beaches and the Smokey Mtns. Lots of good reasons to choose MS for retirement. Definitely make plans to drive the entire Natchez Trace Parkway some time - two hundred miles with only one stop sign and one gas station.

Get ready for the flowers to bloom in early March, but for it to get too hot for flowers by June. If you're a deer hunter you'll be in paradise. If not, you'll just have to live with it.

One of the best things about MS is that it ISN'T developed. The three biggest cities in Mississippi are Memphis, Mobile, and New Orleans.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

8. Well, I've never hunted deer, or much of anything else.

Though I don't object to the concept.

Hunting is all but impossible from the S.F. Bay area. I have some acquaintances who hunt Duck. They spend many thousands of dollars a year to belong to Duck clubs. Where I live, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, we have the largest population of Ferrel Pigs in all of California but People get really freaked out if I carry my hunting rifle down First street. In fact, about the only way you can hunt Pig around here is by engaging the services of a guide and hunting on a private preserve to the tune of between $500.00 to $1,000.00. I can hunt at Costco and guarantee that I will fill my freezer for about a year with that kind of money. Dear hunting, after paying for tags, requires a drive of several hundred miles just to get to BLM land and, since I have no idea what I'm doing would just be another major expense with most likely no reward.

I have no allusions that my N.Y. steak did not originate in a shrink wrapped package at my local supermarket and I would have no objection to a freezer full of Venison. I just have no idea where to start.

[onpatrol98]

10. Moving To Mississippi

I think you sound open enough to be fairly happy wherever you move, which is a good thing. There are plenty of conservatives and liberals, also. If you like to hunt and fish, there are plenty of opportunities. If you like sports, college sports are pretty popular in the state. You're moving to a nice area. I think you'll find many like minded individuals, it just depends on where you look. Perhaps the only mine field I've noticed is when some people move down south and bring a rather horrible attitude with them. It makes you wonder...if you already knew you hated the place and the people, why did you move here? Expect self segregation. I think that's the biggest shock to some people. Or, else they're being somewhat disingenuous about their home states. I like it here in Mississippi primarily because of the weather and the friendly people.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

12. Please explain self segregation?

I understand the "People with attitudes" part though but frankly, I'm fed up with the people from California wanting to regulate everything from your ammunition (really, they want your gun to stamp a serial # on your bullet.) to the use of your fireplace. I am so far left that my family nickname is Comrade but I've had it with do gooders trying to regulate every aspect of my existance. Sorry, I have authority issues. I simply don't like other people deciding what I should think.

Frankly, I am expecting some culture shock but not all in a bad way.

I'm actually more concerned about weather my herb garden will survive the summer.

[jxnmsdemguy65]

15. Hunting in Mississippi is expen$ive too..

There are plenty of private clubs, especially along the River, that cost upwards of $100k to join. Like you, I find it much cheaper and effective to hunt at Kroger.

[Shell Beau]

16. Those would be the 3 biggest cities around MS not in MS.

[grahamhgreen]

11. VIDEO LINK!

Here is a video of Clarksdale - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spvQY9SGogw

I just did a tour of Oxford and the delta somewhat from Atlanta.

People are nice, but it's very impoverished. They grow cotton and some plants that have been made legal for medical purposes in your state.

Oxford is the home of William Faulker, and you can get tapped into the Faulkner Freaks by going to Square Books in Oxford (there are three branches on the square). Don't miss his haunted grave - usually you'll find a few drunk writers there on a Sat night! Oxford is charming.

Clarksdale has an interesting blues culture gentrification going on. Great festivals. Home of the blues and the famous "Crossroads". A good opportunity for a smart real estate buy, perhaps. Check out Morgan Freeman's club and stay at the Shack Up Inn (you'll need reservations).

There is a good progressive talker out of Memphis called Michael Besson or something.

Good luck, definitely take a trip down there first!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

13. Yeah, I saw that some time ago.

I could make a very similar video in downtown San Jose, California, AKA Silicon valley! Home of high tech, where I happen to live. You can walk down the Guadalupe river that runs right down the middle of what is supposed to be one of the richest parts of the richest part (Certainly one of the most expensive places on Earth to live in) of the United States and see endless homeless encampments. Believe me, the poverty here is every bit as crushing as it is in Mississippi. Maybe even more so because there is also so much abundance here.

[LuvNewcastle]

14. Alcohol laws

Alcohol laws vary greatly in MS. Here on the Gulf Coast, we have some pretty lax laws regarding alcohol sales. Here in Biloxi, beer can be sold 24/7 and bars can stay open 24/7 if they choose to do so. Of course, this is a casino town. There are some dry counties (no alcohol) in MS and some sell beer but no liquor. Liquor and wine is sold in liquor stores (you can't buy it in convenience stores like you can in California) and liquor stores are only open from 10am to 10pm. Liquor stores are closed on Sunday. I would suggest that you give the coast a look before you move. The occasional hurricanes and the relatively expensive insurance keep a lot of people away, however. But even with it's problems, there's no place in MS I'd rather live than here. Good luck on your move, wherever you decide to go. You seem to have a good attitude about the move and that is the most important thing.

[terrell9584]

17. But the coast is Catholic

And you really can't use the 3 coastal counties as a barometer for the rest of the state because we have more in common with New Orleans and Mobile than we do with anything in the rest of the state.

[LuvNewcastle]

18. Oh, I know things are different down here --

that's why I've stayed. I've lived in other parts of MS (Yazoo City, Laurel, Clinton, Oxford) but was never very happy in any of those places. I guess that it was too different from what I was used to. But getting back to the liquor laws, I was just trying to show the variations among the counties. From what I've read, about half of the counties in MS are still dry. Some dry counties are allowed to sell beer, others have no alcohol at all. Even in the counties where liquor is legal, there are often Blue Laws that partially restrict the sale of alcoholic beverages. The OP said he was moving to Southaven and I think the laws in DeSoto County aren't so strict. If he does have a problem with the laws there, at least it's a short drive to Memphis.:)

[420inTN]

19. I grew up in Southaven and loved it

My mom still lives there in the house in which I was raised. My dad lives a few miles away in Horn Lake as does my sister and her family. I live in Memphis now. My boss and a coworker live in Hernando, MS which is a few miles from Southaven.

For $6000/month, you can live quite well in Southaven, MS.

Alcohol Laws - No alcohol (wine/whiskey/spirits) sold on Sunday from liquor stores, but you can buy beer after 1pm (buy it on the way home from church) LOL. Regular hours for alcohol and beer sales are 11am-12pm (i think). You can still buy liquor on sundays at a restaurant/bar (i think... not a big liquor drinker myself).

Gun Laws - MS has pretty liberal (liberal as unrestricted) gun laws. MS is a "shall issue" state in regards to CCW permits. Here's a decent summary of them: http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/a/gunlaws_ms.htm

For shopping, you probably want to go to Memphis for most of it, although Southaven (and nearby Olive Branch, MS) do each have an outdoor mall as well as several local shops. The nearest Costco is in Memphis, but there is a Sam's Club in Southaven.

Any other questions?

[OffWithTheirHeads]

24. Other questions.

Are there any farmers markets around? What kind of fruits and vegetables grow well there? How is the fishing?

We will be heading there next week for an exploratory visit. We will be meandering in that general direction while exploring things like the Grand Canyon and a few other stops on the way with no real time frame in mind and will be spending at least several days in South Haven. Anything in particular we should be looking for? And, no, I have no interest in Elvis. I do, however, plan on a short riverboat trip. Then we will be heading down to N.O and back across the country to San Jose for a few weeks. I'm really looking forward to the adventure and appreciate all the help I have received from folks on this forum. I especially like the CCW laws in Miss. In San Jose, you practically have to be the mayor or one of his buddies to get a CCW.

Can you really own a fully automatic machine gun there? Not that I want one. Who could afford the ammo? It's just such a strange idea coming from California where you can't even own a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds and anything that even looks like a military type weapon is illegal..

[april]

20. Why ? you are in for a

huge shock ! I lived in Fl and that was enough . Now I am in CA and would never go back to the south .It is great for a vacation . Maybe you should just go for a month and see how you like it but ....you will be back in the Bay area .

[OffWithTheirHeads]

22. Actually, that's the plan. Going in October for a few weeks to check it out

And I know that the Bay Area is nice. I've lived here most of my life but spending half my income to keep a roof over my head is just stupid.

[stopschoolpaddling]

21. Do you have children in school?

Do not! I repeat do not move to Mississippi if you have children in school. Educators in Miss are beating children on a daily basis. check out thehittingstopshere.com to find out what is going on and use the links nospank.net has a whole section on miss schools

[Sixathome]

23. Miss is great to home school in

Nothing except an enrollment card, You are free to educate. Only Texas has it easier . Being a transplanted Yankee the southern hospitality is nice. New Englanders can be aloof or guarded. oh and speaking of progressing, http://norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4546 ... you are from Cal:hippie:

[OffWithTheirHeads]

25. Actually, with 28 grams to the oz. the fine seems pretty civilized to me.

Frankly, at my age, I'm more interested in Basil, Oregano and Cilantro than that particular herb but one of my last acts as a Californian will be to vote to legalize it. I stopped using that particular herb when it hit $15.00 per oz. and that was a LONG time ago. Hell, we used to buy a kilo for $80.00 in the Haight back in the day.

[im1013]

26. OK, I live in Southaven. Moved 11 years ago...

from the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area.

Let me just say... MAJOR culture shock!
I'm still in culture shock after 11 years. I don't think I'll ever get
used to the people here, OR the weather.

The first thing that shocked me was that when you meet someone...anyone... the first thing they ask you
is what church you go to. I can honestly say that I had never been asked that before, let alone by someone
I didn't even know. Everyone, including the Security Alarm Company salesman has to preach to you & try to get
you to come to their church.

The second shock came when I changed my car registration to MS. They charge tags based on the value of the vehicle,
the value that their computer says it's worth... not what you paid for it. Unless your car is 10 years old or older,
I recommend calling the Tag Office with the VIN# to find out how much it will cost.

The third shock is that racism is alive and well in MS.

Also, there is state income tax. AND you will pay 7% sales tax on everything.. including food. Prepared food, like a restaurant, is more like 9.5% or something. Cars are at 5% sales tax.

There is a Sam's Club in Southaven, but the nearest Costco is about a 40 minute drive into east Memphis (Germantown). Btw,
you REALLY don't want to do that because you will pay 9.75% tax on everything, even food.

The people here a very, very predominantly Baptist religion. I was raised in a Catholic Italian
family from New York, so they just look at me like I'm an alien.

The whole mindset of people is completely different than anything I've ever encountered, or even
thought still existed. This county does have a LOT of people that are not from here, but there
is still a massive overabundance of stupidity. I have learned to keep my political views to myself,
mainly because I now own a Towing company & the majority of my business is towing for the Southaven
Police Dept. and the DeSoto County Sheriff's Dept. The Teabagger mindset is BIG here... REALLY BIG!!

Here's a link to the DeSoto Times-Tribune, which is a very popular small
newspaper here. The only other newspaper is the DeSoto Appeal, which is actually
the Memphis, TN large newspaper with a DeSoto County, MS cover page. (Sucks!)

http://www.desototimes.com/
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/news/local/desoto/

There are a few good things about living here:
Excellent schools! (As long as you can deal with religion being shoved into public schools)
Great place to open your own business.
Real Estate prices are still relatively cheap, even before the bubble burst. Way cheaper than south Florida.

I could go on for hours about the differences, but if you have any more questions or concerns...
feel free to ask!