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| Post Number: 1
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OJ
Unregistered
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Posted on: Nov. 17 2003,8:41 pm |
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OK, time for a new topic...
If you were asked by someone aged say 17-30, 'What is there to do in Albert Lea (or the town you reside in)?'
How would you answer, remember, a 17-30 year old. This is part of the reason this area loses it's youth, weather you agree or not, most young people see nothing to do in Albert Lea.
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| Post Number: 2
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shaker 
Group: Members
Posts: 435
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 17 2003,11:33 pm |
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O. J. I really don't see a hell of a lot to do in Austin, Blue Earth, Fairmont, Red Wing, etc Lets get it rite, We are a small town, We are not Mpls. of St Paul or for that matter Rochester or Mankato, Lets face it. If I were young I would hit the road for a bigger city, most young people do this and that is where the opportunities are at. It Can't be helped.
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| Post Number: 3
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Tiger
Group: Members
Posts: 606
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 18 2003,9:03 am |
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Albert Lea is very limited during the winter. In the summer my boyfriend and I buy a state park sticker and take our bikes out there to ride. Or we take our dog out there to go swimming. Boating is always a fun time in the summer. The winter months we usually go to the cities for some decent shopping or good restauraunts. However, we are starting to get some decent places to eat at. As far as nothing to do in Red Wing, have you ever been there? I have relatives that live there and they wouldn't move. They love it and they are about 30, have lived there for about 4 years now. They have great softball leagues, volleyball leagues etc. The bars there are more fun than here. And if you enjoy shopping they have great little shops to hunt through all day. (Maybe that isn't your kind of shopping.)
I did think of one thing we enjoy to do in the winter, ice fishing!!! I know it isn't the best around here but it is something to do. 
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| Post Number: 4
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 18 2003,11:32 am |
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I've lived in Houston and New York, and elected to live in a small town. Many people don't realize just how much energy is expended in simply LIVING in a large city. Things we take for granted here--your car, for instance--become another hassle in a large city--where to park it, where ot get gas, etc. Without a car, even something as mundane as grocery shopping gets to be a drag--you can't carry more than 2 bags of groceries home. Grocery stores themselves tend to be small and specialized--the good news is that there are some really great specialty stores out there, the bad news is that you have to run all over from store to store to find everything.
Back to the original question of what to DO for a 17-30 year old--my experience is that people of this age don't do much of anything DIFFERENT in other cities, it is more a matter of HOW things are done. We all SAY that we are going to go to games, theater, or concerts, but in reality, most people in this age group DO NOT, due to lack of disposable income. So--how is life different in a bigger city?
Shopping--obviously, there are hundreds more stores to choose from, but with the exception of specialty items like oriental rugs, most are available in a small town--it's a matter of DEGREE--a shopper might have the choice of a dozen variations on the same item.
Sports entertainment--yes, you can go to a live game, but most don't. If most of us want to go to a live game, we can do that as well--we're only 1 to 1 1/2 hours away--my brother lives on the NW side of the metro, and there is virtually no difference in travel time for us to meet. The difference is again one of DEGREE--a Metro dweller may elect to watch the game at one of hundreds of sports bars.
Entertainment--In the case of live bands, the Metro wins hands-down, there just isn't anything comparable in small towns. Touring bands--same as sports teams--they are as accessable to metro and non-metro alike. Eating--the Metro obviously has a great diversity of new restaurants to try--but in reality, most people end up going to their favorite close-by restaurants.
Outdoor activity--small towns have a small edge. My brothers and I would get together to ride bikes or cross-country ski. They would have to load up their equipment, and so would I--no advantage there. The Metro would have a small advantage in groomed ski trails and designated bike trails--but we're getting those here, as well.
My experience is that the Metro area OFFERS a wider choice of options--but people rarely take advantage of all it has to offer. Metro dwellers (ESPECIALLY downtown urban types) really do establish their own little "communities", and rarely venture outside of them. From my perspective, there isn't really anything DIFFERENT in living in a metro area--the ACTIVITIES are more or less the same, it is a matter of DEGREE of participation. Living in Albert Lea, Owatonna, Faribault--all these activities are still open by commuting to them--but we still get the advantage of small-town living. My brothers and sisters have relocated there for employment reasons, but the above has been their experience as well. I hope Nattiejean picks up on this, she just relocated to the Cities, and fits the profile. It would be interesting to hear her take.
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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| Post Number: 5
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transplant
Unregistered
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Posted on: Nov. 18 2003,3:48 pm |
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I'm a transplant here from an even smaller town in rural MN. I know the rules, but I don't have to like them. I find the various groups here to be bordering on unfriendly and at the very least standoffish. So far many of the women I've met are more interested in sharing stories about others than they are in whatever event we're at. I'm not overly shy, but I do believe that some personal information should be kept private. The gossip mongers are in all towns large and small but I'm still hoping to meet someone here who's not basing her self worth on the misfortune of others.
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| Post Number: 6
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Tiger
Group: Members
Posts: 606
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 18 2003,5:20 pm |
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This town is infested with gossipers. I've learned to realize it and try to live with. The best way to stop a rumor is to not spread it. I know one can only do so much in a town that thrives on gossip and rumors, true or untrue.
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| Post Number: 7
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GEOKARJO
Google This!!!
Group: Members
Posts: 7799
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 18 2003,6:25 pm |
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Well what do you think this is, it is nothing more than a place to post gossip.
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| Post Number: 8
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roy
Unregistered
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Posted on: Nov. 18 2003,6:33 pm |
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jim, why are you always so long winded about everything? you must love to see and hear yourself illiterate about anything that you possibly can. is there any subject that you won't obsessively regurgitate unasked for advice on? please, let me know and make it short. 
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| Post Number: 9
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Spidey
Group: Members
Posts: 1775
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 18 2003,6:46 pm |
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All towns are infested with gossipers. This "phenomenon" is not exclusive to small towns or any other kind of town. Nor is it exclusive to any one group of income, sex, or statice. Everyone loves to hear and speak gossip to a point.
However ........ there should be a happy medium!
I don't know how many times I've had friends, co-workers, and even strangers tell me that they want to tell me a secret about someone, but that I "shouldn't tell anyone else". Nine times out of ten I couldn't care LESS about these people and who they are sleeping with, or what they are drinking or taking or doing. If I find the conversation turning into nothing more then a gossip session I politely remove myself from the bore-dum and go talk with someone else. Pretty simple really.
I disagree about this forum being a gossip spot ... there is too much politics spoken here and if a "did you hear about so and so" pops up I've never seen it.
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| Post Number: 10
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rosebudinal
Group: Members
Posts: 303
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 19 2003,12:31 pm |
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I Agree with Spidey 100%
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