LemonThrower

in Atlanta, we find ourselves drawn to the suburbs and exurbs.

we do shop at whole foods, but we also buy from mom and pop organic farmers, and it looks like SF has a coop that is similar.

have bought things like bookshelves from ikea but its not critical.

pinniped

There's an IKEA right at MSP airport if you ever need to scratch the itch to spend a weekend using an Allen wrench. We used it often before they opened the one in Merriam, KS.

DenverBrian

People take things so literally around here.

My point was that in Atlanta you might have 500+ varied shopping options and in Sioux Falls you might have a dozen.

If that causes you to shriek with hysteria, then SF might not be right for you.

If that causes you a minor shrug of the shoulders, then SF might work out well.

TheBOSman

I didn't take it literally . Simply noted variety is in the eye of the beholder as you intended. Many ways to achieve the same goal . And I now live in the hometown of Whole Paycheck and I still don't shop there very often .

darthbimmer

Yes, the Internet has really revolutionized what it's like to live in rural areas. After graduation my youngest sister and her husband settled in a small town (pop. less than 15,000) in an economically depressed part of the country. A generation ago this would have been like moving to the end of the earth. There'd be very limited choices for shopping, entertainment, culture, and communication. But with modern technology she keeps in daily contact with all her college friends via Facebook, etc., streams TV programs online, and has designer clothes delivered to her door by Amazon, Zappos, etc. Yeah, there's not much access to lively arts. And sometimes she wants to go shopping where she can touch things and try them on before buying. Those require a trip to the region's "big city" (pop. 275,000) 2 hours away. But on the other hand, her husband's daily commute is a 5 block walk to his office downtown. For some people that's a fine tradeoff.

RoyalFlush

Do and don't look back.

I had the opportunity to be based in RAP for three years. See my contribution in this OMNI Thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/omni/1469630-what-cities-meet-these-criteria-crowdsource-my-next-home-3.html

Keep in mind, South Dakota is really two states; "East River" and "West River" separated by the Missouri. And they are at war with each other.

All of South Dakota is essentially a small town. It's just 400 miles long.

I never spent much time in the Sioux Empire, but it is a nice place if you can tolerate a city of 250k. My colleagues from West River were in awe that Sioux Falls had an exotic restaurant called Panera. Seriously.

So much different than ATL.

Best!

mapboyPHL

I grew up in Sioux Falls and did my undergrad at SDSU (home of the Jackrabbits). It is a great place to grow up and has changed a lot in the past 20 years (for the better in my opinion). Where it used to be VERY homogenized (almost all white Scandinavian Lutherans - uff da!) it has now diversified quite a bit. Now, you can get all kinds of food (though my parents are still not 100% sure about sushi...).

In terms of isolation, it is pretty easy to get in/out of FSD. Yes, most of the planes are CRJs, etc., but they are usually just a short hop to a bigger hub (MSP, ORD, DEN). But you can now fly to LAS. The drives are long. I now live in PHL and to tell anyone that 3 hours is "close" always gets a certain look. It is much dryer than ATL. Most of the trees are in straight lines (shelter belts planted in the 30s) along fields, and people always marvel at the number of trees there are out east. But it gives you great sunsets, sunrises. People are friendly, cost of living is low**, little traffic. You will have to learn to say "pop" and "I s'pose" :-)

If you are used to large cities and REALLY like them, it will probably take some adjustment. But Downtown now has outdoor cafés, there are farmers markets, small business on Main Street, but all the chains out at the Empire Mall. EROS is a source of pride there, so if you do work there, people will know what it is! I get back at least once a year and am amazed each time at what has changed (for the better). It is not the best place in the US, but (in my opinion) there is much worse. Just my 2 cents.

**HGTV recently did an episode of House Hunters in Sioux Falls. If you can find it, it would give you an (very brief) idea of what some house prices, etc. are like.

Oceanbound222

South Dakota is awesome. The kindest people. Very little crime.