So what do you know about South Dakota?

[Critters2]

I've been sort of offered a job there--or at least asked to consider one. I know it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but rural settings have always been best for me for a variety of reasons. I've been in rural Iowa and Illinois. Don't really know much about South Dakota.

Anyone here from there?

And yes, I'll prob'ly post in the SD forum.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I LOVE South Dakota! I think it's really beautiful, from the Badlands to the prairies.

You have to like wind, though, to enjoy living there.

I don't have a lot of experience with SD - I've driven through it, and been there hunting prairie dogs, but I really, really like it.

Friendly people, though a bit xenophobic and provincial at times, but that's understandable for people for whom a neighbor less than a mile away is "gettin' kinda intimate." (obviously, in cities this isn't true, but outside the cities... big ranches, big empty spaces).

I would live there just to have constant wind, brilliantly nasty winters, and exceptional springs.

If you would miss trees, though, might not be the best place.

Good luck!!


(and speaking personally, if I had the chance to leave a craphole in Illinois to go there, I wouldn't waste any time shaking the dust from my sandals).

[Critters2]

2. I might miss trees

Never really thought about it. Wind wouldn't bother me, nor nasty winters. Had both of these in Northern Iowa, and came to love them.

What do they raise there, agriculture-wise? I looked at the state website and didn't find anything.

It'd be interesting if I ended up there. My mother was HUGELY irritated with me because I lived so close to it when I was in Iowa and never went over to see the Badlands or Black Hills or Mt. Rushmore. She loved that area, and thought I would too.

I mentioned to a staffer there that I'd like to return to rural ministry, while at Synod. And they take that kind of talk seriously in SD, apparently.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. I imagine they would take it seriously there - almost impossible to find ministers

who want to do rural ministry, especially in great big empty places like the Dakotas, Wyoming, northern MT, MN, WI, and MI, and so on.

Agriculture-wise, lots of bison, oats, millet, sunflowers, lambs, honey, cattle, hay, and lots more cattle and lots more bison, feedcorn, soybeans, etc. and some more cattle and bison.

Cattle is one of the reasons there's so much prairie dog huntin' there. Stupid bastards dig holes everywhere, and then the cattle and horses fall into them and break their legs.

[Critters2]

6. I've often joked that, if they don't treat me well here,

I can always find a job in Nebraska. SD would work, too.

I never knew anyone hunted prairie dogs. Learn something new everyday.

I had a parishioner in Iowa who raised bison. Amazing creatures. He raised native grasses for them to eat.

This does sound worht looking into. I turned down a call to Kansas before my first call, and have often thought I might have liked Kansas, if I'd given it a chance. I might like SD, too.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. It's not really hunting, per se, it's mostly just standing/sitting there and shooting them.

They're pretty dumb creatures. One just gets in the middle of a colony, sets up a chair, and blows 'em away as they pop up like a whack-a-mole game.

I'd move there in a heartbeat, if I were looking for a new place to be. I'd choose Hawaii first, but South/North Dakota or Alaska or Montana would all be the close seconds.

I'd also jump quickly just to get that Illinois plate off my car so I could drive around the midwest without people just assuming I'm an obnoxious self-obsessed jackass asshole. (no, I'm not in Illinois - I meant if I were in your position).

How's the Conference out there? I don't know anything about that one at all. I can't imagine there are too many UCC churches in the Dakotas, so clergy meetings and hanging out with your peers could be tough.

[Critters2]

11. The conference is small. Only two staff people

One CM and one ACM. I went to seminary with the ACM, and he's a really good guy. I could work with him easily. Don't know the CM. I'm told clergy collegiality is strong in some parts of the state. Not so strong in places where churches are more spread out, obviously. Still, most Associations (maybe all--I think there are three) have monthly clergy gatherings. So, that's good.

There are 96 churches, which is more than I would have expected. Mostly E&R, he tells me. That's cool with me, what with my screamingly kraut surname. One ONA church in the conference, but another with a g/l pastor (whom I knew in Iowa).

I could definitely be interested.

[liberaltrucker]

4. Rather boring drive on I 90 from Sioux Falls to Kadoka, but...

Once you see the Badlands, followed soon by the Black Hills, Rapid City,
then Sturgis, well, you just might have found home. Good luck!

:toast:

[Critters2]

5. Worth considering

Quite seriously.

[liberaltrucker]

8. Is your potential job in the Rapid City area?

If so, then you'll have beautiful hills, trees, and lots of
snow in winter. Plus, you'd be a 45 minute drive from Mt Rushmore.
Again, good luck!

:beer:

[Critters2]

10. Several places in the state are looking

Specifically named were Aberdeen and Chamberlain, but there are other places as well.

[liberaltrucker]

12. Chamberlain is on a beautiful lake

It's surrounded by empty prairie, and if you sometimes want
solitude, it's there.

[Critters2]

13. Yeah, solitude is good

Too little of it here.

[liberaltrucker]

16. Believe me, you'll find it anywhere in SD

If solitude is what you want. Just promise
you'll help turn SD a little less, uh, red?

:patriot:

[Critters2]

17. Well, I don't find much here in the land of brick walls and noise

I forget how much I hate this place...until the possibility of being somewhere else arises.

And anywhere I go will be a bit more blue. But I did notice that one Senator and the state's one US Congresswoman are Dems. Can't be all red.

[SPKrazy]

9. it's out on the plains

and it's cold, snows a lot and the wind blows a lot.

then in the summer it's hot

and while there are places that are pretty in a South Dakotan way, it isn't where I'd choose to live.

Of course, Arkansas isn't either for that matter, yet I live here.

:shrug:

[Deep13]

14. It is one of the Dakotas.

I'm thinking it is the the more southerly of the two.

[Critters2]

15. Then I was right!!

I suspected as much.

[Lyric]

18. It's one of the most difficult places in the whole country to get an abortion

The legislature is trying hard to outlaw abortion completely, but in the meantime, they have *one* abortion provider to serve the entire state. It's only open one day a week, which changes depending on when the out-of-state doctors can fly in to perform the procedures. (No in-state doctors will provide abortions, in large part due to the intense, practice-killing, life-endangering stigma of being branded a "babykiller".)

Just something to consider, if you happen to have a wife or daughter who might conceivably end up with an unplanned pregnancy.

[Critters2]

20. I have neither a wife nor a daughter

And most rural areas have similar situations. So, it goes with the territory. Wouldn't keep me from moving to a place.

[pitohui]

19. isn't there like a slow motion civil war going on?

haven't been there in years, but a friend keeps sending me emails about it (that i admittedly don't read)

some dispute about land that might be federal or might be native, and apparently there have been some acts of violence

however it's a big state and you might never be in that area?