would you move to bentonville ak?

[Anonymous]

let's say its a big job promotion.. elementary age kids plus spouse who combo telecommutes and would commute to dc. family mostly west coast, some east coast. One moderate, one liberal, one spouse atheist, the other Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Do you work for Walmart? What else is in Bentonville?

[Anonymous]

For Walmart, yes. It's the type of company where you don't have to stay forever if you end up not liking the job or AR. Leader in the CPG space -- you can then get other jobs in the CPG space in other locations. If the job is something like in house lawyer -- also yes -- firms love courting ex-WMT people bc they view it is an in to getting even a small % of WMT's business.

There is a Jewish community there -- amongst the WMT transplants. From what I've heard WMT transplants are like an ex pat community -- all living in the same areas, socializing together, kids in the same schools etc. -- so your day to day social interactions are not all that different from the east coast.

[Anonymous]

AR not AK. Unless, there is a Bentonville, AK, in which case - I don't think I could move there.

[Anonymous]

Bentonville is really nice! I have several relatives who have relocated there (Walmart related) and they love it. All the Walmart money means really nice amenities; cute town square; good restaurants; incredible art museum (Crystal Bridges); bike/jogging paths everywhere. I do hear the traffic can be really bad.

[Anonymous]

We considered it at one time but ended up staying the DC area. I think there are a lot of advantages. However, we randomly met a family who did make the move. I was intensely curious how they are finding it, given that we had opted out. I expected them to give me rave reviews. Instead they seemed to indicate that it was a little cult-ish for their liking and there isn't much room to breathe.

As you said, it won't have to be forever. Experiencing a company town would be interesting, if nothing else.

[Anonymous]

OP here, yes, sorry AR, not AK (though that would be interesting).

not walmart, but crystal bridges. I know one family who moved there for walmart, but the kids are already in college, so they travel a lot.

[Anonymous]

We're an interracial and intercultural family, and no, we wouldn't move to the deep south.

[Anonymous]

I would not.

[Anonymous]

I would move to AK way before moving to AR. I think it would take like a million dollars to get me to move to AR. And even then kind of a maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would move to AK way before moving to AR. I think it would take like a million dollars to get me to move to AR. And even then kind of a maybe.

And I mean like a million dollar a year salary not a lump sum. Maybe.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who seriously considered moving there but didn't.

The area has good schools, an eclectic, well-educated population, outdoor activiites, and cheap housing. We talk about wanting diversity. There are different ways to have diverse experiences. This would be a diverse experience. Let's not always live in our bubble.

[Anonymous]

It is a cute little town that has a surprising number of good restaurants. But it will be slow. But you can fly nonstop to civilization pretty easily. I have a multi ethnic family with small kids and would go, get an awesome house and have a nice life, but I have gotten used to living in the hinterlands...

[Anonymous]

AK--too cold and gloomy. Gloomy being worse than cold...

AR--not likely, with few local exceptions.

To the idiot above: AR is not Deep South. Stop bashing Deep South, plenty of interracial families live here happily.

--a foreigner in the Deep South

[Anonymous]

Since your kids are young I would live there for a few years. But definitely come back before the kids gets too influenced by the non transplant conservative people there. I say this because you mentioned you guys were moderate, liberal, atheist, Jewish.

The museum is amazing and I would love to work there. I’m a mid century modern fan and would enjoy visiting the sites here: https://fayjones.uark.edu/news-and-events/publications/mid-century-modern-architecture-in-northwest-arkansas.php

We learned about the Cooper Church in architecture class. I’m digressing, but I tried living in Syracuse, NY and hated it. It’s supposed to be a decent city for people who enjoy the outdoors, but people there are very provincial minded. I was used to living in huge cities, liberal, very well traveled, non-white ethnic background, atheist. I did not fit in at all. I tried, but they were not open to outsiders either.

Also, I lived in another country (won’t name it) when I was in elementary school. It influenced me to be pro-that country. A lot sticks to you even as a child. In short, you could relocate as long as you have an exit strategy for after a few years if not sooner.