OT: Rice Lake, WI

[humanrefutation]

I hate to interrupt the whole trade deadline chatter, but I've got a question to ask the board.

I got a job offer today for a position in Rice Lake. I've been hustling for a full time position for months, and anyone who's been through the whole unemployment struggle knows how debilitating that experience can be. So to have this offer before me after all of this time - the dedication, the work, the tears, the frustration - is really exciting.

The thing is...I don't know much about Rice Lake.

I drove to Rice Lake to interview for the position, and it seems like a nice small town in a beautiful part of the state, and the folks in the office were really helpful in telling me about the area. But, I figured I'd reach out to all of you to see if you have any opinions about the area. As someone who grew up in Milwaukee and Madison, going to Rice Lake will probably be a big change, so any opinions you could share would be much appreciated.

I know I don't talk too much about my personal life on here, but I also really value all of your opinions. Thanks in advance!

[jtrinaldi]

It is a nice quiet city. I know a few retired major league player have lived up in Rice Lake, or still do.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I've never been to the Rice Lake area, but I just wanted to congratulate you on the job offer, especially since the legal job market is still god awful. Hope it works out!

[BigDee]

The one thing about Rice Lake, your not to far from Eau Claire or the Twin Cities. If you like the northwoods and lakes its a nice place to be.

[N8Frog]

I don't know a ton about Rice Lake in particular but I know my sister in law lived in the Menomonie area which was nice. Its going to be a different beast then urban living, but you won't be terribly far from Eau Clarie or the Twin Cities. It probably depends on your lifestyle. If you want a laid back life, it probably wouldn't be bad. But if you want the upbeat, fast pace lifestyle you probably won't like it.

[sneakerdust]

I got a job offer today for a position in...

Its a job and Rice Lake is below the national avg in crime stats. You'll love it. Less pressure too you wont know what the hell your doing for 2-3 years anyways - the less people that know the better

Seriously, with the right attitude and a smaller place that will cut you some slack - you're good to go. After work Saturdays (yes show up to work Sat) you can easily go to the Twin cities get a Priceline hotel and have fun away from your work home and recover Sun aft.

[humanrefutation]

I've never been to the Rice Lake area, but I just wanted to congratulate you on the job offer, especially since the legal job market is still god awful. Hope it works out!

Thanks, man! I really appreciate it.

[N8Frog]

Whoa, system glitch at all? lol

[unklchuk]

My info on Rice Lake is pretty recent. Only 55 years ago. For the first 18 years of my life, my family passed through there and/or shopped there on the way to a cottage on Spider Lake, near Birchwood -- north of Rice Lake a bit.

I'd echo this:

If you like the northwoods and lakes its a nice place to be.

That pace can be very welcome, even if you come from metro areas. But it depends on what's inside of you.

[Treebeard]

The one thing about Rice Lake, your not to far from Eau Claire or the Twin Cities. If you like the northwoods and lakes its a nice place to be.

I haven't been through Rice Lake for a few years, but I remember it as a nice place. The comment about proximity to Eau Claire & the Twin Cities is spot on too. Probably a couple of hours to downtown St Paul, and a lot less to the northern burbs

*** I lived in Minneapolis for several years in the 90's, but I'm now am back in SW Wisconsin . Of course, the differences of living in a larger city vs a small town are substantial. One of the things that you may find is that you measure your commute to work or play, by the time involved rather than the distance. I now live about 35 miles away from my regular work place - which is about a 45 minute drive through the country. When I lived in Minneapolis, my commute was less than 20 miles, but that could take anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours, with about an hour plus as the average.

For me, living and working in a small town absolutely beats the snot out of living in a city. For me, cities are great places to visit on some weekends - and that's it.... Your mileage may vary

[DrugBust]

I can help quite a bit on this. I spent my elementary years up there and I still go back regularly to see family.

It is a beautiful area and there are lakes all over the place. If you like to boat or fish, it's a great spot. There are some nice golf courses in the area too. Turtleback is a good one. But really, the lake aspect can't be undersold. Within 20 minutes there are a ton of spots.

The bars are of the **** townie variety. The restaurants are bad too. Applebees is packed to capacity because it's almost all the town has. There is a breakfast/lunch diner called Maxine's that is amazing and I have to eat there every time I visit.

It's a nice town to own a bike. In the summer you can get anywhere you want on bikes because basically everything is on the same long main street.

Nice little town for kids with a couple parks and a pool. The school district is having issues I hear but you could probably read more if you check out their local paper.

All that being said, I wouldn't want to live there. Just not enough to do. I value things like decent restaurants, clean bars and a variety of places to shop. I live 45 minutes away in Eau Claire and that's more my comfort zone.

[humanrefutation]

Thanks, everyone! Your thoughts give me a lot to think about.

DB, your comments are really helpful as well. Some of the things you're referring to - restaurants, places to shop, etc - are things that I was particularly concerned about. Not concerned about enough that I'll turn down a job there, but enough that it could compel me to live in Eau Claire or a town in between Rice Lake and Eau Claire and commute every day.

[N8Frog]

All that being said, I wouldn't want to live there. Just not enough to do. I value things like decent restaurants, clean bars and a variety of places to shop. I live 45 minutes away in Eau Claire and that's more my comfort zone.

I think that is most important, you need to know what you are looking for. I've lived in a very small village in Central Wisconsin, went to school in Milwaukee, and now live in a burb of Green Bay...all different with pros & cons. I miss the "Cheers" like atmosphere of the small bars whereas now feel more like a number. But in the small area everyone knows your business. And sometimes smaller towns aren't as welcoming as you are not one of them. I love where I am now b/c I have tons of restaurants, stores, etc within 5-10 minutes of home. You won't have that probably there.

THe point is you'll want to weigh the pros and cons of what you're looking for right now. If you're just out of college, looking to have a fast pace life, its probably a questionable fit. If you're looking to settle down (or stay settle down) it might be perfect.

Congrats and good luck!

[Wiscfan92]

I have family in Rice Lake they own the Curriers Lakeview Lodge. It's a great small city I'm from Milwaukee so I love going to visit their every summer. Very quiet and you get all 4 seasons in full force. If you like the northwood kind of sports (fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, etc) this is the place for you.

[humanrefutation]

The one thing about Rice Lake, your not to far from Eau Claire or the Twin Cities. If you like the northwoods and lakes its a nice place to be.

I haven't been through Rice Lake for a few years, but I remember it as a nice place. The comment about proximity to Eau Claire & the Twin Cities is spot on too. Probably a couple of hours to downtown St Paul, and a lot less to the northern burbs

*** I lived in Minneapolis for several years in the 90's, but I'm now am back in SW Wisconsin . Of course, the differences of living in a larger city vs a small town are substantial. One of the things that you may find is that you measure your commute to work or play, by the time involved rather than the distance. I now live about 35 miles away from my regular work place - which is about a 45 minute drive through the country. When I lived in Minneapolis, my commute was less than 20 miles, but that could take anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours, with about an hour plus as the average.

For me, living and working in a small town absolutely beats the snot out of living in a city. For me, cities are great places to visit on some weekends - and that's it.... Your mileage may vary

Those are really good points. I'm pretty low key, so not having a party scene isn't a big deal. And, the commute to Eau Claire isn't too bad. I have a sister in Minneapolis, so living in Rice Lake would make my trips there a LOT easier than they are now.