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Moving to Tulsa

Started by Cyraelea, November 12, 2008, 10:49:31 AM

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Cyraelea

Hi! I'm moving to Tulsa in mid-January for job training. I'll only be there 6-9 months, but I'm wanting to make the best of it.[:D] First, I'm looking for a place to stay. I'm relocating from New Orleans, so a part of town that has a unique, eccentric, etc. atmosphere will be most appealing. I would like to be close to coffee shops, dining, bars, bookstores, etc. Your usual mid-20s fare. I've heard good things about Brookside, Cherry Street, and Midtown. If anyone has any recommendations for apartments, condos, or rental housing/realtors, I would appreciate it. Any places to visit, things to do, activities in the area, etc would be great as well!

I am also curious about the weather in Tulsa. As I said, I'm relocating from New Orleans and have not traveled extensively at all. Snow will be a new experience for me :D If indeed I can expect it in January/February in Tulsa. What is your typical weather like during the year? I'm quite sure I'll have to actually purchase a coat[:O], but do you guys have any insider tips on how to deal with the climate change.

Last, for now[:D], what do utility bills run up there? I'm trying to budget and it's difficult without that tidbit of info. Electricity bills in New Orleans are fairly high during the summer and nearly non-existent come winter.

Thanks so much for your help!

guido911

Steer clear of 101st and Memorial.

Otherwise, welcome to Tulsa! Where is your job training taking place?
Someone get Hoss a pacifier.

cannon_fodder

Welcome to Tulsa!

You seem to have done some good preliminary research.  Areas of Midtown, Brookside, or Cherry Street seem to fit your needs.  Also consider downtown housing as the area is starting to pick up.  I'm not sure what the real estate market is in New Orleans,l but it is fairly stable here.  If you shop around you may be able to find a house for rent for under $1,000 - if that appeals to you.

Also, consider where you will be working/schooling.  Most commutes in Tulsa are not bad at all, but many are worse than they need to be.  Traffic in the areas you talked about is certainly not congested, but all the streets are busy and going a few miles will take 10 minutes or so with lights, turners, and idiot drivers.  So if you can live closer, it is always better IMHO.

Utilities - my utilities this time of the year are nearly non-existent.  It gets near 60F every day and I generally just wear a sweat shirt and throw an extra blanket on my bed.  In an older house you would likely have the heat on - which in Oklahoma is nearly always natural gas.  In the depth of winter my utility bill for gas is under $100 (1989 house, ~1400 sq. feet).  Unless you have electric heat, your electric bill will be around $30 in the winter (barring oddities like an electric hot tub, a huge aquarium, or a more common electric water heater).

As for the weather itself - yes, expect a little snow.  Generally it snows and melts on the same day.  On average:

January - 46 high / 26 low, highest 79, lowest -6.  Average 3.3" of snow, 1.3" of precip.

February - 52 high / 30 low, highest 86, lowest -7.  Average 2.4" of snow, 1.9" of precip.

http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=065327&refer=

I'm from Iowa, so let me give you some cold weather advice - wear layers.  An undershirt, T-shirt and sweat shirt combo is appropriate for a weekend.  If you are still cold, grab a coat.  Generally I wear, or at least bring a hat also.  If you are REALLY cold or plan on being outside for an extended period - put on a pair of sweat pants under your jeans (or stockings or whatever).  Generally the idea is to trap as many layers of air as you can, and you lose most heat through your head so hence, a hat will keep you much warmer throughout than one might think (even just a baseball hat).

So yes, a coat would be a good purchase.  You probably don't need a full on ski-suit, but something is in order.

Driving on snow or ice?  Pretend like it is slick and drive accordingly.  Slow and steady.  Slowly accelerate and slow stop.  Spinning or sliding tires are NOT desirably and generally do not effectuate the result you wish.  When turning - ROLL.  Do not brake in a turn or you will slide forward.  Do not accelerate or you will fish tail (rear wheel) or slide forward (front wheel).  Just roll through it - if you start to slide because you were going to fast you can either hope it corrects itself or panic brake... generally they are both as effective and you will slide through the turn and bump into the curb (hopefully learning a lesson with nothing more than alignment damage).
- - -

I hope that was helpful.  Feel free to bounce as many ideas around here as you please.
- - - - - - - - -
I crush grooves.

TURobY

Additionally, while it may get cold, we also get warm snaps. I seem to remember wearing short sleeve shirt and flip-flops for about a week in February both this year and last year.
---Robert

RecycleMichael

Since you are coming from N'Oleans, I was hoping you couild bring me some voodoo dolls. I gots some folks I need to get evens with.

Power is nothing till you use it.

sauerkraut

Welcome to "T-Towne" I'm sure you'll like it. The streets easy to get around in. The toll roads can be a pain. Avoid East & North Tulsa.
Proud Global  Warming Deiner! Earth Is Getting Colder NOT Warmer!

brianh

We don't get a whole lot of snow here(average), it seems we get a lot of ice.  Eleven months ago the whole city iced over for like three weeks. Other than that though, it is a fairly pleasant experience.  No tornadoes actually make it into the city, I have been here 30 years and never seen one.

GG

quote:
Originally posted by sauerkraut

Welcome to "T-Towne" I'm sure you'll like it. The streets easy to get around in. The toll roads can be a pain. Avoid East & North Tulsa.



Now refresh my memory.   What part of Tulsa do you live in?  

Oh yeah, that suburb Columbus, Ohio.
Trust but verify

waterboy

quote:
Originally posted by brianh

We don't get a whole lot of snow here(average), it seems we get a lot of ice.  Eleven months ago the whole city iced over for like three weeks. Other than that though, it is a fairly pleasant experience.  No tornadoes actually make it into the city, I have been here 30 years and never seen one.



You just missed some good ones in 1974-76. They shook up Brookside and East Tulsa pretty well. Then there was the one that just skipped over us and hit over by Catoosa in the 90's. We're probably due.

guido911

quote:
Originally posted by waterboy

quote:
Originally posted by brianh

We don't get a whole lot of snow here(average), it seems we get a lot of ice.  Eleven months ago the whole city iced over for like three weeks. Other than that though, it is a fairly pleasant experience.  No tornadoes actually make it into the city, I have been here 30 years and never seen one.



You just missed some good ones in 1974-76. They shook up Brookside and East Tulsa pretty well. Then there was the one that just skipped over us and hit over by Catoosa in the 90's. We're probably due.



That's right. Scare the sh*t out of the newcomer.
Someone get Hoss a pacifier.

waterboy

quote:
Originally posted by guido911

quote:
Originally posted by waterboy

quote:
Originally posted by brianh

We don't get a whole lot of snow here(average), it seems we get a lot of ice.  Eleven months ago the whole city iced over for like three weeks. Other than that though, it is a fairly pleasant experience.  No tornadoes actually make it into the city, I have been here 30 years and never seen one.




You just missed some good ones in 1974-76. They shook up Brookside and East Tulsa pretty well. Then there was the one that just skipped over us and hit over by Catoosa in the 90's. We're probably due.



That's right. Scare the sh*t out of the newcomer.



[:D]Yeah, I forget that people are so scared of them. I've overcome that particular fear. Cyraelea, I've lived in Ok for over half a century and never actually seen one. You have more danger from lightning and ice storms than from tornadoes.

guido911

quote:
Originally posted by waterboy

quote:
Originally posted by guido911

quote:
Originally posted by waterboy

quote:
Originally posted by brianh

We don't get a whole lot of snow here(average), it seems we get a lot of ice.  Eleven months ago the whole city iced over for like three weeks. Other than that though, it is a fairly pleasant experience.  No tornadoes actually make it into the city, I have been here 30 years and never seen one.




You just missed some good ones in 1974-76. They shook up Brookside and East Tulsa pretty well. Then there was the one that just skipped over us and hit over by Catoosa in the 90's. We're probably due.



That's right. Scare the sh*t out of the newcomer.



[:D]I've lived in Ok for over half a century and never actually seen one.


Wow, you're old.
Someone get Hoss a pacifier.

waterboy

You have a penchant for noting the obvious. I spin it towards "wow, you're full of wisdom and experience". Keeps me breathing.

sauerkraut

quote:
Originally posted by waterboy

quote:
Originally posted by brianh

We don't get a whole lot of snow here(average), it seems we get a lot of ice.  Eleven months ago the whole city iced over for like three weeks. Other than that though, it is a fairly pleasant experience.  No tornadoes actually make it into the city, I have been here 30 years and never seen one.



You just missed some good ones in 1974-76. They shook up Brookside and East Tulsa pretty well. Then there was the one that just skipped over us and hit over by Catoosa in the 90's. We're probably due.

Yeah, Tulsa could be over due for a major storm. OKC had a F-5 a few years ago. A few years ago I sent a friend in Jenks, Oklahoma a VCR tape about the OKC twister and also a tape about Dallas, Texas being over-due for a twister. Fort Worth Texas had a twister a few years ago that hit around the downtown area. The tape was about Dallas Tornados and it said that that Dallas sits in the worlds hottest tornado zone and they did a mock-up of what would would happen if a F-5 like what hit OKC hit downtown Dallas at rush hour. The glass in the skyscrapes would be one of the most dangerous things for people, broken glass flying in the air at high speed will make most of the injuries.[xx(]
Proud Global  Warming Deiner! Earth Is Getting Colder NOT Warmer!

Townsend

quote:
Originally posted by sauerkraut  

Yeah, Tulsa could be over due for a major storm.



Storms aren't on a bus schedule so not "over due".  

Cyraelea, Tulsa's a great town.  I hope you enjoy it.

Kraut...you live in Ohio

Kraut...you live in Ohio

Kraut...you live in Ohio

Kraut...you live in Ohio

Kraut...you live in Ohio...loon