Tracy:
you are in luck. I am here in Ann Arbor raising two kids and there couldn't be a better place to do it. Relax.
There is virtually no crime. People don't lock their cars. Fabulous bus service. The Public district library won library award of the year a couple of years ago and I can't imagine leaving the Ann Arbor area because I know there's a lot of "nowhere-the middle" out there. More people read per capita in Ann Arbor than anywhere else in the US. it's the home of the original Borders store, so that tells you something about the intelligence quotient and degree of studiousness, culturedness of the general populace.
It is not the big city, but I hate that anonymity anyway. I have lived here 7 years now and am known everywhere I go virtually, but not in a small town sense. No-one is gossiping about me behind my back. Instead, I feel part of a community.
It is more expensive here than where I used to live in Pensylvannia, expect your grocery bills to go up, depending on where you are moving from.
There are plenty of cultural events going on because this is the home of The University of Michigan. There are musical, arts, cinematic events going on everyday, speakers come from all over the world to present and participate in discussions on anything from Matisse or nuclear physics to the Iraq war to Palestine-israel conflict.
If you spouse is taking a job with the university, expect to receive premium health care. The U if M's health service is rated fifth best in the nation. Excellent health care in this town. I never trusted US doctors or dentists until I came to this town (I'm from the UK).
There are stacks of health clubs but the YMCA in town is the best. Your kids can take judo, swimming, dance, martial arts, and do camps there. It's a super friendly place, we are there a lot.
There is a camp fair every March, this coming weekend in fact, where every parent can find a camp situaation for the Summer for their child, doing math camp, Spanish camp, sports camp, arts and crafts camp, whatever! Most are quite affordable.
There is also such a thing as the Community Recreation and Education service. Look them up on google.com. The Ann Arbor area ofers year round classes that take place at all the schools during non-school hours, and people from the tiniest tots to senior citizens can find a class that's so affordable tointerest them, from "managing your money" to computer skills, to ceramic pottery, to cardio boxing, to yoga, to swimming, etc. My kids have learned to swim with their program and go weekly to class. We participate in their field sports programs year roundd too. Socer in the Sopring and Fall, field hockey too. The kids from local schools are grouped into teams, according to school year, and they meet to practice once aweek, with a match on the weekends, for 8 weeks season. The parentss support this and come watch ans scream themselves hoarse from the sidelines. This is sport ffor fun, as it should be for the kids. But if you want disciplined training for a buddinhg sports star, there are very expensive clubs here who will be glad to take your money and train your child!
Ann Arbor is a great place to live. Checck it out, Check out the rec and ed online. Check out the YMCA online. Check out the library (aadl.org), type in any book you fancy reading for you or the kids and I bet it will come up. If not, aask them to buy it and they will. I ask them to buy stuff for the collection aall the time, and they always do.
With small children, you will not regreet moving here.
We are surrounded by recreationaal areas, parkss, small lakes wjhere we sun ourselves ansd swim in Summer for a miniscule fee. there are two outdoor swimming pools in Summer where all the young and beautiful hang out and we do too! The Michigan shoreline is just a couple of hours away and we have now explored nearly all of it. It is beautiful and you can camp, hike, swim, enjoy! Chicago is just 3-4 hours away when you feel you need the big city, and Detroit is within 1 hour, but I don't go there much, it's run down.
You can get to Toledo Ohio in one hour, where there is another excellent kids museum (we have one here too, the Hands On museum where all the kids field trips from school go!) called COSI. There is the great Toledo zoo, aand Detroit zoo, each just an hour away, great place for Spring weekends.
Detroit Intl airport is just 35 mins away with fast interstate connection to it, handy for visitors.
Let me know if you have any questions! Time to go begin my day.
Oh, and rest assured, the Public Schools district of Ann Arbor is EXCELLENT. I say this as a Grad student, with advanced degrees, my husband too and we take education very seriously indeed.
Clare
