I am in the same boat.  I work in Lenexa and live in Independence.  I
don't live there by choice (who would) but because it is inexpensive,
low taxes, and plenty of cheap fixer-upper houses.  I have commuted
40-45 minutes each way for 3 years now, and while I hate the drive, I
don't think I would want to live in JoCo because of the homogenous
nature of it.  I grew up in Lee's Summit and would highly recommend
living there if you don't mind the commute.  The schools are among the
best on the Missouri side, and it is a lot different than most suburban
sprawl.  It still has a downtown with attractions! 

BTW, Brad, why do you go in to work I-70 and come home through the
triangle?  What part of Ind are you in?  I go in and back Truman to
downtown to I-35.

Good Luck!

Brad

Bradley Liggett wrote:

> I work in Lenexa, though I live in Independence, MO.  I drive 25 miles 
> to work every morning through downtown and drive another 25 miles home 
> through the Grandview Triangle (mentioned previously) every evening.  
> If I had the ability to pay more for the same type of house I would 
> like to live in Lenexa.  Many houses in Lenexa that were comparable to 
> mine were upwards of $40K more than what I paid in Independence.  My 
> company also offers phone & cable service in that area so I wouldn't 
> mind living in Lenexa and taking advantage of the employee discount.  
> It does seem to be a nice community.  
> 
> I wouldn't recommend living in Independence (or as we locals like to 
> say, "Meth"dependence).  Blue Springs and Lee's Summit are great 
> communities on the Missouri side if you don't mind the commute.
> 
> Good luck to you!
> Brad
> 
> 
> 
> > Looks like I'm on my way to KC come Summer.  (Accepted the Job.)
> > 
> > The only problem is . . . I don't know anything about the place.  Here
> > in Salt Lake City, I know about the "sides" of the city.  The west 
> > sideisn't that great to live in...but it's cheaper.  The east side is
> > nothing with Yuppies with 3 PHD's each.  
> > 
> > Can anyone tell me about the "zones" around KC?  I'll be working in
> > Lenexa, so I'd want to be _sortof_ close to that.  
> > 
> > I'm gathering that Overland Park / Lenexa is pretty Ritzy!?!  Will 
> > I get
> > more bang for my buck planting my family (wife and son) somewhere else
> > close by?  I must be close enough to attend meetings, right??  
> > 
> > Since I'm a total KC n00b, I'd love ANY comments or feedback (or
> > warnings).
> > 
> > Thanks, 
> > Matt
> > 
> > -- 
> > Matt Graham <linux@bizniche.com>
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 
-- 
Brad Crotchett <brad@ispn.net>
ISPN