I don't hang out in Omaha much - there is a pretty good downtown scene in Lincoln. Cornhusker football is HUGE. Strategic Air and Space Museum is between Lincoln and Omaha.
When I was flying in and out of there a lot I would just drink a lot.
The casinos are on the Iowa side of the river. Either way, pretty quick to get to if they're your thing.CWS is big in the summer, though I never made it over to see any of the games before we moved south.
Omaha usually gets decent concerts during midwest tours. 3hrs from Des Moines for the midwest tours that don't hit Omaha.
Omaha usually has good airline fares - enough 'better' for people to drive 3 hrs from Des Moines to fly out of Omaha.
IIRC, there are casinos on the Nebraska side of the river.
Loess Hills are on the Iowa side of the river - good for hiking, camping, etc.
Hop-skip-and-jump from Lincoln for fall football.
Potential for LOTS of snow in the winter. Potential for hot and humid in the summer (at least by midwest standards).
Not 'too' terribly far from Black Hills for summer vacations.
Not nearly as cold as Minneapolis was. The first two years I lived here we generally didn't have standing snow for more then about a week before it'd melt.
Not nearly as cold as Minneapolis was. The first two years I lived here we generally didn't have standing snow for more then about a week before it'd melt.
Last year was a bit rougher though. I really doubt most years carry as much snow and cold as the 2009/2010 winter did.
The winter "cold" season really only lasts from about December to March. It's a few months shorter than Minnesota.
Dec of 2009:
There are plenty of small towns throughout the area with a very reasonable drive. I'm sure there are plenty of rural properties. Not sure how reasonably priced they are.
Depends on the company. Tata has an excellent reputation in India of taking care of their employees. The Indians I work with in the USA (mostly lab types) do expect things to get done.
The cap'n is correct about Tata. It is a good company. Culturally I have never had an issue working with Indians. They are, as a people, pretty culturally close to us when it comes to business. Many Indians are western educated and they value the fact that they are a democratic nation of laws. Indians are often accepting of cultural outsiders in the business world, tending to embrace many of the business ethics that we ourselves embrace. I also have to say that, from what I have observed, their failings are often the same ones as ours too.
Nebraskans seem to take their college football very seriously too! I seem to recall that many Omahans (sp?) will travel to Lincoln for the games. Heck I know more than a few Corn Husker Alums in the Chicago area that make the trek for a game or two each year.
When I'm in Omaha, I... Leave.
As far as country living, you don't have to go too far from Omaha to be in the country.