- How long have you lived here? If you were not born here, indicate where you came from and why.
I was born in Wisconsin but only lived there a short time as my father was a musician and traveled “on the road.” The three of us moved from place to place for 2 ½ years until my brother was born and then they decided 2 kids wouldn’t adapt to this lifestyle. My recollection was that my parents thought it was a good life and it had been a happy time. They settled in Indianapolis and that’s where I grew up. I have stayed in touch with my friends in Indianapolis and assisted in my parents’ care as they aged so I am still very familiar with the city. It is where I am most comfortable, and I wish I lived there. I thought I would retire there but my husband does not want to move.
- Are you happy with where you live? Do you feel like you belong?
I am OK in Muncie. We attend a lot of programs at Ball State – music and sports. We also use the recreational facilities to get exercise. I don’t feel real comfortable; there are a lot of memories of having been divorced and dating. Muncie is a small community. I don’t like running into my or my husband’s ex spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend. There is a lot of gossip and interest by some people who track, what I consider to be, other people’s business. I would like a bigger community which would be more private.
- Do you expect to stay here for long? What are or will be some of the considerations in deciding how long you stay here?
I’m afraid I will be here as long as I’m married. If I weren’t married, I would move to Indianapolis.
- How would you describe Muncie to someone who has never been here? What are its most distinctive characteristics?
Muncie is a community that is deeply connected to Ball State. The university provides very good cultural events and enriches the inhabitants’ lives. It is very easy to get from one place to another in town so the convenience is good. Healthcare seems to have improved although for serious matters, I and others, go to the IU medical center in Indianapolis. Community leaders have worked hard to rebuild and repurpose the downtown area. It is good to see Ivy Tech getting strengthened. It is hoped that new ideas can be implemented in the Mall because it is in trouble. Perhaps, it can be repurposed for community education, library services, businesses, doctors’ offices, or something.
- Do you think the ways other people think about Muncie are the same ways you think about it? How do you your thoughts and feelings about Muncie differ from its public image (from media or word-of-mouth around the state and beyond)?
I think most people who are retired feel more settled into the community than I do. I think the community’s public image has improved over the years. I believe Jo Ann Gora improved the façade of Ball State during her administration; however, I don’t believe Ball State has risen in its image with other universities within the state. I worked for Purdue after I retired for 4 years, and the feeling I got from people there was that BSU wasn’t much different that IUPUI, or some such.
- What are your feelings about Muncie’s future? What are your hopes for Muncie? How do you expect Muncie will fare in the years ahead? What changes do you expect?
I think Muncie’s future is struggling due to the press related to the schools; however, I believe this will change as the problems get resolved, but it will take some time. The loss of manufacturing and distance from I69 are not assets and aren’t going to change. It would be good for the city to seek different businesses or images. People always acknowledge the low cost of living, which is true, but becomes a disadvantage if you try to move away. Fortunately, at this time, I think the downtown developers and administration at BSU are strong.