You have such a great resource here to help you build a large and diverse real estate portfolio.

Or do the engineers think diversity of thoughts/ideas will not benefit them? 

J Scott’s book “Recession Proof Real Estate Investing” gives great info on the topic.However, Buy in area of pop growth, job growth, rent growth and high economic job diversity (near major city/economic driver) and an election/recession could be non-factor.

KC already has a modern, diverse economy with a growing population and jobs.

My dad is from NO east and I have friends uptown so I've seen how right you are in how the city is so uniquely diverse from block to block.  

Usually I want the MSA overall to be at least 250,000 in population.Third, I want to make sure that the area near the property, or the area I am focused on if I don't have a property in mind, is economically diverse.  

It's also the capital of the state and has lots of diverse/goverment jobs there.

Do folks feel that is diverse enough?

That has me thinking places like Miami,(beach)  Houston, (diversity) etc. 

I second @Oliver Evans ' comments about the Tuesday night meetup - I just relocated here from Annapolis MD and have found the group to be friendly, diverse in interests and very willing to help.