I like living in Massachusetts. It's very safe to go places, good transit network (by American standards), and plenty of interesting things to see. The big downsides are the weather in the winter, but Massachusetts is still a top state to live in in the country.
I'm fine where I'm at in Central California. Our mortgage is cheap, we (my wife and) have tenured careers and I have numerous mountain ranges with activities to keep me occupied. About the only thing that concerns me is that Fresno is becoming an attractive place for people to move to. I would like to relocate to a small town in the Sierra Nevada foothills at retirement.
I lived in Florida circa 2013-2016 and was bored out there. I lived in metro Phoenix between 2001-2013 and it was nice until too many people moved there. Arizona much like where I live now afforded mountainous recreational activities.
Sure, yeah. Colorado's a bit pricey, but deservedly so. It has tolerable weather and amazing recreation options. The scenery's also decent. LGBTQ rights/equality are also well-protected. The public transit isn't great, but it gets the job done, at least in Denver. Fingers crossed on the Front Range passenger train!
Nevada fucking rules.
The Great State of New York lives up to its name. The economic engine of the world in the south, Niagara Falls in the west, Adirondacks to the north, ocean beaches and barrier islands in the southeast, NY's geographic variety is hard to match. We've got Broadway, the best pizza, quirky upstate slop (e.g., garbage plates and Utica greens), 3-star Michelin restaurants on one end of the spectrum and great greasy spoons on the other. Our immense state park system is also peerless, especially if you throw in the "forever wild" constitutionally protected lands in Adirondack Park and Catskill Park -- see the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth, or the unique ecosystem of Green Lakes or be stunned by the beauty of Watkins Glen, the varied gorges around Ithaca and waterfalls galore. Heck, drive the old, storied Watkins Glen road course while you're at it.
Education investment is top notch, while NY is home to Columbia and Cornell Univesities, with an extensive public university system. And, our offering of free community college training in high-demand fields to adult residents is the biggest nose thumbing to the know nothing mentality in certain other states.
NY is the state that started the labor movement, the environmental movement, the LGTBQ rights movement and is and has been the home of many of our country's influential leaders, innovators and entertainers.
Love it when I've had the opportunity to represent New York as part of my work in multistate efforts, since we have a lot of offer compared to certain other states.
More pertinently to recent events, NY's firearms death rate is half of UT's and a third of ID's, last I checked. Come to our state to lessen your chance of being shot.
I'll stop there since I could go on...
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 12, 2025, 01:25:31 AMNevada fucking rules.
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-201.html
NRS 201.180
NRS 201.190
NRS 201.353
NRS 201.354
NRS 201.450
NRS 201.455
NRS 201.465
NRS 201.540
NRS 201.550
NRS 201.555
Love Colorado. Becoming less and less enthused about America as a whole. If my wife would let me, I'd move the family abroad in a heartbeat.
Yes and yes.
I have put up with Delaware most of my life. I came in 1982 because of my father's job, and I ultimately came back in 2002 and could only find a job here.
I miss North Carolina, where I was from fall 1998 to spring 2002 - unfortunately the company I worked for was poorly managed and eventually went under. I came to see Raleigh and Apex as a neutral corner between northern Delaware, and greater Nashville TN where I'd lived before coming here. If my pension weren't tying me to this job, and my wife weren't homesick for Washington state, I'd consider moving back.
Meanwhile, the only country my wife would consider moving to is Canada, which to me is either too cold or too crowded.
We moved here because, when we had our first baby, we weren't living near any family. It's where my parents live, so that's why we're here. And I'm glad that my kids are growing up near family, which I didn't have when I was a kid.
Kansas is pretty politically conservative, and I lean that way too even though I'm more of a centrist. It gets colder in the winter than I like, but that's true for half the country. The cost of living is decent here.
I don't know, it's just a place to live. Can't complain, I guess?
I'm very happy with the region I live in. I don't ever really want to live > an hour from Lake Michigan.
Indiana has cut services drastically and made the tax code much more regressive. we'll likely move to Michigan or Wisconsin once the kids finish HS.
In my own subjective opinion based upon living for 41 years in Sacramento, CA verses living for the past six and a half years in North Dallas, Texas, yes, I love living here in North Dallas. Granted, I moved to North Dallas and purchased my home just before prices spiked and I was able to get a very low mortgage rate.
What I noticed in this thread is the lack of "Why?". My whys for liking the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolex over Sacramento include better opportunities for career, entertainment, and travel. In Sacramento, there were shows that only played in the bay area which meant approximately two hours travel to attend a show in San Jose or San Francisco, while DFW is a destination for shows. DFW is the headquarters for both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, thus more non-stop flights, verses Sacramento International which had you flying through a hub airport. I also see the difference in the price I pay at the fuel pump, the price of yearly registration, and yes, the price of electricity. Anyone who is expecting me to say "No state income tax in Texas" should also know that is offset by the higher property taxes, but then again, what I pay in property taxes is still lower than what I was paying in California income taxes. Even my yearly car insurance is lower in Texas than it was in California, but I'm also not driving as much. I also love having gigabit Internet in both uploads and downloads, and the rarity of snow.
Do I miss the Sierra Nevadas or the California coast? Yes, a little bit. But only a little bit.
Mind you, I live near Interstate 35 which is a major North-South interstate in Texas. Most of the major population centers are either on Interstate 35 (Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio) or are east of this Interstate (Houston). Once you go west on Interstate 35, the population density of Texas goes downward, and I wouldn't be as happy.
(https://spencerschien.info/interactive/population_density/featured.png)
I implied my "why" for relocating back west in my post. I was bored in Florida and wanted to move somewhere I wasn't going to be. There was only so many derelict railroad sidings and phosphate mining town sites to find in Florida.
Quote from: ZLoth on September 12, 2025, 12:04:23 PMWhat I noticed in this thread is the lack of "Why?"
My whys for Denver
Weather (Having four seasons with none being extreme, lack of humidity, etc.)
Political climate
Education level of populace
Fitness of populace
Outdoor recreation activities
Non-stop flight options
Mountain Time Zone
You don't have to drive far to get to the middle of nowhere
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 12, 2025, 12:06:37 PMwanted to move somewhere I was going to be
Every time I've ever moved, it was to somewhere I was going to be.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 12, 2025, 12:20:28 PMMy whys for Denver
Weather (Having four seasons with none being extreme, lack of humidity, etc.)
Fitness of populace
Out of curiosity, why do you care how fit the people around you are?
Quote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 12:49:46 PMOut of curiosity, why do you care how fit the people around you are?
No specific reason I guess, but I feel like living in a healthier society makes me want to be healthier as well. Fitter women are also more attractive. :)
Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 12, 2025, 01:07:11 PMQuote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 12:49:46 PMOut of curiosity, why do you care how fit the people around you are?
No specific reason I guess, but I feel like living in a healthier society makes me want to be healthier as well. Fitter women are also more attractive. :)
I actually found it be counterproductive to me in Florida. A lot of HOAs in neighborhoods I lived at or interacted with had issues with me going out for runs after dark. They wanted me to carry a flashlight or wear a vest, fuck that noise.
Wisconsin and the USA both have their warts (who doesn't?), but they are pretty good deals.
:cool:
Mike
TBQH, I do quite love Alabama, even if I personally ain't a big fan of the politics down here*. In fact, I'd even argue I'm proud to be an Alabamian! This state ain't called "Alabama the Beautiful" for nothin'!
*Not trying to get the thread locked, so I'm fully emphasizing this is my personal opinion.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on September 12, 2025, 01:07:11 PMFitter women are also more attractive. :)
Not just women, either. Even if I'm not attracted to men, I can still appreciate the appeal of being around men who aren't as ugly. :-D
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 12, 2025, 01:15:30 PMQuote from: JayhawkCO on September 12, 2025, 01:07:11 PMQuote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 12:49:46 PMOut of curiosity, why do you care how fit the people around you are?
No specific reason I guess, but I feel like living in a healthier society makes me want to be healthier as well. Fitter women are also more attractive. :)
I actually found it be counterproductive to me in Florida. A lot of HOAs in neighborhoods I lived at or interacted with had issues with me going out for runs after dark. They wanted me to carry a flashlight or wear a vest, fuck that noise.
I, thankfully, do not live in a neighborhood with an HOA. And there's a very large (and long) park right by my house where most of my running takes place.
Quote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 01:36:38 PMQuote from: JayhawkCO on September 12, 2025, 01:07:11 PMFitter women are also more attractive. :)
Not just women, either. Even if I'm not attracted to men, I can still appreciate the appeal of being around men who aren't as ugly. :-D
Agreed. It's always kind of startling when I come back from an international trip and as soon as I get back to the US, the fitness levels of the people at the airport is so markedly lower.
Presently I live in an HOA neighborhood. Fortunately it is run by younger folks who aren't as picky as the elderly about safety theater. I usually start my first mile in my neighborhood and expand my run out from there.
That said there is an orange tabby cat that seems to have taken an interest in me during morning runs. I don't know if his intent is nefarious but there are certain streets I'm avoiding right now because I don't want to find out.
No, I'm not happy with Québec, but I'm hopeful the situation will turn around for the best. As for Canada, they're illegally occupying Québec since 1995, but it's much better than being part of America.
Quote from: LilianaUwU on September 12, 2025, 01:56:37 PM... it's much better than being part of America.
Now, that's much more moderate of a take than what you had originally posted and then deleted. Do I remember correctly, that you've never actually been to the US?
Quote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 01:59:53 PMQuote from: LilianaUwU on September 12, 2025, 01:56:37 PM... it's much better than being part of America.
Now, that's much more moderate of a take than what you had originally posted and then deleted. Do I remember correctly, that you've never actually been to the US?
Quebec isn't exactly free of political issues. I don't recall it ever having been in my lifetime. But then again, what place doesn't have them?
It is weird sometimes though when I go down to Mexico and don't hear any political stuff from either the U.S. or Canada. Some of the local municipality stuff is interesting to listen to as an observer.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 12, 2025, 02:06:20 PMIt is weird sometimes though when I go down to Mexico and don't hear any political stuff from either the U.S. or Canada. Some of the local municipality stuff is interesting to listen to as an observer.
When I was there last month, I was asked more than once to say something about Donald Trump. I slowly backed away, avoiding eye contact, until I was at safe enough distance to run like mad.
Am I happy living in Indiana? Yes, even though we do have issues. The only "con" of living in Indiana is the winter weather (snow and wheelchair don't mix)!
Do I want to live somewhere else? No, and I don't have any plans on moving out of Indiana anytime soon. In fact, I want to live somewhere warm during the winter months, and I would rather vacation in Arizona than Florida during the winter months!
Quote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 02:16:22 PMQuote from: Max Rockatansky on September 12, 2025, 02:06:20 PMIt is weird sometimes though when I go down to Mexico and don't hear any political stuff from either the U.S. or Canada. Some of the local municipality stuff is interesting to listen to as an observer.
When I was there last month, I was asked more than once to say something about Donald Trump. I slowly backed away, avoiding eye contact, until I was at safe enough distance to run like mad.
You were in a border state if I remember right? The only thing I recall ever being asked down in Jalisco is about why Americans love politics so much.
Amusingly a homeless person at the Grand Mercado in Guadalajara in 2020 kept bothering me for money while I was eating. They kept saying something along the lines of "you're an American, you're rich." I lied and told them I was Canadian, amusingly that got her to leave me alone.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 12, 2025, 02:37:59 PMYou were in a border state if I remember right?
No, I was about a hundred miles south-southwest of Tampico, in the northern part of Veracruz. Half of our team was from the border state of Coahuila, but the town they're from is 300 miles south of the border at the other end of the state.
I think Trump had recently talked about cracking down on immigration. One couple on our team had two grown children who live in the US illegally—one who overstayed a visa, the other a
mojada. Talk about a conversation I didn't want to have!
(TIL what word gets filter-corrected to 'Wisconsinite' on the forum.)
Quote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 01:59:53 PMQuote from: LilianaUwU on September 12, 2025, 01:56:37 PM... it's much better than being part of America.
Now, that's much more moderate of a take than what you had originally posted and then deleted. Do I remember correctly, that you've never actually been to the US?
The take I originally posted was the same but more strongly worded. And no, I haven't been to the US.
I'm pretty happy with where I'm studying right now in Oklahoma! Sure, it has its warts, but overall, I'm truly content here right now. Things I like about it:
- It's pretty cheap to live here.
- I'm probably biased here... I generally like Oklahoma's politics, but I also think Tulsa specifically has particularly well-balanced politics.
- I like the people and culture here, particularly the people at my university (it's one of the most culturally diverse universities in the nation).
- My university is majority healthy, fit people due to its emphasis on maintaining your body (I like that for the same reasons JayhawkCO mentioned)
- The weather is chaotic, but I like having the variety of seasons.
- Tulsa IMO is the perfect-sized city. Big enough to have lots of big-city amenities, small enough to avoid some big-city problems. I particularly like how the road grid is laid out.
- Braum's, Sonic, and QuikTrip.
- Sunsets here are always incredible (probably due to my location on a bluff overlooking the Arkansas River)
Quote from: LilianaUwU on September 12, 2025, 03:02:26 PMI haven't been to the US.
I thought not. It does seem to be part of the Canadian identity to hate America without having actually been here.
(Unlike this country, where it's part of the American identity to pity
every other country without having been anywhere else.)
I live in a nice location in the Quad Cities where I moved to for a job. My guess is that when my job here ends, so does our residency in this area. It's fine.
No. Ohio is not the state when I spent summers here as a kid (mother was from SE Ohio).
Gerrymandering Politics are out of the Texas playbook. At least the cost of living is good.
Grew up in SE Mich. Rather be back in Colorado (a non-HOA area in SE Aurora?). Moved to Sacramento after a layoff, then to NW Ohio because my hated CA and wanted to be closer to family.
My whys for Denver (borrowed from JayhawkCO)
Weather (Having four seasons with none being extreme, lack of humidity, etc.)
Political climate
Education level of populace
Outdoor recreation activities
Non-stop flight options
Mountain Time Zone
You don't have to drive far to get to the middle of nowhere
Cost of living would make it hard to return.
I've lived most of my life in Virginia. In the past I occasionally thought about going somewhere else, especially when I was in law school—I hoped to find a job in North Carolina because I liked it there. But that didn't work out. I now live in Fairfax County about 20 minutes from where I grew up, though my job is in New York. I have no interest at all in living in New York and I would have to hire a divorce attorney if I moved there, so I'm quite happy that I can live here yet get up there very quickly on the Acela when I need to be there. I couldn't do that as easily if I lived somewhere else, or at least somewhere other than along the Northeast Corridor, but there's no chance I'd live in Maryland or Philadelphia. Another reason I would not move nowadays is that my mother is going to be 80 years old soon and, while she is very independent, I'd feel like I would be abandoning her here if I moved away because we have no other local relatives. My brother moved to Louisiana and most of my mom's family lives in New York (other than a brother out west somewhere).
No question Virginia has changed a lot since I was a kid. Fairfax County is much more urban and has way more traffic than it did 40 years ago. It's still not a bad place to live. I like that the cost of living is not as bad as it is in DC or Maryland, there's less crime than DC, gas and car insurance and taxes are generally lower, we have two-party government (at least at the state level) instead of being stuck with a bunch of people who vote strictly on party lines, and property values are very high. Some people complain that real estate taxes are high because of the school system. While I don't have any kids, I recognize the value of that school system because I attended it growing up. It's a major factor in the high property values, too. As a kid, I don't think I appreciated the value of how many things there are to do in DC that don't cost anything (Smithsonian museums, etc.).
The constant political crap coming from DC does get tiresome. There are some people who seem to be too stupid to understand that not everything has to do with your political views and that your opinion on Trump is simply irrelevant to things like sports, how well you drive, etc. And this fall we have an election for governor, so I will yet again be thankful for the mute button on the TV remote.
No.
Quote from: bugo on September 12, 2025, 07:26:00 PMNo.
You don't show your location on your profile, so how is that a meaningful answer?
I'm pretty happy living in Michigan. Yes we have our sore spots. But there's a lot going for the state.
I'm not fond of winters lately, where it's mostly damp air and heavy, wet snow. I much preferred the winters a couple decades back, where we'd get clear, dry, cold weather. 23 degrees and dry feels much better than 33 degrees and damp.
Summers have gotten humid and hotter and maybe less rain lately, so that's not as much of a draw as it used to be.
Still, it's nice living in a place with 4 true seasons. (Sometimes all in the same week!)
There's a lot of recreational and cultural opportunities. And many people don't realize just how big the state is, and how diverse the landscape. Sure there's flat glacial wash areas, but there's nice hills and forests too.
Quote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 07:27:06 PMQuote from: bugo on September 12, 2025, 07:26:00 PMNo.
You don't show your location on your profile, so how is that a meaningful answer?
Bugo is from Arkansas
Quote from: bugo on September 12, 2025, 09:37:45 PMQuote from: Roadgeekteen on September 12, 2025, 08:46:34 PMQuote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 07:27:06 PMQuote from: bugo on September 12, 2025, 07:26:00 PMNo.
You don't show your location on your profile, so how is that a meaningful answer?
Bugo is from Arkansas
You don't know where I live, douchebag.
In a van...down by the river?
I like it here in Seattle, mainly because on a clear day I can see Mt. Rainier from a distance, and there are plenty of exciting spots downtown, like Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Climate Pledge Arena and the two stadiums near the west end of I-90, plus it's a top destination for those working in the tech and gaming industries, with the presence of Nintendo, Microsoft and Boeing. But the wet Decembers make me miss Chicago, and I may move back there after I retire to be closer to my family (and no ballpark will ever come close to topping Wrigley Field!). Los Angeles was not too bad, but I hated the smog and the earthquakes, so I had to move north.
Overall, living in Minnesota is very nice. There is a pretty robust amount of parks and public lands no matter where you go, lakes over a certain size are required to have at least one public water access point, so you can find plenty of spaces to have a picnic or have a quick hike in addition to taking longer trips. I enjoy having a full four seasons, since I love to go skiing and snowshoeing in the winter and there are plenty of places to do it.
You can find culturally enriching experiences even in some places where you wouldn't expect them. When I renewed my passport a couple years ago, I took a walk into downtown Faribault searching for a coffee shop. I found myself as the only white guy downtown as a Somali wedding was taking place nearby, and I eventually found a shop called Golden Star Coffee. It turned out to be owned by more Somali folks, and I was able to get an entire meal there for $7. I tried to leave a tip, but the owner didn't seem to want one, so I gave it to his son instead. The coffee looked like ordinary black coffee but it was much stronger, with sugary hints and many more grounds at the bottom like a cup of Turkish coffee. I also had a sambusa, sort of like a pie with fish and veggies in the middle, which was very spicy but a great treat for me.
Nearly every town has a farmer's market where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and some offer dairy products, flavored olive oils, and flowers each week. There are also community supported agriculture initiatives that will supply subscribers with fresh food every week, a practice I was involved in back in high school.
Quote from: bugo on September 12, 2025, 09:37:45 PMQuote from: Roadgeekteen on September 12, 2025, 08:46:34 PMQuote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 07:27:06 PMQuote from: bugo on September 12, 2025, 07:26:00 PMNo.
You don't show your location on your profile, so how is that a meaningful answer?
Bugo is from Arkansas
You don't know where I live, douchebag.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/04/34/4d/04344d273334cdabf87b5f52129f555a.gif)
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on September 12, 2025, 08:46:34 PMBugo is from Arkansas
I thought maybe I remembered Oklahoma...
MN: I've had the privilege to visit some cool stuff, but to move away where I couldn't go to the North Shore would devastate me. I've never found anywhere else I like better.
US: No. I realize I have no place here. But because I would never be accepted anywhere else either either culturally or economically, I'm stuck. Realizing I have no place in this life has been a tough realization lately.
QuoteWhat I noticed in this thread is the lack of "Why?"
Quote from: thspfc on September 12, 2025, 11:26:56 AMYes and yes.
Minnesota, more specifically Minneapolis: four seasons, natural features, bike infastructure, pro sports, mall of America, lack of idiots, no dominant in-your-face religious culture, and sentimental value.
United States: relatively strong economy, relatively high quality of life, relative safety, relative political stability, relatively strong infastructure, relatively good education (did I mention everything is relative?), diversity of people, diversity of places, diversity of geography, world's best sports scene, world's best national park system.
Quote from: ZLoth on September 12, 2025, 12:04:23 PMWhat I noticed in this thread is the lack of "Why?"
Living in Oklahoma, I was used to the typical news stories about my state being things like "Local [leader] makes bigoted statement about x", "Local family values x charged with [non-family-friendly crime]", "State government cuts funding to x", and so on.
Meanwhile, your typical Nevada story is always something like
(https://i.imgur.com/bg4xkIP.png)
(The restaurant the woman was so jazzed about coming to town that she got drunk off her ass in the drive-thru at 3:30pm was a Carl's Jr., by the way.)
Or
(https://i.imgur.com/uLhcutY.png)
Quote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 10:22:31 AMQuote from: Scott5114 on September 12, 2025, 01:25:31 AMNevada fucking rules.
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-201.html
NRS 201.180
NRS 201.190
NRS 201.353
NRS 201.354
NRS 201.450
NRS 201.455
NRS 201.465
NRS 201.540
NRS 201.550
NRS 201.555
Technically the tail end of NRS 201.290 too.
Quote from: kphoger on September 12, 2025, 10:56:51 PMQuote from: Roadgeekteen on September 12, 2025, 08:46:34 PMBugo is from Arkansas
I thought maybe I remembered Oklahoma...
Maybe that. I knew he was from the mid south region and the hog made me think Arkansas, he may have moved though.
Washington is all I've really known, so I can't say for certain there isn't another corner of the world that I'd be better suited to.
But I am pretty satisfied staying put. There's a lot of stuff to do, a lot of nature to see, plenty of friends who share my niche hobbies, fairly good (by U.S. standards) walking and transit in the Seattle area, and overall a pretty good climate. Would like it to be cheaper to live here, but one can't have everything in life.
A small complaint is that road tripping tends to be a bit difficult when you're in a "corner" of the network. Canada is close, which is nice, but it's also Canada and thus even more expensive in many ways.