Do you love your state?

[minniebeth]

Lots of people LOVE my state (VA). I'm not crazy about it. But now that winter is gone gone, she is growing on me. I will hate her again once freezing temps are back though.

When folks hear I am unhappy--they are surprised because this place is so wonderful. So it must be.

It just isn't my home. Plop it a few degrees south and I would be happier.

(*We also had to move suddenly--so there really was no looking forward to picking out where we would want to move. We had to go where there was a job.)

Now that it's spring, take a long ride through the countryside down to Charlottesville~ have you visited Monitcello and UVA with your kids yet? Luray Caverns? Those are must dos and once you do, you'll start to love the beauty of Virginia as much as I did when I lived there~

When we retire, my DH wants to head to NC or SC, but my heart would be either in VA or in SC, lowcountry.

I'm born and raised in NJ and I need me some shore time. I do feel land-locked, and sorry, Lake Erie doesn't cut it

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I have lived in Southern California since I was two, and I love it here. We have everything within an easy drive - city, ocean, mountains, and desert. I love traveling to other places, and lived in Spain for a year, and I am always happy to come home.

 

[DefLepard]

A little less than a 3 hour drive to Walt Disney World, umm Yes I <3 Florida

 

[MM27]

I love my State, I'm just not loving those who run it

Right on

I split my time between NJ and NH.

NJ: I love the location and how we are so close to a lot of major areas. I love the fact that I can walk to the beach whenever I want.

I hate how crowded it is. That's one of the things I love about going to my house in NH. I love to hear people say there is heavy traffic because of the 5cars ahead of them on a road

In NH, I love the woods, the mountains, the lakes, the more relaxed pace of life in general.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

I love, love, love my state of NH!!!!! We have a place on the Lake that we spend every weekend at during the summer. We live on thirty acres, and only have eight houses on our entire road. We are less than an hour from both the ocean and the White Mountains for summer fun and have four ski areas within a half an hour from our house in the winter. My husband also makes a huge skating rink in our backyard every year. Whats not to love??? However, I have to say that when we retire, we do plan on spending three months in Florida and live at our lace on the lake for the rest of the year.

 

[hereyago]

Now that it's spring, take a long ride through the countryside down to Charlottesville~ have you visited Monitcello and UVA with your kids yet? Luray Caverns? Those are must dos and once you do, you'll start to love the beauty of Virginia as much as I did when I lived there~

When the leaves change colors, Skyline parkway. beautiful....

 

[s____!]

I love TX! There's somewhere for everyone, and there's always something going on somewhere just a short drive away.
Most places, the people are pretty nice.
The weather is suck, though.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Counting down the days until DH retires in 2-3 years and we can get out of NY!
Geographically, it is perfect. Close enough to major cities, beautiful countryside with lakes and mountains, but horrible winter weather and totally corrupt and inept political structure, not to mention the high taxes! We're outta here!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Now that it's spring, take a long ride through the countryside down to Charlottesville~ have you visited Monitcello and UVA with your kids yet? Luray Caverns? Those are must dos and once you do, you'll start to love the beauty of Virginia as much as I did when I lived there~

When we retire, my DH wants to head to NC or SC, but my heart would be either in VA or in SC, lowcountry.

I'm born and raised in NJ and I need me some shore time. I do feel land-locked, and sorry, Lake Erie doesn't cut it

Not while we lived here..but we have been up here a few times before.

The shock and awe of moving still weighs on the shocking side for me.

Would love to get to Monticello again.

I did LOVE visiting here. Just to far north for me though to live.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I have a love/hate relationship with New York. I like working in Manhatten, having everything there for you. I don't like living on Long Island anymore but do love Jones Beach. And I hate the taxes and the high cost of living in New York.

Right now the only place I can see myself living is upstate New York.
The fresh air, open space and friendly people always feels good.

 

[NaLisa]

Most of the time.

The only time I don't like it is on election days and sundays.

I'm a moderate in a conservative bible belt red state, enough said.

Yeah, this is pretty much me too. Don't care for the politics/politicians or the people who try to force their religion on everyone else. Serious issues with education and poverty. Folks in power determined to maintain the status quo and fight progress at every turn.

However, it's a very scenic state with many nice everyday people, numerous lakes and rivers and a wonderful climate (though too hot for some). I can be at the mountains or the beach in a couple of hours, and drive to WDW in seven hours. And having grown up in the Southeast, I just don't think I could handle the cold of a northern state or the high cost-of-living in other parts of the country. My city is sized just right for me, with plenty of amenities (arts, museums, theatre, attractions) but not the hustle-and-bustle, traffic and crime of larger cities.

So I don't think there's a "perfect" place for me, and I guess overall the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in my state.

ETA: I live in South Carolina. Thought it was in my profile.

 

[SpecialK]

Hate it. Currupt politicians, bankrupt, mismanaged, lousy weather, high taxes. Can't wait to retire and leave.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

Love it with all my heart. I never plan on leaving.

 

[M&N]

Interesting question. I have lived in Lancaster County for 54 out of my 61 years. I would not move because my friends are here. I love the area. It is not too far to visit NYC or DC. I was raised to be proud of being a Virginian. I love that state and my heritage there.

 

[Sandy V.]

We love living in Colorado - been here 26 years now. Beautiful mountains, stunning vistas, sunshine 300+ days per year, low humidity, a much milder climate than people expect, wonderful outdoor opportunities year-round, good schools, fun sports teams to follow, and generally very nice people.

I get tired of shoveling snow during our big snowstorms, but they don't come often enough most years to take the bloom off the rose.

 

[EeyoreEma]

I would love to live in the Charleston, SC area someday.

 

[Feralpeg]

I will always think fondly of the Midwest, but I have never regretted my move to Florida. I ADORE Florida! Being so close to Disney is great, but that really has very little to do with it. I would stay here if Disney moved tomorrow. I love the climate, the wildlife and the great people.

The only way I will ever leave is if my daughter decides to remain in England. If so, I will probably spend part of each year there, but I will always call Florida home.

 

[aunties]

I love it! I love having four very different seasons (even though the snow banks at the end of the driveway were over my head this winter). And nothing compares to the fall colors. I can be in one of the most historical cities in the country in less than an hour, at the ocean in an hour, in the mountains in less than 2 hours. We may have a blizzard or two each winter but everything is back to normal in a day or two. We rarely have weather that is destructive to such wide areas. We have many of the top colleges, museums, technology companies, and medical facilities in the country. We also have awesome sports teams (most years). I love visiting the rest of the country but I am also glad to come home.

 

[Cat0727]

I love it. There is no place like home.

 

[sunshine1178]

Hey, we must live in the same town! Luckily (ha ha) for us, my husband's career field will be entirely gone here in a year or two, so we'll get to sell our house at a loss and move to another state, where I'll try to start my career over for the third time. But maybe we'll get to leave the house more often than just to drive our kids to practices and sit alone on the bleachers.

We have lived here 20+ years and I would move tomorrow if I could. Honestly -- tomorrow. I hate it here.

When we moved here, it was after a series of successful moves. Each time, we were able to find and enjoy the positive aspects and make good friends. Heck, we've gone on 2 week group tours and ended up with lifelong friends. So we had every expectation of the same here.

Unfortunately, it did not work out that way. We tried everything that had worked in the past, plus added new techniques. Nothing worked. It was made quite clear to us, over and over, in multiple situations/settings that since we were not "from" here we were outsiders and while our time/money/volunteering was more than wanted (it was EXPECTED), no one had any interest in being friends with us. When we'd ask people to dinner, the movies, to bowling or a baseball game or just to talk at a PTA function, we were told: "We already have all the friends we need. We grew up here, you know. If you want friends, maybe you should move back home. Your home."

Add to that the cold and snow and the fact that it is flat flat flat...

Yeah, I hate it. We NEVER intended to stay here, but a few years after we moved, dh's field contracted and the job losses were severe. We expected they would rebound and under that expectation, I left my profession due to burn out and took a lower-paying job. Subsequently, we realized that we were stuck. And so we remain.

The goal of my life is early retirement. That is all I live for.