It seems many of you do not like living in IN. Would you lump Bloomington into the same category? (Salem: sales, new house)

[snowball42]

I should have mentioned also that there's NO WAY I'd live in Ft Wayne! Actually, if I left Bloomington I would leave Indiana. It's the only community of a substantial size that I know of in the area that hasn't had it's soul gutted by the corporate America shakedown. You can still get farm eggs for breakfast and hear live music on the streets. The crime in Bloomington among residents is quite low. Bloomington residents have a very good sense of community and work together. The community seems to have an overall
consciousness that it is up to individuals working together to provide a happy way of life rather than looking for salvation in education or business. It would just be nice if the people looking for salvation in education or business all had the decency to pay on-time and keep their rental structures in our community to a decent level of cleanliness and repair. I think the "snobbishness" some have tried to describe of Bloomington locals is actually a defensiveness for a higher quality of life. As corporate entities have overrun Bloomington, the locals have had to defend themselves more and more. The average income in Bloomington is in poverty.

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by snowball42

I should have mentioned also that there's NO WAY I'd live in Ft Wayne! Actually, if I left Bloomington I would leave Indiana. It's the only community of a substantial size that I know of in the area that hasn't had it's soul gutted by the corporate America shakedown. You can still get farm eggs for breakfast and hear live music on the streets. The crime in Bloomington among residents is quite low. Bloomington residents have a very good sense of community and work together. The community seems to have an overall conscienceness that it is up to individuals working together to provide a happy way of life rather than looking for salvation in education or business. It would just be nice if the people looking for salvation in education or businees all had the decency to pay on-time and keep their rental structures in our community to a decent level of cleanliness and repair. I think the "snobbishness" some have tried to describe of Bloomington locals is actually a defensiveness for a higher quality of life. As corporate entities have overrun Bloomington, the locals have had to defend themselves more and more. The adverage income in Bloomington is in poverty.

Their are other places in Indiana that arent overrun by corporate america and where people have a sense of community and stick together in order to have a better life.

I love how you went into detail there!


I love living in Indiana but I think eventually I would want to move somewhere else. I've lived in Indiana all my life and I love Indiana so I have no negative feelings for Indiana but, I've always wanted to move up North(Alaska) or out west (Colorado-Wyoming-Montana) and I probably will move to either place when I get a bit older and have the money to make such a move.

[snowball42]

I'm sure this is true. I lived in Columbus for a while and have worked in homes in Franklin, Salem, Seymour, and Bedford too and have seen people work together. Bloomington has things like Bloomingfoods co-operative, Shalom Center, Mother Hubbards, etc. that just don't exist in this type of abundance in other communities I've been in. These exist due to people working together to get a non-profit in place to benefit the community. I have noticed that Louisville offers many opportunities such as these but, of course, Louisville is a large city and Bloomington is not. Everyone stays in a place for different reasons. Many locals of Bloomington stay because their heart is with their family and friends. Also, Bloomington is a hard place to get out of financially for many. Many end up trapped in the monthly bills and have to make it work here. This strengthens the family/friend structure because people have to rely on each other for help.

[MonaMee31]

I moved to Indiana from Hawaii about two years ago and I have to say it is the unfriendliest and most boring state I have been forced to stay in. I have an idea of how midwest living goes. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. I moved to Hawaii at the age of 18. The men are rude and do not approach you with any kind of cooth and decorum. The woman are predatory, rude and in competition with each other. Good jobs seem to be non-existant. In the two years I have been here I have found it hard to make any decent friends. I know you might blame this on my extreme negative attitude, but I have spent the last year putting my bitter attitude on hold in order to put on a positive front in order to expand my circle of friends. It is not working. This city is not very cultured or varied. Those things I could deal with if I had more friends. I had the pleasure of visiting West Va this week and I was impressed and plan on moving there in August. The people are extremely friendly and the scenery very beautiful. Who knows in two years I might be as negative towards West Va but I doubt it.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by MonaMee31

I moved to Indiana from Hawaii about two years ago and I have to say it is the unfriendliest and most boring state I have been forced to stay in. I have an idea of how midwest living goes. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. I moved to Hawaii at the age of 18. The men are rude and do not approach you with any kind of cooth and decorum. The woman are predatory, rude and in competition with each other. Good jobs seem to be non-existant. In the two years I have been here I have found it hard to make any decent friends. I know you might blame this on my extreme negative attitude, but I have spent the last year putting my bitter attitude on hold in order to put on a positive front in order to expand my circle of friends. It is not working. This city is not very cultured or varied. Those things I could deal with if I had more friends. I had the pleasure of visiting West Va this week and I was impressed and plan on moving there in August. The people are extremely friendly and the scenery very beautiful. Who knows in two years I might be as negative towards West Va but I doubt it.

Enjoy your move to the backwoods of West Virginia. You're correct in that West Virginia is very beautiful.

As for Indiana and Indianapolis, being not a native myself, I have to disagree with you wholeheartedly. Then again, it probably depends on perspective. I remember my ex-wife getting into a discussion with an ol' boy in Arkansas once. He found it rude that when he drove once through rural Indiana, he would wave at folks when he drove by, but they didn't wave back. Her response: "Why do you wave at people you don't know?"

[MonaMee31]

As for Indiana and Indianapolis, being not a native myself, I have to disagree with you wholeheartedly. Then again, it probably depends on perspective. I remember my ex-wife getting into a discussion with an ol' boy in Arkansas once. He found it rude that when he drove once through rural Indiana, he would wave at folks when he drove by, but they didn't wave back. Her response: "Why do you wave at people you don't know?"

This is a funny story but also sad. How does anyone ever meet anyone outside of their social circle with that kind of attitude? I got the head nod from a lady in WV as we both coasted through a stop sign. I haven't been that excited since my last shaka back in Hawaii..

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by MonaMee31

How does anyone ever meet anyone outside of their social circle with that kind of attitude?

There are always opportunities -- at work, school, church, neighborhood group meetings, etc. Just because folks don't wave or nod at one another in public settings doesn't mean they aren't friendly or able to make acquaintance with one another in other ways.

[MonaMee31]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

There are always opportunities -- at work, school, church, neighborhood group meetings, etc. Just because folks don't wave or nod at one another in public settings doesn't mean they aren't friendly or able to make acquaintance with one another in other ways.

All very good ways of meeting people which for some reason has not worked for me or my best friend who moved here from Hawaii also to help me with my children. Sadly I live downtown not in the greatest of neighborhoods so strike out on that. I don't go to church so another strike. I do hang out socially with some co workers and classmates but I guess I'm trying to recreate the ease in which I made friends in Hawaii. People talk to you everywhere there. On a bus, in the hotel I worked at, invite themselves to your table at club gatherings. I know you have to be more cautious in a large city. I think that Hawaii is just a whole different culture from the mid west and to be happy I better get my buns back there somehow. Thanks for the suggestions!

[angelbug]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

Enjoy your move to the backwoods of West Virginia. You're correct in that West Virginia is very beautiful.

Mah mamma done growed up in West Virginny, and somehows her fam'ly made a lots of money and sent her to New Yawk City to go to some high-falutin' music school, Julie-ard, I think she done said it was called, and she done goed on to become a symphonee orchestree harpist. No, not dem little silver harps you blows into, but a big gold one that costed my granpappy $3000 in 1936 and came all da way from Chicago on a train.

It IS a beeyouteeful state, but full o' nuttin' but backwoods bumpkins.

[NorthPoleMarathoner]

Originally Posted by angelbug

Mah mamma done growed up in West Virginny, and somehows her fam'ly made a lots of money and sent her to New Yawk City to go to some high-falutin' music school, Julie-ard, I think she done said it was called, and she done goed on to become a symphonee orchestree harpist. No, not dem little silver harps you blows into, but a big gold one that costed my granpappy $3000 in 1936 and came all da way from Chicago on a train.

It IS a beeyouteeful state, but full o' nuttin' but backwoods bumpkins.

This may be the best post on C-D.