But, do you like living in Indiana? (Bloomington: home, buy)

[dreaming4south]

I have a terrible habit of over-researching everything, and this includes our plans for a move to South-Central Indiana in a year or so. One of the things I have been doing is reading about your opinions regarding the economic state of IN, jobs, etc. I realize that almost everyone is worried right now, but do your worries affect how you feel about living in Indiana?

I ask because I live in IL, and have not liked living in my state for many, many years. From rampant corruption to high taxes to increases in everything, including just taking my children to a museum, I am eager to leave this state that I have no respect for. Sure, there are things in IL that are good, but I do not like living here, and am hard pressed to find people amongst me that do like living here. Those that I know all have a high opinion of Indiana, both the way it is run and the people that live there.

Well, I suppose what I want to know then is, in spite of everything, do you still like living in the state of Indiana, or perhaps you would you rather live here in IL?

[domergurl]

We lived in and around Chicago for almost 10 years, and I love Chicago, it's my favorite city in America. But, living in Indiana suits our young family much more. Living here affords me to be able to be a stay at home mom (and be your humble mod ... ) If we were still in Chicago, that just wouldn't be possible with the cost of living and the taxes there. The politics are decidely more conservative ... sorry, but the Obama victory in Indiana was a fluke, a happy fluke, but a fluke nontheless ... it won't happen again. But, I don't see a version of Blago and the corruption that Illinois has in Indiana ... yea, we have Pat Bauer, but Bosma seems to cancel him out ... ha! I don't know, I've always said that Indiana isn't the most exciting place to live, but for us, that's appealing.

But then again, Indiana is where we grew up, it's home.

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by domergurl

We lived in and around Chicago for almost 10 years, and I love Chicago, it's my favorite city in America. But, living in Indiana suits our young family much more. Living here affords me to be able to be a stay at home mom (and be your humble mod ... ) If we were still in Chicago, that just wouldn't be possible with the cost of living and the taxes there. The politics are decidely more conservative ... sorry, but the Obama victory in Indiana was a fluke, a happy fluke, but a fluke nontheless ... it won't happen again. But, I don't see a version of Blago and the corruption that Illinois has in Indiana ... yea, we have Pat Bauer, but Bosma seems to cancel him out ... ha! I don't know, I've always said that Indiana isn't the most exciting place to live, but for us, that's appealing.

But then again, Indiana is where we grew up, it's home.

I agree the Obama Victory was only a fluke. I am glad we dont have the corruption Illinois has. havent they had lik 6 gov's impeached?

Indiana is the perfect state has just enough things to do to keep the people here happy.

Indiana is where I grew up and will continue to live for the rest of my life! I wouldnt trade Indiana for anything!

[dreaming4south]

The non-exciting part is a plus for my husband, me I like some excitement, but I would never wish to live in Downtown Chicago - that is too much excitement! I don't mind driving up to an hour for fun things to do while my husband lays on the porch swing contemplating the growth of the grass. I can only contemplate grass growth for so long, but DH would very much like to move someplace that offers land and home for less than we could buy for here.

Conservative politics are a mixed bag for us. I am more liberal, my husband more conservative. I tend to have a more socialist bend (being Canadian, I see both sides more than some that have never lived under two different governments), but I am conservative on some other issues. As long as I am still able to choose where I go to church and what I do with family, I think we will be ok.

I actully do like the universities in IN better than the IL ones, and with one already off to Purdue next year and the other in 4 years, schooling is still important to us. Indiana just seems to offer what we are looking for, with the plus that we would still have money left over to enjoy our retirement (when the day comes). Lord knows retiring here in the Chicago area won't be easy!

Perhaps I just fear that we have put Indiana on a pedestal compared to IL, and not knowing anyone that lives in IN, honest opinions on whether you like it or not are a big help. I know what one person likes is another's dislike, but I have no problem taking it all in and making my own conclusion. So please, let me know if you actually like living in the state of Indiana.

[Jaxson]

I believe Indiana is a balanced state to raise a family. There is corruption in any area there is politics some more than others. I am not a fan of our man mitch's ways of privitizing government responsibilities. Especially when it comes to the elderly, disabled and poor. Depending on your family needs I think Indiana offers a lot. If you want seclusion we have many rural towns. If you want more neighbors we have many bigger towns/cities. If you want big city life we have Indy, Ft. Wayne and Bloomington that does a fair share of offerings.

Sadly many towns and cities in Indiana are now implementing user fees and local income taxes to replace the lost revenue of capped property tax losses.

Anywhere can be what you make it to live there but I am mostly happy with Indiana having grown up here and raising my family here.

[domergurl]

2 of my close friends here are expat Canadians (one from Winnipeg the other from Toronto via Vancouver) ... the only thing they both don't necessarily like about Indiana is that it's more religious than what they are used to in Canada, but they aren't miserable here. They like the lower cost of living in Indiana.

[ShadowCaver]

dreaming4south - ~10 years ago, if anyone would have said I'd be living in this state, a state full of Hoosiers [ ], I'd have laughed at 'em, and then cried... But, honestly, its a pretty good state - and for me, its similar to home [Missouri] in many aspects. Relatively flatter topography in the northern "half", fields filled w/ grains, and then rolling karst areas in the south - although I terribly miss living in the Ozarks, the rolling glaciated part that am in now [NW of Ft Wayne] has its own special attractiveness. Of course, I'm the kind of fool who tries to make lemonade out of anything,,, but nevertheless, between the people, the festivals, the restaurants, the soft/gentle rolling hills, and smooth streams, its not bad. Everyone has their own druthers and desires - some love beaches, some love mountains, some even love Kansas , but point is, no one but yourself can know for sure if YOU and yours will really enjoy it, and not until you've acclimated and experienced more. In the 7.5 years that have lived here, I've tried to learn and explore and see as much as I could, and it is a good enjoyable state to live in. Schools [primary and secondary], at least ones I'm aware of, are great. So, yes, I like living here, but,,, its not my dream place; that would be northern CA [sans the lunacy of the gov't and taxes and etc. there ] or back in the Ozarks, somewhere on a hillside, with clear running streams, water falls, a cave and spring, a bit of pasture and some woods. But, back to reality, this is a durn good state - boring to some, but to many of those I would challenge 'em to open their eyes and minds, and give the state an honest look... and here are a few other threads to maybe help, in case haven't seen these:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/india...ate-parks.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/india...ke-living.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/india...s-indiana.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/india...ls-events.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/north...y-hoosier.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/india...dden-gems.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/india...s-indiana.html