What do you like/love about Indiana (Evansville, Hammond: fit in, new home)

[cd771]

With so many negative anti Indiana threads out there, what is it that you like/love about our state? Personally I get real sick with the ''''the south is so friendly'''' kind of crap. I lived in Georgia and Arkansas and have extensively visited New Orleans, Texas and other southern states and I 100% disagree with the friendly south stuff. I think its more the fake south. People in the midwest are honest. I love it here. I'm not saying it is perfect but I am surprised by so much criticism. I couldn't wait to get out of Indiana growing up but ended up back here and very content with that decision. Ok there is some backwards stuff but I think overall it is a great place to be with a variety of personalities and people. So what is it about Indiana that makes you love/like living here?

Please also feel free to share Indiana travel tips (where to go, stay, etc). I am on a mission to see as much as Indiana as possible. I lived in Vincennes for a year but really haven't been to too many areas.

[Future Trooper]

I love Indiana's hospitality and laid "backness" while at the same time it is moderately progressive and very family friendly.

Brown County is a fabulous place to visit.

[ShadowCaver]

Many people have misperception that IN, being a midwestern state, is "boring"... to me that is not true. Its actually more varied than most would realize - from the Dunes and beaches along Lake Michigan, the swamps, the flat lands, the beauty of the tassles in the fields, the remnants and scars of the glaciers, the streams, and on south to the hilly cave-filled and rugged lands to the south, finally reaching the fairly powerful Ohio River, there is much w/in this state geographically to keep a person interested. Culturally, there are many very buildings and structures, along w/ thousands of festivals and happenings durn near every weekend thoughout the year. Its actually a pretty state, one filled w/ more than just corn. Seriously, there is much to do w/in Indiana, a person just needs to get off their duff and be aware of its possibilities, and what they can do to discover and enjoy, with a positive attitude. Umpteen years ago, before moving here, would have wrongly stated that IN would be not so high on my list of places to live, but its actually not too bad... Don't get me wrong, not as good my beloved Ozarks, but heck, can't all be that good.

[fallingwater]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

Many people have misperception that IN, being a midwestern state, is "boring"... to me that is not true. Its actually more varied than most would realize - from the Dunes and beaches along Lake Michigan, the swamps, the flat lands, the beauty of the tassles in the fields, the remnants and scars of the glaciers, the streams, and on south to the hilly cave-filled and rugged lands to the south, finally reaching the fairly powerful Ohio River, there is much w/in this state geographically to keep a person interested. Culturally, there are many very buildings and structures, along w/ thousands of festivals and happenings durn near every weekend thoughout the year. Its actually a pretty state, one filled w/ more than just corn. Seriously, there is much to do w/in Indiana, a person just needs to get off their duff and be aware of its possibilities, and what they can do to discover and enjoy, with a positive attitude. Umpteen years ago, before moving here, would have wrongly stated that IN would be not so high on my list of places to live, but its actually not too bad... Don't get me wrong, not as good my beloved Ozarks, but heck, can't all be that good.

I dont find Indiana boring at all. But then again, Ive never been the type to hit the bars or nightclub scene. I love the parks here. I do not feel bored at all. Maybe I just a boring person?

A good friend of mine moved to Alabama. She has been there several years and still is trying to fit in with the locals. She deals with the whole "oh your a yankee" thing. She will tell me how the women will be very polite to her but find out later they say some pretty nasty things behind her back. I think there can be some pretty fake people down south.

I agree the midwest peeps are more real. I find people here in Indiana are quite friendly. This took some getting used too when I first moved here. I thought to myself, okay why is this woman behind me in line, talking to me? What is her agenda? Then I realized she was just being friendly!

The cost of living here is wonderful. If someone had told me I would own a 2,000 sft new home with 3 baths, and a backyard that looks like a park, I would have never believed it. The bad part is family from back home, now think hubby and I are rich. NOT. The property taxes are awesome compared to what I paid from my home state. Food is cheaper here and I am starting to love cooking. Back home it was cheaper to eat out, not the best food but it was cheaper. I also love how people are very health oriented. I like the organic stores. I think people would be shocked to know how progressive Indiana is on this respect.

Being from the motor city, owning a foreign car was a big insult. I like that stigma doesnt exist here. I can freely purchase a Honda if I choose without appearing unamerican.

My husband has an awesome boss and the company in general believes family comes first. This is new to us.

Everything is sooo green. I dont mind the rain we get and think its quite lovely.

Ok what I dont like...well I wrote a long post about this on another thread. I think the good out weighs the bad here but some things still bug me. With any place there is always good and bad.

I hate the radio and news media. Both stink big time and seem backwards. The radio seems stuck in the past and the news anchors seem lost. The newspapers report a story but when you read past the headline, there is no information. It seems to me, the story is just an extension of the headline.

Im not fond of such a conservative outlook. This is a red state. I found dealing with any sort of government agency was a huge headache. I dread renewing my license in 4 yrs.

Pizza...I know ...I know...Ive said this a bunch of times but Im a big pizza lover and its such a bummer to not find a decent pizza here. I did try mancino's and its pretty decent but pizza is expensive here. Back home, I could get two large for 10-12 bucks. I think giving up our friday pizza night ritual was the biggest adjustment. Spending 32 bucks on pizza just seems crazy when we could go to Outback and spend a few bucks more for steak. I think people here just got used to the mundane taste of pizza. They think its good.

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

Many people have misperception that IN, being a midwestern state, is "boring"... to me that is not true. Its actually more varied than most would realize - from the Dunes and beaches along Lake Michigan, the swamps, the flat lands, the beauty of the tassles in the fields, the remnants and scars of the glaciers, the streams, and on south to the hilly cave-filled and rugged lands to the south, finally reaching the fairly powerful Ohio River, there is much w/in this state geographically to keep a person interested. Culturally, there are many very buildings and structures, along w/ thousands of festivals and happenings durn near every weekend thoughout the year. Its actually a pretty state, one filled w/ more than just corn. Seriously, there is much to do w/in Indiana, a person just needs to get off their duff and be aware of its possibilities, and what they can do to discover and enjoy, with a positive attitude. Umpteen years ago, before moving here, would have wrongly stated that IN would be not so high on my list of places to live, but its actually not too bad... Don't get me wrong, not as good my beloved Ozarks, but heck, can't all be that good.

You couldnt have described Indiana any better!

[cd771]

Originally Posted by fallingwater

Pizza...I know ...I know...Ive said this a bunch of times but Im a big pizza lover and its such a bummer to not find a decent pizza here. I did try mancino's and its pretty decent but pizza is expensive here. Back home, I could get two large for 10-12 bucks. I think giving up our friday pizza night ritual was the biggest adjustment. Spending 32 bucks on pizza just seems crazy when we could go to Outback and spend a few bucks more for steak. I think people here just got used to the mundane taste of pizza. They think its good.

That's funny because we moved here from Chicago which has the reputation for being a great pizza town but both my husband and I LOVE House of Pizza in Hammond. In fact its probably our favorite pizza.

[fallingwater]

Originally Posted by cd771

That's funny because we moved here from Chicago which has the reputation for being a great pizza town but both my husband and I LOVE House of Pizza in Hammond. In fact its probably our favorite pizza.

Ive heard of that place. unfortunately I do not live close to Hammond.

[paptofour]

[/quote]I think people here just got used to the mundane taste of pizza.

Does this look mundane? Come to Evansville, we have lots of good pizza places.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by paptofour

Does this look mundane? Come to Evansville, we have lots of good pizza places.

Where is that from?

My favorite local pizza in Evansville is at Roca Bar; The Slice on Lincoln by UE is a close second.

[paptofour]

That particular pizza is from Parkway on the far west side, Broadway and Red Bank Rd. on the way to Burdette Park.

Oh yes. Roca Bar on S. Kentucky Ave. is awesome! The Slice is good too, near U. of E.. That guy in there reminds me of the soup Nazi on Seinfeld.