So, what do you LOVE about Kansas? (Wichita, Pratt: live, relocate to)

[kansan-at-heart]

I'm a native Kansan who has spent most of her life from age 12 on, in other parts of the country, mainly in California and the Intermountain West--except for several years at KU. There are so many things that make Kansas special for me--and I don't know how much of that is just because that's my original home. Many things that have been mentioned are certainly important--like the sunsets and the very nice people with solid family values. I keep thinking I would like to come back there to stay, but it is so far from family members, and that is important, too. People who imply that Kansans are "backward" because they tend to be conservative in some ways are quite mistaken. I believe Kansans have a lot more sense than people who live life in the fast lane on both coasts and aren't as easily influenced by the media as those who want to be sophisticated and politically correct. I'll put up Kansans against anyone for TRUE intellect and good common sense!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by kansan-at-heart

I believe Kansans have a lot more sense than people who live life in the fast lane on both coasts and aren't as easily influenced by the media as those who want to be sophisticated and politically correct. I'll put up Kansans against anyone for TRUE intellect and good common sense!

That is quite the generalization. Don't believe everything that you hear on talk radio, blogs, talking heads, or TV news shows.

I have found people to be more similar than disimilar in all parts of the country I have lived in.

[scrappster]

Some people like the weather, some hate it, others don't even care.

I LOVE the weather. I've been in Guam, Texas, and Colorado, but none of their weather compares to Kansas. Big open skies, I love watching the storms build up in the distance midday all the way up until I'm watching them leave as the sun sets. It's exciting and interesting. We have all four seasons here, sometimes the length of those vary, but it's nice. You get ice and snow (which can be bad) that look beautiful and are a treat. The humidity is one of my favorite parts too, when you're outside you FEEL it, and it's something I'll miss when I leave again. Then again, I'm a weather buff, so I appreciate all of the variations.

It's very cheap! If the National average for living expenses is 100, Wichita falls around 76 (last I checked, but this gives you an idea). Cigs are right at 5 a pack, I believe they raised the taxes on them here, and I don't know if that matters to you at all.

(edit: Forgot to clarify. I spent most of my time living in Andover, but my dad lives in Wichita, and he took us out all the time. I lived around Wamego (a tiny town between Manhattan and Topeka) for 2 years, and I'm now living in Junction. So I've been around a bit. )

In Wichita, they've been 'beautifying' the downtown area, statues were set up around the sidewalks, very nice little treats if you like wandering or driving around downtown. They have a wonderful festival in May every year called the Riverfest, set up right downtown and right by the Riverwalk (which they've been working on too). The pronounce the Arkansas river by pronouncing the 'kansas' part the same as the state. I grew up in Texas, so when my grandpa told us how they pronounce it in Kansas, I thought it was ridiculous, but I've grown fond of that silly little thing. Downtown, right around the Riverwalk, they have the Exploration place (which is a nice place for kids, and good if you have some time to burn on a weekend and want to check it out. I'm sciency, and I wasn't impressed, but it was brand new back then and they've probably added all sorts of things by now). They've worked on the zoo a lot since I was a kid, but I haven't been there in several years. They're African exhibit was really fun and neat (but I haven't been to bigger city zoos so this might be just me feeling like I'm spoiled).

Oh! The Cosmosphere! I have no idea if you like space things at all, but that was my absolute FAVORITE attraction (and always will be!) about Kansas. It's very neat, and they have all sorts of amazing artifacts from space exploration. Very neat, it's up in Hutchinson if I remember right, and one of the main highways go right through an Amish town called Yoder. Really neat.

Even though it's 'boring', I actually love driving through it. You can 'stretch your eyes against the horizon', so to speak. The flint hills are a simple beauty, fantastic. And the history is great.

I'm very fond of Kansas. I'm only 20, and though I've spent the majority of my life here, I wasn't born here. Family is all here for me too, so that's a plus. And then of course, I'm biased since I was raised here. xD It's a place that you really have to learn to love. Things seem far away (sometimes you'd have to go all the way to get KC to go to a concert, if you're lucky! Seriously, I still haven't been to a big one, and my family loves music), but if you just sit back and enjoy the ride, then an hour or two driving is actually really nice (except for gas >.< ). My dad is one of the most intelligently liberal people I know (as in, loves books, appreciates culture, loves people, laid back, polite, artsy, etc. He's not a tree hugging hippie at all), and he's lived here most of his life and doesn't ever want to move again (even though he loved Austin). And keep in mind, he loves camping, fishing, and sight seeing, and he's been able to keep himself busy. xD

Wow that's a lot, but more info is better then not enough. And I probably repeated some things, but I'd rather get my opinions and ideas down before I forget. heh. It's hard to get used to, but if your open and reconsider things you start hating about it, then you might actually never want to leave. Though there are more fat older christiany farmer people wandering around Walmarts here, so be warned hehe

(another edit: after posting, I went through and read the other posts. I'm planning on moving to Austin in the next few months or less and you guys are making it hard! Basically, Kansas is a great place to grow up, begin to HATE so you leave as a teenager, then miss, then find a good guy/gal and come back to raise kids and maybe retire (though it's sometimes hard to convince people to move here haha). It's like a vicious cycle! I agree with all of those, definitely the lightning bugs and locusts! The locusts get annoying, but their buzz was the sound of summer, and the lightning bugs were such a pleasant thing to see flickering around the trees. They don't have lightning bugs in Colorado D: lol And my grammar sounds weird as all heck right now, I'm apologize, it's just 3:30am right now haha)

[kansan-at-heart]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

That is quite the generalization. Don't believe everything that you hear on talk radio, blogs, talking heads, or TV news shows.

I have found people to be more similar than disimilar in all parts of the country I have lived in.

Yes, GS, you are right--that was "quite the generalization"--it was just in response to SO MANY OTHER generalizations about people in the heartland--including that now-famous statement by our "current" president. I agree that people are more similar than dissimilar in all parts of the country, but I do believe that the good sense of the heartland folks is not always acknowledged.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by kansan-at-heart

Yes, GS, you are right--that was "quite the generalization"--it was just in response to SO MANY OTHER generalizations about people in the heartland--including that now-famous statement by our "current" president. I agree that people are more similar than dissimilar in all parts of the country, but I do believe that the good sense of the heartland folks is not always acknowledged.

There are different types of good sense. I've had to try and explain to a lot of California fair-trade raisins why the fact that Kansans regularly vote against their own economic interests, and tolerate the kind of state education shenanigans they do, does not make them stupid (I say 'them' because I've never voted or tolerated thus). Unfortunately, I'm holding a broken quarterstaff in that particular argument, because it's fairly hard to argue that voting to be poorer is a real brilliant move, or that ramming religion into public science education makes sense.

The irony is that I do it anyway, at least to the best of my ability, even though it's one of the most thankless tasks in my life. I guess even though I know my homeland has flaws, I don't like to hear it insulted by self-righteous snots any more than you do, though our sociopolitical views probably have little else in common. You've probably had the same discussions yourself, given where you've lived.

My own view is that one primary driver of Kansan political opinion to its current situation is just that: sick of being mocked. Just like Southerners. Just like anyone anywhere with a drawl, or who doesn't care for tofu burgers. It gets old having people assume things about you and put you down based on them.

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by luzianne

Oh no! You gotta have the sound effects!! http://www.ku.edu/about/traditions/songs/imajhawk.mp3

Good post. I'm glad someone posted something cultural about Kansas.

[mderm]

I just recently moved out of Wichita KS to NYC. I lived in Wichita for five years and grew from hating it to absolutely loving the things I hated about the city.
I love the quiet. I love the fact that you can get anywhere in the city withing 20 minutes. I love and miss not being able to drive to Walmart anytime I want to and get whatever I need. I miss the open spaces. I miss the thunder storms. I miss the old fashioned warmth and hospitality. People on the streets in NY look at me like I'm crazy if I nod at them or smile at someone in the supermarket.
As for the traffic congestion on Kellogg............that is heaven compared to the traffic situation here.

[tulip34]

I have lived in Kanasas (overland Park) , Chicago ( west suberbs ) , and in Maryland d(DC Metro) area . I found Kansas best place to live for family oriented people , best school system , affordable housing , nice people . Only problem it has is lack of IT jobs .

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by tulip34

I have lived in Kanasas (overland Park) , Chicago ( west suberbs ) , and in Maryland d(DC Metro) area . I found Kansas best place to live for family oriented people , best school system , affordable housing , nice people . Only problem it has is lack of IT jobs .

I have lived in four other states. Kansas was by far the worst for single people.

[geekychick]

Originally Posted by mderm

I just recently moved out of Wichita KS to NYC. I lived in Wichita for five years and grew from hating it to absolutely loving the things I hated about the city.
I love the quiet. I love the fact that you can get anywhere in the city withing 20 minutes. I love and miss not being able to drive to Walmart anytime I want to and get whatever I need. I miss the open spaces. I miss the thunder storms. I miss the old fashioned warmth and hospitality. People on the streets in NY look at me like I'm crazy if I nod at them or smile at someone in the supermarket.
As for the traffic congestion on Kellogg............that is heaven compared to the traffic situation here.

Amen, I live in Andover, east on the outskirts. It takes 20 minutes to get to WSU. My house is 1 block from a pasture with beautiful herd of horses. 5 minutes to a small lake that has a bike path.

If you live in Wichita.. you must go to Riverfest at least once, go to a triple feature at the Starlite drive in, nights at Bradly Fair listening to jazz, blues, you name it, and hang out and bar hop at Old Town on a Saturday night. Tonite I am experiencing that beautiful thunderstorm.

And yes, I am one of those friendly people that will smile and wave back.

BTW, if I get that job offer in Topeka....(and they will have to make it $$ worth my while to leave here)

I will have a house for sale $155,000.00 finished basement, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Built in 2002. (wink wink)