Who has ever moved out of Kentucky? Why do you return or not return? (Louisville: houses, colleges)

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by nawog

In all reality, if I moved back to KY today, I would have a problem with seeing racial prejudice; I think many refuse to acknowledge it exists. I find that sickening and I can't tolerate it within my own family.

What I found in KY and the rest of the south was hospitality. Many Northerners think it is phony but I don't. So many areas of the country, people treat you like you are annoying them to force them to wait on you. Love being surrounded with people with soft skills.

Hope you get a chance to experience the rest of the country and find a place you like. Go for it! I think it is true, home is where the heart is. Sounds like your heart is not in KY so enjoy your freedom to explore.

I can only go to Bardstown for a visit; who knows if I could stand the slow pace of life. And I am not a drinker--it seems that is all they do for fun there.

Good luck and hope opportunity comes soon for you!

Racism is a problem in my family, too, although it is more definitely more covert than overt. I don't think anybody wants to acknowledge that there's a problem.

Yes, "annoyed" service is prevalent across the nation. Including Kentucky, where I've noticed it as much if not more than those "cold Northern states." The worst service I've ever received in any facet of the service industry anywhere has been in Louisville and Frankfort, in fact.

Yes, home is where the heart is. No, the heart is not in Kentucky. I just want to find a place where I feel welcome and like I "click" with the place. The people are friendly but not genuinely welcoming or warm...at least that's my perception. And, now that I'm back in small town Kentucky, I find myself going to Wal-Mart two, three, four times on days when I don't work just to fight the boredom! I also find myself almost wanting to scream at the incredibly slow highway drivers and astonishingly slow aisle walkers that just won't speed up. So, yeah...

Hope you can make it back to Bardstown and enjoy it.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by needhelpwithinfo

Well here we had nothing wondered how we where eating each day the pay really sucks other places made lots of money had nice home, cars, the works for us not much compared to hollywoood. But everytime we moved back to ky we lost everything we had and could not financially make it. I used to say my heart is in ky no matter where I live. But the truth is I think what you agonizing over is what would it be like...

I would travel see the world make some good money and enjoy life the best you can. My kids are teenagers now and we traveled all there childhood. I dont regret it a bit I have made good money seen alot of people and places some I liked some I did not. It is worth the adventure. then when your ready to settle down you can come back to ky. if you want to. My family and my husbands family always downed me and him for moving so much and being so far away but most who fuss never left ky and have no idea the greatness out there..

What kind of work were ya'll involved in here in Ky.? That, of course, makes a difference. I just had to ask since the cost of living here is considerably cheaper than many places such as Florida, Dallas, Atlanta, etc.

My heart used to be in Kentucky. However, I went to Texas as a teenager and, well, that place stole my heart. I've since traveled to many places--northern Mississippi, Atlanta, Chicago, NYC--where I've felt so comfortable that I didn't feel like I was on vacation.

The people that give me the most grief for wanting to leave are co-workers, friends and relatives that have not traveled very extensively. A "big" trip for them is Evansville or Lexington. There are many great places in this vast country and while Kentucky is great for natural beauty it is a sham in many other quality of life categories.

[missymomof3]

[quote=jcm1986;4201278]Yes, "annoyed" service is prevalent across the nation. Including Kentucky, where I've noticed it as much if not more than those "cold Northern states." The worst service I've ever received in any facet of the service industry anywhere has been in Louisville and Frankfort, in fact.[quote]

That's funny, you said in another post that the best service you got was in Louisville lol Go figure.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by missymomof3

That's funny, you said in another post that the best service you got was in Louisville lol Go figure.

Ahhhh...the best service I got ever was at the O'Charley's on Hurstbourne & I-64.

The worst service I've ever received was at the Executive Inn and the McDonalds on Blankenbaker & I-64.

Go figure, the best and worst in the same city. Nonetheless, you got me there.

[tyuu]

Don't forget Jamaica

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by tyuu

Don't forget Jamaica

???

[missymomof3]

I have been getting the best service even from teens lately. You still have the occasional grouch, you always will, but overall I have had very good service just about everywhere.

[EclecticEars]

Well, I've made a decision.

Houston it is. The fourth largest city in America. A metro area with 50% more population than the entire state of Kentucky. One that is larger than all of New Jersey geographically. One that is adding 100,000+ jobs annually.

Oklahoma City is my secondary option if I can't find a job in Houston.

As for the Chicago proponents, I strongly considered your city. I don't consider it second-choice or second rate at all (I mean, it's an alpha world city after all.) However, with the South's lower cost of living, I'm gravitating there for now. I really would like to give Chicago a chance in the future, if even for just 3 or 6 months.

Goal date for move: January...1 or earlier. Actively applying for jobs as we speak. I'm totally not joshing here.

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by jcm1986

Well, I've made a decision.

Houston it is. The fourth largest city in America. A metro area with 50% more population than the entire state of Kentucky. One that is larger than all of New Jersey geographically. One that is adding 100,000+ jobs annually.

Oklahoma City is my secondary option if I can't find a job in Houston.

As for the Chicago proponents, I strongly considered your city. I don't consider it second-choice or second rate at all (I mean, it's an alpha world city after all.) However, with the South's lower cost of living, I'm gravitating there for now. I really would like to give Chicago a chance in the future, if even for just 3 or 6 months.

Goal date for move: January...1 or earlier. Actively applying for jobs as we speak. I'm totally not joshing here.

That is wonderful for you! I am glad you have finally decided on somewhere.

[bulldozr]

Congratulations on your impending move, jcm1986! I hope that you find in Houston what you deem to be lacking in the Commonwealth.

I just thought I'd put my two cents' worth on the table, for what it's worth. I can definitely empathize with the desire to get out and see the world. I grew up in the Louisville area and, starting around the age of 14, grew to hate it. I couldn't wait to get out! Such was my desire to leave behind the Commonwealth for good that I didn't even bother applying to colleges in-state. I figured I'd leave and never look back. Indeed, I remember seeing the "Welcome to Kentucky" sign through the car's rearview mirror as I drove to my university in Washington, DC and laughing to myself. I couldn't believe I had finally done it!

Four years later, I have done a complete 180! I spent a year living in South America, and the rest of my university career was spent amongst privileged East Coast trust-fund brats who taught me (unknowingly, I'm sure) how lucky I was to have grown up in a place like Kentucky; a place where childhood summers were spent running outdoors and where a deep sense of practicality and sensibility were acquired. I pride myself in exhibiting traits I see in many of my fellow Kentuckians that are not so common here on the East Coast, namely generosity, genuineness, humility, and being down-to-earth.

Career obligations require that I stay in Washington, DC, for at least another year. I would not be keen on staying here for any longer. I won't start a lengthy rant on my distaste for the Federal City, but let's just say I am filled with an itch to escape very much like the one I felt four years ago as a graduating high-school senior.

Basically, jcm1986, I am saying that you shouldn't be too quick to dismiss and discount everything from your Kentucky upbringing when you leave the state's borders. Now, more than ever, I realize how much Kentucky is ingrained in my character. I have found very few places (and I have traveled fairly extensively for a 22 year-old) where the people are as genuine and down-to-earth as they are in the Bluegrass State. While it is true that what Kentucky has to offer may not be very appealing to us younger folks, I suspect that maybe one day you will look back on Kentucky with great fondness. I know that one day I will return to Kentucky when the time is right and I am willing to give up some of the conveniences that city life has to offer. You might, too!