Do you miss massachusetts? (Boston, Billerica: shop, pub, suite)

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by massnative71

But from my own experience; I'd say the tops are New Jersey (probably the worst picked on of all), West Virginia, California, sometimes Florida (which like CA, has many fans as well).

New Jersey is always getting made fun of!

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Where out West do you live? I feel like some of the coastal cities (particularly the LA and SF Bay Areas) have a lot of the issues you describe. Though outside of those pockets, things are a lot more spread out and easy going.

Western CO, NOT in any metro area or city. I hated the city even when I was a kid growing up in one! As for the snarky comment regarding Boston vs NYC, NYC was and still is anathema to me. This city-born kid never was a city kid and never became one despite living near them for years.

I always liked the Pioneer Valley, Berkshires, and other rural areas of MA. At least, they were rural back then...but now they would seem like much too small a rural area.

[johngolf]

While I love visiting Boston (my hometown) and NYC and Chicago (lived in both), I would not live there for many reasons, the main one being the weather. Cost of living comes 2nd.

[Bert_from_back_East]

In my experience, most of the people who long for Massachusetts -- whether they're living in-state or not -- are, ya know, the ones who tend to be overweight and disheveled-looking, sporting a Red Sox cap and/or Patriots jersey and carrying around a Dunkin' Donuts coffee cup everywhere they go. Most of these people are likely of Irish, Italian and/or Portuguese ancestry and hail from large, working-class families who all live within a 10-mile radius from each other. Often, these folks are too aloof, abrasive and small-minded to assimilate well into other regions of the country, hence the limited circle of friends, major lack of cultural compatibility with Americans at large and a deep longing for Massachusetts / New England while living away -- all of which have been cited up and down this thread by former Massachusetts residents.

[LeavingMA]

I couldn't read the entire post. Do I miss Massachusetts? No, I only miss the people (family) that are still there. If they were in another state it would be the same. Nothing against the state, but its more about the people that I'm used to. I grew up in MA and although I appreciate it, I'm doing so much better in another state.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by Bert_from_back_East

In my experience, most of the people who long for Massachusetts -- whether they're living in-state or not -- are, ya know, the ones who tend to be overweight and disheveled-looking, sporting a Red Sox cap and/or Patriots jersey and carrying around a Dunkin' Donuts coffee cup everywhere they go. Most of these people are likely of Irish, Italian and/or Portuguese ancestry and hail from large, working-class families who all live within a 10-mile radius from each other. Often, these folks are too aloof, abrasive and small-minded to assimilate well into other regions of the country, hence the limited circle of friends, major lack of cultural compatibility with Americans at large and a deep longing for Massachusetts / New England while living away -- all of which have been cited up and down this thread by former Massachusetts residents.

I know what you mean but I think I'll have to dispel that myth.

I recently left MA for CT and I do miss MA. I miss having access to better medical service, much less traffic (not being from the Boston area), more things to do and quirky restaurants. I miss polite drivers, I miss the coastline of MA and the quaint towns, I miss western MA and all the things to do there. I miss the close access to VT, NH, and Maine. NYC means even less to me than Boston does; being closer to NYC is useless to me.

Not Irish, Italian, or Portuguese--practically 100% English on both sides. Middle class born and raised. Not overweight and couldn't care less about sports. I know what you mean though. I've seen what you are describing and I think you are stereotyping the people who live in some of the run down areas in or around Boston or some of the dead cities and towns on the south shore of eastern MA. It's a good description of that certain type but it leaves a lot of people out, thank goodness.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by Bert_from_back_East

In my experience, most of the people who long for Massachusetts -- whether they're living in-state or not -- are, ya know, the ones who tend to be overweight and disheveled-looking, sporting a Red Sox cap and/or Patriots jersey and carrying around a Dunkin' Donuts coffee cup everywhere they go. Most of these people are likely of Irish, Italian and/or Portuguese ancestry and hail from large, working-class families who all live within a 10-mile radius from each other. Often, these folks are too aloof, abrasive and small-minded to assimilate well into other regions of the country, hence the limited circle of friends, major lack of cultural compatibility with Americans at large and a deep longing for Massachusetts / New England while living away -- all of which have been cited up and down this thread by former Massachusetts residents.

You sound like a Know Nothing.

Anyone who doesn’t miss their home state, at least a little bit, had a horrible childhood. Someone who wants to move back probably lives somewhere worse than Massachusetts. Maybe you think there’s nowhere worse, but that suggests to me you haven’t been a lot of places.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

You sound like a Know Nothing.

Anyone who doesn’t miss their home state, at least a little bit, had a horrible childhood. Someone who wants to move back probably lives somewhere worse than Massachusetts. Maybe you think there’s nowhere worse, but that suggests to me you haven’t been a lot of places.

I have no idea what you are trying to say. There is always some relationship to a home state, but doesn't mean they want to come back. Yea, I remember things from my childhood and high school, but that doesn't mean I wan to move back.

I had a great childhood in Massachusetts, but don't want to live there.

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

I have no idea what you are trying to say. There is always some relationship to a home state, but doesn't mean they want to come back. Yea, I remember things from my childhood and high school, but that doesn't mean I wan to move back.

I had a great childhood in Massachusetts, but don't want to live there.

Same for me.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

I have no idea what you are trying to say. There is always some relationship to a home state, but doesn't mean they want to come back. Yea, I remember things from my childhood and high school, but that doesn't mean I wan to move back.

I had a great childhood in Massachusetts, but don't want to live there.

You can miss somewhere without wanting to move back. I usually take not moving back as a sign you’re happier where you are now. If there’s nothing you miss, though, I take that as a sign you had a bad childhood.