[polepainter]

I've lived here all my ife. My work takes me from Southern California to Boston Mass and south to Florida all the time. I love a lot of places but after 2 weeks in Florida it is all flat Swamp, 2 weeks in Southern California and its too dried out looking and i feel like I'll choke. Same with Arizona, All these places are crowded and noisey. I like trees, Cant wait to get home to central Michigan where I live on a quiet little river where 2 cars a day drive by and be bored!! But, I have to travel to make $. the unions and big 3 have killed the economy here. I never knew how poor I was till i traveled so much, didnt now how rich i was either. As far as MIchigan plates in Phoenix, Union newspapers in Mich in the 60's advertised cheap retirement and vacation land in Florida and in the 70's it was Phoenix. You would be surprised how many older homeowners there are retired from Mich factories.

[Wabbit]

Polepainter,
Brownie point for you. I couldn't agree more. I've been fortunate
enough to spend a fair amount of time in a lot of different places
and It just makes me appreciate Michigan all the more.
I for one am glad Michigan has never been considered a 'hot'
spot. It has allowed it to maintain alot of the qualities of life
money can't buy. Number 1&2 being Peace and Quiet.
Friends of mine who have continued to live in California say
it isn't even recognizable to when I was there ten years ago.
Total congestion! And Michiganders have no idea how lucky
they are not to have gangbangers on every block.
It's become a constant threat out there.
Same with another "hot" spot,
Tucson Arizona. I stayed there last winter with a friend and
she had all these rules I had to follow because we were so close
to the border (to avoid abductions, Meth runners etc.) Scary.
Don't get me wrong there are plenty of places I do love including
Savannah/Charleston, Grand Teton Mountains, Austin Texas
Cali wine country, Bitterroots, New Orleans, but it always
comes back to Michigan.
I love the mix of farms and woods and lakes
and the fact that everything feels new again after winter.
Thank you Polepainter, I really appreciate your perspective.

[M TYPE X]

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc have lost millions of people to places like the Alabama coast and Arizona deserts. I've seen it happen!

[Torup]

I want to leave Michigan because I've been here most of life. I left for Charlotte, NC back in '95, only there for a year ( I was 21 at the time). It was like a whole new world to me. I come from a small town (Jackson, MI). Nothing going on here at all. Jobs are leaving, no college life, wages in the area are low etc... Just NOT a "cool city". But since I'm here in Mich. I wouldn't mind moving to the Grand Rapids area. Economically the area is doing very well compare to the rest of the state. But If I had it my way, I would be living in SoCal or Western florida.

[M TYPE X]

Not all cities in Michigan are as dead as Jackson ... thankfully.

[merky]

Originally Posted by swiss_miss

I read an article about how people are leaving MI because of the cold weather and other reasons. im in arizona and we see ALOT of michigan lisence plates i guess they are all relocating

Hi swiss miss, Hows AZ? I lived in west michigan all but the last 9 years. Now in ontario, canada.....I know long story. Not if, but when I move back to the states it will be the last (planned) move I make.
Had a michigan friend move out and go to Atlanta for work and to get out of the snow. I have arthritis and HATE the snow and cold. So soon I'm gone.

[georgeinA2]

OH PLEASE people-have you lived in Arizona or Florida in the summer -not for me. The beaches in Michigan are wonderful in the summer. I live in Ann Arbor-expensive but has the best a large city has to offer in a smaller town (did I mention we have one the the top cities in the country with residents holding advanced degrees). The fall season is wondeful and when I need to get out of the cold-then I fly to Florida-for those of you that moved-Im glad you found someplace you like. For those us staying-I can tell you---were staying for a reason..........and its a good one.

[FESTER]

I too will be leaving Mich. 4 Years and counting till retirement. Let's face it the state is falling apart. The economy has been shrinking for the last 10 years and it won't be getting better any time soon. The auto industry is all but gone with nothing in line to replace it. Detroit once had the highest income of any city in the world. Now it is a ghost town. Just search you tube for 'Detroit' and look at the videos. Pretty depressing. I truly wish things would turn around, but the prospects are very bleak. I will miss a lot of things here but like Kenny Rogers said, "You've got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em".

[zthatzmanz28]

Seems the best of Michigan---TREES, BEACHES, SMALL TOWNS, and RECREATION can all be found in North Carolina.

Everything EXCEPT snow.

Trees even change colors, maybe not as spectacular as New England, but still quite a show.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

Seems the best of Michigan---TREES, BEACHES, SMALL TOWNS, and RECREATION can all be found in North Carolina.

Everything EXCEPT snow.

Trees even change colors, maybe not as spectacular as New England, but still quite a show.

No the BEST of Michigan cannot be found in North Carolina. Some aspects can be, but not the best. That is why I don't live there. If NC is so great, why do you spend so much time and energy on the Michigan forum?