Moving South? It's not all it's cracked up to be (Detroit: mortgage, foreclosure)

[Michigan Aaron]

Originally Posted by sumwunzma

You've obviously never been to New Orleans, Michigan Aaron because there is NO place like it in this country. The food, "culture" and history in the north are just dull.....

I lived in southeast Texas for 7 years and have been to New Orleans many times. I agree NO is like no other place in regards to it's food and culture - both are very unique in this country and make NO a great place to visit.....VISIT that is. Geographically, you couldn't put in me in a more undesirable location than that. Nothing but swamp, snakes, gators, roaches, mosquitos and incredible oven-like heat & humidity 10 months out of the year in between the torrential rains. Thanks, but I'll take my fir, spruce & birch laced northwoods, clear & clean fresh lakes, zero crime rate, charming coastal towns, and yes, even my brutal but beautiful winters over that any day of the week and twice on Sunday. As for the food comment, just because you don't find as much cajun food in the north as in NO, that doesn't make the food "dull". Where are you more likely to find a good pizza - Chicago, Detroit, Boston and New York ? OR .....Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta and Miami? PLEASE? No contest! Same for just about every other kind of ethnic food.....Indian, Greek, Thai, Japanese........Texas has better Mexican, but that's only because they comprise half the population of that state. And try finding a coney joint in the south.....yeah, right!

[pjmiami]

Hi All: I rarely post to the site but wanted to "weigh" (er, sorry couldn't resist ) in on the quality of life debate here. I was born and raised in Michigan and raised my two kids there up until they were 12 and 9. I then remarried and we relocated to South Florida for my husband's job. We have now lived in S. Florida for eight years and I can fully back up almost all of the points made by Michigan Aaron in his initial post (I don't feel qualified to vote on the religious aspect since I am not religious). Everything else, I agree with.

Those of you who get cabin fever and sun deprived along about February/March--I suggest you take a 2 week vacation to S. Florida, soak up the sun and then return to Michigan where the environment, the people, the education, the crime levels, the architecture, the traffic, and everything else EXCEPT the economy are of much higher quality than they are here. Really, the saying: "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" holds true in this case. Enjoy the beauty you have, I'm still working hard on finding my way back to Michigan and my daughter (now graduating from high school) who has lived here since she was nine years old can't wait to attend college in Michigan this Fall so that she can go to school with more "normal" people (her words, not mine ). There's nothing like becoming a transplant to help you appreciate the many wonderful aspects of the winter wonderland.

[Michigan Aaron]

Originally Posted by pjmiami

There's nothing like becoming a transplant to help you appreciate the many wonderful aspects of the winter wonderland.

You said it! I'm moving back on June 5th. I've waited 27 years to say that. I can't lie.....there were times I thought I might stay in Georgia and set up shop here for the long haul. It really is a nice place, but I think my initial post speaks for itself as to the reasons for my decision. I'm very excited to be going home and wish you the best in your quest to return also. It's great to know that so many others feel the same way about the state of Michigan as I do!

[CaboolBound]

We are moving to MO next month and the schools in our small town offer more programs than up here in (Downriver) Michigan. The schools district offer more programs for college. It is cleaner, cheaper and the roads are well maintained in the area that we are moving to. We bought a 1600+ sq. ft. home on 5 acres with a 3 tier deck w/pool and our taxes are only $273 a year. We only paid $65,000. Our taxes here are $3000 and we only have a 3 bedroom ranch on a city lot. Good luck.

Kim and JIm

[jeffncandace]

Having lived in the south and now living in Michigan, I can say that, for me and lots of others, it comes down to this: I would prefer not to live in a sauna or steam bath for 6 months out of the year, thank you very much! I know tons of Michiganders can't stand being cold anymore. I guess it's determined by our internal thermometers, but...no way man! I can't stand being HOT anymore! I love the summers here. I got SICK TO DEATH of sweating all the time in TX and OK. No thank you.
Now, I'll hold for the requisit response of "Yeah, but Michigan's economy sucks and I'm sick of shoveling snow" comment.
Peace!

[Highpointer]

Originally Posted by Evlevo

9 of the 10 fattest states are in the South (the exception is Indiana). I think long term that this is going to put a huge strain on the medical infrastructure.

Here is the stats....

The 10 states with the highest obesity rates are:

Mississippi
Alabama
West Virginia
Louisiana
Kentucky
Tennessee
Arkansas
Indiana (tie for 8th)
South Carolina (tie for 8th)

I have been considering a job offer in one of those states near the top of this list, but I really don't want to move to a state where there are too many physically unfit people. I like to be around fit, active people, who like to do things like climbing, hiking, bicycling, and triathlons. I am fearful of moving to an area where there aren't many people like me, and I don't want to move to an area where most of the people are lazy and unhealthy.

Currently I live in Arizona, and I am a single guy. I also want to meet an attractive and active single young woman and get married. Arizona has many fit and attractive women, but I fear that in a state like Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana, there won't be many fit and attractive women to meet. I don't want to have to settle for an unattractive and lazy woman and have to give up my active lifestyle.

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

I have been considering a job offer in one of those states near the top of this list, but I really don't want to move to a state where there are too many physically unfit people. I like to be around fit, active people, who like to do things like climbing, hiking, bicycling, and triathlons. I am fearful of moving to an area where there aren't many people like me, and I don't want to move to an area where most of the people are lazy and unhealthy.

Currently I live in Arizona, and I am a single guy. I also want to meet an attractive and active single young woman and get married. Arizona has many fit and attractive women, but I fear that in a state like Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana, there won't be many fit and attractive women to meet. I don't want to have to settle for an unattractive and lazy woman and have to give up my active lifestyle.

LMAO. Not to be mean, but it's funny how all these stats can make someone think that EVERYONE in a certain area is a certain way...like you'll have to "settle" because all females in the south are fat pigs. Please! LOL..."unattractive and lazy"...LMAO again...sorry...

[sumwunzma]

Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, 2006 — Infoplease.com

Here's the website. The numbers are now showing 2006 vs. 2005. I'm sure you can read. Murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft all go into the numbers. It has nothing to do with hating the north, although I'd never want to live anywhere north of say, Nashville. It's just what the website said. The numbers for New Orleans are still not correct because a good census of the number of people who have returned to the city has not been done. Many blue-collar, working-class people have not been able to turn. Obviously, these would be people who normally don't go around committing murders. The criminals, however, moved back immediately to establish their turfs for drugs, etc., and have been killing each other at a rate of about 1 every 2 days.

[sumwunzma]

That is so silly. You only went to CAJUN restaurants in New Orleans? How funny. And you actually found a SWAMP in the CITY????? The swamp is about 30 minutes away from the city. And alligators??? Did you go to the zoo? That is hysterical. Maybe next time you "visit" Bourbon Street (I'm assuming that's the only place you went, but where on earth did you find a swamp and an alligator?), you should ask a local to really show you around. There is so much more to see and there actually is so much natural beauty. The cost of living, the crime, and UGH, the humidity, I could live without, but next time I'll give you some incredible pizza places since that's your thing. This poor city has been beat down enough. I don't understand how someone who visits this city can be so misinformed.

And hey, I've never really lost anything in Michigan but Chicago ROCKS.

[Michigan Aaron]

Nah...... if I can help it there won't be a next time, unless I somehow get tix to a Super Bowl or something. The western gulf coast region is just not my cup of tea. It is true I have not had a chance to sample much more than cajun food while in New Orleans, but that is because the cajun there is so GOOD I tend to binge and load up on it while I'm in town! I do enjoy the cemeteries (I'm a cemetery hound) in New Orleans with the beautiful above ground tombs & all.........those are very beautiful indeed. The other comments were in reference to the entire NO metro region, which does include many swamps, alligators & what not..........and don't tell me a gator has never made it's way into the city somehow - it happens all the time in the Tampa/St. Pete and Orlando areas! In Fla and Louisiana where there's water there's gators. Lake Ponchatrain and the Mississippi border the city, right? Hey, I got no problem with you standing up for New Orleans.....but my opinion of it speaks largely to why I live in Michigan and not there, so try not to be offended. At least I'm not one of those yankees that moves there and complains about it constantly in front of the locals!