[actinic]

Originally Posted by electric_lady

Really interesting link, thanks to the OP.

Thanks, as always the discussions are equally interesting.

I discovered the article of all places on a recent SW Air magazine. The article was more illustrative as it graphed 'stickiness' vs 'magnetism' as x-y plots. The upper right quadrant (sticky and magnetic qualities) were those states more desired than lower left. Michigan was in the upper left.

What really stuck out on the graph was Nevada. Virtually everyone was from somewhere else but very few who were born there stick around.

All said and done I suspect the truth lies somewhere between the points of view of advocates and detractors.

[enigmaingr]

I, too, hope that the job situation will improve for Michigan. I completely understand and sympathize with anyone that has to move out of state for job reasons.

At the end of the day, I think what really makes Michigan a "sticky" state is what nearly everyone on this thread has expressed: we want to live here. When I look out on Lake Michigan, I don't envy any other state.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Bydand

The way I look at it though is that you can still be a success in business, but a failure in life. People here for the most part admire those who can be the next innovators, businessperson, etc... but only admire them IF they are ALSO a decent person who gives to their family, community, or what they believe in. We can still have the next generation of innovators and intellectual leaders, but in order to be looked on as being successful they will also have to have more than just their business. We hold people to a higher ethical standard usually, those who can't, or don't want to, reach both of those goals tend to leave.

Not saying that is right or wrong, just the way it is for most of the State. Not saying those who devote their entire lives to their jobs at the expense of family and friends are wrong, just that they don't get the kind of recognition they are looking for here.

Well, I also grew up in the Midwest/Plains. The social culture there is still strongly influenced by the outlying rural areas as it seems like 1 out of every 3 people grew up on a small town or farm. The culture encourages young people to get married and start a family at a very young age. Quite often, these "starter marriages" do not last and the couple don't have the requisite educational or excellent job skills to fall back on. I was told that getting a good education and becoming financially secure are the two most important things before getting married and starting a family.

[Wayland Woman]

Originally Posted by actinic

.

So back to Michigan. Does the state welfare system encourage people to stay? Are so many upside down on their mortgage they can't afford to leave? Are the state's residents less educated, thus less marketable? Is it more a matter or unwillingness or inability? Or can we also say that those who live here & work here are more content to stay?

No, the welfare system doesn't encourage people to stay and only 10% of mortgages are upside down. The educational levels are certainly higher than in many others states. People stay because it's a great state with lots of year-around activities like skiing, biking, boating, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, hiking, beaching, swimming, etc., etc. The people are nice, friendly and interesting. The economy is bad temporarily but communities care and help as much as possible.

Friends of mine have a husband living out of state because that was the only job he could find and the wife is here. Why? Because they are two years away from retirement, have a paid for home that they couldn't sell even if they wanted to (the housing market is down now) and they want to retire here near their families. This is not an unusual situation for families here.

We also have a great retraining program going here for the unemployed with an 80% success rate in placing people afterward.

[actinic]

More detailed info and controversial topics such as "The Recession Is Over — Let The Brain Drain Resume" can be found here:

Generation Y Michigan

[michsnowlvr]

I echo what many in this thread have said. MI is a "sticky" state because it is such a great place to live. The economy is very unfortunate (though most of the rest of the country isnt doing too great either), but most of us who have jobs really enjoy living in MI and all it has to offer!

[RememberMee]

Originally Posted by actinic

More detailed info and controversial topics such as "The Recession Is Over — Let The Brain Drain Resume" can be found here:

Generation Y Michigan

Calling recent graduates "talents" is little bit on imaginative side. These days a semi-brain dead (with money, of course) can get a college degree of some kind. Once out of state on greener pastures great many (lucky to find a job) will stuck in extremely intellectually unrewarding routine jobs (not really requiring a college degree to perform). The better ones will be transferred to MI if there is a need. Really, these days talking about brain drain is silly. Offer an extra $200 per month (or just a reasonable paying job) and "talents" from all corners of the country will be flooding you with resumes.

Of course, if MI needs "talents" capable of withstanding year long unemployment spells in between short lasting, modestly paying jobs then "brain drain" is an issue.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by Bydand

The way I look at it though is that you can still be a success in business, but a failure in life. People here for the most part admire those who can be the next innovators, businessperson, etc... but only admire them IF they are ALSO a decent person who gives to their family, community, or what they believe in. We can still have the next generation of innovators and intellectual leaders, but in order to be looked on as being successful they will also have to have more than just their business. We hold people to a higher ethical standard usually, those who can't, or don't want to, reach both of those goals tend to leave.

Not saying that is right or wrong, just the way it is for most of the State. Not saying those who devote their entire lives to their jobs at the expense of family and friends are wrong, just that they don't get the kind of recognition they are looking for here.

Yeah, that would happen in an ideal world, but for the most part it's not. Sure there are anecdotal exceptions, and I know several, but it's an estabished fact that Michigan is experiencing a massive brain-drain. The equivalent of the innovators who built the state during the industrial revolution and created the jobs that attracted everybody are now in Silicon Valley, etc...

[TNKY]

I guess I must be an oddity, because I grew up here, moved to VA Beach for 4 years and then had to return here. Now, I count the days until this summer when we hope to move to TN or SC. I appreciate all those who love it here, but I really do not. I could go into a list of why I don't like it, but I'd rather keep the thread on its intended track. Hopefully the economy turns around at some point for ya'll, but that's only part of the equation for our probable departure.

[I_Want_Snow]

Originally Posted by JGatti

I wonder how many people are like me, or have had the same experience and realization.

2 winters ago I was fed up with Michigan. I was tired of the cold and snow the rain etc. This was all coming over me leading up to my vacation to Arizona and offers for opportunities there. So thinking that would be my last winter here in Michigan I made it a point to get out and enjoy it as much as I could. We ended up staying but still with the idea of moving to Arizona. The following winter ( last) I was laid off. Even though I did not have the $$$ to do much and have no snowmobiles etc. I thoroughly enjoyed last winter and realized I don't think it was ever about the state but about being at a job I absolutely hate. I looked forward to snow falls, shoveling the snow and playing outside with my son. I also did what I had to do to allow us a week long vacation up near Cadillac that everyone really enjoyed. We did not have much and we did not really do a whole lot. But we made the best of it and I think we all realized how much we all really love being in Michigan. I've been here all 42 years of my life and plan to stay here. This could always change depending on what direction this state goes. If it came down to not being able to support my family I'm sure I'd be forced to leave. But I doubt that day will come.

I did the same thing back in Jan 05'. I was born and raised in SE MI and lived there for 30 yrs. I left to head to the Gulf Coast of FL. I wanted the beautiful white sand beaches, the never ending sun, and of course the warm weather.

Well after being there for 3 1/2 years, ironically I got fed up with the 'constant' weather. There really wasn't any variety. The same thing day in and day out. I moved to GA June 08' for work. I have been here for about 18 months and absolutley hate it!! It is god awful hot and humid. Although FL had the same type of heat and humidity, at least I could go to the beach. But even that gets old after a while. I thought I would never miss the cold, snow, rainy cold days in November, but boy was I SO wrong. You truly never can appreciate something till you no longer have it. I also miss going to my parents cabin in Oscoda.

So I have been saving up for over a year, and I am going back to MI this coming June 2010. I am going to start applying for jobs in Jan and even if I don't have a job I am heading back. I will have 2-3 yrs of living expenses saved up and I have ZERO loans or credit cards. The only bills I have that are reoccurring are my car insurance and my cell phone and I pay my car insurance 12 months in advance.

I work in I.T. as a Network Engineer. Been in I.T. for over 12 years now and have a few advanced certifications. I have also added Telecommunications experience to my resume (2 1/2 yrs experience working for a major communications company here in GA) and I am also studying Network Security. I also have very good references and letters of recommendation from previous employers.

I am hoping that I will be able to find a job before my 2-3 years of living expenses run out. If not, my child hood best friend said I can always come back and work on the farm again till I find something.

So in about 201 days I will be coming back home to THE BEST STATE in the Union Michigan!!