Here's why I'm glad I left MN (Minneapolis, Bloomington: crime rate, good schools)

[Lillietta]

Without having visited those places, Luke, I kind of sensed the same thing which is why I had no desire to visit. Now we've opened up a can of worms.

It's a personal preference; I prefer green - lakes, clean, quiet, cool to cold weather, culture, even with the rather remote gentry here.

[sugarbeet]

Originally Posted by saisri

any places out there which is MN minus winter?

I think Seattle is similar to Minneapolis in many quality of life ways. The winters are certainly milder, but they do seem to have fewer sunny days.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by lukeache

Like the OP said, he moved to California. Probably the only warm state that would have more to offer than Minnesota. Most of the other warm states are pretty crappy for the most part.

The comparison will obviously vary from state to state, but I think in some cases it's a fairly even trade-off.

Unemployment and consumer/homeowner protections seem to be much better in Minnesota than here in Georgia, for example, and the way the Twin Cities metro road systems are managed makes far more sense to me than the roads in the Atlanta area (roads here are well maintained, but they also have fewer shoulders and turn lanes and very few coordinated traffic lights compared to similar roads in the Twin Cities).

Then again, the general quality of life in the greater Atlanta metro (and perhaps also in much of Georgia) is actually quite high, and the fact that real estate is significantly less expensive here makes up for the slight increase in certain types of crimes when compared to the Twin Cities.

I didn't want to move to Atlanta, but job circumstances forces the move, and I've actually been pleasantly surprised. If it wasn't for the fact that my family and most of my friends are up in the Twin Cities, I would probably consider it a lateral move overall, and that wasn't something I expected to find. I was expecting the Dukes of Hazzard, and instead I found a warmer albeit somewhat more chaotic version of the Twin Cities.

I can see why he is glad he left Minnesota, temperature in LA today was 71 F sunny, no humidity.

It was 57 here yesterday, and dropped to 32 last night. Still not too bad. It gives the illusion of four seasons while only really having three (spring, summer, fall).

[K-Luv]

You know, for the record California is a huge state that has everything from a desert to a coastline to real mountains and forests. It also has the weather that goes along with all of those geographies. I find it funny that far too many people in Minnesota have this notion that California=sunshine and beaches. Maybe in SoCal up to Santa Cruz but go up around Shasta, Tahoe, Truckee or even Grass Valley and you'll freeze your behind off in the winter. Southern Californian mountains even get snow in the winter. Sheesh!

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

I find it funny that far too many people in Minnesota have this notion that California=sunshine and beaches.

To be fair, that's how much of California sells itself to the outside, and that is what many California natives tend to focus on when describing its advantages.

Having snow isn't a relative advantage for California if one already lives in a snowy region.

[Lillietta]

Far too many people in Minnesota? I think we aren't that dumb. We know northern CA is not like Southern CA. Geez.I was just going to say the same thing as you RC about snow not a real advantage in CA. I bet at most, CA just gets a dusting of snow like Seattle.

[lukeache]

Originally Posted by Lillietta

Far too many people in Minnesota? I think we aren't that dumb. We know northern CA is not like Southern CA. Geez.I was just going to say the same thing as you RC about snow not a real advantage in CA. I bet at most, CA just gets a dusting of snow like Seattle.

What is cool about California is that, it could be 75 F in Los Angeles and heavily snowing in Big Bear Lake, only 95 miles away. CA ski resorts usually open much sooner than ski resorts here in MN

[Corneeeeelius]

I grew up in VT and moved to Los Angeles for school. I've been here for 5 years now.

Southern California has warm, sunny weather all year long. But you have to realize what you trade in to get that.

Seasons, and even weather in general are huge for me. There's no natural ups and downs in the year, after a couple of years I just hit this weird plateau. Seeing nature change around you is a huge deal, but it's something you don't miss until you don't have it anymore. On top of that - I just went and bought lunch. The store was playing "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells." Hearing those songs when it's 80 degrees and sunny outside? No snow on the ground? Wearing a t-shirt? Weirdest feeling ever.. I still haven't gotten used to that in the 5 years I've been here.

There's also the fact that, in Los Angeles, there's nothing green around you that grows there naturally. Los Angeles is a desert. Were it not for sprinkler systems, the vast majority of all plant life would just wither away. It creates this awful sense of artificial living. Whenever I go to a city that has naturally-growing grass or trees, I breathe the biggest sigh of relief.

There are beaches, but most of them are actually kind of dirty and gross (San Diego has some really nice beaches, that's the exception). But to get those beaches, you have to trade in nice parks, lakes, rivers.. none of those things exist in Southern California, really. It's not to say that beaches aren't nice - but the beaches I go to are usually a two-hour drive and you have to make plans in advance. It's not as if, when you live in L.A., you can just run down to the beautiful ocean every day and dip your feet in. Aside from most of the beaches being sort of gross, most places in L.A. are at least a half-hour away from the beach (and that's not taking into consideration things like traffic, or parking, or anything). I go to the beach a couple of times a year. That's it.

The traffic is the worst you'll ever see. I've been to other places with "bad traffic" and they don't compare. I've had points in my life where I've had a 25-mile commute that took me two hours each way. I had 60-to-90 minute commutes for most of my college days. I'm fortunate enough now to live 3 miles from where I work, so I can take surface streets, but that's rare to find.

And on top of everything else? People in L.A. are just nasty, awful people. Not everyone, mind you - I have tons of great friends here. But the strangers that you meet, the people who run businesses, the drivers you'll deal with every day, anyone in or around the richer areas of the city.. Los Angeles has more awful people per capita than anywhere I've ever been in my life. And it wears on you after awhile.

Oh, and if you move here, make sure that you don't need much personal space. I don't live in an especially nice area of Los Angeles, and I pay $1400 for a small 1-bedroom apartment. Only Manhattan has more overpriced, cramped living conditions.

ALL THAT SAID, I know some people who really like it here. I think it works well for certain people. It doesn't work for me, though.

Thankfully.. I'm moving to Minneapolis early next year.

[Lillietta]

Originally Posted by lukeache

What is cool about California is that, it could be 75 F in Los Angeles and heavily snowing in Big Bear Lake, only 95 miles away. CA ski resorts usually open much sooner than ski resorts here in MN

I know, Luke, but I like to watch it fall from my window without venturing out to get it.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by Lillietta

Far too many people in Minnesota? I think we aren't that dumb. We know northern CA is not like Southern CA. Geez.I was just going to say the same thing as you RC about snow not a real advantage in CA. I bet at most, CA just gets a dusting of snow like Seattle.

Yes, in Minnesota. The amount of people that I met that had this notion that California was all sun and beach was amazing. Granted, those who have been to Cali new better, though.

Personally I blame shows like the OC and 90210.

That's okay, though, cuz if you mention Minnesota to someone in California they immediately think of Fargo.

I am not saying that Minnesotans are dumb by a long shot.

I was also amazed at how many didn't know where Maine was, or that it was even a state