Here's why I'm glad I left MN (Minneapolis, Minnetonka: transplants, crime)

[Lillietta]

S'Okay K-luv

[IncredibleKaren]

I'm originally from Wisconsin but I don't think I'll ever leave Minnesota. That photo makes me smile because I'm usually brave/foolish enough to go grocery shopping in the middle of a snowstorm. Yes, it's harder to push the carts but it makes me strong

[lukeache]

I left my house this morning at 4 am, the temperature was 1 F with below zero wind chill. I find hard to believe that there are people out there that actually enjoy a temperature of 1 F. Terrible!

[Lillietta]

I can stand that - bundling up - much more than 90 degrees and humid.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by lukeache

I left my house this morning at 4 am, the temperature was 1 F with below zero wind chill. I find hard to believe that there are people out there that actually enjoy a temperature of 1 F. Terrible!

Believe it. When I lived on Old Shakopee Road just up the hill from the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge in Bloomington, I used to go for walks in subzero weather all the time to enjoy the nice crisp air.

[dgs92]

I Have to agree with the Op. I lived in Golden Valley and then Minnetonka for 11 years growing up. I moved to San Francisco when I was 16. I have since then lived in San Diego, Monterey CA, Newport, RI, Honolulu and Scottsdale Az, and have travelled extensively across the US and Europe. I think people who never leave their surroundings should have no input on the quality of life of people elsewhere. What facts do you have to base you opinions on? You probaly have never even been to the places you put down.I return year after year to visit MPLS and amazed at the ignorance of people living there and their opinions of others that don't live there. I've heard it all from people driving 20miles to get a bargain on corn-on-the-cob, to my brothers MIL going to Manhattan and thinking it looks a lot like downtown MPLS. All the while people are saying all winter long how wonderful your summers are only to complain when it arrives it is overcast or raining like Seattle. Believe me...I've heard it all. I'll take my 360 days of sunshine and mountains anytime. I can drive 6 hours and be at the beach. I can drive 4 hours and be skiing in the mountains in fresh snow...not some ice covered hill that I learned to ski on In Afton Alps. Mind you...I did enjoy my childhood there...especially snowmobiling and learning to water ski. I just could never go back. I have found too many other places that offer more of what I want in my adulthood and for my kids. So...be proud of where you live...just stop knocking where you don't!!

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by dgs92

I Have to agree with the Op. I lived in Golden Valley and then Minnetonka for 11 years growing up. I moved to San Francisco when I was 16. I have since then lived in San Diego, Monterey CA, Newport, RI, Honolulu and Scottsdale Az, and have travelled extensively across the US and Europe. I think people who never leave their surroundings should have no input on the quality of life of people elsewhere. What facts do you have to base you opinions on? You probaly have never even been to the places you put down.I return year after year to visit MPLS and amazed at the ignorance of people living there and their opinions of others that don't live there. I've heard it all from people driving 20miles to get a bargain on corn-on-the-cob, to my brothers MIL going to Manhattan and thinking it looks a lot like downtown MPLS. All the while people are saying all winter long how wonderful your summers are only to complain when it arrives it is overcast or raining like Seattle. Believe me...I've heard it all. I'll take my 360 days of sunshine and mountains anytime. I can drive 6 hours and be at the beach. I can drive 4 hours and be skiing in the mountains in fresh snow...not some ice covered hill that I learned to ski on In Afton Alps. Mind you...I did enjoy my childhood there...especially snowmobiling and learning to water ski. I just could never go back. I have found too many other places that offer more of what I want in my adulthood and for my kids. So...be proud of where you live...just stop knocking where you don't!!

It goes both ways--my roommate in college was a nanny in New York one summer and she had people ask her if we had electricity and running water in our homes--they think it is Little House on the Prairie. We had people from the south attend our college with the hopes that the polar bears would walk through campus so they could send a picture of them home--we directed him to the Como Zoo. We had people ask us how we golf in the summer with all that snow on the ground or if they should bring their winter coats and boots for a visit in July.

I have traveled extensively as well and I honestly feel that the quality of live in the upper Midwest just can't be beat when you factor everything in. You couldn't pay me enough to live in many areas of the country.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by Beckyh516

I would love to find a place with the same culture, opportunity, reasonable cost of living, low crime rate & good schools etc.... but with warmer weather. My husband and I talk about moving somewhere warmer, every winter. We just haven't found that "perfect" place yet!

I moved south to multiple different states looking for about the same thing. Reasonable cost of living was the only thing listed that I found, and that is IF you can find a decent paying job since many jobs don't pay as well. I have not found anywhere in the south that has a low crime rate even close to most of the twin cities suburbs or greater MN. Now I am moving back to MN.

[lukeache]

I return year after year to visit MPLS and amazed at the ignorance of people living there and their opinions of others that don't live there. I've heard it all from people driving 20miles to get a bargain on corn-on-the-cob, to my brothers MIL going to Manhattan and thinking it looks a lot like downtown MPLS. All the while people are saying all winter long how wonderful your summers are only to complain when it arrives it is overcast or raining like Seattle..

Well, indeed there is some ignorant people here but I am starting to realize that some Minnesotans can get very defensive when you start to criticize this state, especially when you say something about the cold weather. Your theory makes sense though, some people just don't know any better, so they have nothing to compare to. Are you in California now? Minnesota is an incredible place but I can totally understand why someone would leave Minneapolis for LA, SF or even San Diego. Last time I went to SD, I spent some time up in Oceanside and I fell in love with that place, lots of people out surfing and the weather was PERFECT!! This is a picture of Ruby's Pier in Oceanside..Would you leave MN for this!?

Oceanside, CA : Ruby's Oceanside Pier photo

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by lukeache

Would you leave MN for this!?

Oceanside, CA : Ruby's Oceanside Pier photo

Not if I have to pay $400,000 or more for a house in a decent area with 1,000 square feet, 2 bedrooms, and 1 bath.

I am 15 minutes from the ocean now. The cool factor of being near the ocean really wore off for me after the "honeymoon" stage of the move was over with. I don't even really think about it that much anymore.