Less than a year until salvation (Minneapolis, St. Paul: good schools, live, professionals)

[JohnMH"Santa"]

Minnesota has a lot of history behind it. The Second Republican President of the United States lived here. Do any of you know where? Do any of you know his name? He even slept in the House that I have? Do you know how many terms a President was allowed to run when this Gentleman was President? This President loved to Fish - He also worked for the state before he was President. He bought some land in Northern Minnesota also.
Can you answer these questions.

I have lived all over the United States, Virginia, Missouri, Kentucky, Conneticut, New York, California,(6 months on the Ocean), Arizona - I did not like living in these places. I missed Minnesota. So, I came home - granted some winters are too cold, but what we have to offer and what has made our state is very interesting. I wonder if any of you can answer all of my questions? Reverend John

[OpnMnded]

If I had to do it over again, I would move in a heart beat. I currently live in a small town in MN about 30 minutes from Moorhead, MN - it is at the ND border. I grew up in ND and loved it as a kid, but my family was fortunate enough to be able to travel for vacations in the summer and I learned much about the rest of the U.S. (including driving the Alaskan highway twice - 1) 9 years 2) when I was 15) and what other states have to offer - which is A LOT more than the flat land of ND. Later in life I traveled the states for work and the more I saw the more it made me realize how right I really was.

At 22, I was looking for a seasonal, but warmer climate where I could ride and work with my horses year round. Then, I met my husband. He also grew up in ND. Well, to make a long story short, I love my husband even more than I did back then (that was 15 years ago) and we have made a great life together. Found a gorgeous country home in the rural, rolling hills of MN, with 22 acres - made it our own, but now I have come full circle. I so desparately want to move, but he doesn't. (He didn't have the opportunity to travel like I did, so this is all he knows! This summer we are starting to change that by going on vacations!) We do very well financially, but can't justify spending $65,000+ to build an indoor riding arena just so I can work with and ride our horses year round. I can only work with them from June - the beginning of October and not be cold or riding in mud. April and May here are nothing but slop. Those months also bring the woodticks out - GROSS. There is a remedy, though - let's douse ourselves in spray so the woodticks and mosquitoes won't attack us AS bad. The skunks are my favorite creation of God either. They stink worse than any state would be to live in!

If anyone REALLY wants to know the truth of MN and what it is like check out our weather today - that should sum it up for you: IN-FORUM. It has been like that the majority of the winter.

Yes, it is beautiful June - September, but the humidity is awful and that makes the 90 degree+ heat in July - August unbearable. Walk outside and expect to be drenched in your own sweat within minutes.

I guess it comes down to what you like to do. Although it isn't my only full time occupation, my passion is working with horses and this just isn't the state to do that unless you have a ton of money to buy and heat an indoor arena or live close enough to one and don't mind hooking up your horse trailer in below zero temps during the winter. YUCK! Please pray for me. I'm 38 years old and I will NOT leave my husband and 9 year old, but I am completely miserable here and don't know where a good place would be to move to that is safe, affordable, has good schools and that all 3 of us would love.

I respect everyone that loves MN and moves back here or grew up and stays here. However, I commend anyone for 'getting out' and experience the rest of the world! I wish you the best...

[disneyrecords]

Everbody from Minnesota returns. Life here isn't nearly as fierce as it is elsewhere. From family values to a slower pace, from the twin cities to the northwoods, life here is much easier. The original poster will be back. They always come home eventually.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by disneyrecords

Everbody from Minnesota returns. Life here isn't nearly as fierce as it is elsewhere. From family values to a slower pace, from the twin cities to the northwoods, life here is much easier. The original poster will be back. They always come home eventually.

This is very true it seems.

[youngurbanprofessional]

Originally Posted by ComfortablyNumb

I'm 21 and about to graduate from the University of Wisconsin. I have spent 21 years in either Minnesota or Wisconsin. I have also travelled considerably. And after all of this, I think it is safe to say the only person who would ever want to live in Minnesota or Wisconsin... was born in the midwest. And probably not in Chicago.

Growing up in Maple Grove, you are kept in a shell of ignorance your entire developing life. When you go to places like ANYWHERE ELSE, especially on the coasts, you see how America actually is. You see that it's not just a bunch of psuedo-wealthy racist kids and mediocre ethnic restaurants and neighborhoods that Twin-Cities-ers love to brag about. It's schools are cake and overrated (An honest report in Washington evaluating every states curriculum gave Minnesota a D). You see that Minnesota has absolutely nothing to offer, besides cheap living, and that it's just pathetic. Plus, the winters only make this worse. I was talking about the summer.

It's affordable, though... but thats because there isn't much demand to live there.

Anyway, next January, I am out of the midwest for good, and I hope to never come back for any reason whatsoever. Any one else share my dislike of the midwest?

I don't get why so many people in Minnesota think it's so great. It's just like so many people in Madison think Madison is great. Madison is neat, but it's not great... or anything even close... and anyone who thinks that is just stupid, just like people in Minnesota. Minnesota has this lame inferiority complex; It knows everyone thinks its lame and sucks, and it loves to get super defensive and throw around stats or factoids (Highest somalian concentration!) that no one cares about. Everyone is really psuedo-ambitious or totally unambitious, which explains why tons more people leave the state than move in (-14,000 between 2000 and 2005!).

So I'm sure you'll say "Don't let the door hit you on your way out," but I just wanted to voice my elation at the fact that I am finally breaking out.

Amen brother, I felt your pain and I got out. I landed a job a month before I graduated college from Winona State (didn't think people could love that town, but they do) and I move to chicago the very day after I walked for graduation.

I have to say moving out of Minnesota was by far the best decision I ever made for myself.

I found out how much my friends really were friends after I moved, and I met PLENTY of new and better ones. My family kind of fell apart after my parents divorced and I didn't have to deal with that anymore. I looked for a job for 9 months prior to graduation. I had 7 interviews in Minnesota and I didn't get any of them. 5 of them said they loved me but there were just so many applicants to the entry level position, they pretty much hired someone who was "over qualified". Also, as a 23 year old healthy athletic outgoing male, I was bored out of my mind.

Chicago is a great city and it is where I chose to roll the dice at a new life outside of Minnesota. I can't say it's the best place for you as the big city life is not for everyone and can be intimidating. But, it is a great place for people our age regardless if you can get a job to support you.

Good luck on your journey out of the frozen armpit of the midwest. It's good to hear you are willing to take the chance of living somewhere else a try. Most poeple don't have the balls to make a move like that.

P.S. People in WI only love Madison because there isn't anything else in that state other than Milwaukee. Look at a map and tell me what is in Wisconsin that is within 100 miles of Madison's city limits. There's nothing.

[Wood & Creek]

It might have a bit to do with what town you were raised in too. I think if you are around the Duluth area people tend to be pretty content, same with the Twin Cities. I was raised in Stillwater and loved it. I grew up on the st. croix in a small town camping, kayaking, hiking.. went to good schools ect.

I have to agree that if I were raised in Winona I'd be pretty unhappy too! That's one sorry college town if I ever saw one. Madison, WI has a lot going for it culture wise. The people are progressive and they are doing some good things out there. Again though, the difference between Madison and some small rural towns in WI is like night and day. There are many small towns in this world which offer no culture, life or activities. They are in every state. And yes, no matter what state you were in, it would suck to be raised in one!

For instance, I am planning to move to OR and have been advised to stay away from Southern Oregon. After doing research on some of those towns they actually remind me ALOT of small backwards towns in WI. There are cool and lame places in every state.

[OC_MD]

OpnMnded I feel your pain... I feel very fortunate that my husband was up for our move out of MN. Although we are both from MD, me born and raised, he was born in MN but grew up in MD, after living in MN for 17 years I was afraid we would never leave as we had a very comfortable life. I just couldn't take it anymore-and I have no desire to ever go back to MN -even to visit - and my 2 grown kids live there-they say they like-I say they just don't know any different!

[want_out]

I think its absolutely good to get away from where you're from and see somewhere else, no matter where you're from. Everywhere is different and if nothing else, its good to get some perspective.

One of the reasons I hate Minnesota, is that it seems so few people have done that, or if they have, they've like gone to college in Chicago or some other midwestern city for a few years and come right back and think they've seen the world.

I've moved here from New Jersey (via NYC, Seattle, DC, Vermont and Virginia and have lived here almost two years (moved for my husband's work). It is my least favorite place of all of the places I have lived. Yes, its affordable, clean, pleasant, and of course "nice." But its dull, frigid, flat and just well, bland. Its hard to adjust to here where every vaguely ethnic restaurant is hyped to no end and they are always kind americanized and dull, I have yet to eat a spicy dish in this entire city.

The suburbs are usually development style, not old houses unless you're right in the city, there are endless strip malls. I don't know, if you're from the midwest, this will probably be okay but if you're from the east coast where they have real towns, old homes are the norm, you will feel like you are in a generic wonderland.

People are nice but they are not interested in really getting to know you. Everyone here grew up here and you will find if you're not from around here that you are left out and there are very few young or even older professionals that move here so you will be alone. And you will be expected to laud Minnesota and say how much better it is than everywhere else (even at the DMV where they really laid into NJ bizarrely when I went to chagne my license), I just went along but if an NJ person did that to a Minnesota person, well, they never would, and I guess that's what ironic.

It would be nice to be from here, but if you're not, you will probably not like it. And the weather is very, very bad. Minnesota was hyped to me as this cultural oasis in the midwest, and maybe it is, I've lived anywhere else in the midwest, but if it is, its a disappointment. Well I'm unhappy and am hoping to move and I'm sure no one will miss me and my negative attitude but just wanted to put my two cents in -- Minnesota is generally just an okay, dull place to live, on the whole average with below average weather.

[aluminumpork]

Originally Posted by want_out

The suburbs are usually development style, not old houses unless you're right in the city, there are endless strip malls. I don't know, if you're from the midwest, this will probably be okay but if you're from the east coast where they have real towns, old homes are the norm, you will feel like you are in a generic wonderland.

To me, it sounds like you consider Minnesota to be -just- the Twin Cities. There are cities and towns that are the opposite of flat, where old homes are the majority and non-franchised, unique restaurants and coffee shops are the norm.

Minneapolis may be the hub of Minnesota, but it's not what makes Minnesota, Minnesota.

[timber mt]

I have lived in Oregon for 12 years now. Before that , I lived in Minnesota for 35 years. Minnesota is a good place to be from... [ harsh winters , rainy summers, horible Mpls traffic] The only reason I go back to Minnesota every year , is to visit relatives. [summer only please] Oh, the schools in Minnesota are better , I will give em' that. Live where you want to live and enjoy it!