Fellow Mississippians (Jackson, Vicksburg, Laurel: real estate market, homes, cinema)

[ggluvbug]

Hello!
I am new to this forum, but I am not new to Mississippi. I moved here when I was 6, and I have no intentions of leaving. I currently live outside of Poplarville in Pearl River County, and I work in Gulfport as a teacher. Until recently, I lived in Gulfport as well.

I love Mississippi. There is a definite difference between the Coast and other parts of the state--I can see it between where I live and where I work. But that is okay. I like the small town quietness of Poplarville. When I want to go shopping, I go to Hattiesburg or Gulfport.

I would recommend Mississippi to anyone. I love it here. My sis and her husband relocated to Texas after Katrina, but they are headed back now--Mississippi is in their blood too!

[LoneWolf2421]

Originally Posted by Catherinelady

I drove through Mississippi on my way to relocating to Texas a number of months ago. I was born and bred in New Jersey and always was curious about Mississippi.

I was warned by fellow easterners that it would be dangerous driving as a woman alone though the deep south of Mississippi and I would be taking my life in my hands. I listened to the horror stories of people telling me how southern police confiscate your car because your out of state and you never get it back.

Well, I found the opposite to be true. This Yankee lady fell in love with Mississippi while driving through it. The people were so very friendly, the state was beautiful and when I got to Texas I made sure to call everyone who warned me and tell them they were wrong.

I can't wait to visit Mississippi again, in fact I would love to relocate there someday.

I love the Magnolia state!!!!

SHHH don't tell anyone the truth! We try to Keep Northerners from comming here! Don't give away our secret! HA HA!!

[Mississippienne]

If you are native to this state, what made you stay, if you have moved to our state - what was the reason?

Native-born in Natchez. I grew up all over the Deep South, since my mama worked in hotels, but lived most of the time in Mississippi. I went to high school in Raleigh MS, and still consider that my hometown, but I now live in Gulfport and have for a couple of years.

Other places I've lived since I was 16: Maryland, upstate New York, Boston, Connecticut, California, and abroad in Istanbul, Turkey.

What do you like about the Magnolia State? Dislike?

The strong regional culture, our beautiful outdoors, the sense of belonging to something and somewhere.

Poverty, low education levels, racism, overwhelming religion, and the fact that we place dead last in almost every national list of liveability and progress.

How do you feel our state is headed as far as economy - education - tourism?

I want us to develop, but I don't want Mississippi's soul to be lost in surburban blight, our accents to fade, and our wilderness to be chopped down. We desperately need better schools and a better reputation (that's where sustainable tourism comes in).

Do you recommend our state to friends/acquaintances from out of state?

I do, but only if I think they could adjust to the local culture. Not everyone is meant to live in Mississippi. I do try to convince my out-of-state friends to come visit me, without much success -- even though I live in a resort town, a five minute walk from the beach, no one's taken me up on my offers of hospitality yet!

[Jaybee]

I'd spent some time in the south while in the military in th mid 70's, but only on the edges; TX & VA. Having a rural background (born and raised on a ranch) in Northern CA, I felt a real kinship to the guys from the south. My best friends in the service turned out to be from that part of the world.

Three years ago my wife and I drove back from Northen CA to St. Louis and then headed south thru Memphis, on down thru MS to Jackson, then over to Vicksburg, down to Natchez and eventually on to Baton Rouge before staying at Biloxi for a week or so visiting relatives. We were very impressed with the natural beauty of teh south in general and MS in particular and marveled at the hospitality of the locals.

Vicksburg was great. We met some folks at the casino who were docents at the military park. They treated us like long lost family.

We ate some wonderful barbeque in Natchez at the "Pig-Out" Inn and a terrific conversation with the owner and workers there. Ended up buying some sauce and a souvenier tee shirt to take home with us.

My wife, who'd never been to the south before fell in love with your fine state, and Alabama as well. We hope to return to the south sometime real soon. Also Planning to retire there-currently narrowing the search between TX, LA, MS, AL & AR.

[jtatscha]

I can't believe what I am reading on this thread! I live in Rankin County and have been here for most of my life. I lived in Huntsville Texas for ten years, and if I were forced to choose between these two states I would choose Texas all the way! There are so many reasons why Mississippi is not a good place to raise a family I don't know where to start. If you are upper-class you will love it here. If you fall under that you will struggle, unless you find someone to combine your income with. There is not enough activities for families or anyone to do. Mississippi is the fattest state in the union because there is nothing to do it is boring!!!!!!!!

[njkate]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf2421

SHHH don't tell anyone the truth! We try to Keep Northerners from comming here! Don't give away our secret! HA HA!!

Haha...your secret is getting out
seriously though I hope MS never loses it charm to overdevelopment

[jtatscha]

If you drive through Ms. it looks great, but what is there to do? Can anyone on this Mississippi forum give people who are interested in living here a list of things that teenagers can do besides drink, smoke, and hang out in parking lots?

[Mississippienne]

Originally Posted by jtatscha

If you drive through Ms. it looks great, but what is there to do? Can anyone on this Mississippi forum give people who are interested in living here a list of things that teenagers can do besides drink, smoke, and hang out in parking lots?

I have a thread on fun things to do in South MS. Perhaps someone could do similar threads for the other MS metro areas?

[tennreb]

Originally Posted by jtatscha

If you drive through Ms. it looks great, but what is there to do? Can anyone on this Mississippi forum give people who are interested in living here a list of things that teenagers can do besides drink, smoke, and hang out in parking lots?

Participate in team sports, take art/ballet/music classes, play in a band, participate in youth groups at church, hunt/fish/hike/bike, go to the movies, go to the mall, volunteer for a community organization (very popular in Mississippi), go camping, take weekend trips to the beach, and pretty much anything people do in other places

[ggluvbug]

Originally Posted by jtatscha

If you drive through Ms. it looks great, but what is there to do? Can anyone on this Mississippi forum give people who are interested in living here a list of things that teenagers can do besides drink, smoke, and hang out in parking lots?

I was a teenager in Mississippi and I found plenty to do. I was a cheerleader, involved in youth group, went to the movies, mall, arcade, etc with friends, participated in school competitions. If a teenager is motivated to stay out of trouble, they will. Show me one place in the United States that doesn't have kids hanging out in parking lots---that happens everyone---and it isn't because they are bored. It is because they choose those activities.