[Georgianbelle]

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Alabama is a beautiful state and gave me an education and a love for Bama football. The people speak and welcome you to their state. I love seeing the smiles and having people ask if they can help me. I like the way people come together to help each other. Alabama is Southern all the way.

[Nlambert]

You know we have good friends that moved here two years ago from Ohio. They were shell shocked when we started inviting them to cookouts every weekend. My wife's best friend lives right next door so she typically invites them to dinner a few times per week since they have a newborn. They were even more shocked when I showed up with the neighbor to cut their grass while the husband was away for two weeks with the military. He came home fully expecting to have his flowerbeds and yard overgrown and was pleasantly surprised when it looked as it did when he left.

We actually had a conversation about this over a bonfire Saturday night. He said he turned down a job offer to move back up north (which they originally wanted to do) because he realized how nice it was living here. He started off dreading the move and now prefers to remain in AL indefinitely. He said he didn't realize how friendly the people were here and how welcomed everyone made them feel. We made it a point to make this feel like home here since they have no family nearby.

It's just how we do things. That would probably be my most favorite thing about living here.

[Keeper]

Great post NLambert. My neighbors came over and introduced themselves right after I moved in. Religion does play a big role up in N. AL but you don't have to agree as long as you are polite

[Elijah crone]

As i consider, I really like the peaceful environment and pleasant weather of Alabama. Montgomery has a lot for visitors too, so many beaches, rivers, fishing area and sea food, art is part of living. On the top of all, i like that Alabama is supporting and organizing many sports events as well as world tournaments.

[rlcg37]

Alabama is really, really beautiful. I still can't get over the towering pines everywhere.

I don't love football, but if you do, this is mecca.

Also, this is a small detail that may only pertain if you have kids, but I'm impressed by school dropoff and pickup organization. It is a well-oiled machine! Something I've encountered before in the South for sure, and I appreciate it in my town here in Alabama. It is theoretically possible that there could be quite a lot of traffic snarls, what with game day traffic, school traffic, or other event traffic--but the city knows how to handle this, and everything runs more or less smoothly. (Sometimes it's not the big things, but the small, daily ones that either drive you over the edge or keep you happy!)

[EscAlaMike]

Natural beauty, good weather, friendly people, low cost of living, to name a few. I love SW Alabama where I live in particular because we are close to Mobile (which is a beautiful historic city) and the beautiful beaches which are much better than the Atlantic coast of FL where I grew up. Also, New Orleans to the west is an easy day trip, and the mountains (they are mountains to this Florida boy) to the north are an easy day trip as well.

Also, can't forget the food! From down-home Southern cooking, to BBQ, to some of the best catfish and seafood in the US, there is something for everyone.

[Justin Scott]

I'll be the first to admit that at one point, I couldn't wait to leave Alabama. That changed once I lived in New Jersey, Florida, and Georgia over a period of time. Food and scenery are the main things that called me back home. Outside of politics, Alabama has to be a Top 5 state.....easy. Luckily, I'm a Music Producer and get to travel a lot. That's the main reason I am able to say this.

[weagle5710]

Low cost of living, and it's where Auburn and my other loved ones are.

Yeah, guess that's about it.

[OldDocKat]

Originally Posted by Keeper

Great post NLambert. My neighbors came over and introduced themselves right after I moved in. Religion does play a big role up in N. AL but you don't have to agree as long as you are polite

Yes, religion is quite prevalent here. I go along with it, even though i do not care for it. No one bothers me as long as I am not contesting it. Georgia is much the same, with the exception, parts of Atlanta and places north.

It changes greatly once one is out of the panhandle Florida.

[ashpelham]

really, for me, the only benefit to living here is that I'm already here, my stuff is here, and my momma lives not far away. Other than that, well, and the Crimson Tide, I'm not a big Alabama person. It's still too far behind in categories that matter to me, such education and healthcare. But, I live in the state's largest metro, and it's better here probably than most other places in the state. And probably on par with other major cities in the US.

Good with the bad. More good than bad, and the grass is always greener, right?