[thinkin about it]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Well,that 's the point. A lot of people are in the blue collar mindset of getting a job, settling down, and popping out a bunch of kids. They don't think to explore.

To your other point, what do you hate so much about Michigan? It's easily one of the most beautiful states in the country and the Great Lakes are one of the most unique natural features in the world.

I hate that most of its' natural beauty is inaccessible half the year. We can try to couch the aesthetic beauty of the snow and so on, and it is pretty. But alas it makes day-to-day living a real pain in the ass. Spending 15 minutes scraping your windows just to get some milk in the morning. Your face literally hurting from wind chill after being outside for a few minutes. Roads being crazy to drive on with ice. The lakes inaccessible.

Hence, a great place to vacation, tough place to live. IMO.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by thinkin about it

I hate that most of its' natural beauty is inaccessible half the year. We can try to couch the aesthetic beauty of the snow and so on, and it is pretty. But alas it makes day-to-day living a real pain in the ass. Spending 15 minutes scraping your windows just to get some milk in the morning. Your face literally hurting from wind chill after being outside for a few minutes. Roads being crazy to drive on with ice. The lakes inaccessible.

Hence, a great place to vacation, tough place to live. IMO.

Well, living far enough from a place to buy milk was a decision you made. If you chose to live in a walkable neighborhood, you'd simply wander through the winter wonderland on your way to get groceries. Perhaps you'd ski or snowshoe for some exercise.

It seems anytime people complain about a place, no matter where, you can trace their misery back to their voluntary dependence on a car.

[thinkin about it]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Well, living far enough from a place to buy milk was a decision you made. If you chose to live in a walkable neighborhood, you'd simply wander through the winter wonderland on your way to get groceries. Perhaps you'd ski or snowshoe for some exercise.

It seems anytime people complain about a place, no matter where, you can trace their misery back to their voluntary dependence on a car.

If walking through a winter wonderland=-/+shivering through incredible wind chill to the point where you face hurts, then I guess. I'd rather drive.
Moreover, most people can't live within a walkable distance to most of their activities for economic reasons. Admittedly in my case it's a voluntary thing, but for most it's not.

I don't think it has much to do with cars.

[enigmaingr]

Originally Posted by Specialbuddy

I have a question about this. I worked for a company that had the main office in Michigan most of our paperwork had a Utah address. I have heard the Utah has good tax laws for businesses but is this even legal? As far as I know, we had no office in Utah but had an address there. I never did find out what that was all about.

Yes it is legal and it happens all the time. Take a look at a credit card statement. Ever notice how every credit card company has a Delaware address? They incorporate there because of the corporate laws of that state. It is simply a place where law suits concerning their corporate affairs would be carried out.

[Specialbuddy]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Well,that 's the point. A lot of people are in the blue collar mindset of getting a job, settling down, and popping out a bunch of kids. They don't think to explore.

Yeah my cousin had it all planned out. He was going to work at GM like his dad. Luckily, I slapped him around 8 years ago and told him to wake up and face reality. Industrial jobs that allow people to work from graduation to retirement are going to disappear. Unfortunately, many people still don't get this.

[ShabbyChick]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Well,that 's the point. A lot of people are in the blue collar mindset of getting a job, settling down, and popping out a bunch of kids. They don't think to explore.

To your other point, what do you hate so much about Michigan? It's easily one of the most beautiful states in the country and the Great Lakes are one of the most unique natural features in the world.

Hey, hey, hey-watch it now I got married at 18, been married 16+ years and we "popped out" 5 kids. But we are adventurous and travel a lot, so we see the diversity that's out there vs. what we have here. I guess what I hate most about Michigan is that every time I see another state I DREAD coming back here! It shouldn't be that way. Yes, the lakes are beautiful (we are on Burt Lake) but it's only water. I love the culture, the hustle & bustle (AND CENTRAL PARK) in NYC, the bright lights and architecture in Cincinnatti, the weather and gentility down in the Carolinas, the mountains in Tennessee, the landscape in Arizona, the farms in Illinois, the homes and rolling hills in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the breezes off the Gulf in Florida.....there is just too much calling me away. Sorry, Michigan.

[northstar22]

Michigan is one of the most beautiful states in the country. We have it all: beaches, mountains, snow, fall color, countryside, exciting big cities, beautiful warm summers, and friendly people. Winters are one of our best and most unique features - we are the snowiest non-mountainous state in the country (yes, even more snow than Alaska), and that offers many opportunities like skiing, hockey, ice fishing, and snowboarding. I can't figure out why people are so down on the great Wolverine State. This is a great place to live and start a career or a family. Sure the economy's a little down, so what, it will come back. Michigan will rise again!

I know I might sound like a hypocrite for wanting to move to Alaska, but that's mainly because of a job I'm interested in (Air Traffic Control) as well as a lifelong dream of moving to Alaska. Michigan is, and always will be, my home.

[Luzette]

I think the tolerance for winter depends on whether one likes skiing, hockey, ice fishing and so on. I personally don't so that's part of why I dislike our winters. My eyes hurt being outside last winter and also the previous winter. There is only so much a person can bundle up, and I have an arctic parka that people wear up at the Poles. It keeps most of me warm, but it's so heavy that it makes moving difficult. If I don't wear the parka then it's multiple sweaters and coats, and it's just very hard for a person who enjoys walking and jogging to be so restricted for months at a time.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

Michigan is one of the most beautiful states in the country. We have it all: beaches, mountains, snow, fall color, countryside, exciting big cities, beautiful warm summers, and friendly people. Winters are one of our best and most unique features - we are the snowiest non-mountainous state in the country (yes, even more snow than Alaska), and that offers many opportunities like skiing, hockey, ice fishing, and snowboarding. I can't figure out why people are so down on the great Wolverine State. This is a great place to live and start a career or a family. Sure the economy's a little down, so what, it will come back. Michigan will rise again!
I know I might sound like a hypocrite for wanting to move to Alaska, but that's mainly because of a job I'm interested in (Air Traffic Control) as well as a lifelong dream of moving to Alaska. Michigan is, and always will be, my home.

I have never been to Michigan, but I have seen pictures of Michigan. I would say that is true about Michigan and its beauty. I watched a television show on The History Channel called The States. One of the episodes featured Michigan. James Earl Jones(voice of Mufasa from The Lion King) said that when he was growing up in Manistee County, he never saw eagles. When he drove there a short time ago, he saw an eagle grabbing a fish out of the water.
One thing I can't get over is all of that water.

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by thinkin about it

If walking through a winter wonderland=-/+shivering through incredible wind chill to the point where you face hurts, then I guess. I'd rather drive.
Moreover, most people can't live within a walkable distance to most of their activities for economic reasons. Admittedly in my case it's a voluntary thing, but for most it's not.

I don't think it has much to do with cars.

Well if ya hate it ya hate it. But I would suggest spending a few bucks and getting a remote starter on your car. When you turn it off get in the habit of turning on the defrost and it will be nice and toasty when you get in it.

My wife is still on an Arizona kick and even though at times I think it would be nice for change I know she does not make any attempt to enjoy winter or make it better at all. She walks out of the house with a thin jacket on and then complains she is cold or freezing. Uh yeah no ***** you might as well be outside in a t-shirt. Winter does suck to drive in no doubt about it. But there really are so many things to do that makes it more fun and less rotten. You just need to try a few things and see if you like em.