pithy typically Texas sentiment/sign from the road ride

[Triskeliongirl]

Crankin, sorry to hear your experiences out of New England were not good. I think what made me react so strongly earlier in the thread was when you posted "How do you stand it" because to me that is just perpetuating an exagerated stereotype. But it took my living in Texas to understand that, as I used to have the same stereotype when I was a New Englander.

I was born, raised, and educated (Brandeis, Tufts, MIT) in New England, and stayed there until I was ready for my first faculty position which was in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh felt a lot like New England. Then when my husband was ready for his first faculty position, we did a nationwide search and ended up in Texas. While we are both very liberal, and were shocked by some of the things we saw in Texas, we have also seen a lot of change over the years, and as some pointed out, sometimes change comes from within so its nice to think we may have been part of that change. And I have to tell you, that I never felt any anti-semitism my entire time in Texas. Yes, New England, and Cambridge in particular feels like "home" to me. My years spent at MIT were some of my most exilarating. But when I visit my daughter in her Cambridge home in winter, I have to say I DO NOT miss the snow and cold. I always end up sick that time of year. And yes, some conservative people and policies in Texas bother me, but I really do like the mild winters and being able to ride outdoors year round. And yes, the attitude of some Texans towards education leaves something to be desired, but what brought us here was that Texas, at least at the time, was one of the best states out there in terms of supporting their public universities, which was why there were good job opportunities for us here. My kids were raised in Texas, but they still have our liberal values, and at the end of the day, my daughter is proud to be a Cantabrigian! But the adjustment wasn't easy for me. In many ways, cycling was what eased the adjustment. A cycling club was a way to make friends, and cycling through little towns on farm to market roads, let us see the natural beauty that texas has to offer. While I do not plan to stay in Texas for my retirement, I don't plan to retire to New England either. We have chosen Portugal, largely because my husband was born there and has family there, but also because the climate and natural beauty suit us. It will be easy to lead an active and healthy life (nice fresh unadulterated food!). The low cost of living also makes it economically feasible to take an early retirement. My point being that a lot of things besides politics can go into a choice on where to live, and right now for me quality of life is high on the list of priorities.

[OakLeaf]

It wasn't my intention at all to "put you in your place," Crankin, and I'm sorry for giving that impression. There are surely places I would have a hard time living happily, and south Florida is high on my list too, though perhaps for different reasons. Not that the reasons you gave aren't sufficient, and horrifying. But, when I first moved to Ohio, the Klan was very active here, and I see there's a story in today's Times where they're claiming success in organizing in New York, and if either of those places surprise anyone, they really shouldn't. I remember you telling a story about racism in your hometown, too. Which is kind of my point, that people are people, and sadly there are awful people as well as great people anywhere you go.

There's an element of defensiveness, too, on my part when it comes to Ohio, and probably with the Texans here. No one likes an outsider to come in and turn their nose up at your home. So, I apologize for being defensive, too.

[rebeccaC]

In any state you may find a city you’d like to live in.

Personally I like Austin. I'm political and caring enough though that it would make it much less likely for me to want to even live there when the politics of that state does things like: guts child support services instead of spending any of its large rainy day funds while 30% of their children already lived in poverty, didn’t care that 24% of it’s citizens and 30% of women in their reproductive years didn't have health insurance while creating the most restrictive Medicaid eligibility thresholds in the nation, don’t want women to have rights over their reproductive systems and even bans Planned Parenthood funding while its prenatal care for first trimester pregnant women is already 49th in the nation, a state that wants low minimum wages and the low-skilled workforce that are needed in the Texas industries that also make it the state first in the amount of carbon emissions and first in hazardous waste produced....etc. etc. etc.

but to each their own...i guess i can see someone not minding living in a state with ted cruz as their senator...or rick perry as governor since 2000

[Crankin]

There are a few other places that I probably would be happy living in, but I have no plans to move. I'm active on a Facebook site of people who "hung out" in the "center" area of my hometown. It kind of amazes me how many of them live in Florida. We decided a long time ago we are not going to move anywhere else when we retire, because we like it so much here. But, we will travel more. I might be willing to visit AZ/CA for 2-3 weeks in the winter, where I have friends and family, but only if it doesn't interfere with my x country skiing! I have a lot more of Europe I want to see, too. We have considered moving out to the Berkshires, but after about 10 years of spending time there every summer, I don't think I could live there year round, as it's too New York focused. Despite the fact Great Barrington is in Massachusetts, no Boston newspapers, and all NY TV stations. Yeah, that's another Boston prejudice, one of which my birth family really took to heart. Hard for me to shake. We have considered buying a small (very small) second home there, because it really is a place you can do 4 season outdoor activity.
Rebecca, you gave the facts. Of course, one can always find like minded people anywhere, and i certainly did in AZ. But, there was so much I hated about the place after awhile, it was time. And when my friends started flying to LA to buy gold jewelry, I pretty much said, "I'm outta here.!"
It's funny, one of my kids feels just like me and probably would not leave here, even if he was offered the best job ever. He's a quintessential Bostonian. The other one stated continually since moving here at age 5 that he was going back. He did, first to Tucson, then San Diego, now LA.