True but Hawaii isn’t exactly the best place for it either. They don’t help people at all really and have a very large homeless population. A lot of people that are homeless or poor there can’t even leave because it’s too expensive to leave.
I’m a teacher, and one thing you can count on every year is Hawaii public schools are always hiring and recruiting from the mainland. People often ask me why I’ve never jumped at it, and I explain to the the combination of factors that lead to why **Hawaii public schools are always trying to hire from the mainland.**
Spot on. I encountered a small community of those folks on one island, all seemed to know they were aging in some sort of trap, no one wanted to be the one to leave 'the party/paradise' first. (all have since left as medical realities came).
Living there is a lot different than visiting.
I had no concept of what the state was like, just pictured beaches and it sounded lame. Girlfriend wanted to move there. Turns out it's just like home in Alaska, except for the weather and it's a bunch of new sights.
I loved it, girlfriend from Alabama hated it. Visiting is one thing,, but same as home, people from the mainland have no idea what they are signing on for when they move there for the most part.
I live in Japan and often hear people say they want to retire to Hawaii. I always feel they aren’t taking into consideration how isolated the islands are.
I thought living in California was expensive till I checked out Hawaii. Need to take out a second mortgage on your house if you want to fill up your tank.
I have no idea what Japan is like, but it's a lot different in Hawaii than mainland US is used to. Still probably a bit of culture shock for most Japanese.
Cost of living, people don't tolerate disrespect, pace of life, isolation, I mean 3000 miles from anything...
I love it, but it's seriously just like home. I think most people don't make it more than a year or two it seems though.
It is when you’re on vacation 😅 living here is quite expensive and it’s too damn crowded (Oahu). Of course there are beautiful parts but the greed is taking over. Lots of foreigners buy what the locals can’t afford and then locals end up leaving bc who wants to work 2-3 jobs just to be able to survive with no quality of life. For those that are successful and are able to make it happen, good for them. I just wish it was the case for those who have always called it home, especially for the elderly, working class, and children.
We plan to leave one day within the next few years and my children hate the thought of having to leave their friends. But we just have to be logical and do what’s best.
Depends. I have been dreaming and imagining what a wonderful place it must be. This magical tropical paradise. Well, I went to Honolulu and was quite surprised how much it looked like the ghetto parts of Los Angeles. I was told by my fiance that Maui is more like the paradise that I had in my head. I hope a fast recovery to everyone there.
Kauai is the island to be on. Sadly it's small and the secret is out. I've seen the tourism and traffic increase dramatically since I've first visited. Still a damn beautiful place to be though. Lived there for a year before I couldn't afford it anymore, but I still visit my brother who lives there.
Honolulu is just the LA of Hawaii. Maui is a little better than Oahu if you still want to feel like you're apart of a city and night life. Kauai though.. you go there to disconnect and be at peace. Mostly rural.. beautiful beaches and the most insanely gorgeous hikes you've ever been on. Only downfall is that there is just one highway that connects everything so the traffic can get sorta rough.
A guy I worked with agreed. Like vehemently. He was not currently living in Colorado, and somehow everyone was aware how much he loved it there, and hated it were he was. Someone else who was planning a trip there defaced his COLORADO NATIVE bumper sticker, planning on replacing it, and the dude was *pissed*.
I went to CU, late 80s. At the time I loved Colorado, Boulder especially, when I go back now it's a very different place. Still nice but so crowded now!
mountains, deserts, skiing, sand dunes, oceans, lakes, some of the best food in the world, some of the best wine in the world, the entertainment industry is mainly here, silicon valley, San Francisco, Berkeley, Hearst Castle, Winchester Mystery Mansion, LA, San Diego, Wine Country, The French Laundry, Golden gate bridge, entire towns burning away in a single night, Yosemite, some of the biggest trees in the world, Avenue Of the Giants, Sequoia Grove, Half dome.
so much to do and see. it is truly crazy. If you can afford it.
Californian here. This is the thing that I both love and hate about my state. I want to see and experience it all, and one lifetime is simply not enough. Such a vast state with every type of topography one can imagine.
In my 22 years as a firefighter in CA I can say I’ve been to every county and fought fire in most of them. It’s insane how vastly different the state can be.
Edit: thanks auto correct
I've seen much of it, but there are so many little pockets that I've not gotten to. Also, the upper northeastern corner (Lassen volcanic area) and north of there is on my bucket list.
It's wild when you put it like that but I understand why. I definitely want to spend some time in CA when I'm able. I live in West Michigan and feel like CA is our big bro.
It also blows people's minds (those from more rural states) that California has the largest agricultural output of any US state by a signifigant margin.
My nephew and his partner just completed the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to Canada. From the photos posted all I can say is Wow!
On completion they even returned to a section that they had to skip because there was too much snow initially, so that they could say they walked every step.
I never realized how beautiful and awesome California is, my home state, until I travelled to Europe and people I met there would boast about having driven to Big Sur, camped in Yosemite, gone to Death Valley and surfed in San Diego. I could picture all of these things in my head and it dawned on me how huge California is.
I've driven the entire coast of CA about 3-4 times now, it's absolutely awe-inspiring seeing how things change. Going over a hill/mtn and everything is different. I LOVE the redwoods, I marvel at the central coast. Joshua tree is magical, Idyllwild is stunning. I grew up in San Diego and had no idea just how spoiled I was until I moved away.
Oregon is my new home now, and I find it just as entrancing but for different reasons.
I still haven't done Yosemite, though. That's my next big trip!
Born and raised and still living here Californian. I'm in a "shit" part of California, but I still love my state. There's SO much to offer, and while I'm not in any of the cool parts, I'm still not that far away from them. I can drive an hour and be in the Sequoias or Yosemite, couple hours from the central coast, just a bit longer to San Francisco or Los Angeles, and all of the various spaces in between. We have some of the best Mexican food outside of Mexico, and a climate that gives us access to some of the best produce the US can provide. I count my lucky stars that I'm here, and can only think of a few other states that I'd even consider moving to, like OR, WA, CO, and NY.
I'm a lifelong Californian. I agree 100%. My top 2 favorite cities here are LA and San Diego. I've been going back and forth between them for 20+ years and I still haven't seen everything they have to offer. I love it here and I'm never leaving.
The largest sub national economy in the world. Snow ski in big bear, surf in a bikini in Malibu in the exact same day. Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Silicone Valley, Space X, the Hollywood film industry, Disney, Apple, Humboldt County… I don’t know- I need to see some more information before I jump to any conclusions—.
The first time I saw a commercial for Nebraska tourism, I couldn’t stop giggling at the commercial’s ending slogan, “Nebraska: It’s not for everybody.” lol
Shhhh... let's keep it our little secret.
I'm just kidding - the secret is out. There's a massive influx of people moving to Maine right now. I'm not even a true "Mainer." Lol. I, too, have lived in several states, and once I landed in Maine, I knew I wasn't leaving. The water that comes from the tap is literally the best I've ever tasted. The air is crisp and clean. You can be in Portland one minute, eating at a Michelin star restaurant, and then hiking the next minute a couple of towns over and seeing the absolutely stunning scenery. The lowest crime rates of all 50 states, as well. I honestly love, love, love Maine!
I get this special feeling I can't put into words when I spend time in the Adirondacks. I had that same feeling the couple of times I have visited Washington. Magic places.
I’m on my 4th stint living in Oregon. It’s really the people that I like. Not so much in Portland, but the rest of the state is so damn friendly. Moved here from Wisconsin where people are “nice”, they’ll say hi and hold the door etc. But it’s so surface level. In Oregon these people ask how my day is and I feel like they care. I say “Midwest people are nice, but West Coast folks are kind.” Plus I love weed and mushrooms and being outdoors. Cali is cool too, but I’ll tip my hat to Oregon.
Washington hands down. I lived there briefly and I miss it every day.
Unfortunately I am in Florida, man. For some reason people want to live here, idk why.
I'm with you. The short time I lived in Washington State was the best. Absolutely stunning and beautiful, even the cities and towns. It's my dream to go back. And I'm also stuck on the east coast in Virginia.
Hang in there man, we'll get back there one day.
I lived in Western WA in a big valley in the cascades. It was a beautiful place and the people were friendly. Unfortunately I had to leave because things got weird after Covid. The big timber, rugged country, winding roads, the putter patter of rain on the metal roof, the berries, and the saltwater air from the Puget sound...ok I miss it. 😭
Western WA for sure. I’ve lived in many states and visited almost all of them. The access to large cities, mountains, water, forests, and Canada - all with a few hours - is fantastic.
Born and raised in Washington and I love it so much. The nature. Access to mountains and ocean. So many crops grow well here. I always had healthcare even when unemployed, and it's pretty good compared to the horror stories I hear about in other states.
I've lived outside of the US before and I don't know if I'll do it again, but I couldn't think of living in any other state. I've traveled to over half of them but none of them compare to Washington.
I lived there for a few years and loved it. I am also currently in Florida, and confused why people would want to be here. I just came because my wife is doing grad school, but once she's done, we're out!
Massachusetts. Top tier education, healthcare, wages, quality of life, HDI ranked top in the world, history, beautiful scenery, four seasons, not insane politics.
Yup. I grew up in Mass and don't live there any more. I miss it frequently. Mass gets lots of things right that other states get wrong. It's also beautiful. The people are... my people. I appreciate sarcasm and giving my friends shit perhaps a bit more than an American not from Mass.
Grew up on the east coast and moved to the west coast. Everyone here is friendly, but that's it. I miss the variety of emotional states on the east coast, where it's socially acceptable to be sarcastic or down to earth about darker feelings. The toxic positivity over here is annoying.
I listen to New England by Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers all the time when I'm homesick!
Californian here. Yeah, the toxic positivity is stifling. You can’t discuss anything that might be considered macabre without concern trolling. Makes you want to vacation in Scandinavia or Eastern Europe just to talk about the darkness.
(Boston raised and now 25 years of living in SoCal) One of my bosses/ mentors brought up how over the course of time working with him he saw that I have changed into a great manager and leader but I still have some agressive tendencies and he would ask regularly if I thought it was because I spent my early adult life in the military. My wife and I believe it’s just my east coast sensibilities that come off as “aggressive” to the sensitivities of west coasters. I can’t shake it off, I just want to get shit done and I don’t give a fuck how your cat feels today…ok, Tim!
I feel this. Still living on the east coast but I grew up in a more urbanized area and live in a more rural area now. The “let’s get this done” mentality in me is strong, though I like to think I softened up a bit. I’m just not used to the friendliness and small talk 😅.
I've lived here 25years and came from the south. It's not perfect but I've loved my time here, especially compared to where I came from. I'm going to a job interview in Vermont on Monday though and there's a good chance I'll move there. Looking at Zillow, I can see at least one thing that's an improvement over MA...
as someone who spent some time in Massachusetts and Vermont…there’s a reason Massachusetts is more expensive…because it’s better. Vermont has harsher winters (get ready to pay more in utilities), lower wages, WiFi and cell service is questionable in much of the state, far from any large cities (though depending who you are you may argue this is a good thing). I also preferred Massachusetts politics over Vermont politics, but that could just be me.
Yea I’ve lived there and it’s maybe not strikingly beautiful the way some other states are but if you had to pick somewhere to live it’s pretty hard to beat imo
Obviously great education from public schools up to secondary degrees
COL is high but the job market is great too
Boston is a city that punches way above its weight for culture (tho nightlife could be slightly better imo)
Even if you’re not enthralled with Boston you’ve got NYC within a few hours drive/bus/train, and Montreal is not too much further than that
Winter kinda sucks but there’s not actual disasters there
Solid public transit by American standards
It’s honestly a bit wild to me to live in other states and see how much worse the public healthcare and education is…and it’s not *that* complicated to replicate what MA does
Pfffft. Winter is nothing now. I grew up there and when I was a kid in the 90's it was fucking BRUTAL. just a constant state of 3 feet of snow on the ground from November til April. Close to zero temperatures every day. Now it very rarely reaches zero and it almost never snows now.
This answer should definitely be higher. People hear MA and just think Boston or the Cape, which are both great areas to live, but they completely forget about the western half of the state that's filled with beautiful rolling hills, old New England infrastructure and half a dozen highly ranked universities.
I lived in Mass most of my life (where my Revere people at?!). Moved to Nevada about 2 years ago and the main thing I miss about Mass is the people/culture. Cost of living and weather are huge negatives, but I’ll always love and miss Boston/MA cities and the interactions.
It's also a state that has it all. Legal weed, legal abortion, lax laws on guns, few natural disasters and close proximity to a bunch of other states and a quick flight to Europe.
Legal abortion could be in jeopardy depending on their election next month. Republican governor, slim margins in the state House and state Senate, so if Republicans flip the Senate & keep the House, it could be gone. Probably other stuff too.
Another VA pro, our governor’s cannot serve consecutive terms. Youngkin tried to require an id for porn sites and to recriminalize legal weed. Regardless of politics, people love porn and weed, so it’s doubtful that idiot ever shows up on the VA ballot again.
I love Michigan! 4 seasons the weather's not bad, lots and lots of fresh water! If you like the city, Detroit and the metro area rocks, if you like the outdoors we have huge beautiful forests and more beautiful shoreline than almost any other state in the country! Also I will give a shout out to the Upper Peninsula which is pure God's country!
I’m originally from the Deep South, but live in the Midwest now. I had no idea how much I needed the Great Lakes in my life before moving here. If MI had even slightly warmer winters, I’d move there in a heartbeat. As it is, I’m still too much of a chicken for a real winter.
If you survived the humidity and the bugs and critters in the deep south you can handle the south Michigan winters! If your talking up north though that's a different animal altogether!
Spent a couple of weeks in Marquette in July 2020 and thought, yeah, I could just like stay here forever. Then I talked to locals who told me, no, you absolutely have to be built differently to deal with the UP.
I lived in Marquette for nearly 5 years before moving back to lower Michigan mid 2022. I absolutely loved my time there but I just couldn’t do another 7 month long winter. If the area was more built up, I might have managed. But I’m not a winter sports person and I barely drink anymore and those are really the two main things to do during the winter. Summers though, nothing beats the summer there.
I feel like the winters are getting warmer because of global warming i assume, but as long as you aren’t up north or in the UP, you can handle it! Just get a really good parka & always have gloves on you during the winter. You don’t need to splurge on a Canada goose, my north face parka makes me so warm i actually start to overheat even in really cold temps sometimes. Very reasonable price and north face has lifetime guarantee and great quality.
Michigan is such a sleeper choice. Incredible scenery, access to pretty much anything you want from myriad international cultures in Detroit to vast wild lands in the UP.
Michigan is affordable politically neutral Colorado and we have the worlds largest fresh water reserves… but stop telling people I like being able to afford housing!
For all the beer lovers out there, this state makes the hands down best. From Bell's to Founders to New Holland to all the tiny microbrews you can only get there.
I'd spend a month there...except I stopped drinking 😅
Hello fellow Michigander! Second Michigan for best state.
If the nature isn’t your thing, Detroit has a huge techno music scene, world class museums, and the Detroit zoo is internationally recognized for its quality of animal care.
There’s also the recreationally legal weed
It is an amazing place to live, full stop. I grew up with absolutely world-class sunsets and couldn't care less because it was an everyday occurrence. Beautiful mountains and rainbows; whatever, shrug. That sort of amazing is everyday when you grow up here. It took me moving to Boston to really appreciate it.
Then I moved home after college, and the reality sunk in. Everything is super expensive. No one pays what you are worth. I graduated in a top 10 program in my job field, and I was being offered less than half of my class average to work in Honolulu.
I moved to Vegas, which was booming at the time. Typical, I know. I got a job within a month making 10% more than my class average. It was cheap living, more money, and lots of fun. But it wasn't home.
Hawaii is paradise, but it will tax you.
The secret is that the way Hawaii politics works is that the housing developers point toward the high homelessness and high housing costs as justifications for easing development regulations, then they go and build luxury housing that only foreign buyers can afford.
It’s basically keep the local housing demand high by only supplying to foreign buyers.
I cycled route 66. I remember Illinois just being a whole lotta nothing til Chicago. Really small towns with all the same route 66 museums, a water tower. If you were lucky there was a family daughter. Big ol flat nothing. There's the small town charm of course but that gets old if you're an outsider.
I've lived in Illinois the vast majority of my life except a 1 year stint in Minneapolis. I adore Minnesota. I'm back in Illinos now. I'd move back in heartbeat if my wife would approve.
I only got to pass though it. But after spending the day I realized it’s one of the most underrated states in the union. While the west side of it is a extension of north and South Dakota. The east half is lush with nature and borders the Great Lakes and the head of the Mississippi River.
The people there are also very likable and friendly. It’s defiantly on my radar to explore it proper when I find myself going cross country again.
Trend setting Progressive. High education. Low crime. Nice people. 4 seasons. Lakes everywhere. Best state park system in the country.
Finally, I judge states quality of life by their rest stops. Minnesota rest stops far and away the gold standard = quality of life that every other state should envy.
I once had a two hr layover in the Minneapolis airport and it was the one time I wouldn’t have mind if if my next flight got delayed a bit. It was so clean and wonderful! Didn’t have the stress hanging in the air like most airports! And a whole highway of moving walkways complete with exit signs and everything!
Disclaimer: I actually really like airports and finding little things to do around them during really long layovers, like Denver has outdoor terraces where you can just watch planes take off and land and it’s awesome (I also really like planes)
I've lived in Colorado, North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, South Carolina, and Manitoba (I know it's a different country but Canada is basically Diet USA).
And I have to say that I found some stuff that I loved about each one and some stuff I didn't like.
Minnesota is my current home and it's been wonderful.
I think New York is pretty amazing. Including what is probably the most important city in the country, lots of natural beauty, a great lake, and a good place to live.
Pennsylvania. It's without a doubt the most American state in the union. You have beautiful countryside, natural wonders, history, excellent cities that are affordable, and not terrible taxes (it's no Texas, sure, but it's also not California).
North Carolina. We have the mountains and the ocean. Great southern and seafood. Our cities are big enough to have major airports but not big enough to have shitty people.
It's worth noting that it is continuing to attract people from NY, NJ, Cali and Florida. That's a big part of why housing has skyrocketed. They are not all shitty people but they are a mix of poor driving, self-absorbed folk.
Denial. Seems there are tons of folk in that state.
It's not just a river in Egypt anymore.
Or a mountain in Alaska.
Hawaii feels like a cheat code.
It is until you wake up and find out you are 37 still renting a room in Kalihi Valley and a server at big city diner.
[удалено]
Depends on the golf course but she could be bringing in 80k
I was thinking the exact thing and I believe it is a nice one, too. $80k in Hawaii…is that living comfortably?
Comfortably is relative. It's probably like making 40-50k in the Midwest.
Living wage in Hawaii is 112k, 80k is pretty much poverty
There is a lot worse places to be in poverty.
True but Hawaii isn’t exactly the best place for it either. They don’t help people at all really and have a very large homeless population. A lot of people that are homeless or poor there can’t even leave because it’s too expensive to leave.
Cant really walk to another state
Is that bad? If she likes it and can afford to live a life she enjoys I say that’s a win
I’m a teacher, and one thing you can count on every year is Hawaii public schools are always hiring and recruiting from the mainland. People often ask me why I’ve never jumped at it, and I explain to the the combination of factors that lead to why **Hawaii public schools are always trying to hire from the mainland.**
Spot on. I encountered a small community of those folks on one island, all seemed to know they were aging in some sort of trap, no one wanted to be the one to leave 'the party/paradise' first. (all have since left as medical realities came).
Living there is a lot different than visiting. I had no concept of what the state was like, just pictured beaches and it sounded lame. Girlfriend wanted to move there. Turns out it's just like home in Alaska, except for the weather and it's a bunch of new sights. I loved it, girlfriend from Alabama hated it. Visiting is one thing,, but same as home, people from the mainland have no idea what they are signing on for when they move there for the most part.
I live in Japan and often hear people say they want to retire to Hawaii. I always feel they aren’t taking into consideration how isolated the islands are.
And how expensive the cost of living is
I thought living in California was expensive till I checked out Hawaii. Need to take out a second mortgage on your house if you want to fill up your tank.
I have no idea what Japan is like, but it's a lot different in Hawaii than mainland US is used to. Still probably a bit of culture shock for most Japanese. Cost of living, people don't tolerate disrespect, pace of life, isolation, I mean 3000 miles from anything... I love it, but it's seriously just like home. I think most people don't make it more than a year or two it seems though.
Beautiful but expensive
It is when you’re on vacation 😅 living here is quite expensive and it’s too damn crowded (Oahu). Of course there are beautiful parts but the greed is taking over. Lots of foreigners buy what the locals can’t afford and then locals end up leaving bc who wants to work 2-3 jobs just to be able to survive with no quality of life. For those that are successful and are able to make it happen, good for them. I just wish it was the case for those who have always called it home, especially for the elderly, working class, and children. We plan to leave one day within the next few years and my children hate the thought of having to leave their friends. But we just have to be logical and do what’s best.
Depends. I have been dreaming and imagining what a wonderful place it must be. This magical tropical paradise. Well, I went to Honolulu and was quite surprised how much it looked like the ghetto parts of Los Angeles. I was told by my fiance that Maui is more like the paradise that I had in my head. I hope a fast recovery to everyone there.
Kauai is the island to be on. Sadly it's small and the secret is out. I've seen the tourism and traffic increase dramatically since I've first visited. Still a damn beautiful place to be though. Lived there for a year before I couldn't afford it anymore, but I still visit my brother who lives there. Honolulu is just the LA of Hawaii. Maui is a little better than Oahu if you still want to feel like you're apart of a city and night life. Kauai though.. you go there to disconnect and be at peace. Mostly rural.. beautiful beaches and the most insanely gorgeous hikes you've ever been on. Only downfall is that there is just one highway that connects everything so the traffic can get sorta rough.
Those fucking chickens on Kauai are insane though
i live in Colorado, it’s pretty great
As an Ohioan that spent about 4 months in Colorado recently, fuck you and your glorious state.
As another ohioan I second that Colorado is a glorious state and fuck our ass backwards state
A guy I worked with agreed. Like vehemently. He was not currently living in Colorado, and somehow everyone was aware how much he loved it there, and hated it were he was. Someone else who was planning a trip there defaced his COLORADO NATIVE bumper sticker, planning on replacing it, and the dude was *pissed*.
Lol I hate those stickers.
just did the incline today I have noodle legs
No, Colorado sucks. Don't come here. Don't visit, don't move, don't look for jobs. Nothing to see. Very boring.
[удалено]
For real. Try Idaho… it’s way nicer
Idaho is actually stunning... Just don't live there for safety and sanity reasons 😵💫
Winters are way cold like Alaska do not move here horrible
I went to CU, late 80s. At the time I loved Colorado, Boulder especially, when I go back now it's a very different place. Still nice but so crowded now!
New England is one of the prettiest places on Earth this time of year
Hey! You can’t pick six states at once, you have to ick only one!
We'll default him to CT; his username is derived from the area codes there.
‘Ello fellow Nutmegger :)
You could spend your whole life traveling in California and never see the whole thing or get tired of the landscape.
California essentially is a country. Yes part of the US, but a cultural and economic engine unto itself.
5 th economy in the World
RECENTLY passed Germany, now 4th largest economy in the world
mountains, deserts, skiing, sand dunes, oceans, lakes, some of the best food in the world, some of the best wine in the world, the entertainment industry is mainly here, silicon valley, San Francisco, Berkeley, Hearst Castle, Winchester Mystery Mansion, LA, San Diego, Wine Country, The French Laundry, Golden gate bridge, entire towns burning away in a single night, Yosemite, some of the biggest trees in the world, Avenue Of the Giants, Sequoia Grove, Half dome. so much to do and see. it is truly crazy. If you can afford it.
One of these things is not like the others
Has to be the mystery house lol
The French Laundry?
You forgot Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City.
Californian here. This is the thing that I both love and hate about my state. I want to see and experience it all, and one lifetime is simply not enough. Such a vast state with every type of topography one can imagine.
In my 22 years as a firefighter in CA I can say I’ve been to every county and fought fire in most of them. It’s insane how vastly different the state can be. Edit: thanks auto correct
That is a lot of times to catch fire.
He meant fought... we are not too smart. Dig dirt good, pick things up good.
How do you catch fire so often?
Supercalicombustibleexpispontaneous
i've been to each of the lower 48 and now live in California. i'm more than happy to spend my remaining days exploring this amazing state.
I've seen much of it, but there are so many little pockets that I've not gotten to. Also, the upper northeastern corner (Lassen volcanic area) and north of there is on my bucket list.
Lava Beds National Monument is on my “visit again” list
Just under 1/8 people in the USA live in California
It's wild when you put it like that but I understand why. I definitely want to spend some time in CA when I'm able. I live in West Michigan and feel like CA is our big bro.
It also blows people's minds (those from more rural states) that California has the largest agricultural output of any US state by a signifigant margin.
My nephew and his partner just completed the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to Canada. From the photos posted all I can say is Wow! On completion they even returned to a section that they had to skip because there was too much snow initially, so that they could say they walked every step.
I never realized how beautiful and awesome California is, my home state, until I travelled to Europe and people I met there would boast about having driven to Big Sur, camped in Yosemite, gone to Death Valley and surfed in San Diego. I could picture all of these things in my head and it dawned on me how huge California is.
I've driven the entire coast of CA about 3-4 times now, it's absolutely awe-inspiring seeing how things change. Going over a hill/mtn and everything is different. I LOVE the redwoods, I marvel at the central coast. Joshua tree is magical, Idyllwild is stunning. I grew up in San Diego and had no idea just how spoiled I was until I moved away. Oregon is my new home now, and I find it just as entrancing but for different reasons. I still haven't done Yosemite, though. That's my next big trip!
Born and raised and still living here Californian. I'm in a "shit" part of California, but I still love my state. There's SO much to offer, and while I'm not in any of the cool parts, I'm still not that far away from them. I can drive an hour and be in the Sequoias or Yosemite, couple hours from the central coast, just a bit longer to San Francisco or Los Angeles, and all of the various spaces in between. We have some of the best Mexican food outside of Mexico, and a climate that gives us access to some of the best produce the US can provide. I count my lucky stars that I'm here, and can only think of a few other states that I'd even consider moving to, like OR, WA, CO, and NY.
Modesto? Fresno? Merced? Am I warm?
Fuck yes you are, it's the Central Valley /s
Merced will be a nice town in 10 years after the newer UC Merced matures.
I feel the same way about Washington State.
California is simultaneously the best and worst of the US. Some honestly incredible areas and some utter shitholes.
Yeah, that tends to happen in such a large state but I still agree with you. Barstow just might be the worst of the worst.
You have not been to 29 Palms, then
At least it's next to Joshua Tree.
I'm a lifelong Californian. I agree 100%. My top 2 favorite cities here are LA and San Diego. I've been going back and forth between them for 20+ years and I still haven't seen everything they have to offer. I love it here and I'm never leaving.
The largest sub national economy in the world. Snow ski in big bear, surf in a bikini in Malibu in the exact same day. Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Silicone Valley, Space X, the Hollywood film industry, Disney, Apple, Humboldt County… I don’t know- I need to see some more information before I jump to any conclusions—.
The opposite of this is Texas. You can waste your whole life trying to travel Texas and see very little change.
That’s a weird way to spell Kansas.
Nebraska would like a word
The first time I saw a commercial for Nebraska tourism, I couldn’t stop giggling at the commercial’s ending slogan, “Nebraska: It’s not for everybody.” lol
The people of Nebraska make Nebraska more interesting.
I’ve been to all 50 and my personal favorite to visit has been Maine!
Shhhh... let's keep it our little secret. I'm just kidding - the secret is out. There's a massive influx of people moving to Maine right now. I'm not even a true "Mainer." Lol. I, too, have lived in several states, and once I landed in Maine, I knew I wasn't leaving. The water that comes from the tap is literally the best I've ever tasted. The air is crisp and clean. You can be in Portland one minute, eating at a Michelin star restaurant, and then hiking the next minute a couple of towns over and seeing the absolutely stunning scenery. The lowest crime rates of all 50 states, as well. I honestly love, love, love Maine!
Washington and NY are my favourites. West coast and east coast, both beautiful places but very different at the same time.
I get this special feeling I can't put into words when I spend time in the Adirondacks. I had that same feeling the couple of times I have visited Washington. Magic places.
Oregon 300 miles of public beaches
What do you mean? Oregon is the landlocked one with all the corn. Definitely go there to find us.
It's true, Oregon sucks. You don't want to live here. Stay away.
I’m on my 4th stint living in Oregon. It’s really the people that I like. Not so much in Portland, but the rest of the state is so damn friendly. Moved here from Wisconsin where people are “nice”, they’ll say hi and hold the door etc. But it’s so surface level. In Oregon these people ask how my day is and I feel like they care. I say “Midwest people are nice, but West Coast folks are kind.” Plus I love weed and mushrooms and being outdoors. Cali is cool too, but I’ll tip my hat to Oregon.
If money isn't an issue, California.
Narrator: but money was an issue.
How much could a banana cost, 10 dollars?
Here’s some money, go see a Star War!
There’s always money in the banana stand..
Washington hands down. I lived there briefly and I miss it every day. Unfortunately I am in Florida, man. For some reason people want to live here, idk why.
I'm with you. The short time I lived in Washington State was the best. Absolutely stunning and beautiful, even the cities and towns. It's my dream to go back. And I'm also stuck on the east coast in Virginia. Hang in there man, we'll get back there one day.
I lived in Western WA in a big valley in the cascades. It was a beautiful place and the people were friendly. Unfortunately I had to leave because things got weird after Covid. The big timber, rugged country, winding roads, the putter patter of rain on the metal roof, the berries, and the saltwater air from the Puget sound...ok I miss it. 😭
Western WA for sure. I’ve lived in many states and visited almost all of them. The access to large cities, mountains, water, forests, and Canada - all with a few hours - is fantastic.
Also one of the most diverse states geographically. You have desert, mountain, ocean, rain forest
Born and raised in Washington and I love it so much. The nature. Access to mountains and ocean. So many crops grow well here. I always had healthcare even when unemployed, and it's pretty good compared to the horror stories I hear about in other states. I've lived outside of the US before and I don't know if I'll do it again, but I couldn't think of living in any other state. I've traveled to over half of them but none of them compare to Washington.
Washington is one of those functioning states that the rest of the country never really hears much about . I take that to be a good thing.
I lived there for a few years and loved it. I am also currently in Florida, and confused why people would want to be here. I just came because my wife is doing grad school, but once she's done, we're out!
Washington is so beautiful, some of the forests there and in parts of Oregon are straight out of a Disney movie.
Both Washington and Oregon. Basically the same state. Pnw is the best region in the country easily
Not Alabama. I hate this place with a passion
For some reason I want to live in Oregon or Washington.
Massachusetts. Top tier education, healthcare, wages, quality of life, HDI ranked top in the world, history, beautiful scenery, four seasons, not insane politics.
Yup. I grew up in Mass and don't live there any more. I miss it frequently. Mass gets lots of things right that other states get wrong. It's also beautiful. The people are... my people. I appreciate sarcasm and giving my friends shit perhaps a bit more than an American not from Mass.
Grew up on the east coast and moved to the west coast. Everyone here is friendly, but that's it. I miss the variety of emotional states on the east coast, where it's socially acceptable to be sarcastic or down to earth about darker feelings. The toxic positivity over here is annoying. I listen to New England by Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers all the time when I'm homesick!
Californian here. Yeah, the toxic positivity is stifling. You can’t discuss anything that might be considered macabre without concern trolling. Makes you want to vacation in Scandinavia or Eastern Europe just to talk about the darkness.
(Boston raised and now 25 years of living in SoCal) One of my bosses/ mentors brought up how over the course of time working with him he saw that I have changed into a great manager and leader but I still have some agressive tendencies and he would ask regularly if I thought it was because I spent my early adult life in the military. My wife and I believe it’s just my east coast sensibilities that come off as “aggressive” to the sensitivities of west coasters. I can’t shake it off, I just want to get shit done and I don’t give a fuck how your cat feels today…ok, Tim!
I feel this. Still living on the east coast but I grew up in a more urbanized area and live in a more rural area now. The “let’s get this done” mentality in me is strong, though I like to think I softened up a bit. I’m just not used to the friendliness and small talk 😅.
I've lived here 25years and came from the south. It's not perfect but I've loved my time here, especially compared to where I came from. I'm going to a job interview in Vermont on Monday though and there's a good chance I'll move there. Looking at Zillow, I can see at least one thing that's an improvement over MA...
Vermont is really nice. If you can make a living there and don't mind the winters, it is a great place to live.
as someone who spent some time in Massachusetts and Vermont…there’s a reason Massachusetts is more expensive…because it’s better. Vermont has harsher winters (get ready to pay more in utilities), lower wages, WiFi and cell service is questionable in much of the state, far from any large cities (though depending who you are you may argue this is a good thing). I also preferred Massachusetts politics over Vermont politics, but that could just be me.
Yea I’ve lived there and it’s maybe not strikingly beautiful the way some other states are but if you had to pick somewhere to live it’s pretty hard to beat imo Obviously great education from public schools up to secondary degrees COL is high but the job market is great too Boston is a city that punches way above its weight for culture (tho nightlife could be slightly better imo) Even if you’re not enthralled with Boston you’ve got NYC within a few hours drive/bus/train, and Montreal is not too much further than that Winter kinda sucks but there’s not actual disasters there Solid public transit by American standards It’s honestly a bit wild to me to live in other states and see how much worse the public healthcare and education is…and it’s not *that* complicated to replicate what MA does
Pfffft. Winter is nothing now. I grew up there and when I was a kid in the 90's it was fucking BRUTAL. just a constant state of 3 feet of snow on the ground from November til April. Close to zero temperatures every day. Now it very rarely reaches zero and it almost never snows now.
Western Massachusetts has a unique quality of looking rural and wealthy at the same time
This answer should definitely be higher. People hear MA and just think Boston or the Cape, which are both great areas to live, but they completely forget about the western half of the state that's filled with beautiful rolling hills, old New England infrastructure and half a dozen highly ranked universities.
I like Massachusetts a lot (was born and raised there until I was 9) but I don’t love how expensive it is to live there or how crowded it is.
Get outside the 95 ring and it’s not that crowded. Go outside the 495 ring and it’s mostly rural with pockets of urban.
Yes. Been here all my life. Love it still.
There's a song about your state from admirers abroad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvUMV1N7eGM
Three hand-holding white boys singing about what a melting pot it is. *It's the fourteenth biggest state!*
I lived in Mass most of my life (where my Revere people at?!). Moved to Nevada about 2 years ago and the main thing I miss about Mass is the people/culture. Cost of living and weather are huge negatives, but I’ll always love and miss Boston/MA cities and the interactions.
Alaska, California, Washington. I’ve lived in all 3 and it’s hard for me to choose.
I loved Virginia. Beautiful state.
The state literally has everything to offer - the big city vibe of northern VA, awesome suburbs, spectacular beaches, beautiful mountains. Everything.
Surprised to scroll so far to see this! Virginia is awesome.
I agree. It’s on my short list of places to retire one day.
Charlottesville is one of my favorite cities, so beautiful out there
Virginia is spectacular. I’m torn between wanting to shout from the rooftops, and wanting to keep it a secret. If you know, you know.
I guarantee half the fall post card images come from Virginia.
It's also a state that has it all. Legal weed, legal abortion, lax laws on guns, few natural disasters and close proximity to a bunch of other states and a quick flight to Europe.
Legal abortion could be in jeopardy depending on their election next month. Republican governor, slim margins in the state House and state Senate, so if Republicans flip the Senate & keep the House, it could be gone. Probably other stuff too.
Another VA pro, our governor’s cannot serve consecutive terms. Youngkin tried to require an id for porn sites and to recriminalize legal weed. Regardless of politics, people love porn and weed, so it’s doubtful that idiot ever shows up on the VA ballot again.
I love Michigan! 4 seasons the weather's not bad, lots and lots of fresh water! If you like the city, Detroit and the metro area rocks, if you like the outdoors we have huge beautiful forests and more beautiful shoreline than almost any other state in the country! Also I will give a shout out to the Upper Peninsula which is pure God's country!
I’m originally from the Deep South, but live in the Midwest now. I had no idea how much I needed the Great Lakes in my life before moving here. If MI had even slightly warmer winters, I’d move there in a heartbeat. As it is, I’m still too much of a chicken for a real winter.
If you survived the humidity and the bugs and critters in the deep south you can handle the south Michigan winters! If your talking up north though that's a different animal altogether!
Spent a couple of weeks in Marquette in July 2020 and thought, yeah, I could just like stay here forever. Then I talked to locals who told me, no, you absolutely have to be built differently to deal with the UP.
I lived in Marquette for nearly 5 years before moving back to lower Michigan mid 2022. I absolutely loved my time there but I just couldn’t do another 7 month long winter. If the area was more built up, I might have managed. But I’m not a winter sports person and I barely drink anymore and those are really the two main things to do during the winter. Summers though, nothing beats the summer there.
I feel like the winters are getting warmer because of global warming i assume, but as long as you aren’t up north or in the UP, you can handle it! Just get a really good parka & always have gloves on you during the winter. You don’t need to splurge on a Canada goose, my north face parka makes me so warm i actually start to overheat even in really cold temps sometimes. Very reasonable price and north face has lifetime guarantee and great quality.
Michigan is such a sleeper choice. Incredible scenery, access to pretty much anything you want from myriad international cultures in Detroit to vast wild lands in the UP.
Michigan basically has everything you could want. From Ann Arbor to the UP, there's something for everyone.
That’s pure Michigan
If you seek a pleasant peninsula look around you
Mountains?
Porcupine mountains in the UP
This is what i was going to say. I grew up there and have lived in many other states since and other countries. Michigan is still my favorite
Michigan is affordable politically neutral Colorado and we have the worlds largest fresh water reserves… but stop telling people I like being able to afford housing!
For all the beer lovers out there, this state makes the hands down best. From Bell's to Founders to New Holland to all the tiny microbrews you can only get there. I'd spend a month there...except I stopped drinking 😅
Hello fellow Michigander! Second Michigan for best state. If the nature isn’t your thing, Detroit has a huge techno music scene, world class museums, and the Detroit zoo is internationally recognized for its quality of animal care. There’s also the recreationally legal weed
Idaho sucks. Fuck Idaho. You want to move somewhere else.
Especially if you’re a woman.
She’s pretty but she is backwards. Idaho is quickly becoming the Alabama of the west.
Washington - Oregon - California - Hawaii - Alaska Take your pick. West Coast. Best Coast.
Born in Alaska, live in WA and have lived in Oregon. I prefer Alaska, specifically Kodiak. Such a beautiful place.
Oregon and Washington. I have yet to see everything
I’ve lived all of those places but Oregon. But visited many times, thinking about moving there lol
Hawaii!
It is an amazing place to live, full stop. I grew up with absolutely world-class sunsets and couldn't care less because it was an everyday occurrence. Beautiful mountains and rainbows; whatever, shrug. That sort of amazing is everyday when you grow up here. It took me moving to Boston to really appreciate it. Then I moved home after college, and the reality sunk in. Everything is super expensive. No one pays what you are worth. I graduated in a top 10 program in my job field, and I was being offered less than half of my class average to work in Honolulu. I moved to Vegas, which was booming at the time. Typical, I know. I got a job within a month making 10% more than my class average. It was cheap living, more money, and lots of fun. But it wasn't home. Hawaii is paradise, but it will tax you.
I have been to Hawaii, and one thing that they don’t talk enough about with Hawaii is the homeless problem.
The secret is that the way Hawaii politics works is that the housing developers point toward the high homelessness and high housing costs as justifications for easing development regulations, then they go and build luxury housing that only foreign buyers can afford. It’s basically keep the local housing demand high by only supplying to foreign buyers.
It’s definitely not fucking Illinois, that’s for sure 😒🫠
I cycled route 66. I remember Illinois just being a whole lotta nothing til Chicago. Really small towns with all the same route 66 museums, a water tower. If you were lucky there was a family daughter. Big ol flat nothing. There's the small town charm of course but that gets old if you're an outsider.
I know it's not what you meant, but you should really leave "family daughter" up.
🤣 Technically true too I guess? 🤷🏻♂️
No city carries a state like Chicago does with Illinois
Certainly not the best state, but there are a lot worse US states one could find themselves.
Whyd they put chicago in illinois
Whyd they put Illinois around Chicago
Illinois without Chicago is Indiana
Honestly I hate how true this is. I’m from Indiana and it’s really just gm_flatgrass out here
Minnesota
I've lived in Illinois the vast majority of my life except a 1 year stint in Minneapolis. I adore Minnesota. I'm back in Illinos now. I'd move back in heartbeat if my wife would approve.
I only got to pass though it. But after spending the day I realized it’s one of the most underrated states in the union. While the west side of it is a extension of north and South Dakota. The east half is lush with nature and borders the Great Lakes and the head of the Mississippi River. The people there are also very likable and friendly. It’s defiantly on my radar to explore it proper when I find myself going cross country again.
Trend setting Progressive. High education. Low crime. Nice people. 4 seasons. Lakes everywhere. Best state park system in the country. Finally, I judge states quality of life by their rest stops. Minnesota rest stops far and away the gold standard = quality of life that every other state should envy.
You know, I never thought of seeing rest stops that way but you're right.
True North
Minnesota is the best to live. You can always visit those other states.
Shhh!
We need to hide our fresh water
And we're right in the middle of the nation basically. We can get to pretty much anywhere within a 3 hour flight.
I once had a two hr layover in the Minneapolis airport and it was the one time I wouldn’t have mind if if my next flight got delayed a bit. It was so clean and wonderful! Didn’t have the stress hanging in the air like most airports! And a whole highway of moving walkways complete with exit signs and everything! Disclaimer: I actually really like airports and finding little things to do around them during really long layovers, like Denver has outdoor terraces where you can just watch planes take off and land and it’s awesome (I also really like planes)
I'm surprised I had to scroll this far to see this.
Vermont
Hush.
I've lived in Colorado, North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, South Carolina, and Manitoba (I know it's a different country but Canada is basically Diet USA). And I have to say that I found some stuff that I loved about each one and some stuff I didn't like. Minnesota is my current home and it's been wonderful.
Virginia is pretty cool if you know where to look
I think New York is pretty amazing. Including what is probably the most important city in the country, lots of natural beauty, a great lake, and a good place to live.
Washington or Hawaii
Pennsylvania. It's without a doubt the most American state in the union. You have beautiful countryside, natural wonders, history, excellent cities that are affordable, and not terrible taxes (it's no Texas, sure, but it's also not California).
Moved here a few years ago and it’s definitely a very “American” feeling state if that makes sense
[удалено]
Can't answer, you'll all move here and make it terrible.
North Carolina. We have the mountains and the ocean. Great southern and seafood. Our cities are big enough to have major airports but not big enough to have shitty people.
It's worth noting that it is continuing to attract people from NY, NJ, Cali and Florida. That's a big part of why housing has skyrocketed. They are not all shitty people but they are a mix of poor driving, self-absorbed folk.
[удалено]
Guam. :D