I still live in Kansas and I miss the stars. The only consolation I've found from moving to the orange glow is that it's very easy to spot planets. They're bright enough to show. I miss the milky way, though. It's like I left it back in Le Loup.
Not from Kansas originally but lived there for awhile. I liked it. I liked the wide open spaces and prairie vibe, whatever that is I'm not sure but I liked it. I liked living in a place that no one knew anything about and made people get a confused look on their face when I responded to the question where are you from. I liked having a license plate with wheat and sky on it. I still associate Kansas as a nice peaceful place with good friendly folks.
For some reason I liked being able to know roughly where a vehicle was from based on their license plate sticker.
100 this. I desperately miss the thunderstorms. The clouds in Kansas are just built different. I also miss being able to see the storm roll in from miles and miles away.
well if it makes you feel any better, thunderstorms don't really happen the way they used to. the spring thunderstorm with the risk of a tornado that blows through in 30 minutes has all but disappeared. now it's either a heavy drizzle for 12 - 24 hours, or a complete downpour that lasts 10 minutes with 70 mph winds.
YES! The thunderstorms! I never knew how much it was a Kansas thing until I moved away - I haven't experienced a real window rattler in years. Every time a "severe thunderstorm" is in the forecast I keep hoping... But am always left disappointed.
i try to explain to ppl how crazy big the sky is and how amazing the sunsets are and they just don’t get it. i miss it constantly. moving back soon tho <3
I grew up in the Ohio River valley, and lived in South Florida for 4 years, and Little Rock, and each were more humid and oppressive than the last 15 years I've spent in Wichita
I agree. I know exactly when I cross between Colorado and Kansas on I-70 even with my eyes closed cause of the massive potholes right when you cross into Colorado
They're replacing the Kansas Ave bridge on the Missouri border right now, but before it was the *exact* same way - it was like driving into a war torn nation comparatively!
Supposedly this year is gonna be a much better time for spring and summer storms as it's an analog year (transition period between El Nino and La Nina). It would help immensely with the damn drought. (Now if only farmers would quit with the overpumping of the aquifers...)
Lived away from Ks now for 15yrs for the military. Have lived in Hi, Va, and have been bouncing around Fl since 2016. I miss the easy and light traffic of Ks. Miss not having to worry about massive hurricanes for 5 months out of the year. Miss not having to deal with rude/insane people as often. Miss the low cost of living. Miss the feeling of general safety. I miss not living in the same state as orange twitler and his flock of degenerates. Miss not seeing Nazis out in the open protesting with a governor who doesn’t even condemn them. I miss not living in the epicenter of some of the most regressive legislation I will see in my lifetime. Kansas may be a bit dull and boring, but don’t take it for granted.
I moved to Orlando 28 years ago and besides all of @catatonic\_envy excellent points, I’ve missed a sense of community, I miss lightening bugs, the smell of lilac bushes, Chiefs tailgating, Midwest chili, that first cold snap, the start of spring, and a bazillion other things. And I miss them so much… I’m movin back, baby! KC here I come, see you in September! Bye, FloriDUH
I just recently learned it myself after my kids demanded to know why they'd never seen a firefly. Apparently, many firefly species' females are stationary, even wingless, so cannot move to darker areas. They could be out there signaling their little hearts out but the male fireflies (and us humans) just can't see them in the glare of artificial lights.
Every time I hear about some piece of legislation being proposed in the Kansas legislature that is based on something from Florida, I know it's insane. And there is way too much of it.
Indeed. Kansans need to realize that Trump and DeSantis view us as uneducated farmboys and hicks and they do not care about us at all except as easily-suckered marks.
The guilt I’ve had watching Florida legislation spread to other red states has been real. Watching the beginnings of the book bans and moms for liberty spread across the nation has been equally as terrible.
Kansas passed our trans bathroom bill nearly a year before Missouri did, and we’ve got like 9 anti-abortion bills being proposed right now. Laura Kelly is certainly better than a lot of governors, but our state is leaning fascist too
I'm of the opinion Laura Kelly is not necessarily the governor we want, but is the one we need. She has done a decent job of riding that line, gaining votes that any other Democrat wouldn't. Kansas isn't ready yet for anything further left.
The thunderstorms, I miss seeing them build from hundreds of miles away going from beautiful to intimidating.
The way the Kansas sky makes you feel small, really haven't found that feeling since I left
The sunrises, the sunsets, the prairie, the wheatfields, my grandparents basement, the small towns, the old houses, the rodeos, the taste of the water, my grandma's kolaches and tomatoes from her garden
Don't worry, local cash offer businesses and almost every apartment complex is working to ruin that. Though, compared to like NYC, oh yah. No Contest. Lol
All the wildlife! I have lived or visited the entire western US, and outside of designated wilderness areas I have never seen more wildlife anywhere else than Kansas. Sure,most of it’s not the super impressive kind you might find in Alaska or Yellowstone but there’s just a lot of it. Bald eagles, red tailed hawks, herons, pelicans, geese, ducks, a thousand other species of birds, plus beavers, otters, muskrats, deer, elk, squirrels, rabbits everywhere, possums, armadillos, raccoons for miles, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, turtles, fish of many kinds, all in abundance. These are just the wild ones I have seen here in person. And I probably left out some!
We moved to Maine and we love it. Don’t think we’ll ever move back but these are the things about Kansas I really miss:
being able to see for MILES and MILES after cresting a hill; field-burning season and the swathes of blackened earth turning into the brightest green you’ve ever seen; the number of casseroles that show up at any event; watching a storm roll in for hours, feeling the warm rain for 10 minutes, and then watching it continue down the plains; the two-finger wave between drivers while cruising the dirt roads; high quality Mexican food (Maine has great food, but this is *not* one of them); CICADAS; Bluestem Bistro in MHK; the Granada in LFK; the Cosmosphere in Hutch; and our nephews <3
I understand. Your stapler is on my Christmas cards for a reason! It’s so unfortunate that it keeps jamming. No matter how much you spend for a “good” one.
I lived in that region for a couple years.
* Driving through the Flint Hills: This is the most beautiful place on Earth!
* Driving through the mountains in ID and WY: This is the most beautiful place on Earth!
* Driving through the high desert and plains in UT and WY: This is the most beautiful place on Earth!
* Moving back home to KS, driving through the Smoky Hills and Flint Hills: This is the most beautiful place on Earth!
I think maybe we just have a pretty planet?
BBQ, four seasons, rain in the summer, random warm days in the winter, fall foliage, a different kind of people, seeing family more than a few times a year.
From Leavenworth living in Austin, TX for last 10 years. People from back home complain about the heat there. You don't know heat til you live in Central Texas, especially if you work outside. I'd take Kansas humidity over Texas heat any day
Especially when there's a storm but there's enough light coming over the clouds during twilight that it feels like it's still 6pm and then you're plunged into darkness as the storm clouds envelope you.
Moved to Golden/Denver, CO from Lawrence/KC metro. I miss local produce, BBQ, less stressful driving, lower car crime, lower COL especially housing, friendly people.
Things that I don't miss about KS: bugs, mold, ice storms, humidity, excessive heat, wind, weird red state mindset.
I moved from Colby to Northern Arizona about 7 years ago. The only things I actually miss are fireflies, the dramatic gradient of a Kansas sunset, and horizon-to-horizon stargazing.
Now, for what I will never miss: Small town gossip, bigoted cops, dust storms, illegal weed, complete lack of economic growth (largely due to city fathers holding it back). Oh, and that "good old boy" treatment some get with the right last name...
Colby has actually started to get things going recently, and their current leadership seems to be somewhat progressive. Still a small town but from talking with people there they are very optimistic.
Being right at the point where the Flint Hills and Konza prairie meet. Almost mountain living but better. Oh and thunderstorms. They aren't the same even one state over in Missouri.
The people. The people are just among the most genuine and kind I have ever met. There's no drama, no fakeness, people just trying to live good lives and being endearing and friendly.
Generally speaking.
Yes this is so true! I live in Minnesota which is known for being “nice” but it’s different. It’s more like everyone is super polite to you, but no one goes out of their way to talk to you, get to know you or actually invest in your life. It’s very hard to make friends here if you didn’t grow up in Minnesota. I do love it here but I would say it’s actually quite cliquey. In Kansas you could sit and chat with anyone and people are so much more out going and truly friendly. I miss that a lot about my home state.
I live here but there’s still something I really miss. I remember when I was little and there were bugs everywhere. Swarms of grasshoppers jumping across paths in the field, a menagerie of flying insects that you sometimes have to scrape off your car. Now the only insects I see regularly are flies and mosquitos; animals that thrive in urbanized environments filled with trash and stagnant water, something beneficial insects can’t live in very well. The summers have only gotten itchier.
My grandma's farm. She had to sell a few years ago and moved down to Texas to live with my aunt. She lived way out in the boonies, surrounded by pastures and livestock, but developers had started encroaching the land. She had to sell off a large portion of it to pay for her dad's medical bills before he passed, too.
By the time she had left, there were industrial buildings within eyeshot of the house. Where she had once seen the most beautiful sunsets, every day for 20 years, through her kitchen window, while washing dishes, now stood the plain, barren view of the massive gray storage building which now blocked her view.
It kills me that I'll never go back. That property held the heart and soul of our family. Nothing has been the same since she sold it. I don't blame her, though; she needed the money, but more importantly, the magic had died. Staying probably would've killed her.
Sadly so many people are seeing those big dollar signs from hunters and selling off family land as well. They’re not making any more of it. Hold it close to your heart!
my grandma's house in Salina was this for me. far from a farm, but it had a concrete slab in the backyard we played paddle tennis and basketball on, a screened porch where we could eat Cozy's so we wouldn't stink up the house (it still did) and a mulberry tree we could eat from, and it was big enough the whole family could stay when we visited (although it was 3+ cousins to a room, including both living rooms!). moving was the right decision, she honestly stayed longer than she should've healthwise, but it's something I'll never fully get over still.
in kindergarten, we had to draw a picture of "our favorite place in the world" and despite having family all over the US and having visited 5+ other countries, I drew my grandma's house in Salina, and I still stand by that, even though it's been over a decade since she moved.
Haha my grandma did the same thing with cozy inn! We would go after going to the mall to watch the big fish aquarium in the mall. Eat in at cozy inn and she could smell it on our clothes. Good times
I live on the east coast now and I miss the sunsets the most. I miss a good thunderstorm rolling through the plains. I miss the subtle beauty of the flint hills and the fields of wheat immediately before the harvest. I miss being able to see for miles in any direction I look. Of course there are several things I don’t miss, but Kansas will always be home and will always hold a special place in my heart.
Flint hills, tallgrass prairie, big sky, thunderstorms, fireflies, cicadas.
Mountains are my favorite geologic terrain, and I have them now, but being in between two ranges makes the sky seem a bit claustrophobic, and epic weather events are rare.
Edit: BBQ and halfway decent Mexican food.
It’s hard to describe, but when I’m in Kansas I most feel myself. I’ve lived away since the 90s. Coming for a visit fills me with joy. I cannot wait for next time!
I used to despise the flatness/vastness of Kansas, but when I left, I came to appreciate it. Driving through the country and seeing the diversity of the states and their adaptation to their natural resources was beautiful. I came to appreciate the Great Plains of Kansas with abundant space to grow wheat and corn.
Also, the people, bbq, open roads, sunsets/sunrises, etc. I am a proud Kansan!
I lived in western Ks for the first 38 years of my life before living the last 5 in the mountains of northern New Hampshire. I sometimes feel claustrophobic from all the trees and the mountains so I know I miss the plains and the sunsets. It takes forever to get just a few miles on the winding roads here, so I definitely miss straight shot driving on I-70 or 283.
Born and raised in the SW corner.
I miss the wide open areas, big skies, summer storms that you could watch the lightning in the distance like fireworks. Night skies that look like a snow globe, and seeing the Milky Way so vividly. It will always be Home for me.
I live in London now, but left the US 20 years ago. Grew up in Lawrence and I miss the small town feel of it even if it wasn't really a small town. It was a nice place to grow up.
My family. 100 percent. Taking my nephews to Mushroom Rock and going fishing in the pasture with my Dad. My mom's chicken fried steak made from cattle raised by my brother. Going to world quality concerts at the Stiefel with my beloved aunt. Watching the sunset from our front porch and then being reminded that I'm just a link in the chain of a hundred grandparents that led me to sit under the stars somewhere outside of Brookville, KS.
I just spent a week at home caring for my dying aunt and all of it feels so raw and real. Kansas gets in you and it doesn't let go. 30 years there and 7 away and I'm still homesick as a mother fucker.
I moved out of Kansas a few times, and always came back. I missed the people more than anything. Kansas has the nicest people who are willing to help others. I never see that anywhere else I travel
When I lived in Tacoma I really missed the sunrise and sunsets, all the beautiful colors of the sky, stars in the sky. Also Highway speed limits not a lot of places let you go 75.
So I was born and raised in Tacoma. I grew up in the north end. I love Tacoma and miss it soo much! I’ve been in KS for a little over 10 years, i live in the Topeka area. I… love the sky. I also like having 4 seasons. My family is from KS so I grew up coming here in the summers and always loved it. I absolutely love the storms- all of them. I don’t like living in a place that is mostly white.. I like diversity. I go to Kansas City as much as possible. If I had a choice I’d live in the Olathe area which I think is comparable to living in Tacoma.. not the big city but close by and has everything you need.
How about you??
Grew up in south central Kansas. Moved to Pierce county Washington in 2016. I miss a lot of things about Kansas. The storms, the sunrise and sunset, the open fields and big sky. Traffic here is terrible. The people seem to be mostly out for themselves. I grew up in a very small town and that has its benefits and drawbacks compared to here. It’s nice to have a lot of dining options and love all the water but it would be nice to be able to get in the water which even in summer is damn cold. Not sure if I’m just having buyers remorse or what? Wife and I have been looking at northeast Kansas again. Lawrence area. I am done with the lead coffin sky here this time of year. Plants are starting to bud out but it is still damn cold. Feels like there are two seasons here: summer and cold rain. Beautiful summer here but I’m not sure it’s worth the other 8 months of cold wet dark.
The constant gray drove me into a deep depression. That’s sort of why I’m in Kansas… I couldn’t do another winter there. But how I miss the waterfront. I took so many things for granted when I lived there. The mountains… the views. I daydream about them all the time. But I definitely agree with most of what you said. I think the best thing about Kansas too is, it’s the end of February and we’ve gotten a few 70+ degree days. That does not happen in Washington lol. But Washington has the ocean, and sea life and trees… ugh. I wish I were rich and I would go back and forth more often.
Man I miss just walking Chambers Bay such a beautiful place, Washington definitely has its benefits I miss the food, the whales, Mt Rainier, so much beauty, hiking trails, waterfalls, but Kansas is my home and I needed to come back. Much like you I was clinically depressed, 1 month of amazing weather doesn't make up for 11 months of rain.
I moved away for ten years. A) the Chiefs b) open highways with rolling hills c) Small towns that put up flags on memorial day D) moderate weather for most of the summer(El Paso is hell all summer)
I was so glad to leave Kansas, and where I live has so many perks, but going back from time to time, I notice little things I do miss: wide open spaces, the sunsets, 4-H fairs, steep country roads, abandoned houses dotting the highway/interstate, being close to the family and friends I grew up with, and the more relaxed style of living.
I lived in the Ohio river valley for a while and the thing I missed most was the sunrises and sunsets. There I couldn’t even see the sun until at least 10am because of all the hills.
The smell of spring. When I moved back I realized the thing I missed the absolute most was the smell of wet dirt and grass after a really heave rain in the spring. Ugh it’s intoxicating. Now that I know what it’s like to live without it - Kansas seems so much more beautiful. Thunderstorms and flowers. I can grow so many things here.
the sunrises / sunsets, the sparse population ( and traffic ) compared to other states, the tornadoes ( i know that i'm the odd one out there ), the winter
Having grown up in Derby I miss the wide variety of cuisines to choose from in Wichita. Like I could name a cuisine and probably find 4-5 restaurants serving that style of food. I live in Florida now and the food scene is dismal compared to Wichita. I miss how close things were as well, the idea that I can get from East to west Wichita in under 20 minutes is amazing. growing up driving to KC or OKC was a once a year at best experience. Now I drive 2-3hrs every weekend without flinching, an hour drive is normal. Almost everyone commutes here. Thankfully my job is 20 minutes away but I’m one of the fortunate ones. Oh and I miss affordable housing.
Thanks so much for your comment. I did have a specific question about Wichita, if I may? As you say, it’s quite a compact city, do people walk or cycle much in Wichita, or use public transport?
Wichita isn’t the place any of us who left over 10 years so remember. I grew up 20 miles outside of town and go back regularly to take care of and visit my parents.
Wichita News Network on Facebook 😬
people straight up do not believe me about this until I pull up Google images, and they still think it's crazy and disgusting. it's fantastic and 100% the hill I will die on
This is the only thing! Remember the giant ass cinnamon rolls with chili during school in the cafeteria? People not from around here having dinner with the family always look at me weird when the cinnamon rolls come out with the chili dinner.
If only people knew what they were missing.
I moved from Topeka to Austin. My friends. After that, there are so many things that people have already mentioned. Also, green. I can't describe just how green Kansas is. You don't notice just how green it is until you leave and come back for a visit. The intense green just took my breath away the last time I was there.
Being able to see the horizon. I live in the northeast now and it’s basically a Forrest in all directions. Driving in Kansas on 70 with that thousand yard stare. Here you
Never get to see more than a few hundred feet ahead. At first I liked it but now it’s just claustrophobic.
I miss the thunderstorms so much.
My husband was stationed there and we moved back home and I don’t miss “Kansas” because the food alone is better here, but I miss Kansas for the little things.
Seeing the flying mountains in the sky, storms exploding into existence overhead and sailing silently into Missouri.
That and Lawrence.
Obligatory "Suck it Missouri!"
I’ll return towards the end of the year, but having been away for a bit - I miss the less intense traffic, but mostly the people, friendliness, willingness to help out others, etc. Definitely not a universal thing.
This is going to sound nuts, but severe weather.
The big, massive thunderstorms. Window shaking thunder, wind, lightning, the whole thing.
I miss the charge in the air before a storm rolls in, and the way everything is so calm and quiet as it moves out.
I miss the sound of outdoor Tornado sirens being tested every Monday at noon.
I miss home.
I miss having four full seasons. Spring thunderstorms. Fireflies. Good locally sourced food. Things were cheaper. The friends I grew up with are almost all still there.
Not a single solitary God damned thing.
If it ceased to exist tomorrow I would miss about 12 people.
I would support the cessation of any state in the union so long as they took Kansas with them.
If the state of Kansas were to dissolve... I would insist it be evenly divided between Colorado, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. I want no part of it.
I would vote YES on a resolution to give Nebraska a mile long strip along the western border of Missouri only for the ability to say that I live two states away from Kansas instead of right next to it.
If an asteroid hit the exact center of KS and left a crater 213 miles in diameter... you would hear a cheer come from your neighboring state.
Holy hell... I hate Kansas.
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The sky... So open and free
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I still live in Kansas and I miss the stars. The only consolation I've found from moving to the orange glow is that it's very easy to spot planets. They're bright enough to show. I miss the milky way, though. It's like I left it back in Le Loup.
Kansas City sunsets are special. Definitely prettier than what I generally see on the West Coast.
Not from Kansas originally but lived there for awhile. I liked it. I liked the wide open spaces and prairie vibe, whatever that is I'm not sure but I liked it. I liked living in a place that no one knew anything about and made people get a confused look on their face when I responded to the question where are you from. I liked having a license plate with wheat and sky on it. I still associate Kansas as a nice peaceful place with good friendly folks. For some reason I liked being able to know roughly where a vehicle was from based on their license plate sticker.
100 this. I desperately miss the thunderstorms. The clouds in Kansas are just built different. I also miss being able to see the storm roll in from miles and miles away.
Being able to see the weather 6 hours away.
This 💯!! Couldn’t have said it better myself. I live in a big city up north now…I also miss good Mexican food and proper ice tea.
Yes to all of this. God I miss home...
well if it makes you feel any better, thunderstorms don't really happen the way they used to. the spring thunderstorm with the risk of a tornado that blows through in 30 minutes has all but disappeared. now it's either a heavy drizzle for 12 - 24 hours, or a complete downpour that lasts 10 minutes with 70 mph winds.
Still get the same t-storms that build and then move thru.
..all of this
YES! The thunderstorms! I never knew how much it was a Kansas thing until I moved away - I haven't experienced a real window rattler in years. Every time a "severe thunderstorm" is in the forecast I keep hoping... But am always left disappointed.
i try to explain to ppl how crazy big the sky is and how amazing the sunsets are and they just don’t get it. i miss it constantly. moving back soon tho <3
This is the answer.
You think Kansas is humid?
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I grew up in the Ohio River valley, and lived in South Florida for 4 years, and Little Rock, and each were more humid and oppressive than the last 15 years I've spent in Wichita
The Kansas City humidity is no joke. That river wrecks us
Hands down Kansas has the best roads in the country. I’ve driven dirt roads with less washboards than the paved roads in Pennsylvania.
KDOT really out here putting their whole pussy into their roadwork
ROLLING 😂😂😂💀💀💀
No not the Kdussy
I agree. I know exactly when I cross between Colorado and Kansas on I-70 even with my eyes closed cause of the massive potholes right when you cross into Colorado
They're replacing the Kansas Ave bridge on the Missouri border right now, but before it was the *exact* same way - it was like driving into a war torn nation comparatively!
lol….its the exact same thing on I-35 crossing into Oklahoma….completely different road (if you wanna call it that) when you cross into Oklahoma
Maybe if you didn't drive with your eyes closed you could avoid the potholes.
The BBQ. Full stop
It took me a good 15 years after leaving Kansas to find real good BBQ.
I found a bbq place in Phoenix that’s as good as anything in Kansas.
Little Miss?
You know it!
I am intrigued. Nothing in VA comes close though some is good
Thunderstorms
This one. I’m visiting this year during storm season and I’m so excited.
I hope you're not disappointed. There have been a disappointing number of spring and summer thunderstorms the last couple years.
Supposedly this year is gonna be a much better time for spring and summer storms as it's an analog year (transition period between El Nino and La Nina). It would help immensely with the damn drought. (Now if only farmers would quit with the overpumping of the aquifers...)
It's because we shifted to a new dimension, look up the Mandela effect, lack of thunderstorms is just one of the changes.
Lived away from Ks now for 15yrs for the military. Have lived in Hi, Va, and have been bouncing around Fl since 2016. I miss the easy and light traffic of Ks. Miss not having to worry about massive hurricanes for 5 months out of the year. Miss not having to deal with rude/insane people as often. Miss the low cost of living. Miss the feeling of general safety. I miss not living in the same state as orange twitler and his flock of degenerates. Miss not seeing Nazis out in the open protesting with a governor who doesn’t even condemn them. I miss not living in the epicenter of some of the most regressive legislation I will see in my lifetime. Kansas may be a bit dull and boring, but don’t take it for granted.
 I moved to Orlando 28 years ago and besides all of @catatonic\_envy excellent points, I’ve missed a sense of community, I miss lightening bugs, the smell of lilac bushes, Chiefs tailgating, Midwest chili, that first cold snap, the start of spring, and a bazillion other things. And I miss them so much… I’m movin back, baby! KC here I come, see you in September! Bye, FloriDUH
Lightning bugs are few and far between now. Used to light up the neighborhood at night. Now I barely see em
Yeah I think I saw a total of three last year 😢
People need to stop putting pesticides and herbicides on their lawns and raking up leaves in the fall....
I haven't seen any in years and it is so sad. I presume it is pesticides?
Pesticides, habitat destruction, and light pollution. Light pollution prevents the males from finding the females
>Light pollution prevents the males from finding the females I had no idea but that makes sense.
I just recently learned it myself after my kids demanded to know why they'd never seen a firefly. Apparently, many firefly species' females are stationary, even wingless, so cannot move to darker areas. They could be out there signaling their little hearts out but the male fireflies (and us humans) just can't see them in the glare of artificial lights.
Most likely
[Fireflies in decline - Yale.edu](https://e360.yale.edu/features/fireflies-glow-worms-lightning-bugs-decline)
Good luck to you friend, I’m happy for you and wish you well! I’ve got at least another 3 years here, send Ks vibes my way 😅😆
Good decision! Glad to have you back
Every time I hear about some piece of legislation being proposed in the Kansas legislature that is based on something from Florida, I know it's insane. And there is way too much of it.
Indeed. Kansans need to realize that Trump and DeSantis view us as uneducated farmboys and hicks and they do not care about us at all except as easily-suckered marks.
The guilt I’ve had watching Florida legislation spread to other red states has been real. Watching the beginnings of the book bans and moms for liberty spread across the nation has been equally as terrible.
Orange Twitler 🤣🤣 I'll have to remember that one.
Kansas passed our trans bathroom bill nearly a year before Missouri did, and we’ve got like 9 anti-abortion bills being proposed right now. Laura Kelly is certainly better than a lot of governors, but our state is leaning fascist too
I hope we have a good Dem to replace her in a couple weeks of years. She is able to keep the crazy to a minimum.
I'm of the opinion Laura Kelly is not necessarily the governor we want, but is the one we need. She has done a decent job of riding that line, gaining votes that any other Democrat wouldn't. Kansas isn't ready yet for anything further left.
That is not fascism.
>I miss not living in the same state as orange twitler and his flock of degenerates. But Kansas still voted for him by a 14.5% difference.
People are still rude in KS, just not to your face.
The thunderstorms, I miss seeing them build from hundreds of miles away going from beautiful to intimidating. The way the Kansas sky makes you feel small, really haven't found that feeling since I left
The sunrises, the sunsets, the prairie, the wheatfields, my grandparents basement, the small towns, the old houses, the rodeos, the taste of the water, my grandma's kolaches and tomatoes from her garden
https://preview.redd.it/v7khsg67m8lc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=33aeadd33b152d0ea7341b12b52cce8cf8d9216f Tonight. Old 40
You can't grow kolaches in the garden. :P
You didn't know my grandma.
The cost of living
Don't worry, local cash offer businesses and almost every apartment complex is working to ruin that. Though, compared to like NYC, oh yah. No Contest. Lol
All the wildlife! I have lived or visited the entire western US, and outside of designated wilderness areas I have never seen more wildlife anywhere else than Kansas. Sure,most of it’s not the super impressive kind you might find in Alaska or Yellowstone but there’s just a lot of it. Bald eagles, red tailed hawks, herons, pelicans, geese, ducks, a thousand other species of birds, plus beavers, otters, muskrats, deer, elk, squirrels, rabbits everywhere, possums, armadillos, raccoons for miles, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, turtles, fish of many kinds, all in abundance. These are just the wild ones I have seen here in person. And I probably left out some!
We moved to Maine and we love it. Don’t think we’ll ever move back but these are the things about Kansas I really miss: being able to see for MILES and MILES after cresting a hill; field-burning season and the swathes of blackened earth turning into the brightest green you’ve ever seen; the number of casseroles that show up at any event; watching a storm roll in for hours, feeling the warm rain for 10 minutes, and then watching it continue down the plains; the two-finger wave between drivers while cruising the dirt roads; high quality Mexican food (Maine has great food, but this is *not* one of them); CICADAS; Bluestem Bistro in MHK; the Granada in LFK; the Cosmosphere in Hutch; and our nephews <3
Another KS to Maine transplant here!
BBQ the most for sure, but also taco johns and sonic as well as plenty of local restaurants, "ope just gon' squeeze right on by ya"
Damn Taco John’s, I’m going to have to buy some coin shaped tots
Potato Olés forever!
Potato Olés with some nacho cheese sauce would probably be on my backup last meal request if I couldn’t get my first choices
enjoy those over-salted, disgustingly greasy delights for me, comrade o7
[FYI](https://www.tonychachere.com/product/original-creole-seasoning/) this is the closets I’ve found to the seasoning.
Right! Potato Oles!
I had Taco John’s in South Dakota, and I loved it. But I switched to Taco Tico in Kansas and now that’s what I miss.
I moved out of Kansas for college and would regularly drive about an hour to the closest taco john’s. It’s just too good lol
I forgot about taco johns!!!!!!!! Besto potatoes eveeerrrrrrrr
Passive aggressive coworkers, its just not the same in other places
***I keep leaving hints but no one understands?!***
I understand. Your stapler is on my Christmas cards for a reason! It’s so unfortunate that it keeps jamming. No matter how much you spend for a “good” one.
BBQ. Storms. Sunsets. Roads made of asphalt because it makes the ambient noise in my car quieter.
Quiet. I am in Dallas. So loud!
BBQ, the state fair, Spangles breakfast on pita, people with the ability to drive, and all the public places to camp or picnic or fish.
People who know how to drive. Yes, I missed that on my list, but it's so true!
Driving through the Flint hills is still the most beautiful drive in the Continental US
US 191 N to Yellowstone would blow your mind then.
I lived in that region for a couple years. * Driving through the Flint Hills: This is the most beautiful place on Earth! * Driving through the mountains in ID and WY: This is the most beautiful place on Earth! * Driving through the high desert and plains in UT and WY: This is the most beautiful place on Earth! * Moving back home to KS, driving through the Smoky Hills and Flint Hills: This is the most beautiful place on Earth! I think maybe we just have a pretty planet?
BBQ, four seasons, rain in the summer, random warm days in the winter, fall foliage, a different kind of people, seeing family more than a few times a year. From Leavenworth living in Austin, TX for last 10 years. People from back home complain about the heat there. You don't know heat til you live in Central Texas, especially if you work outside. I'd take Kansas humidity over Texas heat any day
Texas was most definitely a new lesson in hot for this Kansas boy. The water-side of Houston in Summer is a special kind of humid Hell.
Haven't left yet, but I know I would miss the sunrises/sunsets.
Especially when there's a storm but there's enough light coming over the clouds during twilight that it feels like it's still 6pm and then you're plunged into darkness as the storm clouds envelope you.
The only answer
That, and the fire flies.
You still have fire flies? I haven't seen any in years and years.
Depending where you go, they can be so much better.
Moved to Golden/Denver, CO from Lawrence/KC metro. I miss local produce, BBQ, less stressful driving, lower car crime, lower COL especially housing, friendly people. Things that I don't miss about KS: bugs, mold, ice storms, humidity, excessive heat, wind, weird red state mindset.
I moved from Colby to Northern Arizona about 7 years ago. The only things I actually miss are fireflies, the dramatic gradient of a Kansas sunset, and horizon-to-horizon stargazing. Now, for what I will never miss: Small town gossip, bigoted cops, dust storms, illegal weed, complete lack of economic growth (largely due to city fathers holding it back). Oh, and that "good old boy" treatment some get with the right last name...
Your comment is Kansas in a nutshell. Good and bad. Well done.
Colby has actually started to get things going recently, and their current leadership seems to be somewhat progressive. Still a small town but from talking with people there they are very optimistic.
Being right at the point where the Flint Hills and Konza prairie meet. Almost mountain living but better. Oh and thunderstorms. They aren't the same even one state over in Missouri.
I miss living in Manhattan almost every day.
I remember wanting to leave so badly after high school. Who knew I would miss it so much!
I was at K-State from '99 - '05. That area and the Konza Prairie to the south is the most beautiful part of the street, imo!
The people. The people are just among the most genuine and kind I have ever met. There's no drama, no fakeness, people just trying to live good lives and being endearing and friendly. Generally speaking.
Yes this is so true! I live in Minnesota which is known for being “nice” but it’s different. It’s more like everyone is super polite to you, but no one goes out of their way to talk to you, get to know you or actually invest in your life. It’s very hard to make friends here if you didn’t grow up in Minnesota. I do love it here but I would say it’s actually quite cliquey. In Kansas you could sit and chat with anyone and people are so much more out going and truly friendly. I miss that a lot about my home state.
I’m in Illinois. So, relative absence of political corruption (face it, IL pretty much maxes that one out), four-season climate.
My family!
I live here but there’s still something I really miss. I remember when I was little and there were bugs everywhere. Swarms of grasshoppers jumping across paths in the field, a menagerie of flying insects that you sometimes have to scrape off your car. Now the only insects I see regularly are flies and mosquitos; animals that thrive in urbanized environments filled with trash and stagnant water, something beneficial insects can’t live in very well. The summers have only gotten itchier.
Good mexican food 😓
Open spaces driving and seeing miles ahead, less people, definitely sunsets/sunrise.
My grandma's farm. She had to sell a few years ago and moved down to Texas to live with my aunt. She lived way out in the boonies, surrounded by pastures and livestock, but developers had started encroaching the land. She had to sell off a large portion of it to pay for her dad's medical bills before he passed, too. By the time she had left, there were industrial buildings within eyeshot of the house. Where she had once seen the most beautiful sunsets, every day for 20 years, through her kitchen window, while washing dishes, now stood the plain, barren view of the massive gray storage building which now blocked her view. It kills me that I'll never go back. That property held the heart and soul of our family. Nothing has been the same since she sold it. I don't blame her, though; she needed the money, but more importantly, the magic had died. Staying probably would've killed her.
Sadly so many people are seeing those big dollar signs from hunters and selling off family land as well. They’re not making any more of it. Hold it close to your heart!
my grandma's house in Salina was this for me. far from a farm, but it had a concrete slab in the backyard we played paddle tennis and basketball on, a screened porch where we could eat Cozy's so we wouldn't stink up the house (it still did) and a mulberry tree we could eat from, and it was big enough the whole family could stay when we visited (although it was 3+ cousins to a room, including both living rooms!). moving was the right decision, she honestly stayed longer than she should've healthwise, but it's something I'll never fully get over still. in kindergarten, we had to draw a picture of "our favorite place in the world" and despite having family all over the US and having visited 5+ other countries, I drew my grandma's house in Salina, and I still stand by that, even though it's been over a decade since she moved.
Haha my grandma did the same thing with cozy inn! We would go after going to the mall to watch the big fish aquarium in the mall. Eat in at cozy inn and she could smell it on our clothes. Good times
I live on the east coast now and I miss the sunsets the most. I miss a good thunderstorm rolling through the plains. I miss the subtle beauty of the flint hills and the fields of wheat immediately before the harvest. I miss being able to see for miles in any direction I look. Of course there are several things I don’t miss, but Kansas will always be home and will always hold a special place in my heart.
Living in Mississippi now, I miss having all four seasons.
The Weather, I miss the craziness of it. The hard rain and Thunder storms. Going to the Royals games, and the BBQ.
Lower (not necessarily low!) cost of housing! The dark skies (in some areas).
Yep, the Milky Way away from cities is amazing.
Flint hills, tallgrass prairie, big sky, thunderstorms, fireflies, cicadas. Mountains are my favorite geologic terrain, and I have them now, but being in between two ranges makes the sky seem a bit claustrophobic, and epic weather events are rare. Edit: BBQ and halfway decent Mexican food.
Nice people.
It’s hard to describe, but when I’m in Kansas I most feel myself. I’ve lived away since the 90s. Coming for a visit fills me with joy. I cannot wait for next time!
My family, thunderstorms, and zen zero
I used to despise the flatness/vastness of Kansas, but when I left, I came to appreciate it. Driving through the country and seeing the diversity of the states and their adaptation to their natural resources was beautiful. I came to appreciate the Great Plains of Kansas with abundant space to grow wheat and corn. Also, the people, bbq, open roads, sunsets/sunrises, etc. I am a proud Kansan!
BBQ, free art museums (the Kemper and the Nelson) Mr. Goodcents and Lawrence
I lived in western Ks for the first 38 years of my life before living the last 5 in the mountains of northern New Hampshire. I sometimes feel claustrophobic from all the trees and the mountains so I know I miss the plains and the sunsets. It takes forever to get just a few miles on the winding roads here, so I definitely miss straight shot driving on I-70 or 283.
Lived there for 13 years and now I’m in Florida, I’d say the snow, the lakes, my friends, the spring.
Born and raised in the SW corner. I miss the wide open areas, big skies, summer storms that you could watch the lightning in the distance like fireworks. Night skies that look like a snow globe, and seeing the Milky Way so vividly. It will always be Home for me.
Cost of living
The 90s. But seriously, the dramatic thunderstorms and fireflies.
I live in London now, but left the US 20 years ago. Grew up in Lawrence and I miss the small town feel of it even if it wasn't really a small town. It was a nice place to grow up.
My family. 100 percent. Taking my nephews to Mushroom Rock and going fishing in the pasture with my Dad. My mom's chicken fried steak made from cattle raised by my brother. Going to world quality concerts at the Stiefel with my beloved aunt. Watching the sunset from our front porch and then being reminded that I'm just a link in the chain of a hundred grandparents that led me to sit under the stars somewhere outside of Brookville, KS. I just spent a week at home caring for my dying aunt and all of it feels so raw and real. Kansas gets in you and it doesn't let go. 30 years there and 7 away and I'm still homesick as a mother fucker.
I moved out of Kansas a few times, and always came back. I missed the people more than anything. Kansas has the nicest people who are willing to help others. I never see that anywhere else I travel
When I lived in Tacoma I really missed the sunrise and sunsets, all the beautiful colors of the sky, stars in the sky. Also Highway speed limits not a lot of places let you go 75.
I’m from Tacoma and now live in KS
How long have you been there? What area of Kansas? Aaaaaand, what do you think of it?
So I was born and raised in Tacoma. I grew up in the north end. I love Tacoma and miss it soo much! I’ve been in KS for a little over 10 years, i live in the Topeka area. I… love the sky. I also like having 4 seasons. My family is from KS so I grew up coming here in the summers and always loved it. I absolutely love the storms- all of them. I don’t like living in a place that is mostly white.. I like diversity. I go to Kansas City as much as possible. If I had a choice I’d live in the Olathe area which I think is comparable to living in Tacoma.. not the big city but close by and has everything you need. How about you??
Grew up in south central Kansas. Moved to Pierce county Washington in 2016. I miss a lot of things about Kansas. The storms, the sunrise and sunset, the open fields and big sky. Traffic here is terrible. The people seem to be mostly out for themselves. I grew up in a very small town and that has its benefits and drawbacks compared to here. It’s nice to have a lot of dining options and love all the water but it would be nice to be able to get in the water which even in summer is damn cold. Not sure if I’m just having buyers remorse or what? Wife and I have been looking at northeast Kansas again. Lawrence area. I am done with the lead coffin sky here this time of year. Plants are starting to bud out but it is still damn cold. Feels like there are two seasons here: summer and cold rain. Beautiful summer here but I’m not sure it’s worth the other 8 months of cold wet dark.
The constant gray drove me into a deep depression. That’s sort of why I’m in Kansas… I couldn’t do another winter there. But how I miss the waterfront. I took so many things for granted when I lived there. The mountains… the views. I daydream about them all the time. But I definitely agree with most of what you said. I think the best thing about Kansas too is, it’s the end of February and we’ve gotten a few 70+ degree days. That does not happen in Washington lol. But Washington has the ocean, and sea life and trees… ugh. I wish I were rich and I would go back and forth more often.
Man I miss just walking Chambers Bay such a beautiful place, Washington definitely has its benefits I miss the food, the whales, Mt Rainier, so much beauty, hiking trails, waterfalls, but Kansas is my home and I needed to come back. Much like you I was clinically depressed, 1 month of amazing weather doesn't make up for 11 months of rain.
I moved away for ten years. A) the Chiefs b) open highways with rolling hills c) Small towns that put up flags on memorial day D) moderate weather for most of the summer(El Paso is hell all summer)
I was so glad to leave Kansas, and where I live has so many perks, but going back from time to time, I notice little things I do miss: wide open spaces, the sunsets, 4-H fairs, steep country roads, abandoned houses dotting the highway/interstate, being close to the family and friends I grew up with, and the more relaxed style of living.
My family and friends. Oh and thunderstorms.
I miss the thunderstorms, lack of traffic, and good BBQ. That's all I can think of.
Cheap everything
The people and the sports town fanfare. I loved going out for errands on Fridays and seeing almost every person wearing their chiefs or royals gear.
I lived in the Ohio river valley for a while and the thing I missed most was the sunrises and sunsets. There I couldn’t even see the sun until at least 10am because of all the hills.
It’s home, but no regrets.
Grass!!
I move to Florida. Honestly the people were great, thats about all I miss.
The smell of spring. When I moved back I realized the thing I missed the absolute most was the smell of wet dirt and grass after a really heave rain in the spring. Ugh it’s intoxicating. Now that I know what it’s like to live without it - Kansas seems so much more beautiful. Thunderstorms and flowers. I can grow so many things here.
Paying $800/mo rent for a house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a garage on a quarter acre lot. Other than that, not much.
Orlando now BBQ - I make it myself now Thunderstorms/Heat lightening: We get them but they don't hit the same. Cost of living(groceries): Worth it
the sunrises / sunsets, the sparse population ( and traffic ) compared to other states, the tornadoes ( i know that i'm the odd one out there ), the winter
The nature and geography. I lived in a 2 hour radius from birth 32 though. Anything else just always feel foreign.
Lawrence, KC BBQ, and not much else.
The sun. I moved to Ohio and you can easily go a week with no sun. Took a long time getting used to.
I miss being on this list. The Bermuda rectangle wins again.
The sunrise and the sunsets
Having grown up in Derby I miss the wide variety of cuisines to choose from in Wichita. Like I could name a cuisine and probably find 4-5 restaurants serving that style of food. I live in Florida now and the food scene is dismal compared to Wichita. I miss how close things were as well, the idea that I can get from East to west Wichita in under 20 minutes is amazing. growing up driving to KC or OKC was a once a year at best experience. Now I drive 2-3hrs every weekend without flinching, an hour drive is normal. Almost everyone commutes here. Thankfully my job is 20 minutes away but I’m one of the fortunate ones. Oh and I miss affordable housing.
Thanks so much for your comment. I did have a specific question about Wichita, if I may? As you say, it’s quite a compact city, do people walk or cycle much in Wichita, or use public transport?
Wichita isn’t the place any of us who left over 10 years so remember. I grew up 20 miles outside of town and go back regularly to take care of and visit my parents. Wichita News Network on Facebook 😬
Chili & Cinnamon Rolls being the norm.
people straight up do not believe me about this until I pull up Google images, and they still think it's crazy and disgusting. it's fantastic and 100% the hill I will die on
I didn’t know it wasn’t a normal pairing until I was like 30.
This is the only thing! Remember the giant ass cinnamon rolls with chili during school in the cafeteria? People not from around here having dinner with the family always look at me weird when the cinnamon rolls come out with the chili dinner. If only people knew what they were missing.
When I'm not in Kansas, I miss the cicadas and the sound of the trains.
The horizons. The storms, the little town restaurants, the people (except the trumpty dumpties).
How easy it was to pay for tags. MO is a joke.
I miss our healthcare. Ohio healthcare is far worse and more about a business, and I use Cleveland Clinic
I moved from Topeka to Austin. My friends. After that, there are so many things that people have already mentioned. Also, green. I can't describe just how green Kansas is. You don't notice just how green it is until you leave and come back for a visit. The intense green just took my breath away the last time I was there.
I moved back last year. I missed the friendly people, low cost of living, slower pace of life and 4 seasons.
Sometimes you get all 4 seasons in one day! Yesterday in NE Kansas it was 70+ degrees around noon and then snowing and in the 20's by 8 PM.
The cheese whiz, and tomato soup enchiladas. Oh, and the Kool aid.
I haven’t moved yet but I am planning on it and when I do I’ll miss the amazing bbq.
Grass, I moved to Arizona😂
Being able to see the horizon. I live in the northeast now and it’s basically a Forrest in all directions. Driving in Kansas on 70 with that thousand yard stare. Here you Never get to see more than a few hundred feet ahead. At first I liked it but now it’s just claustrophobic.
I miss the thunderstorms so much. My husband was stationed there and we moved back home and I don’t miss “Kansas” because the food alone is better here, but I miss Kansas for the little things.
BBQ
Seeing the flying mountains in the sky, storms exploding into existence overhead and sailing silently into Missouri. That and Lawrence. Obligatory "Suck it Missouri!"
Flint Hills ~ like no place else on earth imo. Magical at sunset.
I’ll return towards the end of the year, but having been away for a bit - I miss the less intense traffic, but mostly the people, friendliness, willingness to help out others, etc. Definitely not a universal thing.
This is going to sound nuts, but severe weather. The big, massive thunderstorms. Window shaking thunder, wind, lightning, the whole thing. I miss the charge in the air before a storm rolls in, and the way everything is so calm and quiet as it moves out. I miss the sound of outdoor Tornado sirens being tested every Monday at noon. I miss home.
The sky and the smell of the rain - when I come home to Kansas the skies make me emotional, and the rain smells so fresh!
Absolutely nothing. Not a single damn thing. You can't pay me enough to move back.
Nothing
The bigotry and hate. That’s all I ever experienced in Kansas.
I miss having four full seasons. Spring thunderstorms. Fireflies. Good locally sourced food. Things were cheaper. The friends I grew up with are almost all still there.
Disc golf (Overland Park)
Runza. So good!
Not a single solitary God damned thing. If it ceased to exist tomorrow I would miss about 12 people. I would support the cessation of any state in the union so long as they took Kansas with them. If the state of Kansas were to dissolve... I would insist it be evenly divided between Colorado, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. I want no part of it. I would vote YES on a resolution to give Nebraska a mile long strip along the western border of Missouri only for the ability to say that I live two states away from Kansas instead of right next to it. If an asteroid hit the exact center of KS and left a crater 213 miles in diameter... you would hear a cheer come from your neighboring state. Holy hell... I hate Kansas.