Grass Is Greener

[Dutch]

2 hours ago, Terrierman said:

I've been a lot of places and still like Missouri best overall.  If we could only keep what we have and trade climate with northern New Mexico then here would be perfect.

My wife and I had the education to work in most states.  We did a lot of traveling and looking around at living and job opportunities.  We kept coming back to SWMO.  The closest to getting us to move was Indiana not far from Louisville KY.   

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15 hours ago, Carl1969 said:

Was born & raised just across the state line to the west, but took off for the Army immediately after high school & never came back Ended up living in NC for 26 years, 1/2 down at Ft Bragg & 1/2 a couple hours north. We liked it there a lot, but over time & with not having any family there, we started feeling kinda isolated & got to thinking about home. When we were able to retire in late '20, we pulled up stakes & landed up here in Osceola.

We absolutely love it here. NC was nice, great seafood, great barbecue, very mild winters, blah blah blah, but MO is like the wild west compared to NC & I say that as a compliment. No BS permits for everything, no state run liquor stores, medical MJ, no one who gives a crap if you have a pistol on your hip or shoot on your land, or burn your trash, the list goes on & on. We play less in property tax here for a huge 4br/4ba on 5.5 acres than we did there for a decent 3br/2ba on 3/4 acre.

I don't do crowds well & the county we lived in in NC was considered rural & had a population density of just over 400 people/sq mi. St Clair county has 14 people/sq mi & not a single traffic light. When we're driving down some winding roller coaster back road, I'll comment to my wife how much I enjoy those roads vs. the super slab & she always says "there's nothing out here". Well yeah, that's the point.

Anyway, I'm not great at stringing together coherent thoughts while writing, but there is nowhere else we'd rather be. Probably not surprising I'd forgotten my Midwestern upbringing, considering I joined the Army as much to escape as to see the world. It's been fun being back, rediscovering tenderloin sandwiches & fried mushrooms & people here are either much nicer than down south or we just have better manners. Little things like holding the door for you at Caseys, or saying excuse me if they bump into you, or waving you through the 4-way stop. Maybe it's just my deeply buried KS farm kid rediscovering the good things about growing up in the Midwest that I'd overlooked due to circumstances back then, but this is home now. We love it here more by the day & can't think of anywhere that would be a better fit for us.

I might not be from here, but I got here as fast as I could.

 

We have close family here makes nice.

Been to NYC and LA got along fine but I'm like What!

Got family in Louisiana most them are True Cajun.  My wife had to learn how to talk to them.  She said only reason I went to the store was because of the cute Cajun girl. Kids got tired of eating Fish and Rice 3X a day. 

Been to 48 states and always felt more welcome here. Seen things in other states that I found neat.

One morning in New Mexico seen Rainbows all over. Woke this other up.  They thought I was nuts getting excited. 

Me and my wife like running backroads exploring. 

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Lived mostly in Springfield until I was 17 later moved to Boonville and worked at the Bakery until I retired. Then had many Jobs.

Had a farm in Dallas County until my neighbor bought me out because he said I killed all the Deer in the county. 

Most my kids are in Springfield after they went to MSU.

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