Nobody seems to give their state enough credit, especially when it comes to natural beauty. I’ve noticed that this sentiment seems to be the most common among people from midwestern/plains states. They say “it’s nothing but corn fields”. I mean sure, there’s lots of corn fields but that’s not the defining characteristic. I’ve driven through Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming and Minnesota and I enjoyed all of it. People like to hate on Nebraska and South Dakota but I think that the wide open grass and rolling hills are beautiful. Why the people living there of all people can’t appreciate it is beyond me.
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What’s new and interesting to you can be mundane for the people who live with it.
I’ll say that most people I hear talk like that are either young or generally unhappy. Sometimes both.
Just a “grass is always greener on the other side” thing. Every state has its problems (some more than others), and people who live in a state for a while start to get annoyed more and more by the problems and start taking the benefits for granted.
That’s just human nature
Most of my complaints are about the people in my state, but it’s always either extremely hot, wet, or extremely hot and wet.
There’s a lot of beautiful areas in my state (and it’s arguably the most biodiverse state in the nation), but how am I going to enjoy it when it’s 93 degrees?
It’s just human nature (for Americans at least) to complain about their home. But if anyone outside our state makes the same complaints, we get defensive
It’s just easy to look at all the other cool places in this country and think you’re missing out. I also find that people who live in an area don’t take advantage of their states best features as often. Like i lived 3 miles from a beach and once realized i had gone 6 months without actually visiting the beach and going in the ocean
Due to health problems I couldn’t really enjoy it properly anyway so I was stuck in poverty for a long time with nothing to do
Grass is greener syndrome.
Have you ever heard the saying “Only boring people are bored”?
If all you want to do is hang out at the mall or eat fast food, you are going to hate your hometown.
Honestly, I don’t care much about natural beauty when it comes to choosing where to live. I’m a city person and don’t like many outdoor activities. Everyone’s different.
It’s part of why vacations are so essential…sometimes you need a break from the norm. It seems exciting to you, but people can and do get bored of wherever they live if it’s just the same stuff happening over and over. I don’t hate living in Michigan, but there are parts of it I am over, and very much dislike about it.
* I come from a small farm town that pretty much describes small-town America to a T. I’m bored of that kind of living. I grew up in it, and now as an adult who thinks and fends for myself, those kind of towns have little to nothing to offer me at this point in life.
* I was born and raised going to the Upper Peninsula multiple times per year…I’m kind of over the tourist-y part of it…I just go up there now because I want to not be where I am now, or to see family. When I go up there, I don’t care about going to see the mountains/mines, or going to Pictured Rocks, or the waterfalls…I’ve done it all already, multiple times.
* Same goes for Mackinac/Mackinac Island. I’ve been there enough to where “Let’s spend a weekend on Mackinac Island!” really doesn’t sound that appealing to me anymore. I’ve done it multiple times already. I honestly would only want to do that again if it was with people other than those I normally go with. Same goes with the fudge. It’s so damn good, but fudge being made on Mackinac Island isn’t what makes it so good. It’s the companies that make them…and they have locations NOT on the island too.
* Founders Brewing…As a Grand Rapids resident, I’m over them, and would be perfectly fine not having a beer from them again. Over the course of my adult life, have seen/had everything they have to offer, and their home brewery/bar is way too tourist-driven. It’s boring to me now overall. That doesn’t change the fact that Founders is one of the most world-renowned craft-breweries that still puts out an amazing product.
* Frakenmuth: Honestly, the biggest and worst tourist trap in Michigan. Bronner’s is beautiful and really is a Christmas fan’s heaven, but they as a company are extremely problematic, and going to a store that’s nothing but Christmas 24/7/365 gets boring really fast. I’ve had the chicken and other Germanic dishes in the city a lot…they really aren’t that good. They just have great tourist marketing. The chicken dishes in particular are average at best compared to many restaurants out there. A lot of out of state tourists love going to Frankenmuth, but a lot of Michiganders I know are more than over/done with it.
For some, they get this way with their entire state. When you do things enough, you also learn all the negative or not-fun things about them too. The U.P. is scarce and not the best place for an extroverted city person. Mackinac Island smells like shit 24/7, and is ludicrously expensive. Founders Brewing has a reputation for racist hiring and promotion practices. Frankenmuth is just…extremely underwhelming compared to its marketing.
>especially when it comes to naturally beauty
A lot of that stuff is more enjoyable as a tourist than if you live near it. It can be breathtaking to visit, but if you live there it gets old fast and often doesn’t seem cool or unique anymore. For many of the states you listed, people get bored there, especially young people. For many people natural beauty doesn’t make up for the lack of services and low population. Of course some people prefer that quiet lifestyle, but I think the comments you’re hearing are probably mostly from people who moved away from their home state and to a larger city in early adulthood where they then enjoy having a large population of other young people to befriend and date, as well as the ammentities that a bigger area offers.
When you see the same thing every day, you stop actually seeing it, and appreciating its beauty. So another state, where they have a different kind of beauty, looks better to you. If you actually move there, though, in a few years you’ll stop seeing that beauty, and long for something else.
It’s where the phrase “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” comes from.
One nice thing about the US is that you can always visit another state, so you can see fresh beauty everywhere.
This [image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Cattle_eating_grass_through_barbed_wire_fence.jpg) sums it up
Boredom
Because “Florida Man” keeps embarrassing us
I hate a lot of things about my home state, but not it’s natural beauty. I definitely appreciate that!
Ok, so I grew up in Missouri and I don’t think you can really capture the feeling of living there just by driving through it.
Sure, it has some nice sights and beautiful scenery, but ok, so you’ve seen it. Now what?
Do the cool traveling art and museum exhibits come there? Not really, no.
Do the concerts you want to see come through there? Generally, no.
Are there good options for food if you don’t want the standard meal of fried things, red meat, cheese, and starch? Not a lot, no.
Is anything open past 9PM? No.
Is there any escape if you’re not conservative Christian and don’t want to be subjected to Christian beliefs and teachings? No.
So you’re spending every single day of your life living and working in the state, trying to find things to entertain yourself every weekend, and always hearing that the closest place to do or see the cool stuff you’re interested in is Chicago.
You have to take a car everywhere. It’s harder to climb in the workforce if you’re not a straight, white male. The gun violence is bad due to nonexistent gun regulations (we have some of the most dangerous, violent cities in the country) and people actively fight any proposal to do anything about it because it involves spending money.
Not to mention the racial tensions, the provincial mindset (no one is interested in leaving or even traveling), everyone settling down early, and the extreme religiosity.
In Missouri, the fact that they taught evolution in school science classes was controversial and people have been lobbying to teach creationism in schools instead. People trying to ban Harry Potter books for teaching kids satanic witchcraft.
My home district had the “legitimate rape” quote guy as a rep and the current Republican front runner for senate was indicted for fraud and corruption, cheated on his wife in their home and blackmailed his mistress, and is known to be physically abusive towards his wife. It’s so bad that his own party is telling him to drop out, but the people love him because he waves a gun around and owns the libs.
Now they’re not just gleefully banning all abortions (with no exception for rape or incest), but they’re also talking about banning Plan B and contraceptives like the pill and IUDs, which is the most ignorant, unscientific shit because the whole point of Plan B, birth control pills, and IUDs is to NOT get pregnant. Abortion has nothing to do with it. But that’s the kind of ignorance people have.
So, yeah. Life there is not great, especially if you’re a woman or a minority.
I can see why, but I love my commonwealth and wouldn’t trade it for anything
My state is seriously just boring if you don’t have a car to go see places like state and national parks. I have bad cabin fever here
Did they say their home state is ugly? They probably don’t hate the forest. They might hate the political entity that makes up the state government.
You can easily have a state that has more of a political climate that you like and also beauty on par with home
Here is the thing pal. Driving through a state is way different than having to live in the state’s slums. I can admit that Ohio’s natural landscape is beautiful, when I get the time and money to drive out of my terrible neighborhood and go to a state park.
Because I live in Mississippi, basically 50th place in everything besides porn consumption
Not I my friend. If anything, I was the annoying asshole telling everyone how kick ass my home state is. I have lived all over the US, but eventually moved back home. And I convinced a couple people to come with me
I don’t hate my home state. But home state is California. I do dislike my home town though, which is a boring little red neck town.
For me (lifelong Kentuckian) it’s watching the same long term problems go unaddressed year after year after year. I love Kentucky, the land; I am frustrated at Kentucky, the governance and voters.
I spent three years in a job where I saw most of the country and as I got older… I appreciate Ohio more, tbh. Sure there aren’t oceans, beaches, or mountains but that’s… fine? I guess?
When you hear me say stuff like “Ohio is nothing but strip malls and crappy developments” it’s because I see that natural beauty you mention being destroyed. We’re a very sprawly state, and it’s getting worse.
So it’s precisely because I treasure the beauty of my state that I complain. And I’m complaining about greedy idiots and lack of government protections, not the state itself.
I even love a good cornfield and a barn with character.
Because there is more to living somewhere than the geography.
Why did I move from my home state? Because if you are not straight, white, and married with 3 kids, you will have a difficult time fitting in. And the politics are abysmal.
When you grow up around something your whole life, even if it is awesome, it is easy for a lot of people to get used to it, take it for granted, and get complacent.
I live in the midwest with a lot of prairies, and most days I don’t notice it, but the sunrises and sunsets here are gorgeous. I love the mountains, ocean, etc., as well, but when I get back from vacations, I really notice the beauty around me too.
Familiarity breeds contempt. It is the same with places, as it is with people.
My home state was and is extremely religious. Separation between church and state is not nearly as respected as it should be. So I left to be around more like minded people, won’t be going back.
Visit family there all the time, but won’t live there again
The only reason I do like my home state is the natural beauty. Kentucky is a beautiful place to live nearly year round, the hiking and camping is great. All the other things about the state are the reasons I don’t like it so much.
The news makes me appreciate this place a lot more than I used to. Never been prouder of my home state than the last few years.
I’ve been to all 50 states and all of them have some redeeming qualities. But there’s a *big* difference between visiting some place and living there. We tend not to visit the “worst” parts of a given state, for example, and most don’t visit during bad weather– like all summer in Arizona or deep winter in Minnesota. So sure, it’s all great– but if you have to live there 365 days a year it might not seem quite as nice. More so if you don’t agree with the political/cultural majority in a given location, which doesn’t matter if you’re visiting but can make living in a community challenging.
My home state (Tennessee) is plenty beautiful, but I still hate it because of petty, mean-spirited politics and horrific poverty (when I still lived there, anyway). I used to toy with the idea of one day moving back, but I just don’t think that’s a tenable option anymore.
when you live in a place long enough, or especially grow up there, you have the lived experience to know what the local problems are. you start to see patterns that piss you off. but it’s a “grass is always greener” situation because every place has its own issues
I was born in Virginia. It’s not a bad place to live, it’s just pretty boring unless you’re into the outdoors.
My state is absolutely gorgeous, living in a tropical climate is a unique experience that basically only exists for florida in the US. The ecosystem is delicate but fierce, and we house many endangered species of fauna and flora.
But it’s too hot and I hate the people here, so I want to flee
Wide open grass and rolling hills are nice to look at sometimes but in general I feel like there’s more to life.
I grew up in central PA, appx. 3-4 hours drive from any major city, in a town of 30k residents surrounded by farmland. It is a beautiful part of the country, and much cheaper than where I currently live, but I felt incredibly trapped my entire life, particularly bc of where my parents’ home was /is located on the outskirts of this town. I think this experience really tarnished my view of PA, even though living near Philly or Pittsburgh may not have. I will say, I didn’t like that PA was landlocked, and politically the state is worrisome for me.
I live on the coast in a major city now, with access to the sea, the mountains, the city, and the country. I can get on a train, plane, or bus within fifteen to twenty minutes versus 2-4 hours. This state has its own issues, but I do find it more appealing than my home state.
For me, my state is irksome to deal with because I know it’s way of life could be improved drastically in some many ways.
A lot of people feel that way about their home state.
I’m from Alabama, and after the years, I’ve seen enough to know this is not my home. I can understand, the grass is greener at times, but it’s time for me to see different grass.
Our city infrastructure could use some updating, especially in black neighborhoods, but at least our natural landscapes here are incredible at least. My city/state just lacks anything to do and just feels behind on the timeline, constantly.
I know it can be better, which is why I dislike it so heavily.
My husband is from 1 of the states you listed, and to sum up why he left, it wasn’t the lifestyle he wanted for himself. Yes the nature is beautiful, and he is happy to visit one or more times a year. But for day to day life, that’s different. It’s pretty boring there, not much to do, people are spread out, job market is bleak there for his industry. Finally there was the local culture, he doesn’t agree with the majority politics or religious attitude there. I myself am religious, but even hearing about what he grew up around, it sounds cult-like to me, and hard for me to understand. Also not a huge variation in food choices there.
I’m from MA. I miss it. Couldn’t stand it when I grew up, but after living all over I recognize that I grew up in a great place.
Texas is the opposite. Loud and proud!
Because they aren’t from Oregon. Here we just complain about allergies