Why we live where we do?
Mobuck
Member Posts: 14,081 ✭✭✭✭
Several posts about where someone wants to live or move to provoked me to make a comment.
I live where I live because I have a family history here going back 150 years. I'm 71 years old and have never had a permanent address outside the delivery area of our little Post Office. There was a time when I thought about moving to one of the Rocky Mountain states but it just didn't seem 'right'. So, here I am and here is where I'll end-buried in the cemetery donated to the community by my Great Grandfather in 1895. Possibly with the services held in the church built by my Great Uncle in the 1920's.
I put up with terrible county roads, nearly non-existent emergency services, floods, tornadoes, summer heat, winter cold, a 40 mile drive for anything more than a loaf of bread, and complain about all of these frequently. BUT, it's better than most of the options.
In partnership with My Son and his Son, I farm the land my Grandfather bought 100 years ago and the land that spouse's Great Grandfather bought shortly after the Civil War.
We have an extremely nice Community Center in our little village. When I walk in for one of the frequent community gatherings, no one has to ask "Who is that old guy?".
All I can say is: Having a nice view of the mountains or seashore may be nice for some but I'll just stick with what I know.
Comments
Legacy like that and I'd likely stay too...especially now that I'm old. Uncle Sam "afforded me the opportunity" to move 11 times in 28 years; some mountain view, some seashore view, and some no view. Now that we get to decide what view we want (and can afford), wife and I have decided to locate near the bulk of the kids and eagerly await spoiling our grandkids.
As to "Who is that old guy?"...I often ask myself the same thing when I look in the mirror. Dang time flies.
I was hired away from NASA in Florida to work for a rocket company in Utah. That was 38 years ago. Been here ever since and have no desire to live anywhere else. Nowhere is perfect, but this place is pretty darn good.
Lived in Indianapolis till I was 19. I joined the Army and served 8 years. Me my best friend and wife while both of us were in Wurtzburg Germany, One son born in Berlin. Moved back to Indianapolis. Next son Bon in Indy. My Dad passed away from Cancer and Mom moved on a few years later.
IN 2004 Joyce said were moving to Kentucky, well of course I'm going. Her folks were getting older and she wanted to be closer. It was about time to leave Indy the crime was getting real bad. And one son was getting Ready to start High School.
Wow! slower pace of life, laid back friendly folks here. Horses across the field to watch all day. Folks wave as they drive by, and know you by your first name.
I'm still know as that guy from Indiana., away be that way. I'm still a Hoosier, just living in Kentucky. Hoosier Gun Works Hard to Change a name after 34 Years
I grew up in North New Jersey. My father was always proud that we were one of the founding family’s of the town. He was a policeman and involved in helping the community. He was proud that he was born in the house we lived in and wanted to be buried in the town cemetery which he was. I met a girl that lived in Long Island NY so I moved there for a couple years. Then we just got fed up with the city and both quit our jobs picked up and moved to Pennsylvania. That was in 1987 and we’ve been here ever since. Everyone in NY thought we were crazy but it was the best thing we ever did.
Your happy and content where your at and that’s all that counts. I’ve lived in Illinois all my life, and have lived in the country for over 50 years. Been in this home now for over 31 years in the country, 13 miles from town. I’ve got everything set up the way I want and I’m content with that. Thought about moving to another state, but other states also have their problems as well.
Sometimes views are over rated. Lol
Sounds like some of y’all are living my dream.
Like scooterdriver, it’s been all about “orders” for me. Heading into move # 14 this summer. After that, the next move will be back to Appalachia where I belong. That day cannot come soon enough.
I live 1 mile from where I grew up, grand dad's old place. The hills of WNC.
My closest neighbor is 1/2 mile away and main road is 1/4 mile away. Not many folks to deal with. Lots of national forest close by.
I thank the good Lord daily that my ancestors settled where they did.
My great, great, great, grandfather was one of the first ever non native settlers in the area. I am a descendant of Ole Dan'l Boone. My wife is part bulldog and Cherokee Indian. When she ain't howling she is on the war path. Not really, we been together for 53 years and I still have my scalp.
Many men from this area went north to seek employment and left their families to make do while they were gone. Detroit, New York, Baltimore, and more. Nothing to make a living here except making moonshine, farming, and logging. Farm land is scarce around here.
Area now is a tourist destination and Christmas tree growing industry, folks make ends meet.
Except for college, I’ve live in 2 homes.
The one I grew up in for 18 years, and the house I have now.
It’s two miles from one to the other.
Small town of 1300.
Central Illinois.
Son lives in Dublin Ohio.
Wife wants to move closer to him when I retire.
Not gonna happen.
I have a 170 acre family farm that I take care of and hunt.
Another 300 acres that I have full access to hunt. Alone.
I’ve already bought our grave sites in our little town.
It’s full of my dads side of the family.
Mom's side of the family goes back to the 1700s here . Original land grant from the king of England. Too much family history to uproot . Eastern nc will always be home .
Too dang much junk to pack up and move.
Arkansan by the grace of God - Tennessean by choice. I like to have food and live indoors, but have turned down opportunities to work where I won't live. Many of my college classmates, however, never worked in their chosen field because they refused to be even slightly mobile.
Rather than edit my post above, I'll add this here:
Born in Illinois, and have lived in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and now Utah, in that order. Longest - exactly half my life now - in Utah.
After college, I worked in upstate NY for 6 years and hated that state. The opportunity to work in CO came up and I jumped at it. Loved Colorado for years. But now it is WAY worse than New York now that ex-Californians are everywhere and in charge of everything.
I live in the North because I like the winter change of season, and have no reason to move anywhere else.
Mom and moved from Tennessee to Ohio not long after I was born
Like most work pulled them to Ohio or Michigan
My wife's parents moved from Kentucky to Michigan to work then back to Ohio before she was born.
As a kid I never gave it much thought as I got older even after wife and I were married thought about moving south to maybe Georgia or south Carolina but I had a decent job then our kids csme along and we just settled in
About 15 miles from the area I grew up in here in Ohio
Now i am too old , our sons still live close by and way too much accumulated stuff to even think about moving so guess I will die here
Like most I had thoughts of moving whenu young i had a aunt who lived in California since the late 1950's she all ways ask me to move out there it was tempting but glad i never went
i would like to have moved out west or further south In a more rual area, we live in the country but not what I would consider real County
But compliancy just held us here
But Ohio we have most of our freedom's still unlike so many democrat run states to do what and when we want
I was born in Illinois. Started school when we lived in Iowa and moved back to Illinois before 4th grade. I lived in central Illinois until I left for college at 18. Ended up in Northern Illinois for my entire working career. The one thing I knew during that time was I was NOT going to retire and remain in Illinois.
My bride's family were all from Missouri but lived in central Illinois until they retired and moved to the farm. We were blessed with the ability to purchase the farm when my in-laws passed. I had always hoped to live on this farm. I grew up in the country and coming here was like going home. The first time I ever saw our farm, I was 17 and visiting my girlfriend (now my bride) and walking around and thinking "I could live here"
Well here we are.....
I could not wait to leave this 1 horse town when I was a kid. I left right after high school chasing a girl to oklahoma. lived there 2 1/2 yrs started longing for home , old hunting spots , fishin holes , family. then my mom came down sick , my wife was unfaithful, and I packed my * up and came HOME ! 1500 people , everyone knows everyone , and is a village of good folks. I found a smart , beautiful gal , got married AGAIN ! bought a small farm and live 3 miles from where I was raised. my brother is just 2 miles down the road. we took care of mom until she passed in 07 . looked after my grand parents until they passed , took care of my mother inlaw , and my dad until 2015 when they both passed. loving and living life !
This is what is all around me. I have never had any problems with them and been here all my life.
I was born here in MN and have been everywhere in the US except New England. Nowhere else has impressed enough to consider moving. I am the ultimate homebody anyway.
I guess after ~140 years, we just got pretty set in our ways.
I wash born here, an I wash raished here, and dad gum it, I am gonna die here, an no sidewindin' bushwackin', hornswagglin' cracker croaker is gonna rouin me bishen cutter!
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
My father was in the Air Force, and transferred to McCoy AFB in 1959. Went to grade school, High School and 1 1/2 yrs of college. Things were great till Disney moved in. My opinion is he ruined Orlando. Other business's followed. What a mess now. We will move hopefully soon.