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I take it that you live in Massachusetts. If so, feeling the way you do about that state, the question immediately arises: why?

I would not live anywhere but where I do, in the South, and I just keep wondering to myself, why do people keep on living where their state's culture and politics make them miserable?

I can come up with only two really valid reasons for staying put: job and family. The latter doesn't seem to be a powerful one since we have airplanes and mail and all sorts of way to stay in touch. Job, well, that's a toughie, but if you have easily transferrable skills (say, in the medical fields), then, why not just go?

Of course, I'm looking at this from the vantage point of being retired with no family ties and don't see the big picture of those who do have to tangle with relationships with their relatives and the need to be employed where they are.

I can come up with only two really valid reasons for staying put: job and family.

Yup, those are my reasons, too. I don't know how much longer I'll hold out, though, because I find myself thinking about getting out of this asylum quite often.

But as my tagline notes, there are a lot of sensible, if not conservative, people up here. The main problem (outside of the mentally bereft college-town liberals) is the extremely incestuous state government. I know countless examples of state jobs being granted because someone is either a friend or relative of a friend or relative of the management. This is not a whispered secret, but common practice.

But given the state's oppressive tax burdens (the Legislature refused to implement a voter-mandated rollback even though a budget surplus was available), rogue courts, and increasing illegal immigration, I think Massachusetts is facing a showdown...either those fed up with these things will fight back with their votes, or will move away. If they choose the latter, who will support the governmental excesses, welfare culture and make up for what the illegal immigrants draw out but do not return?

It will be interesting to see...I hope to be watching from across state lines by that time!

Many aspects of the culture are wonderful here. Certainly our cities are livelier with better amenities and transportation than you can find down South, and our job market is much healthier with a broader range of jobs. In the South, only a couple of cities have a full range of white-collar jobs--most places, particularly in Florida, there's a big empty gap between lawyering and working as a cashier. I don't golf, so that may be another big factor why I don't want to live in the South. Also, if you grow up in the north, you learn to interact with others in a certain way that makes southern behavior seem superficial and dishonest.

Also, you may find this hard to believe, but some people prefer shivering through winter instead of sweltering through summer. The weather here from Easter through Thanksgiving is the most beautiful in the country.

The politics is frustrating, but I don't let it get in the way of living my life the best way I know how.