I can't take FL either, and I was born and raised there. Too many NJ people.
(just kidding about NJ)
But I do appreciate a state with personal freedoms somewhat intact, and at least a little money left after taxes.
I hear ya. As I said to someone else, personal freedom is something you take for yourself, you don't ask for permission, so I really don't care what the gubmint says. As it is, I don't really feel any more restricted in NJ than in other states, so I have no complaints about it. My congressman has a 100 ACU rating, for what that's worth. As far as the taxes, yeah, property taxes are high, but I have a nice, comfortable, modest lifestyle, so I can easily handle it. I teach guitar for a living, and play gigs, and NJ is a great place to be because the population is large enough to support my vocation. How does anyone make it in a state like Wyoming where there aren't even 1 million people? I like the options you get in a place like NJ, and for me they are worth the tradeoffs.