I think Mississippi and LA would be the last to break through.
first, on the weather. I think we make it out to be more than it is. we are given to dramatics, ya know. though, honestly, until I looked more at weather in places like Detroit and such, I didn't realize how miserable their summers are. AND they have the cold cold winters. In terms of cost of living, that counts. I've looked into Detroit and Cleveland but one thing I've had to consider is could I keep myself warm in winter.
re MS and LA, I think you are right. but looking into LA, as the western side is in the driving range I want, they have things going for them if the work it. Shreveport and Lafayette both are interesting looking and not too big and not too little (tho I prefer itty), with smaller towns close by that could act as places for industry as Cullman is making itself into. surprising, to me, both have decent gblt communities. Lafayette's mayor even came out to shake hands at their pride day and let his pic get took. jaw-dropper. It's been a surprise to me in how much is there to build on. ain't no reason for it to be in any trouble, or to allowing it's coast to continue to be destroyed.
Mississippi looks more difficult. even though I won't live there, I want to two-lane around on my trip to explore places to live. you have Oxford. and... and... what? something I've noticed around here, is that as biz's come in and kids are exposed to things, they realize more wtf to get at least a HS degree, and realize more the possibilities in life to go on and do other things beyond that. and now, you might not have to leave to do it.
for someone raised in a small place in Mississipi, to think of the future is to then leave. some folks like to stay home. nice to have some small industries, like the car parts plants here and others, that give decent jobs and let you stay. but you need a solid high school ed for those jobs. and you need people at state, county, and city level to work to bring those jobs there. We've had some of that now on the state level and I hope it continues. we're getting that on the local level where I am, and the new mayor in B'ham so far is a serious man about getting things going there, he is up against ingrained crap but he just might do it and JeffCo will have a completely new board after November, yeehah and fingerscrossed.
anyways... I go on. but ya got me thinking more and I really am curious about MS and LA. I hope I can get some ideas while I'm there and understand it and it's people more. |
