Why Mississippi (Jackson, Hattiesburg, Vicksburg: house, neighborhoods, schools)

[Spot]

I am curious as to why anyone would want to live in Mississippi. I've been there a couple of times and I just don't see what is appealing about the place. Why do you live there?

[peppermint]

I no longer live in MS. My husband found a job elsewhere so we moved, but that's the very reason my parents and my husband moved to MS. My mother was in agriculture, and my husband worked for an audio company. I know many people who moved to college towns (Jackson, Starkville, Hattiesburg, Oxford) so they could teach.

Most people who live in MS were born and raised in MS. It's no different than every other state. I would imagine most people live in the state in which they were born and raised. It's natural. You can be a doctor, a mechanic, a fireman, a teacher (etc.) in any state in the union so why not do it in a place you know? I happen to be a bit of a gypsy and like change, but most people I went to school with are still in MS (or moved to AL).

[brickpatio]

What people love about Mississippi:

- College towns - Picturesque Oxford and the Grove, livable Starkville, booming Hattiesburg
- Coastal towns - Ocean Springs to Bay St. Louis
- Barrier islands - Pristine Cat Island and Horn Island, friendly Ship Island
- Rivers and creeks - Black Creek national wilderness area, Clark Creek Natural Area, Red Creek, Okatoma, Pickwick, many others
- History - Natchez and Vicksburg with antebellum mansions and battlefields
- Jackson neighborhoods and suburbs - Belhaven, Fondren, and Eastover in Jackson...Lost Rabbit on the Reservoir, and Madison schools, safety, and careful planning
- Charming small towns with historic neighborhoods - Brookhaven, Corinth, Laurel, Hernando, Columbus, Greenwood (Alluvian and Grand Ave)
- Trees, hills, lakes, farms and small towns, rather than traffic, malls, crime, and crowded suburbs
- Colorful history in music, art, and literature from Faulkner to Welty to Elvis to BB King to Walter Anderson
- Sports - Famous athletes such as arguably the top quarterback, runner, and receiver in the NFL (Bret Favre, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton)
-Relaxed atmosphere...seafood, easy drive to New Orleans and Florida, endless hunting and fishing, church, ultra friendly people

[Scotslass]

Here is my take on MS from an outside perspective, I have been to other states before and many have the same issues as MS. We do not live in a perfect world.

I will be moving from Scotland to MS once I get my BS in nursing. MS has its own unique characteristics, I like rural living/countryside. Being raised in a village I can adjust no problem but I do live close to Glasgow. However Its all down to ones personal preference.

MS has a much better climate than Scotland, our climate is moderate with mild summers and cold winters which is something I cannot adjust to. The climate in MS suits us both as far as outdoors living is concerned etc.

Hunting: We're avid hunters so with the vast abundance of whitetails there we are spoiled. I will miss our roe, red, sika and fallow deer. Not to mention other species but on the plus side I can bow hunt there.

Cost of living: Cost of living is far lower than here, housing especially. A decent house here would cost $300,000. Mind you our homes are historic (most of them) they're also well built with solid brick though American homes appeal to me as they're very different and charming.

Terrain: Scotland wins by far with the highlands mountainous region with vast valleys, ancient pine forests, lakes and green rolling hills but MS is still pretty though I am not used to such flat land....not a big issue though.

Overall I love both but each has its pros and cons there is no doubt about that. For people to completely think that they're state is perfect then they have to have a wake up call.

I will still visit my parents back in the motherland but they can also visit us here so there are good points to moving to another country

[mccarley]

Originally Posted by Spot

I am curious as to why anyone would want to live in Mississippi. I've been there a couple of times and I just don't see what is appealing about the place. Why do you live there?

The fishing is great.

[MORPHEUS311]

Why do you live there?

STUCK!
You grow up here. Get a job, get married, and have kids. Parents get older and need looking after and you don't want to leave them. No one is beating down my door to have me in another state. If I would have had the financial resources and situation would have been different, we would be elsewhere. Love this state but I can still love it while living in another state.

[Spot]

Originally Posted by mccarley

The fishing is great.

I have heard that! I'd like to fly down there and try it out sometime.

[brickpatio]

They say in the gulf along the Mississippi Coast, the shrimp and oysters are practically jumping out of the water. It's also known for red snapper. It's the nutrients from the rivers, partially guarded from the open gulf by the barrier islands, that creates a perfect storm for the abundance that is the saltwater fishing along the Mississippi Coast.

[Spot]

Originally Posted by brickpatio

They say in the gulf along the Mississippi Coast, the shrimp and oysters are practically jumping out of the water. It's also known for red snapper. It's the nutrients from the rivers, partially guarded from the open gulf by the barrier islands, that creates a perfect storm for the abundance that is the saltwater fishing along the Mississippi Coast.

Really? Anyone have a recommendation as to a company that rents fishing boats?

[Spot]

Originally Posted by Scotslass

Here is my take on MS from an outside perspective, I have been to other states before and many have the same issues as MS. We do not live in a perfect world.

I will be moving from Scotland to MS once I get my BS in nursing. MS has its own unique characteristics, I like rural living/countryside. Being raised in a village I can adjust no problem but I do live close to Glasgow. However Its all down to ones personal preference.

MS has a much better climate than Scotland, our climate is moderate with mild summers and cold winters which is something I cannot adjust to. The climate in MS suits us both as far as outdoors living is concerned etc.

Hunting: We're avid hunters so with the vast abundance of whitetails there we are spoiled. I will miss our roe, red, sika and fallow deer. Not to mention other species but on the plus side I can bow hunt there.

Cost of living: Cost of living is far lower than here, housing especially. A decent house here would cost $300,000. Mind you our homes are historic (most of them) they're also well built with solid brick though American homes appeal to me as they're very different and charming.

Terrain: Scotland wins by far with the highlands mountainous region with vast valleys, ancient pine forests, lakes and green rolling hills but MS is still pretty though I am not used to such flat land....not a big issue though.

Overall I love both but each has its pros and cons there is no doubt about that. For people to completely think that they're state is perfect then they have to have a wake up call.

I will still visit my parents back in the motherland but they can also visit us here so there are good points to moving to another country

Have you tried living in other parts of the US? The South is really different from the West, East and Midwest. Each has their advantages. I have lived in all 4 and can say with some certainty that I prefer the West. But the South definitely has it's strong points.