So many people who leave Kentucky, come back. Why is that?

I know some of my fellow Kentucky natives who have moved away to the following states for educational, job, or other personal opportunities: California, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Yet, they all seem to come back!

I know only one person EVER (my uncle) who has left KY for good; he plans to die and be buried in Indiana.

Also, people who seem to find their way to KY from other states (namely, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, etc.) tend to settle here.

I'm a 21-year-old Kentucky native. I've lived in four Kentucky communities, including all three of our largest metropolitan areas.(Louisville and Northern Kentucky are the ONLY places in Kentucky civilized enough for any person to even consider living in. Lexington's metro area sucks!) I've been to 96 of Kentucky's 120 counties. I've been to 19 other states, as well as 18 other metro areas with 1,000,000+ people.

My point is this: The more I travel, the more I find that Kentucky sucks. I find that its boring, our cities are lame, and our people are all-in-all rude and impolite. I've met friendlier people in New York City. Once I graduate from college, I'm moving on to greener pastures!

Am I just a city person with no place in Kentucky, or do you think I'll "wise up" or whatever with age?

Yes, we use to be free, we had fun, people were nice, compassionate beings. We had no fears that we have today.
Now, we are living in constant fear. Sounds great, thank goodness I did not have kids. Yea for me!!!! You couldnt pay me to have kids now days. Thats pure torture. Really sad to see what use to be a great country turn into little France.

Rocky Top Supreme wrote:

I know some of my fellow Kentucky natives who have moved away to the following states for educational, job, or other personal opportunities: California, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Yet, they all seem to come back!
I know only one person EVER (my uncle) who has left KY for good; he plans to die and be buried in Indiana.
Also, people who seem to find their way to KY from other states (namely, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, etc.) tend to settle here.
I'm a 21-year-old Kentucky native. I've lived in four Kentucky communities, including all three of our largest metropolitan areas.(Louisville and Northern Kentucky are the ONLY places in Kentucky civilized enough for any person to even consider living in. Lexington's metro area sucks!) I've been to 96 of Kentucky's 120 counties. I've been to 19 other states, as well as 18 other metro areas with 1,000,000+ people.
My point is this: The more I travel, the more I find that Kentucky sucks. I find that its boring, our cities are lame, and our people are all-in-all rude and impolite. I've met friendlier people in New York City. Once I graduate from college, I'm moving on to greener pastures!
Am I just a city person with no place in Kentucky, or do you think I'll "wise up" or whatever with age?

you're not alone. I'm stuck here too.

Rocky Top Supreme wrote:

I know some of my fellow Kentucky natives who have moved away to the following states for educational, job, or other personal opportunities: California, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Yet, they all seem to come back!
I know only one person EVER (my uncle) who has left KY for good; he plans to die and be buried in Indiana.
Also, people who seem to find their way to KY from other states (namely, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, etc.) tend to settle here.
I'm a 21-year-old Kentucky native. I've lived in four Kentucky communities, including all three of our largest metropolitan areas.(Louisville and Northern Kentucky are the ONLY places in Kentucky civilized enough for any person to even consider living in. Lexington's metro area sucks!) I've been to 96 of Kentucky's 120 counties. I've been to 19 other states, as well as 18 other metro areas with 1,000,000+ people.
My point is this: The more I travel, the more I find that Kentucky sucks. I find that its boring, our cities are lame, and our people are all-in-all rude and impolite. I've met friendlier people in New York City. Once I graduate from college, I'm moving on to greener pastures!
Am I just a city person with no place in Kentucky, or do you think I'll "wise up" or whatever with age?

i hate kentucky to. it is so boring and the people are unfriendly. last saturday, i got back from virginia and i was in my dads virginia truck, and i swear, everybody who saw us from kentucky looked at us like they wanted us dead. everybody gave us some kind of look, and they weren't happy. i hope u make it out of kentucky. i want 2 leave 4 good.

nashville (aka trashville),tn is a hellhole. Avoid that place.

My guess is you are just like I was when I was your age. I left at 20, and traveled for 10 years. I've worked all over the country. The only place that I would live other, other than here, is Charleston, SC. Kentucky is the least rude populous I've seen. Not sure why you feel that way. Northern Kentucky is not even really Kentucky. It's southern Ohio, and is a world apart from the rest of the state. Maybe that's your problem.....you're personality fits in more with the more aggressive, more difficult to passify Northern/Midwestern lifestyle....which Louisville has a small touch of. The rest of the state is more laid back/Southern.

stuck wrote:

<quoted text>you're not alone. I'm stuck here too.

Stuck, where did you move here from and how did you wind up here?(If I may so ask.) I've read some of your past posts in the "Living in Kentucky" forum; you seem to be making the best of it, even though this is certainly not your first choice of places to live. I'll let you know I'm the same way.

paradox wrote:

nashville (aka trashville),tn is a hellhole. Avoid that place.

I agree with you, Nashville is very overrated! The people are decent, but only if you meet the right ones. The crime rate is sky high, and even out in the suburbs (think Donelson Pike) you see drug deals explicitly taking place after sunset. Tennessee is too much like Kentucky, while it's great to visit and I love the natural beauty, I don't think I could live there. I'd take parts of Mississippi and Oklahoma before I'd live in Tennessee. But, it IS better than Kentucky!

Came back wrote:

My guess is you are just like I was when I was your age. I left at 20, and traveled for 10 years. I've worked all over the country. The only place that I would live other, other than here, is Charleston, SC. Kentucky is the least rude populous I've seen. Not sure why you feel that way. Northern Kentucky is not even really Kentucky. It's southern Ohio, and is a world apart from the rest of the state. Maybe that's your problem.....you're personality fits in more with the more aggressive, more difficult to passify Northern/Midwestern lifestyle....which Louisville has a small touch of. The rest of the state is more laid back/Southern.

Where have you lived other than Kentucky and South Carolina, if I may ask?

By the way, I've noticed that only Kentucky natives say that Kentuckians are the "least rude" people they've met. I've talked to my fair share of transplants from states such as Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and North Carolina that described Kentuckians as predominantly rude and snotty people.

I'll be honest, I see so much good in Kentucky. I have friends and family here, and I think the state is beautiful. I love the South, I might add. However, I think KY's culture is too, well, hillbilly, country, or what have you for my tastes; not to mention, the accents really annoy me (especially eastern KY.) I think I'm more of a fit for Southern cities (i.e. Atlanta, Memphis (outlying metro), Jackson, Mobile, Dallas, Houston, etc.) I'll enjoy returning for Christmas, weddings, and funerals, but that's it. I don't hate KY, but I sure don't enjoy living here, either.

Rocky Top Supreme wrote:

I know some of my fellow Kentucky natives who have moved away to the following states for educational, job, or other personal opportunities: California, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Yet, they all seem to come back!
I know only one person EVER (my uncle) who has left KY for good; he plans to die and be buried in Indiana.
Also, people who seem to find their way to KY from other states (namely, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, etc.) tend to settle here.
I'm a 21-year-old Kentucky native. I've lived in four Kentucky communities, including all three of our largest metropolitan areas.(Louisville and Northern Kentucky are the ONLY places in Kentucky civilized enough for any person to even consider living in. Lexington's metro area sucks!) I've been to 96 of Kentucky's 120 counties. I've been to 19 other states, as well as 18 other metro areas with 1,000,000+ people.
My point is this: The more I travel, the more I find that Kentucky sucks. I find that its boring, our cities are lame, and our people are all-in-all rude and impolite. I've met friendlier people in New York City. Once I graduate from college, I'm moving on to greener pastures!
Am I just a city person with no place in Kentucky, or do you think I'll "wise up" or whatever with age?

I've been to colorado ,hiking and camping within 30min if u live in denver or coloradosprings,,i like the city life in colorado too,,,good people and they r not rude..colorado beats ky in many ways.

Rocky Top Supreme wrote:

My point is this: The more I travel, the more I find that Kentucky sucks. I find that its boring, our cities are lame, and our people are all-in-all rude and impolite. I've met friendlier people in New York City.

Funny you should say that. NYC was actually found to be one of the "nicest" places in the world. A study was done on people who dropped things and holding doors and stuff, and NYC beat out many other world cities as the most polite.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13452608/

I moved here a year ago from the 'burbs in Long Island, NY, for my job. The new job pays more and the cost of living is WAY lower. Perfect right? Not really.
I have found Louisville to be one of the rudest places I have ever been!
I have an accent....yes. But just because I am from NY I think people here have a preconcived notion about how NY-er's act. They expect me to be rude, so they act rude. And how do you think I am going to react when people are rude to me? It's a self perpetuating cycle. People here think that if I simply say that I am from NY that I am bragging about it and I must think that KY sucks since I happened to be born someplace else.
Well guess what, if you act like that people will think that you suck. Self perpetuating cycle again.
I dont think it's just me. I work with people who moved here from all over the US(OH, TX, FL, PA...), and they all agree that people here are just mean.

Yes Louisville , K.y. is nothing but big mayberry of a town; a big small town. Wow we have a stupid horse race and a international airport; hahahhhaha!!!!! To hell with this dump; im outtie when the chance to happens. Living here is not living; its just exsisting. GIT R DONE YEEE HAW !!!! GONNA GO DRINK MY MOONSHINE AND MAKE LOVE TO MY SISTER NOW!!!!!!!

I am a former Louisville resident who moved to Indy 5 years ago. The thing I've noticed is that Louisville will never be big time because they just can't make up their minds about anything. How long has the arena been in the works? Think a bridge will ever get built? Not in my lifetime.

The things I miss the most about Louisville? Seeing all the U of L basketball games on TV, Paul's Fruit Market, and Mazzoni's. Other than that, I'll take Indy.

I think they're only 2 reasons why people return. One, they're not prepared for life outside of the state where an education is important. Time and time again I hear of students who head to college only to discover how illprepared they are. Reason 2, the cost of living, when you're ready to retire the price is right.

AnonNYgirl wrote:

<quoted text>
Funny you should say that. NYC was actually found to be one of the "nicest" places in the world. A study was done on people who dropped things and holding doors and stuff, and NYC beat out many other world cities as the most polite.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13452608/
I moved here a year ago from the 'burbs in Long Island, NY, for my job. The new job pays more and the cost of living is WAY lower. Perfect right? Not really.
I have found Louisville to be one of the rudest places I have ever been!
I have an accent....yes. But just because I am from NY I think people here have a preconcived notion about how NY-er's act. They expect me to be rude, so they act rude. And how do you think I am going to react when people are rude to me? It's a self perpetuating cycle. People here think that if I simply say that I am from NY that I am bragging about it and I must think that KY sucks since I happened to be born someplace else.
Well guess what, if you act like that people will think that you suck. Self perpetuating cycle again.
I dont think it's just me. I work with people who moved here from all over the US(OH, TX, FL, PA...), and they all agree that people here are just mean.

Many people associate the stereotypical NYC fast pace as "rude." I beg to differ. When I was in NYC, being the Southern gentleman I am, I still held doors open for many people in NYC; my response, as well as responses given to other people who I watched hold open doors, was "thank you." (That's a mouthful, isn't it?) Yes, every last one of these people was rushed, they had to be at work on time, no doubt. But, they took just one second out of their day to be polite. In Louisville, it's a mixed bag; yes, there are plenty of polite people there, but a good many of the natives are not, I've noticed.

Also, as a student at UofL, I've noticed that Louisville is a very closed society type of city. Here's what I mean: 50-55% of the student body is from Jefferson County. OK, I don't have a problem with that at all. However, many of these students know each other through parties, sporting events, churches, or family or friend connections. OK, that's fine, too. But, what I've noticed is many native Louisvillians are SO skeptical about letting outsiders into their friend circles. I've met nice native L'villians, don't get me wrong, but the majority of the nice people I've met at UofL have been from outside the L'ville/E'town region. Many natives in the local churches, social gatherings, etc. have literally walked away or smarted off at me because I'm not "from Louisville." That's insulting, and I'm an "outsider," which I guess is what they treat you as also, AnonNYgirl (and keep in mind, I'm even a KY native, at that.)

Good God, I know I've rambled. But, those are my true feelings. L'ville is nothing more than a slightly more urban excaberation of rural Kentucky. God knows I'm leaving this God-forsaken state in '08 and I can't wait!

indycatmom20 wrote:

I am a former Louisville resident who moved to Indy 5 years ago. The thing I've noticed is that Louisville will never be big time because they just can't make up their minds about anything. How long has the arena been in the works? Think a bridge will ever get built? Not in my lifetime.
The things I miss the most about Louisville? Seeing all the U of L basketball games on TV, Paul's Fruit Market, and Mazzoni's. Other than that, I'll take Indy.

I'm not huge on the midwest at all, but I've heard great things about Indy. I'd rather have the South or Texas (preferably, Austin, TX of any place in this country!)

What will I miss about L'ville? Cafe 360, and the fact that it's the only real beacon of multi-cultural and -ethnicism in Kentucky. What will I miss about Kentucky? The mutton BBQ in western KY.

umm.. dont know who u think u r.. but i live in Lexington, we're not rude, u want rude, go 2 forever 21... we're funloving, gr8 ppl, and who says we're country, im more city than a Ruehl or A&F store (which i LUV LUV LUV by the way), and look... i dont UNDERSTAND why u think u have 2 go on some rant about us!

cHuCk wrote:

umm.. dont know who u think u r.. but i live in Lexington, we're not rude, u want rude, go 2 forever 21... we're funloving, gr8 ppl, and who says we're country, im more city than a Ruehl or A&F store (which i LUV LUV LUV by the way), and look... i dont UNDERSTAND why u think u have 2 go on some rant about us!

Well Chuck,
Your wonderful Kentucky education is showing. Is your spelling that bad, or don't you know how to find all the letters on your keyboard? I venture to bet you have never lived outside of the state so I understand you not knowing what you're missing.

cHuCk wrote:

umm.. dont know who u think u r.. but i live in Lexington, we're not rude, u want rude, go 2 forever 21... we're funloving, gr8 ppl, and who says we're country, im more city than a Ruehl or A&F store (which i LUV LUV LUV by the way), and look... i dont UNDERSTAND why u think u have 2 go on some rant about us!

I agree with pfft on this one.