MachineGhost wrote:flyingpylon wrote:Have you actually spent any time in Vermont? I grew up there and return almost every year to visit family. Nice place to visit, glad I grew up there, but I wouldn't want to live there again.
No. What's wrong with it?
Briefly...
- Way (way) too far left.
- You mentioned multiculturism... VT may not have it, but it doesn't mean they don't desire/welcome it.
- Some areas are getting inundated with welfare/service seekers.
- Congestion... plenty of that in some areas because roads don't get built or sized appropriately.
- Relatively expensive housing and cost of living (not NYC or CA expensive, but still).
- Simply not enough general economic activity to go around.
- Huge heroin problems.
- Cold. Snowy. Rainy. Muddy.
As a young person trying to get a career started in the very early 90's, I knew I needed to get out. The people that seem to do well there are middle-aged professionals that have established themselves elsewhere, made (or inherited) some money, and can afford the lifestyle pictured in Vermont Life magazine.
If you are a person who desires and is financially able to live well out in the boonies while ignoring the mainstream/rat race, you might enjoy it. Vermont can be stunningly beautiful and summer in particular can be absolutely glorious. There is no shortage of cute artisanal products to enjoy. People are friendly and they do quaint things like get together for Town Meeting Day each year. Some people really do love it.
But the other stuff would drive me crazy. For example, they passed single-payer healthcare but then later realized there was no way they could afford it. They recently passed GMO labeling laws and are now surprised to see food distributors cutting thousands of items from their inventory. Stuff like that all the time.
Mountaineer wrote:There are three seasons: short summer, long winter, and mud.
We always used to say there were two seasons... Winter and two months of poor sledding!