Why stay in CT?
1) In my line of work, I can make a New York salary without paying New York prices. Yes, housing in the South would be 30% cheaper, but I'd take a 30% discount in salary to do the same thing there. If the time comes that I can't find a job here, I'll reconsider.
2) Real public schools. I know enough people who have either taught in or otherwise dealt with public schools in places like NC to know I want no part of them. You won't find better public schools than in suburban New England.
3) I'm not living more than 50 miles from salt water. End of story. I like to fish, particularly from shore in salt water. CT has one of the most diverse fisheries around, and the surf fishing capital of the world is a boat ride away. Southeastern CT, while lacking beaches, has a very underrated scenic shoreline.
4) Better, more diverse cuisine. I love barbecue, but I can make it just as well on my deck -- it isn't f^cking rocket science, and yes, you can use a smoker in the winter. Tough to make a decent pizza on your own, though. If it was easy, there would be good pizza in the South. I do admit to having my barbecue sauce shipped in from Alabama, though.
5) Winter sucks, but having skiing close by is important. I do get a bit jealous come February, but that's normally long gone come May when it's 75 and sunny here and 95 and oppressively humid there.
6) Fall in New England. Warm days with cool nights, the striped bass run, unmatched scenery.
7) I like my iced tea unsweetened, with lemon.
8) The false magnanimity of southerners. Up here, we're up front about being vindictive SOBs -- we don't hide it behind some fake charm.
So to sum up --
Reasons to move South:
* Lower cost of living, more jobs.
* Better weather 3 months out of the year
* Better looking college girls
Reasons to stay:
* Just about everything else by which I would measure quality of life.
Who knows, maybe the economic situation will deteriorate to the point that I won't have a choice. If that happens, so be it, but it won't be permanent.
