New Jersey: full of unhappy people?

[Boyd]

According to an article in today's Wall Street Journal, New Jersey rates 46th out of 50 states in resident satisfaction.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126152663510002187.html

Personally, I am not complaining (which just proves I am not a native New Jerseyan I guess)...

 

[Hewey]

I am not a native Jerseyan also. I have lived in South Jersey since 86. I like living in Jersey, You have the Pines, The beach, The moutains and the city all in one state. I enjoy the diversity. I think the key to living and being happy in Jersey is to live within your means, most of the unhappy people I know in Jersey live beyond their means just to keep up with the jones. I have created a good life for my self in Jersey, I feel I have had more oppritunities in Jersey then I would have had in my home state of Vermont. At this time I am very happy which I hope does not change.

Chris

 

[bobpbx]

Well said Chris. I feel the same way. My brother lives in Louisiana. They can keep it.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

Freaking great. I was all happy about this until I saw that Michigan is two places below NJ. Good thing I'm moving there in five weeks.

 

[mudboy dave]

I'd definately haveto say I believe there are other states worse than Jersey (not many). I just realy hate the amount of people here and were are surrounded by big citiews, New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, they are all within a stones throw away. What I don't like about is, they move out of their cities come here and act liek they own everything, from, the roads, to the pines, to land in tehir town. It'slike a bunch of fleas on a dog.

 

[gipsie]

Seeing that I am originally from NY, I moved up in the world!

 

[Anger Management]

I love New Jersey for the mere fact that if I need to take a break, I can drive a couple of miles down the road and get away from civilization (somewhat).

 

[imkms]

I've lived in NJ my entire life and for the most part it is a good place to live, with a lot of good people. If it weren't for the high taxes, corruption, traffic, high cost of living, congestion, lousy winters and continuing loss of open space I just might be willing to retire here!

 

[manumuskin]

I love the natural side of NJ,the politics and state government you can keep it.If NJ were a red state I'd be much happier.That siad i believe NJ is one of the most over regulated,in your business type states in the country.It is way overcrowded and compared to down south or appalachia the people in general are way rude,I am generalizing here and yes there are some nice folks floating around here as well.On the other hand I have always stated that I wish i could have the mountains and the pines in one place togetherThe only plce I've seen that happen is the shawangunks of NY and a small area near seneca creek in WV.The bugs here are the worst (at least tie for first place) I have ver seen,especially ticks and chiggers but like Dorothy said there is no place like home.If you are into astronomy or nature recording this is not the place to do those things but if you like swampin and the smell of pine needles baking in the sun then here it is.I have long entertained ideas of leaving but only because of the government and the population density.If I ever do i will miss the pines and the salt marshes same as i miss the mountains when I'm here.I need the space of the Rockies if only i could take the Barrens with me.I never used to hear the jets and semis miles away till whip taught me to listen,now they aggravate me beyond words.I never noticed the light pollution till i went to wv and looked at the night sky but then again when is the last time i heard Hyla Andersoni in the mountains? never.Or seen a pine snake curled up in a root ball of a fallen tree outside of NJ? never.Why did those jerks back in the 1600's decide to build philly and NY so stinkin close? must be a river thing.Perhaps if we'd of landed on the west coast and worked east we'd of ran out of steam at the Big Muddy and jersey would still have dark skies and quiet woods.Hey, I think the west coast did see just that before the east coast did.They got here firstest but we got here with the mostest.If it weren't for europe the woods would be quiet and the skies dark but i wouldn't be two finger typing on this keyboard and sending it to y'all either.Thanks Whip for opening my eaaahs! I think?
Alfie

 

[Sue Gremlin]

I love NJ and everything in it. Well, almost everything. It certainly makes ME happy.

 

[BigRedEye]

What difference does it make what the article says? Do you think the writer or editors ever spent any lengthy amount of time in the Pine Barrens? Did they ask people from all over the state, or just people from areas convenient to them? I think that writers for publications like the Wall Street Journal often have alterior motives for what they write.

 

[jburd641]

I was born and raised in NJ and now live in the number three state (FL). Let me say, you can have Florida. NJ is a great place to live and grow up.
I will definitely be back.

 

[piker56]

I love New Jersey for the mere fact that if I need to take a break, I can drive a couple of miles down the road and get away from civilization (somewhat).

I live in a small development in Winslow, yet I'm only a seven minute drive from my deer stand. I go there often just to sit and think.
Greg

 

[woodjin]

I love the natural side of NJ,the politics and state government you can keep it.If NJ were a red state I'd be much happier.That siad i believe NJ is one of the most over regulated,in your business type states in the country.It is way overcrowded and compared to down south or appalachia the people in general are way rude,I am generalizing here and yes there are some nice folks floating around here as well.On the other hand I have always stated that I wish i could have the mountains and the pines in one place togetherThe only plce I've seen that happen is the shawangunks of NY and a small area near seneca creek in WV.The bugs here are the worst (at least tie for first place) I have ver seen,especially ticks and chiggers but like Dorothy said there is no place like home.If you are into astronomy or nature recording this is not the place to do those things but if you like swampin and the smell of pine needles baking in the sun then here it is.I have long entertained ideas of leaving but only because of the government and the population density.If I ever do i will miss the pines and the salt marshes same as i miss the mountains when I'm here.I need the space of the Rockies if only i could take the Barrens with me.I never used to hear the jets and semis miles away till whip taught me to listen,now they aggravate me beyond words.I never noticed the light pollution till i went to wv and looked at the night sky but then again when is the last time i heard Hyla Andersoni in the mountains? never.Or seen a pine snake curled up in a root ball of a fallen tree outside of NJ? never.Why did those jerks back in the 1600's decide to build philly and NY so stinkin close? must be a river thing.Perhaps if we'd of landed on the west coast and worked east we'd of ran out of steam at the Big Muddy and jersey would still have dark skies and quiet woods.Hey, I think the west coast did see just that before the east coast did.They got here firstest but we got here with the mostest.If it weren't for europe the woods would be quiet and the skies dark but i wouldn't be two finger typing on this keyboard and sending it to y'all either.Thanks Whip for opening my eaaahs! I think?
Alfie

I can relate Al. I think your first sentance summed it up for me. I do like the shore (tourism and all) here in NJ also. It is just the politics and traffic (outside the pines) that annoys me.


Jeff

 

[manumuskin]

Jeff,
I'd love to live in the barrens (core area not the fringe like i do now) but that same wishe saw thousands of acres developed in ocean county before the pineland protection act came into effect,or was it just the wish to be close to the atlantice city casinos that made them destroy all those acres so old folks could move in? I'd hope it was the former which at least is a good wish.In any case I never understood why someone would buy expensive pinelands real estate to build a house then go in an knock down all the pines,dig up the sugar sand and throw in mulch,then plant grass after ripping out the native wire grass and then plant norway spruce and japanese maples after knocking down the pitch pines and blackjack oaks.then install a watering system to support the wussy grasses and trees that couldn't make it in the barrens on their own.They have now created a sterile environment where nothing but a robinand some bugs could live in.No more cow ants,no more deer flies or rufous sided towhees.They shoulda just stayed in the burbs.
Al

 

[MarkBNJ]

I think all those people are depressed because of the tension between loving the state and having to pay through the nose to live here.

 

[Banjo]

Every time I go south I never want to come back to Jersey. Jo and I were talking to a guy in S. Carolina last spring, and he was getting tired of all of the "Halfbacks" moving there. They are folks from the north who moved to Florida who decided that they didn'y like it there and moved halfway back. He was my kinda people, and would fit in very well here on this site. We spent a short amount of time in Alabama and I saw plenty of places I would consider moving to. The people were great too.

I would miss the Pines when and if we do move, but to be able to wander through the hills again would make up for it.

 

[mudboy dave]

Every time I go south I never want to come back to Jersey. Jo and I were talking to a guy in S. Carolina last spring, and he was getting tired of all of the "Halfbacks" moving there. They are folks from the north who moved to Florida who decided that they didn'y like it there and moved halfway back. He was my kinda people, and would fit in very well here on this site. We spent a short amount of time in Alabama and I saw plenty of places I would consider moving to. The people were great too.

I would miss the Pines when and if we do move, but to be able to wander through the hills again would make up for it.

couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!

 

[46er]

I've lived in NJ my entire life and for the most part it is a good place to live, with a lot of good people. If it weren't for the high taxes, corruption, traffic, high cost of living, congestion, lousy winters and continuing loss of open space I just might be willing to retire here!

In spite of all those things, I DID retire here. I think the thought of having to pack up all my stuff was the main reason though : ) But after my Christmas Eve car accident, I just might reconsider my decision.

 

[Boyd]

Hope you're alright after the accident! Was there something Jersey-specific about it? You know, they have car accidents in other states also.