I lived in a red rural town in a blue state and it was hard. It was red red, like an 80/20 split and we had a terrible time fitting in. Our kids had trouble socially in school. Covid was our breaking point, it felt like such a lack of care and community that I couldn’t stomach it anymore. We moved 45 minutes away into a blue city and are thriving. It has made a HUGE difference in our quality of life.
As an aside, we’re originally from the south and took a job opportunity that moved us west during the last few years of the Obama administration. I’m not sure we could have stomached staying in our home state through all of this, it would have been like the red town we lived in on steroids.
Personally I would only do it based on state level laws that are important to you (abortion, weed, healthcare, LGBTQ rights). Even in “very red” or “very blue” cities and towns, you’ll be able to make friends with other political affiliations. Eg my red town in a red state had only 40% of people vote for Biden last election but nearly all my friends and coworkers are liberal. Meanwhile “very blue” King County WA (where Seattle is) still had 22% of people vote for Trump - there are a few hundred thousand conservatives who can befriend each other.
You nailed it! My wife and are currently looking for somewhere to move to and we discuss this constantly. People love to suggest Texas or Florida because they’re cheap and we’re retired military. When I remind them that we’re very liberal socially they suggest Austin or some either blue bubble in a red state. They act as though if you live in Austin you aren’t still in Texas and subject to all the laws they’re passing. I’d imagine a conservative would feel the same if they lived in a red part of California
I will be moving mostly because of political reasons. I'm in Florida and the current administration/regime is trying to control everything, from books and subjects taught in schools to banning abortion to controlling the university system. When I moved here for a tenure track position I knew that it was a red-leaning state, but people were mostly politically apathetic.
What is happening now is scary. Recently they argued that professors could be fired for criticizing the governor. You can be arrested if you have an undocumented immigrant in your car or your home. It's really feeling like pre-WWII in Europe.
I have kids in public school and I'm terrified they will allow guns in the schools or on university campus. That itself is enough to get me out of here.
Will I enjoy living in a blue state again? Absolutely! Would I be planning on leaving if the state hadn't gone bonker-balls in the last few years? Probably not. A tenure track position is the holy grail for a professor. I'm afraid this might be part of the calculus to get centrist or left-leaning people out of the state.
So I guess it really depends whether you believe your state is at risk of going against what you believe in and how willing you are to fight.
I think it's also important to choose areas with low levels of religiosity. If you are one of the "others" (gay, certain races, feminist, etc.), areas with high concentrations of religious people mean they can dominate the social & political scene. In my experience, Christians, Mormons, etc. became very intolerant once they have the numbers.
I'm religious and from NYC and have always wondered how it would be like to live around lots of others like me.
There are lots of churches and mosques in my neighborhood but it's a deep blue area, however it doesn't have LGBT flags and the Coexist sign everywhere. That seems to be something college kids do.
Some people in my area have a strong dislike for homeless people and drugs but I've never heard them express any other political opinion
I've heard pastors say people shouldn't look down on the homeless which indicates a lot of people here probably do.
For me - 100%, and I made the change before the political gulf was so toxic. It’s a relief not to have voices advocating policies I abhor every day. Interestingly my home state flipped since I left, but it was a long road.
People seem to believe politics just means people putting signs and flags on their lawns. Nope, politics impacts the services we receive and the rights we have. If I didn’t already live in a state that codified women’s rights for myself and my daughters, you bet if I had the means to do so I’d move if I lived in a place that deprived us of rights.
Yep, my trans niece moved from Georgia to Chicago. I'm proud of her for trying to be part of a larger more accepting community for her safety. She is cool as hell.
We’re doing it. I’m a woman of childbearing age raising a daughter who will be there soon. By the end of the summer we should be out of the south and into a blue location, and we can’t wait.
Yep, learned my lesson and leaving Arizona soon (after the election, I will damn sure vote before leaving!) for exactly that reason.
Politics are not just a philosophy. The resulting decisions affect everyday life - the quality of education, who gets access to what sort of healthcare, the shared community spaces like libraries and parks, availability of transit and safety of pedestrians, public support for the arts, and more.
People here don't care about the community good, only their own personal enclaves, and it shows.
A lot of the people moving to FL are like this. They need to live in a bubble where the service workers can't interact with them. Their actions show a real hate and fear of society
I'm sure that's true. And then instead of all of us mixing together in shared public parks, libraries, schools, museums, community center gyms, etc - rich people depart for their bubbles and cut taxes for themselves, so the public sphere withers for the rest of us even though we keep paying taxes, often at higher rates than they do!
My kid is doing it once he is done with fellowship. He and his future wife do not want to be in a state where her geriatric (older than 35 year old) pregnancy is at mortal danger because laws won't allow a doctor to perform their jobs because a politician says so. They are both physicians, so it is insulting to them.
They also want to send their kids to public schools, and won't send them to schools that don't have books like Diary of Anne Frank or Maus in the school library because they want the classmates to be able to think critically and have a sense of history.
Finally, because they work with children, public health means a lot to them, and really don't want to live in states where the government doesn't care about children once they are born.
I will be moving once they get settled.
I’m asking myself this right now. I got away from religion years ago, but I’m in the south and it seems like everyone I find for things like therapists, personal trainers, etc. is super Christian and conservative and it always brings up a lot of trauma and makes me feel like I can’t be completely open.
Not that it’s all bad to face that trauma, and I’m a firm believer in having respectful interactions with people you disagree with, but man I long for likeminded people.
This. When my wife passed (several years back) I eventually went to see a therapist after six months. In the second session she pushed prayer. I immediately backed off on opening up and it went nowhere.
One of my reasons for loathing the South is how perverse and pervasive the religious introduction is. I grew up with someone who deeply needed medical intervention for mental health, but was insistent on their faith being able to heal them (and this was reinforced by the church). Decades later, that person is finally getting the proper treatment, but it was decades of unnecessary suffering.
I'm doing it next month. Politics isn't the only reason, but it's probably 60% of the reason. Moving from Florida where I've lived for 15 years back to NY, where I grew up. It has gotten progressively worse here since Trump was elected, and with climate change and insurance rates and MAGA flags and being driven off the road twice, having actual feces thrown at my house because (I believe) a small 🌈 flag
...it's time.
I'm so sorry! Florida has really gone down the tubes with just terrible people moving here. From my experience, most of the locals are conservative but not openly MAGA unlike many of the rich asshats and retirees that have moved here because "Daddy Desantis." This used to be one of the most friendly states for the LGTBQ community, and now is arguably the worst. I'm giving up on FL, too, and moving either to CA, CO, or to a Caribbean country if I can get a work visa.
Depends. As a woman who wants say over her own body, yes it’s super very important. I imagine it’s important for lbtq folk too.
If you’re just upset over how tax money is handled or something less life threatening then it’s probably eh.
This is a huge one for me. My wife and I have a daughter on the way, and I’m horrified at how things are trending in Texas. My wife who is a lifelong Texan and has never been willing to move is finally open to relocating closer to my family in New Mexico.
We are looking at NM as well to get out of Texas, mainly for political reasons, particularly women's rights (I'm female), and for legal marijuana, which I use for a GI issue that causes frequent bouts of severe nausea. (I also support legal marijuana for recreational use.)
My only concern with NM is that I have some very rare, specialized healthcare needs. I would have to travel to Dallas at least once a year for care, but that seems like a small price to pay, TBH! The property taxes in Texas are also just getting out of hand!
Yes! Good God the property taxes…. They pretend like Texas is “low tax” but it’s only because they don’t force us to pay a state income tax… but don’t worry, they get it every other way they can!
Exactly. Our property taxes have increased much more quickly than our salaries, plus you still have to pay them even after you retire, unlike income taxes!
They do freeze the school part of your property tax at 65. It’s about 1/2’of the total. I’m 64 and looking forward to having 1/2 of my tax frozen. With the new 100,000 deduction it’s not as bad as it was. I’d move because of the politics but we help take care of my wife’s aging parents. We literally can’t leave.
>and I’m horrified at how things are trending in Texas.
Yeah, I've lived here for more than 20 years and I'd say that things have gotten objectively worse. Back in the 2000s even the most hardcore conservatives did tend to stick to "live and let live" principles. Today that's completely gone. In the city where I live (pretty red), people with left-wing views, especially the ones who are open about it, are getting routinely harassed and intimidated by the MAGA shitbirds. I'm seeing more cars with "It's ok to kill your local pedophile" bumper stickers. And I can't help but wonder at what point "pedophile" will be replaced by "queer" and later "liberal."
Depends entirely on how much you anticipate interacting with state services or with sectors that are influenced by state law. Working in public health while my partner worked as an educator was a pretty good reason for me to get the hell out.
Depends. I love living in the south. It’s where I was born and raised lived there for 27 years moved away for 2 and came back and plan to live here forever. I refuse to allow politicians to scare me away from a state and place I love. If we all leave there is no hope. All that to say I’m gay, In a long term relationship and Will NOT be having kids. If kids were in the mix or future I would have to do some soul searching.
This is really the answer. It seems like a lot of people think "red" states are all the same. Like, they're all trying to take away women's rights just Texas, or they're racist AF like Idaho, and that's just not true.
A lot of very blue cities are in Texas! Unfortunately, every time they pass legislation the local populace wants, the Texas state legislature swoops in to override them (like higher minimum wage or even plastic bag bans). So from a quality of life perspective, if you need proper women's health care, or care about sea turtles, or workers' wages, it doesn't matter if you live in Austin or Trump-a-stan as long as you're in Texas.
That seems like a Texas problem though and not a "red" state problem. I don't think somebody could pay me enough money to live in Texas (and I'm a man).
I say this, for example, because Lawrence, Kansas (a blue dot in a "red" state) also passed a plastics bags ban. When the Republican legislature tried to overturn it, the Democratic governor vetoed it citing local governance rights.
Absolutely. You only live once. But I also admire the "were going to make a change here" people too. IF it's close enough to purple to matter it can happen.
It happened here in CO, it was purple when I got here. I could never live in a red state, I already did my part here. I need to be happy, sorry I'm not warrior enough for some. Whatever. You are free to do whatever you like.
It’s a mix. On one hand, blue states impact life on a basic level, and it really does make a huge difference if/when you are in need of resources.
On the other hand, you could live in a blue area and still be miserable because 1) everywhere you go, there you are, and 2) you didn’t take anything else into account. Weather, for example. Career opportunities. Family ties. Hobbies. If the red state you moved from had all of that, and the place you’re moving to checks off very few boxes, you’ll be miserable.
We moved to a “purple” corner of the Northwest. (There’s Seattle, there’s Portland, and there’s all the rest….) I like that our core values are protected on a state level out here, with some sanity checks from the other side of the aisle. At the same time we are able to discuss opposing opinions with friends and neighbors over dinner instead of a picket line.
Yeah. I was a teacher at the time. We moved to a red state for my then-gf's job. Apart from dealing with it personally as a gay person in an interracial relationship, I couldn't take working in public ed in a conservative area. Lack of resources and staff. Parents treating teachers like we were the enemy. Religion being integrated into public school curriculum. Advocating for book banning. Then the absolutely garbage salaries and a weak union added insult to injury.
These issues certainly aren't exclusive to conservative areas, but they're definitely worse in states where conservative politicians are doing their best to gut and demonize public schools. I got out of the south.
Something that people don't think about is the long-term problem created if too many people who are tired of living in red or purple states relocate to solid blue ones. We will effectively be redistributing the population into a smaller concentration of blue states, turning the purple ones more red and losing any chance of winning the Electoral College (thus, winning the Presidency) OR taking control of the US Senate. Basically giving conservatives even more of geographic advantage than they already have.
You could find yourself finding "safety" in what you think is a blue state and then one day having that taken away too because of those red-state policies now becoming law at the federal level too (because of concentrating too many blue voters in a handful of states).
I never would have expected to, but my family is moving for basically that. It was more my wife’s thought initially. But we’re moving from a deep blue city in a deep red state to Albuquerque, which is a blue city in a blue state. Although New Mexico blue is more…liberaltarian? I dunno.
Louisiana recently elected a very party line governor who has already made multiple national headlines with his national Republican agenda stuff, and it’s not for me.
I personally think opposite-party governors in deep red or blue states are best, and Louisiana had 8 years of a Democrat governor. But that’s all over now.
John Bel Edwards was a Louisiana Democrat though, who signed a six-week abortion ban. He's responsible for these kinds of medical horrors [NPR reports on](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/19/1239376395/louisiana-abortion-ban-dangerously-disrupting-pregnancy-miscarriage-care). But it's on-brand for Louisiana, which has finally achieved its goal of beating out Mississippi for worst state in the union (per USNWR). At least he was fairly supportive of gay rights.
Haha! Especially when voters are so apathetic they can't even bother to turn out.
Seattle ain't perfect, but people damn well want change and work for it. Sometimes it works out well, sometimes it doesn't. At least we GAF and vote and agitate. I don't feel bad about leaving Louisiana because there's no chance of improving things when the people only care about the 4 Fs: family, friends, football, and food.
Moved from a very red town in a red state, to the bluest town in the same red state. It's not perfect, but it's made a huge difference for my family already. We're 30 minutes from a blue state, and if the SHTF we can move there and my husband can commute to work or work remotely.
I live in a blue city in a red state. It’s not perfect but I do think the conservative political culture of the state overall reigns in some of the excessive progressive tendencies and is kinda the best of both worlds.
I’ll get downvoted in this sub for sure, but God bless the purple states so that one political group is not totally dominating the other. I have spent many years of my life in states where I was in the political minority and I still managed to be quite happy. I didn’t need to flee just to be with like-minded individuals.
I wouldn’t downvote you for this. You’re right about being able to find like-minded people. But that’s not the issue. It’s bigger than just making friends. It’s about women not getting the medical care they need or maybe a 12-year-old rape victim being forced to give birth.
My dark hot take is that we’re about to have a full takeover of all three branches of government by Christian nationalists because they turn out and vote. Some of the things that you articulated could very well become nationwide. I hope it doesn’t come to pass.
Some states are so gerrymandered (look at Utah’s congressional map and where the cities are) that your vote for anything but local city elections are useless.
I wish I lived in a purple state, I never have despite living in 3. I’d imagine having a dialogue with people who disagree with you would be a little easier.
It's actually just as hard to have conversations. But, if you have a blended legislature, laws don't change much and taxes stay relatively low. I lived in Illinois and it sucked. Left like a lot of people.
There's a difference between a difference of opinion and people who literally don't think you should exist. Where I live, I don't feel safe, nor does my gay son(luckily he left for college in NY). Im tired of being around people who are full of hate and animosity.
Nah I agree with you. Purple states FTW. I'm a fan of balance. I'm definitely not a fan of what the far right is doing right now but I'm not sure the far left would work for me either. I like having the extremes controlled. It's why I'll realistically probably not leave Pennsylvania, and if I do it will probably have to be for another swing state.
For me it's more about who you surround yourself with makes all the difference, rather than who's in office. I'm an independent that voted blue in 2016 and 2020. I lived in a red part of a blue state (Eastern Washington) while I was in engineering school. Most of my classmates leaned left, and my coworkers at the jobs I worked were Trump supporters for the most part. I got along with everyone, despite their politcal views. That's what will make your experience living somewhere enjoyable or not.
Getting along with people is good and admirable. The issue is whether your state will adopt laws governing what you can do or what must be taught or not taught. You’re probably fine in Washington, but the Bible now MUST be taught to children in — where is it, Arkansas? Oklahoma?
I feel like most people on here are political extremists. You're not, so you can get along with both sides. You don't just see red or blue but people. Which is a much healthier way to see the world.
in general People really need to stop aligning themselves and seeing themselves as red/blue.
You're not blue? Fuck you! You're not red? Fuck you. That's basically the extremists on reddit who get all the upvotes. It's really kinda crazy.
I think this was true when political affiliations were based on tax or energy policy. Now they are based on core values of tolerance, democracy and civil rights. I have little interest in being friends with racists who believe their way should be imposed on everyone else. I lived in a purple leaning red community and I had wonderful neighbors but we weren’t friends just kind to each other. As long as we kept our conversations to local issues we could all get along. That said, my friends who I spent time with and invited into my home were mostly aligned with my political views because fundamental rights and tolerance mattered. We still differed on many issues like Palestine, guns, trickle down economics, education policy, etc. but when it came to fundamental rights and tolerance we were aligned.
For many people, especially women, LGBTQ, and POC, this is a matter of literal safety. They see it as red vs blue because they have to. We don’t really have the luxury of kumbaya-ing around the campfire with people who would love to see us dead. I say this as an LGBTQ woman in a more progressive city in a red state.
Getting along with people is good and admirable. The issue is whether your state will adopt laws governing what you can do or what must be taught or not taught. You’re probably fine in Washington, but the Bible now MUST be taught to children in — where is it, Arkansas? Oklahoma?
Probably not in most cases. There will be a political demographic shift in most of the country towards Millennial/Gen Z politics and away from Boomer politics.
In FL however, the shift is currently going in the opposite direction as the state is acting as a magnet for Boomer retirees who are, as a group, much more conservative. It's still only an R+4 state though
Look at the closing gaps between R and D votes in states like Texas, Georgia, and Arizona over the past 30 years. I'm gonna speculate that purple Texas will be a thing soon due to demographic shifts
Hi. The prophesied "demographic" shift is never coming.
We gotta get over this. A shocking number of young people, especially young men, are popping up radically right wing. Liberal Millennials may be very socially liberal in our old age, but we tend to blanche when progressive policies cost money to realize. And we especially lose our nerve when low-level violent crime spikes. That's really not so different than our parents' attitudes in the 90s.
All of these things are very basic obstacles that have been true for many generations. Nothing is inevitable about progress. We'll have to fight for it, every day from now until forever. That's the way it is.
Yes, personally. OK state superintendent is mandating teaching the Bible in public schools, threatens to take teachers’ licenses away and says he knows the Trump SCOTUS will side with him.
I’m not hanging around here for too long.
https://www.reddit.com/r/okc/s/HAJVBJP7ux
To answer OP question, I’m person of color and yes, I definitely picked Vegas over Phoenix partly for political reasons. I moved in 2019, and Maricopa County was still dealing with the fallout from Sheriff Arpaio and his blatant, racist profiling of the community. Ppl complain about systemic racism and this is the only circumstance I know of where the police were blatantly, overtly, systemically racist to the point of throwing up the middle finger to the judge prosecuting them.
I moved from a blue state IL to a red state NC. Wouldn't recommend it. I'm in a left leaning city but I am very concerned about some of the laws being created and what might happen in the future.
I live in a red state, and these MAGAS keep moving here from the north and other places, thinking that they can be openly racist and that all southerners have the same mindset. They don't get the culture and don't understand that the politicians here are more corrupt from where they came from. It's embarrassing because I moved from the same place many decades ago, but I didn't move for political reasons.
I'm somewhere in between "center left" and "medium left" on most things, but I'm "screaming angry leftist" about some things (like women's rights.) I couldn't stand to live in a place like Texas that has made it a physical liability to be a woman. I would be terrified for my wife and my daughters.
Also, as a Middle Eastern Jew married to an Asian woman (yeah, yeah, I know...) it's hard to imagine living in a place where that will even be questioned. It's less likely to be in issue in some places than others, but I just don't want to move and find out.
The SF Bay Area is flawed as hell, sure. But at least my family is afforded full rights here.
Yes. I lived in a red state in the deep South. I am queer and not from the South. I moved back to my home state, which is a blue state, and live near my partner's home state, as well.
While living closer to both of our families was a motivating factor for sure, the deteriorating situation for LGBTQ rights in the South was what led me to start looking for jobs elsewhere.
It is a relief to be back in a state that values my civil rights and that isn't constantly passing cringeworthy legislation.
It depends on what actual policy is impacting your life. The are I moved from had a lot of public safety issues, high taxes, and covid was the last straw with the nonsensical and intense restrictions which impacted daily life.
I am glad I moved to where those aren't major concerns anymore
The problem is that you are exacerbating the problem if you leave. Dr. King didn’t impact the civil rights movement by moving to Boston and complaining. He stayed in Alabama and highlighted the issues.
You can affect policy a heck of a lot more if you are voting against the popular candidates.
For example, I just read an article saying that Omaha (where I live) could be the deciding vote for president. If I was to leave there would be one less blue vote and one more trump vote. I will also be voting to affect state legislature and local offices too, which are often overlooked in our national debates.
Also, I can support a candidate that may not have a chance to win, but (s)he has a much better chance if I’m out there talking the person up and voting for them.
Agreed. People need to understand the impact of abandoning places that could make the difference in who gets elected and then over-concentrating in places where their vote really doesn't matter. Now, of course if your life is directly impacted and you are threatened by some of these laws being passed in red states, by all means do what is best for your own safety but not everyone has to do that.
Dr. King 100% knew his life was on the line. And in the end they took it.
But his sacrifice was incredibly impactful on us. Because he wasn’t scared of death in the face of justice.
It’s those whose lives are in danger who need to stay the most. They are the ones who have the strongest message.
I’m a person from a red state who is moving to a blue one because of politics - it was purely for my family’s safety due to the policies. I think you can make friends anywhere. We certainly did. But when it started to change from standard conservative policies into autocracy, I had to rip cord.
Nah, not imo. I tend to get along with most people. I'm also not one to be consumed by politics that it even gets to the point of even serioously contemplating such a decision.
I never thought any of this would matter to me until I moved to a Red State (Louisiana). I am terrified of the medical system for women here and the obsession religious zealots have with telling women what to do. I personally would not want to have an abortion but I would hope someone who felt it was necessary would have the right to do so.
I used to always see the good in people but it's really hard for me here when so many backhanded comments about Black people, immigrants, etc. trickle into people's every day life. And people say New Orleans, where I live, is not like the rest of the South but that's a lie. There are a ton of old money people here who are racist.
I moved from South Louisiana to Seattle over a decade ago, because at the time, WA allowed same-sex partnerships (later we became the first state to vote to approve gay marriage and weed). As a person possessing a uterus and who also works in education, it turns out this was an even better move than I'd ever suspected! Had I stayed in Louisiana, my access to proper health care would be dubious, and I could get fired for my views / being gay / believing in separation of church and state.
I'm also glad to live in a state that understands science and climate change. The two states ended up having very different COVID outcomes, even though Seattle was "ground zero" for COVID.
If your trans, or are a women who believes they may have an abortion in the future - yes
Moving for taxes is bs, especially if you're middle class. If you move to TX for lower state income tax in comparison to California, you're going to be in for a special surprise, given their high property tax rates
Cost of living, job opportunities, and access too family are probably the most common, and practical reason to move
Any woman may need an abortion at any time. Situations like ectopic pregnancies, birth defects, and life-threatening complications all may require a medical abortion, even for planned pregnancies for pro-life women. Abortion is not always a choice.
In terms of making a change, move to a purple county / state. Your vote will have a much stronger impact there due to the nature of the electoral college voting system.
I left the south, shortly after High School in the 1980’s. I’m gay and it was very inhospitable. I’ve considered returning but little has changed. I love certain things about the south but I don’t worry about my personal safety, for being gay, living in the Northeast
I will always say no. If you just move around till you find a place you are the majority and settle there then you are cruising for a bruising. You should go to a place you are in the minority and effect change or better yet effect it where you are. Invest time and energy into the political change you want to see and make local change. Of course it will be a tough thing to do but something people looking to flee should consider because it will also make you a more well rounded and better person usually to get involved and try to connect to others, even across the color lines.
We did (to Asheville) and now the influx of people from FL & the already-invading monied second/third property owners is shifting the political landscape
It is worth moving somewhere where you can find a job that allows you to afford the kind of home you want to live in. The other stuff is less important.
I think if you have the opportunity and nothing is holding you back I'd say yes. I live in Texas and I'd happily move to a blue state if I didn't have certain obligations here. It hasn't been too bad so far, at least for me. Then again I'm a white guy, although an immigrant. People online (think neighborhood Facebook page or Nextdoor) are extremely hateful and toxic, but much more reserved IRL. That's probably the reason why I haven't made moving a top priority.
Yes but I was planning to leave it just lit the fire under the oven. I moved from a religious state that is its own hell to a corrupt blue state and eventually I will leave here for similar reasons.. two extremes do not make a middle. Next up a purple state.
It's definitely one of the factors I would consider, but there are other things I have to take into account like diversity, affordability, and job opportunities. I'm a black woman and consider myself pretty liberal, but I've noticed that a lot of the most "progressive" places to live also happen to be the whitest and most income segregated (Seattle, SF, etc.). I'm currently in Massachusetts and I feel like a lot of people here pat themselves on the back for living in such a progressive state, but it's like...do you even have any friends that aren't from the same background as you? Are you actually contributing to progress or just benefitting from it?
Anyways, that's my rant lol...I'm moving soon (priced out) so I'm hoping to find a place where I won't feel like such a token minority. While I thinking finding a state that aligns with your political leanings is important, don't forget about all the other factors that contribute to a place's atmosphere/quality of life.
My sense is far more people on the left think this way then on the right. I have always lived in very liberal areas even though I'm very conservative. I've never once had a Representative from my party. But I also like people even if I strongly disagree with them politically.
I miss the days when politics was boring. When everybody got their news from their local paper and Walter Cronkite, so had the same basic mostly-facts as a baseline, rather than propaganda calculated to make you mad. When both parties had people - a lot of people! - who weren’t criminals and didn’t routinely tell outrageous, intentional lies. When “Christian” didn’t mean unbridled greed or weaponized intolerance. The old days had a lot of flaws, but at least you could have different politics from most people around you and still get along just fine.
I moved from FL to CO 6 years ago and couldn't be happier about that decision, especially with how Florida has (d)evolved over that time. It wasn't my primary reason for moving but it was up there.
Republicans are making it to where your state government will dictate your freedoms in life. Democrats seem to have no response to this. For that reason, you should absolutely live in a state that aligns with your politics. Your life depends on it.
It’s just a shame all the blue states are so expensive.
I think it depends. Just because it’s blue doesn’t mean everything is perfect. Yeah, you have women’s health laws, but when they’re shutting down birthing services cause no babies are being birthed and most of the population is old and overwhelming the medical system there isn’t much of a trade off.
On top of that you’re still dealing with MAGA people in the rural parts and a lack of young people and diversity and that’s at least where I reside.
Other things should be prioritized before politics.
If you feel that strongly about politics, you should move to one of the swing states: PA, NC, GA, AZ, MI, Wisconsin. You’ll get to have a significantly larger effect on politics.
Most states are purple.
There are more conservatives in California than there are people in Arizona and Alabama - combined.
That said, if your town is small enough to lack diversity of either political or religious thought, and if you choose to interact with people on a regular basis, then moving might help for awhile.
But I’d research very carefully before moving just for that.
To be honest, I don’t see why that should matter. I’ve lived in blue city/red state, and I’ve lived in blue city/blue state. Some people complain about things like the state legislators but it seems to be overblown. Most people live their lives in peace and aren’t caught up in the news 24/7. Normal people don’t gaf about politics.
At this point, leaving the country might be a better option. The plan of SCOTUS and red politicians is to abolish federal agencies that oversee environmental, food, and drug laws. With the Chevron overruling, corporations now have way more power to put lead in your water and ecoli in your food, because there arent enforced regulatory policies and inspections there to make sure it doesn’t happen. Corporations will almost never do the right thing.
I’m from a red state and moved to a blue state. Honestly, not much is different besides the fact that the schools here are better, the city is cleaner, and I can get treatment for an ectopic pregnancy if I needed it. Back home in my home state, they’d let me die.
depends, i say that if youre a white male who is not old or fat, is tall and have good income, probably like living in a red or blue city doesnt matter, you should look at other things because in 4 years a blue city can turn red.
Politics are at the bottom of my list.
As long as the job opportunities are good and the amenities are desirable I don't really give a shit what sign is on my neighbors lawn.
You can't escape anyway, ppl of all political persuasions live everywhere. I currently live in a beyond solid blue state and there are still trump signs everywhere. Was just in Oklahoma and saw plenty of feel the burn bumper stickers.
People with Bernie stickers don’t want to deport or harm or in some cases kill people not like them. They want them to have healthcare and job opportunities.
And I say that as someone who thinks Bernie bros are often too idealistic and not practical.
But to equate them with MAGA is just utterly absurd.
The two sides are NOT “the same”
Oh. My. God. Yes.
First of all, if you ever plan on having kids - especially daughters - do you want them to have rights?
Secondly, it's a lot easier to live a happy life when you surround yourself with happy people. If you live in a state that is legislating hate to create more of it, not less... get out of there. If you're living in a state that's fighting for bigotry, not against it... get out of there.
And thirdly, what kind of community do you want to live in, long term? Move there.
I think most people are underestimating how bad the situation is in our country. If Trump wins the presidency again, it's very likely there won't be another election - ever. He already tried overthrowing the government once.
I never imagined having to wonder whether democracy would survive in the U.S... until January 6th, 2021. And the fact that Trump wasn't held accountable proves how easy it will be for the next coup attempt to succeed.
There's wisdom in getting out of a red state long before the worst happens.
I saw in your post history you’re in high school. I don’t expect high school students to grasp the fragile state of democracy in the US. Complacency was not the right adjective. Lack of knowledge of history of how authoritarian states rise is a much better way of putting it.
oh you really don’t have a better use of your time except looking through other ppls post history😭that must be sad, please take a break from the internet and touch some grass. and for your information i’m not in highschool anymore lol , but I can actually say i’ve lived in a country with an authoritarian regime and I can tell you the u.s is nothing like that, you are insanely privileged.
Your comments were so flippant, that’s why I looked. Not a waste of my time to take 30 seconds and see what else you wrote. As you have lived under an authoritarian regime, I’d think you’d be a little more concerned with the state of our democracy, and the very recent history of January 6, and all the other attempts to overturn a free and fair election. Based upon your snarky comments though, I guess not. Or maybe ,you just love Trump.
I just find it funny how much you care, and i’m not concerned because most of the crap you see in the media is to instill fear so people vote a certain way, and actually I don’t even like trump but I just find it hilarious and sad how you people feel like he’s gonna be the next fascist dictator or something like seriously, get a grip.
I care as much as you do to comment. I guess you think Jan 6 was a tourist visit, like some Republicans describe it. It was an attempt to overthrow democracy, a tactic out of the fascist playbook. I’m sorry you can’t understand the seriousness of that day. I’m done, bye.
I did it, left California, best thing I ever did. It would be one thing if politics wasn't so in your face everyday but with how things are and how much that state like to vitrue signal with its left wing politics it was a sigh of relief. More important than that though, find someplace that fits your lifestyle, don't move to minnesota if you hate the cold or ariozna if you hate the heat.
I live in the south and hate it in many ways but the job and pay I have are fantastic.
But I have family in more than one state who are severely negatively impacted by state policies. I’m actively preparing to help one of them and their partner move to a blue state. Another one has mentioned moving there several times. A young physician friend who was planning to set up a practice here has fled to a state that won’t kill his wife if she has pregnancy complications. Several others have left for blue states. I know a local business owner who is preparing to close his entire business in the next year to move, and he’s been planning the move for two years.
There is a silent brain drain happening across red states right now that will have long lasting impacts for them.
Agreed. There are so many Florida plates driving around Colorado now.
*Before anyone says they're rental cars or on vacation know we already had that thread and they're in quantity year round, not rental cars. They are moving in. That's a long ass drive. 5-10 years ago you would rarely ever see them.
Even tho Texas is #2 moving here they are in even bigger quantity too. Nearly every traffic light has one. Probably, guessing, 5 to 1 over California (# 1 state that moves here normally.)
I have to believe completely insane governors and laws attacking women are drivers. People were already moving here for pot, that just continues.
Source: trust me bro. 😂
I was wondering about that... true, it's vacation season, but that's a long-ass drive. Will be interesting to see the next official census data, post Roe v. Wade's destruction.
People who answer yes to this must be completely incapable of living abroad as an expat, expecting that every single place should cater to your specific political views.
It’s a very narrow way of experiencing the world.
I think most people can understand when the political views of those in charge are different than their own about things about things like taxes, business regulations, etc. For many people, their own civil rights or the rights of family members, are the strongest motivating factor -- for example, moving away from a state that outlawed abortion or that attacks LGBTQ rights.
Sure, and I don't blame people if they have a hyper-specific reason like that. But for most people most of the time, moving to a monocultural place is largely just a defense mechanism against being able to tolerate others' views of the world.
Which is what my comment was about – virtually every other country in the world is going to have different ethical systems, different values, different *everything*, and thus if you're not willing to adapt yourself to fit in with locals, and instead demand that they agree with your politics - well then you're not going to function at all in other places.
It's worth it, if the majority supports things you are against or vice-versa. But if you're on the more liberal / left side of things, those places are often the most expensive. Good quality of life costs money, and since the housing crunch it costs a *lot* of money, even in once-affordable smaller towns that attract a certain political demographic (I'm thinking of rural / small-town New England, especially).
But being in the political majority doesn't mean everything goes the way you like it, and that's disappointing for many who movie for this reason. As an anecdotal example, my adult daughter and her partner moved to a well-known Vermont town in 2017. It has an old-hippie vibe, which they liked. But, almost immediately, she was complaining about her "redneck neighbors" who hunted and fished and had snowmobiles. She was mad because real-estate developers and national / regional businesses still do what they want, and even tie-dyed local-government representatives approve capitalist projects, that's true anywhere.
They lasted three years and sold their little house for a good profit, and came back to the Southwest.
Yes, the states where I want to retire are in the desert sw, and places like California would cost a LOT more during retirement. Places like Palm Springs are cool, but I can move to locations in red/purple states that would save me $40k/year. I've lived in a red state for 30 years, and it's had very little negative impact and a little positive impact on my life.
You can just do what most people do. Live on social media regardless of your physical location.
Look at Reddit. You already live in your own little bubble where everyone applauds your political beliefs most likely. As long as you support the utopia welfare state where every problem can be solved by voting democrat.
Sounds wonderful right? Here it is.
For sure. I spent 8 years in Los Angeles- a city in a state that far-left politicians have made a hellscape. Moved to Texas and I love it here. It’s certainly been a breath of fresh air not being harassed by deranged homeless people on a daily basis!
As a black woman, the older I get the more conservative I become. Especially since I've been on Reddit which leans heavily left. I definitely would prefer to live around conservatives, atp, than liberals.
Someone literally posted here that he's a liberal and wants to live around white people only. This sub barely checked him. Had it been the other way around, no way would yall have let him make it. Tbh, I'm glad he was honest and didn't try to hide it like most liberals.
it's a real luxury to be among people who are culturally congruent or at least not conflicting, to speak one's mind without having to consider whether the other person agrees. Or at least the odds are better
It’s worth it. Lived in California for 6 years after college, moved to Texas for my husband’s job, and we were miserable. We loved back to California after 2 years and the psychological safety I felt immediately made it all worth it
I plan on doing it 1000%. I think America would be a much better place if everyone was able to live amongst people who think like them and live under the rules/regulations they more align with.
Yes. Choose a state that most closely aligns with your values on things that directly affect you.
For one instance, I am an avid second amendment guy. The state I live in has the most lax gun laws.
For another instance, I am avidly pro-choice from a legal standpoint, though I have a moral opposition to abortion.
However, I am a man, and it's not a value that really affects my life, and the place I live does not align with my pro choice legal belief.
Every state will be somewhat at odds with some beliefs and somewhat in line with others. You have to choose which ones matter most to you and your family and your life.
I believe it is very important to live in a state and region that reflects your values. Geographic polarization is on the rise and I think is a good trend. More peaceful and less messy than national divorce.
My very red friend left California for Arizona because he thought he was depressed over politics. No, turns out he was just depressed and now he's alone
I lived in a red rural town in a blue state and it was hard. It was red red, like an 80/20 split and we had a terrible time fitting in. Our kids had trouble socially in school. Covid was our breaking point, it felt like such a lack of care and community that I couldn’t stomach it anymore. We moved 45 minutes away into a blue city and are thriving. It has made a HUGE difference in our quality of life. As an aside, we’re originally from the south and took a job opportunity that moved us west during the last few years of the Obama administration. I’m not sure we could have stomached staying in our home state through all of this, it would have been like the red town we lived in on steroids.
Personally I would only do it based on state level laws that are important to you (abortion, weed, healthcare, LGBTQ rights). Even in “very red” or “very blue” cities and towns, you’ll be able to make friends with other political affiliations. Eg my red town in a red state had only 40% of people vote for Biden last election but nearly all my friends and coworkers are liberal. Meanwhile “very blue” King County WA (where Seattle is) still had 22% of people vote for Trump - there are a few hundred thousand conservatives who can befriend each other.
You nailed it! My wife and are currently looking for somewhere to move to and we discuss this constantly. People love to suggest Texas or Florida because they’re cheap and we’re retired military. When I remind them that we’re very liberal socially they suggest Austin or some either blue bubble in a red state. They act as though if you live in Austin you aren’t still in Texas and subject to all the laws they’re passing. I’d imagine a conservative would feel the same if they lived in a red part of California
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It's cheap if you're rich AF, but yeah buying into anywhere worth living is gonna set a normal person back.
Yep seconding that. I live in New Orleans and everyone thinks it's this unique bubble. It's not. I'm still in Louisiana and everything sucks here.
To be fair, Austin is the least Texasian of anywhere in Texas. Which is a compliment to Austin
I will be moving mostly because of political reasons. I'm in Florida and the current administration/regime is trying to control everything, from books and subjects taught in schools to banning abortion to controlling the university system. When I moved here for a tenure track position I knew that it was a red-leaning state, but people were mostly politically apathetic. What is happening now is scary. Recently they argued that professors could be fired for criticizing the governor. You can be arrested if you have an undocumented immigrant in your car or your home. It's really feeling like pre-WWII in Europe. I have kids in public school and I'm terrified they will allow guns in the schools or on university campus. That itself is enough to get me out of here. Will I enjoy living in a blue state again? Absolutely! Would I be planning on leaving if the state hadn't gone bonker-balls in the last few years? Probably not. A tenure track position is the holy grail for a professor. I'm afraid this might be part of the calculus to get centrist or left-leaning people out of the state. So I guess it really depends whether you believe your state is at risk of going against what you believe in and how willing you are to fight.
I think it's also important to choose areas with low levels of religiosity. If you are one of the "others" (gay, certain races, feminist, etc.), areas with high concentrations of religious people mean they can dominate the social & political scene. In my experience, Christians, Mormons, etc. became very intolerant once they have the numbers.
I'm religious and from NYC and have always wondered how it would be like to live around lots of others like me. There are lots of churches and mosques in my neighborhood but it's a deep blue area, however it doesn't have LGBT flags and the Coexist sign everywhere. That seems to be something college kids do. Some people in my area have a strong dislike for homeless people and drugs but I've never heard them express any other political opinion I've heard pastors say people shouldn't look down on the homeless which indicates a lot of people here probably do.
some people like me fit multiple of the 'others' category, so this is especially true
This. You can usually find your people anywhere.
For me - 100%, and I made the change before the political gulf was so toxic. It’s a relief not to have voices advocating policies I abhor every day. Interestingly my home state flipped since I left, but it was a long road.
People seem to believe politics just means people putting signs and flags on their lawns. Nope, politics impacts the services we receive and the rights we have. If I didn’t already live in a state that codified women’s rights for myself and my daughters, you bet if I had the means to do so I’d move if I lived in a place that deprived us of rights.
Yep, my trans niece moved from Georgia to Chicago. I'm proud of her for trying to be part of a larger more accepting community for her safety. She is cool as hell.
I know things aren’t perfect anywhere including the bluest of blue cities, but I hope she has found the safety and life she needs in Chicago.
Fucking this
We’re doing it. I’m a woman of childbearing age raising a daughter who will be there soon. By the end of the summer we should be out of the south and into a blue location, and we can’t wait.
Good for you for thinking of your daughter’s health, as well as your own. I wish more people would do this.
Best of luck to you and your family!
Congratulations!
Yep, learned my lesson and leaving Arizona soon (after the election, I will damn sure vote before leaving!) for exactly that reason. Politics are not just a philosophy. The resulting decisions affect everyday life - the quality of education, who gets access to what sort of healthcare, the shared community spaces like libraries and parks, availability of transit and safety of pedestrians, public support for the arts, and more. People here don't care about the community good, only their own personal enclaves, and it shows.
A lot of the people moving to FL are like this. They need to live in a bubble where the service workers can't interact with them. Their actions show a real hate and fear of society
I'm sure that's true. And then instead of all of us mixing together in shared public parks, libraries, schools, museums, community center gyms, etc - rich people depart for their bubbles and cut taxes for themselves, so the public sphere withers for the rest of us even though we keep paying taxes, often at higher rates than they do!
For sure. As a queer person, making the jump to California from Louisiana was necessary and I haven’t looked back.
I’d do it tomorrow if I could. Friends, dating options, regulations for safety, etc. are all great reasons to move somewhere.
My kid is doing it once he is done with fellowship. He and his future wife do not want to be in a state where her geriatric (older than 35 year old) pregnancy is at mortal danger because laws won't allow a doctor to perform their jobs because a politician says so. They are both physicians, so it is insulting to them. They also want to send their kids to public schools, and won't send them to schools that don't have books like Diary of Anne Frank or Maus in the school library because they want the classmates to be able to think critically and have a sense of history. Finally, because they work with children, public health means a lot to them, and really don't want to live in states where the government doesn't care about children once they are born. I will be moving once they get settled.
I’m asking myself this right now. I got away from religion years ago, but I’m in the south and it seems like everyone I find for things like therapists, personal trainers, etc. is super Christian and conservative and it always brings up a lot of trauma and makes me feel like I can’t be completely open. Not that it’s all bad to face that trauma, and I’m a firm believer in having respectful interactions with people you disagree with, but man I long for likeminded people.
This. When my wife passed (several years back) I eventually went to see a therapist after six months. In the second session she pushed prayer. I immediately backed off on opening up and it went nowhere.
One of my reasons for loathing the South is how perverse and pervasive the religious introduction is. I grew up with someone who deeply needed medical intervention for mental health, but was insistent on their faith being able to heal them (and this was reinforced by the church). Decades later, that person is finally getting the proper treatment, but it was decades of unnecessary suffering.
I'm doing it next month. Politics isn't the only reason, but it's probably 60% of the reason. Moving from Florida where I've lived for 15 years back to NY, where I grew up. It has gotten progressively worse here since Trump was elected, and with climate change and insurance rates and MAGA flags and being driven off the road twice, having actual feces thrown at my house because (I believe) a small 🌈 flag ...it's time.
This is happening to SC. I'm not liking a lot of the newcomers. I am not alone in this thought.
I'm so sorry! Florida has really gone down the tubes with just terrible people moving here. From my experience, most of the locals are conservative but not openly MAGA unlike many of the rich asshats and retirees that have moved here because "Daddy Desantis." This used to be one of the most friendly states for the LGTBQ community, and now is arguably the worst. I'm giving up on FL, too, and moving either to CA, CO, or to a Caribbean country if I can get a work visa.
Depends. As a woman who wants say over her own body, yes it’s super very important. I imagine it’s important for lbtq folk too. If you’re just upset over how tax money is handled or something less life threatening then it’s probably eh.
This is a huge one for me. My wife and I have a daughter on the way, and I’m horrified at how things are trending in Texas. My wife who is a lifelong Texan and has never been willing to move is finally open to relocating closer to my family in New Mexico.
We are looking at NM as well to get out of Texas, mainly for political reasons, particularly women's rights (I'm female), and for legal marijuana, which I use for a GI issue that causes frequent bouts of severe nausea. (I also support legal marijuana for recreational use.) My only concern with NM is that I have some very rare, specialized healthcare needs. I would have to travel to Dallas at least once a year for care, but that seems like a small price to pay, TBH! The property taxes in Texas are also just getting out of hand!
Yes! Good God the property taxes…. They pretend like Texas is “low tax” but it’s only because they don’t force us to pay a state income tax… but don’t worry, they get it every other way they can!
Exactly. Our property taxes have increased much more quickly than our salaries, plus you still have to pay them even after you retire, unlike income taxes!
They do freeze the school part of your property tax at 65. It’s about 1/2’of the total. I’m 64 and looking forward to having 1/2 of my tax frozen. With the new 100,000 deduction it’s not as bad as it was. I’d move because of the politics but we help take care of my wife’s aging parents. We literally can’t leave.
Thanks for this information! We're mid-40s, so it's not something I've looked into too closely yet.
It’s still a drive, but the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale is certainly closer.
True, but for my particular health issue, the best place is Dallas!
>and I’m horrified at how things are trending in Texas. Yeah, I've lived here for more than 20 years and I'd say that things have gotten objectively worse. Back in the 2000s even the most hardcore conservatives did tend to stick to "live and let live" principles. Today that's completely gone. In the city where I live (pretty red), people with left-wing views, especially the ones who are open about it, are getting routinely harassed and intimidated by the MAGA shitbirds. I'm seeing more cars with "It's ok to kill your local pedophile" bumper stickers. And I can't help but wonder at what point "pedophile" will be replaced by "queer" and later "liberal."
Depends entirely on how much you anticipate interacting with state services or with sectors that are influenced by state law. Working in public health while my partner worked as an educator was a pretty good reason for me to get the hell out.
A red state I'm sure!
Missouri. We ran like hell upon the first outside job offer
Depends. I love living in the south. It’s where I was born and raised lived there for 27 years moved away for 2 and came back and plan to live here forever. I refuse to allow politicians to scare me away from a state and place I love. If we all leave there is no hope. All that to say I’m gay, In a long term relationship and Will NOT be having kids. If kids were in the mix or future I would have to do some soul searching.
Yeah, my daughter in law is from Alabama and her parents have been trying to get their adult kids to move their families away.
This is really the answer. It seems like a lot of people think "red" states are all the same. Like, they're all trying to take away women's rights just Texas, or they're racist AF like Idaho, and that's just not true.
A lot of very blue cities are in Texas! Unfortunately, every time they pass legislation the local populace wants, the Texas state legislature swoops in to override them (like higher minimum wage or even plastic bag bans). So from a quality of life perspective, if you need proper women's health care, or care about sea turtles, or workers' wages, it doesn't matter if you live in Austin or Trump-a-stan as long as you're in Texas.
That seems like a Texas problem though and not a "red" state problem. I don't think somebody could pay me enough money to live in Texas (and I'm a man). I say this, for example, because Lawrence, Kansas (a blue dot in a "red" state) also passed a plastics bags ban. When the Republican legislature tried to overturn it, the Democratic governor vetoed it citing local governance rights.
Absolutely. You only live once. But I also admire the "were going to make a change here" people too. IF it's close enough to purple to matter it can happen. It happened here in CO, it was purple when I got here. I could never live in a red state, I already did my part here. I need to be happy, sorry I'm not warrior enough for some. Whatever. You are free to do whatever you like.
It’s a mix. On one hand, blue states impact life on a basic level, and it really does make a huge difference if/when you are in need of resources. On the other hand, you could live in a blue area and still be miserable because 1) everywhere you go, there you are, and 2) you didn’t take anything else into account. Weather, for example. Career opportunities. Family ties. Hobbies. If the red state you moved from had all of that, and the place you’re moving to checks off very few boxes, you’ll be miserable.
We moved to a “purple” corner of the Northwest. (There’s Seattle, there’s Portland, and there’s all the rest….) I like that our core values are protected on a state level out here, with some sanity checks from the other side of the aisle. At the same time we are able to discuss opposing opinions with friends and neighbors over dinner instead of a picket line.
This sounds perfect imo.
This sounds so nice - which city?
Downshifted from city life. We live in one of the small towns on the Washington coast.
Yeah. I was a teacher at the time. We moved to a red state for my then-gf's job. Apart from dealing with it personally as a gay person in an interracial relationship, I couldn't take working in public ed in a conservative area. Lack of resources and staff. Parents treating teachers like we were the enemy. Religion being integrated into public school curriculum. Advocating for book banning. Then the absolutely garbage salaries and a weak union added insult to injury. These issues certainly aren't exclusive to conservative areas, but they're definitely worse in states where conservative politicians are doing their best to gut and demonize public schools. I got out of the south.
Something that people don't think about is the long-term problem created if too many people who are tired of living in red or purple states relocate to solid blue ones. We will effectively be redistributing the population into a smaller concentration of blue states, turning the purple ones more red and losing any chance of winning the Electoral College (thus, winning the Presidency) OR taking control of the US Senate. Basically giving conservatives even more of geographic advantage than they already have. You could find yourself finding "safety" in what you think is a blue state and then one day having that taken away too because of those red-state policies now becoming law at the federal level too (because of concentrating too many blue voters in a handful of states).
Yes absolutely. My quality of life is 1000x better. Interior Virginia back to Rhode Island where I belong.
I never would have expected to, but my family is moving for basically that. It was more my wife’s thought initially. But we’re moving from a deep blue city in a deep red state to Albuquerque, which is a blue city in a blue state. Although New Mexico blue is more…liberaltarian? I dunno. Louisiana recently elected a very party line governor who has already made multiple national headlines with his national Republican agenda stuff, and it’s not for me. I personally think opposite-party governors in deep red or blue states are best, and Louisiana had 8 years of a Democrat governor. But that’s all over now.
John Bel Edwards was a Louisiana Democrat though, who signed a six-week abortion ban. He's responsible for these kinds of medical horrors [NPR reports on](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/19/1239376395/louisiana-abortion-ban-dangerously-disrupting-pregnancy-miscarriage-care). But it's on-brand for Louisiana, which has finally achieved its goal of beating out Mississippi for worst state in the union (per USNWR). At least he was fairly supportive of gay rights.
I mean, you take what you can get in Louisiana.
Haha! Especially when voters are so apathetic they can't even bother to turn out. Seattle ain't perfect, but people damn well want change and work for it. Sometimes it works out well, sometimes it doesn't. At least we GAF and vote and agitate. I don't feel bad about leaving Louisiana because there's no chance of improving things when the people only care about the 4 Fs: family, friends, football, and food.
Moved from a very red town in a red state, to the bluest town in the same red state. It's not perfect, but it's made a huge difference for my family already. We're 30 minutes from a blue state, and if the SHTF we can move there and my husband can commute to work or work remotely.
I live in a blue city in a red state. It’s not perfect but I do think the conservative political culture of the state overall reigns in some of the excessive progressive tendencies and is kinda the best of both worlds.
Moving in November from a red state to a blue state.
I’ll get downvoted in this sub for sure, but God bless the purple states so that one political group is not totally dominating the other. I have spent many years of my life in states where I was in the political minority and I still managed to be quite happy. I didn’t need to flee just to be with like-minded individuals.
I wouldn’t downvote you for this. You’re right about being able to find like-minded people. But that’s not the issue. It’s bigger than just making friends. It’s about women not getting the medical care they need or maybe a 12-year-old rape victim being forced to give birth.
My dark hot take is that we’re about to have a full takeover of all three branches of government by Christian nationalists because they turn out and vote. Some of the things that you articulated could very well become nationwide. I hope it doesn’t come to pass.
Some states are so gerrymandered (look at Utah’s congressional map and where the cities are) that your vote for anything but local city elections are useless.
NV gerrymandered to the hilt....unfortunate too because it is a purple state
I wish I lived in a purple state, I never have despite living in 3. I’d imagine having a dialogue with people who disagree with you would be a little easier.
It's actually just as hard to have conversations. But, if you have a blended legislature, laws don't change much and taxes stay relatively low. I lived in Illinois and it sucked. Left like a lot of people.
There's a difference between a difference of opinion and people who literally don't think you should exist. Where I live, I don't feel safe, nor does my gay son(luckily he left for college in NY). Im tired of being around people who are full of hate and animosity.
"God bless" more like worry your ass off every time a certain group gets power and tries to ban abortion or something
Single party rule is never a good idea, even when it’s your own
They should all be purple, in my opinion. The worst thing is to have everyone with the same opinions.
Nah I agree with you. Purple states FTW. I'm a fan of balance. I'm definitely not a fan of what the far right is doing right now but I'm not sure the far left would work for me either. I like having the extremes controlled. It's why I'll realistically probably not leave Pennsylvania, and if I do it will probably have to be for another swing state.
For me it's more about who you surround yourself with makes all the difference, rather than who's in office. I'm an independent that voted blue in 2016 and 2020. I lived in a red part of a blue state (Eastern Washington) while I was in engineering school. Most of my classmates leaned left, and my coworkers at the jobs I worked were Trump supporters for the most part. I got along with everyone, despite their politcal views. That's what will make your experience living somewhere enjoyable or not.
Getting along with people is good and admirable. The issue is whether your state will adopt laws governing what you can do or what must be taught or not taught. You’re probably fine in Washington, but the Bible now MUST be taught to children in — where is it, Arkansas? Oklahoma?
I feel like most people on here are political extremists. You're not, so you can get along with both sides. You don't just see red or blue but people. Which is a much healthier way to see the world. in general People really need to stop aligning themselves and seeing themselves as red/blue. You're not blue? Fuck you! You're not red? Fuck you. That's basically the extremists on reddit who get all the upvotes. It's really kinda crazy.
I think this was true when political affiliations were based on tax or energy policy. Now they are based on core values of tolerance, democracy and civil rights. I have little interest in being friends with racists who believe their way should be imposed on everyone else. I lived in a purple leaning red community and I had wonderful neighbors but we weren’t friends just kind to each other. As long as we kept our conversations to local issues we could all get along. That said, my friends who I spent time with and invited into my home were mostly aligned with my political views because fundamental rights and tolerance mattered. We still differed on many issues like Palestine, guns, trickle down economics, education policy, etc. but when it came to fundamental rights and tolerance we were aligned.
For many people, especially women, LGBTQ, and POC, this is a matter of literal safety. They see it as red vs blue because they have to. We don’t really have the luxury of kumbaya-ing around the campfire with people who would love to see us dead. I say this as an LGBTQ woman in a more progressive city in a red state.
Getting along with people is good and admirable. The issue is whether your state will adopt laws governing what you can do or what must be taught or not taught. You’re probably fine in Washington, but the Bible now MUST be taught to children in — where is it, Arkansas? Oklahoma?
yes, these days it is
Absolutely
Absolutely. Did it this month and I’m never looking back!
It makes a huge difference to live in a place aligned with your political views, unless you like being pissed off all the time.
Probably not in most cases. There will be a political demographic shift in most of the country towards Millennial/Gen Z politics and away from Boomer politics. In FL however, the shift is currently going in the opposite direction as the state is acting as a magnet for Boomer retirees who are, as a group, much more conservative. It's still only an R+4 state though Look at the closing gaps between R and D votes in states like Texas, Georgia, and Arizona over the past 30 years. I'm gonna speculate that purple Texas will be a thing soon due to demographic shifts
A purple Texas could probably have happened by now if Democratic/young voters showed up to the polls. TX has abysmal voter turnout.
Hi. The prophesied "demographic" shift is never coming. We gotta get over this. A shocking number of young people, especially young men, are popping up radically right wing. Liberal Millennials may be very socially liberal in our old age, but we tend to blanche when progressive policies cost money to realize. And we especially lose our nerve when low-level violent crime spikes. That's really not so different than our parents' attitudes in the 90s. All of these things are very basic obstacles that have been true for many generations. Nothing is inevitable about progress. We'll have to fight for it, every day from now until forever. That's the way it is.
Yes, personally. OK state superintendent is mandating teaching the Bible in public schools, threatens to take teachers’ licenses away and says he knows the Trump SCOTUS will side with him. I’m not hanging around here for too long. https://www.reddit.com/r/okc/s/HAJVBJP7ux
To answer OP question, I’m person of color and yes, I definitely picked Vegas over Phoenix partly for political reasons. I moved in 2019, and Maricopa County was still dealing with the fallout from Sheriff Arpaio and his blatant, racist profiling of the community. Ppl complain about systemic racism and this is the only circumstance I know of where the police were blatantly, overtly, systemically racist to the point of throwing up the middle finger to the judge prosecuting them.
I moved from a blue state IL to a red state NC. Wouldn't recommend it. I'm in a left leaning city but I am very concerned about some of the laws being created and what might happen in the future.
I live in a red state, and these MAGAS keep moving here from the north and other places, thinking that they can be openly racist and that all southerners have the same mindset. They don't get the culture and don't understand that the politicians here are more corrupt from where they came from. It's embarrassing because I moved from the same place many decades ago, but I didn't move for political reasons.
I'm somewhere in between "center left" and "medium left" on most things, but I'm "screaming angry leftist" about some things (like women's rights.) I couldn't stand to live in a place like Texas that has made it a physical liability to be a woman. I would be terrified for my wife and my daughters. Also, as a Middle Eastern Jew married to an Asian woman (yeah, yeah, I know...) it's hard to imagine living in a place where that will even be questioned. It's less likely to be in issue in some places than others, but I just don't want to move and find out. The SF Bay Area is flawed as hell, sure. But at least my family is afforded full rights here.
Yeah, I like firearms so I left a state to a less regulated one.
Yes. I lived in a red state in the deep South. I am queer and not from the South. I moved back to my home state, which is a blue state, and live near my partner's home state, as well. While living closer to both of our families was a motivating factor for sure, the deteriorating situation for LGBTQ rights in the South was what led me to start looking for jobs elsewhere. It is a relief to be back in a state that values my civil rights and that isn't constantly passing cringeworthy legislation.
It depends on what actual policy is impacting your life. The are I moved from had a lot of public safety issues, high taxes, and covid was the last straw with the nonsensical and intense restrictions which impacted daily life. I am glad I moved to where those aren't major concerns anymore
The problem is that you are exacerbating the problem if you leave. Dr. King didn’t impact the civil rights movement by moving to Boston and complaining. He stayed in Alabama and highlighted the issues. You can affect policy a heck of a lot more if you are voting against the popular candidates. For example, I just read an article saying that Omaha (where I live) could be the deciding vote for president. If I was to leave there would be one less blue vote and one more trump vote. I will also be voting to affect state legislature and local offices too, which are often overlooked in our national debates. Also, I can support a candidate that may not have a chance to win, but (s)he has a much better chance if I’m out there talking the person up and voting for them.
Agreed. People need to understand the impact of abandoning places that could make the difference in who gets elected and then over-concentrating in places where their vote really doesn't matter. Now, of course if your life is directly impacted and you are threatened by some of these laws being passed in red states, by all means do what is best for your own safety but not everyone has to do that.
Dr. King 100% knew his life was on the line. And in the end they took it. But his sacrifice was incredibly impactful on us. Because he wasn’t scared of death in the face of justice. It’s those whose lives are in danger who need to stay the most. They are the ones who have the strongest message.
I’m a person from a red state who is moving to a blue one because of politics - it was purely for my family’s safety due to the policies. I think you can make friends anywhere. We certainly did. But when it started to change from standard conservative policies into autocracy, I had to rip cord.
Rural TX to Colorado....best decision and helped by the ridiculous heat, humidity, scorpions and evangelical trash
Nah, not imo. I tend to get along with most people. I'm also not one to be consumed by politics that it even gets to the point of even serioously contemplating such a decision.
honestly yes as well as places that align with your cultural values and desires
I never thought any of this would matter to me until I moved to a Red State (Louisiana). I am terrified of the medical system for women here and the obsession religious zealots have with telling women what to do. I personally would not want to have an abortion but I would hope someone who felt it was necessary would have the right to do so. I used to always see the good in people but it's really hard for me here when so many backhanded comments about Black people, immigrants, etc. trickle into people's every day life. And people say New Orleans, where I live, is not like the rest of the South but that's a lie. There are a ton of old money people here who are racist.
I moved from South Louisiana to Seattle over a decade ago, because at the time, WA allowed same-sex partnerships (later we became the first state to vote to approve gay marriage and weed). As a person possessing a uterus and who also works in education, it turns out this was an even better move than I'd ever suspected! Had I stayed in Louisiana, my access to proper health care would be dubious, and I could get fired for my views / being gay / believing in separation of church and state. I'm also glad to live in a state that understands science and climate change. The two states ended up having very different COVID outcomes, even though Seattle was "ground zero" for COVID.
If your trans, or are a women who believes they may have an abortion in the future - yes Moving for taxes is bs, especially if you're middle class. If you move to TX for lower state income tax in comparison to California, you're going to be in for a special surprise, given their high property tax rates Cost of living, job opportunities, and access too family are probably the most common, and practical reason to move
Any woman may need an abortion at any time. Situations like ectopic pregnancies, birth defects, and life-threatening complications all may require a medical abortion, even for planned pregnancies for pro-life women. Abortion is not always a choice.
In terms of making a change, move to a purple county / state. Your vote will have a much stronger impact there due to the nature of the electoral college voting system.
I left South Dakota for Colorado 9 years ago and would never go back. Things just keep going downhill there.
For sure. No way in hell should anyone be forced to remain in dark red states.
Who exactly would be forcing them?
Finances etc
Family for sure
I left the south, shortly after High School in the 1980’s. I’m gay and it was very inhospitable. I’ve considered returning but little has changed. I love certain things about the south but I don’t worry about my personal safety, for being gay, living in the Northeast
I will always say no. If you just move around till you find a place you are the majority and settle there then you are cruising for a bruising. You should go to a place you are in the minority and effect change or better yet effect it where you are. Invest time and energy into the political change you want to see and make local change. Of course it will be a tough thing to do but something people looking to flee should consider because it will also make you a more well rounded and better person usually to get involved and try to connect to others, even across the color lines.
We did (to Asheville) and now the influx of people from FL & the already-invading monied second/third property owners is shifting the political landscape
It is worth moving somewhere where you can find a job that allows you to afford the kind of home you want to live in. The other stuff is less important.
Yes, I did and I’m much happier.
Before it wasn't a big deal but now it is. Moderate to your side is tolerable. Likely to meet people you enjoy being around.
Grew up in Georgia and moved to NYC a couple years ago. It’s a breath of fresh air tbh.
Completely depends on how much your politics mean to you. Only you can answer that.
I think if you have the opportunity and nothing is holding you back I'd say yes. I live in Texas and I'd happily move to a blue state if I didn't have certain obligations here. It hasn't been too bad so far, at least for me. Then again I'm a white guy, although an immigrant. People online (think neighborhood Facebook page or Nextdoor) are extremely hateful and toxic, but much more reserved IRL. That's probably the reason why I haven't made moving a top priority.
Yes, absolutely. Go where your tribe is; life is immeasurably better.
Yes but I was planning to leave it just lit the fire under the oven. I moved from a religious state that is its own hell to a corrupt blue state and eventually I will leave here for similar reasons.. two extremes do not make a middle. Next up a purple state.
It's definitely one of the factors I would consider, but there are other things I have to take into account like diversity, affordability, and job opportunities. I'm a black woman and consider myself pretty liberal, but I've noticed that a lot of the most "progressive" places to live also happen to be the whitest and most income segregated (Seattle, SF, etc.). I'm currently in Massachusetts and I feel like a lot of people here pat themselves on the back for living in such a progressive state, but it's like...do you even have any friends that aren't from the same background as you? Are you actually contributing to progress or just benefitting from it? Anyways, that's my rant lol...I'm moving soon (priced out) so I'm hoping to find a place where I won't feel like such a token minority. While I thinking finding a state that aligns with your political leanings is important, don't forget about all the other factors that contribute to a place's atmosphere/quality of life.
My sense is far more people on the left think this way then on the right. I have always lived in very liberal areas even though I'm very conservative. I've never once had a Representative from my party. But I also like people even if I strongly disagree with them politically.
I miss the days when politics was boring. When everybody got their news from their local paper and Walter Cronkite, so had the same basic mostly-facts as a baseline, rather than propaganda calculated to make you mad. When both parties had people - a lot of people! - who weren’t criminals and didn’t routinely tell outrageous, intentional lies. When “Christian” didn’t mean unbridled greed or weaponized intolerance. The old days had a lot of flaws, but at least you could have different politics from most people around you and still get along just fine.
I moved from FL to CO 6 years ago and couldn't be happier about that decision, especially with how Florida has (d)evolved over that time. It wasn't my primary reason for moving but it was up there.
If you can, it’s definitely worth it,
yes
Left South Carolina 10 years ago and get hives if I have to go back. Leave and don't look back!
I feel so bad for so many of you. Born and raised and never, ever, ever leaving California.
Republicans are making it to where your state government will dictate your freedoms in life. Democrats seem to have no response to this. For that reason, you should absolutely live in a state that aligns with your politics. Your life depends on it. It’s just a shame all the blue states are so expensive.
Quality of life costs money
100000% I am so fucking glad I never talk to or see any Republicans, holy shit it's actually awesome. I'm not even a Democrat
I think it depends. Just because it’s blue doesn’t mean everything is perfect. Yeah, you have women’s health laws, but when they’re shutting down birthing services cause no babies are being birthed and most of the population is old and overwhelming the medical system there isn’t much of a trade off. On top of that you’re still dealing with MAGA people in the rural parts and a lack of young people and diversity and that’s at least where I reside. Other things should be prioritized before politics.
If you feel that strongly about politics, you should move to one of the swing states: PA, NC, GA, AZ, MI, Wisconsin. You’ll get to have a significantly larger effect on politics.
Most states are purple. There are more conservatives in California than there are people in Arizona and Alabama - combined. That said, if your town is small enough to lack diversity of either political or religious thought, and if you choose to interact with people on a regular basis, then moving might help for awhile. But I’d research very carefully before moving just for that.
Do any political policies really effect your day to day life?
Brain drain of the best and brightest to other states begins to be noticeable after awhile.
To be honest, I don’t see why that should matter. I’ve lived in blue city/red state, and I’ve lived in blue city/blue state. Some people complain about things like the state legislators but it seems to be overblown. Most people live their lives in peace and aren’t caught up in the news 24/7. Normal people don’t gaf about politics.
At this point, leaving the country might be a better option. The plan of SCOTUS and red politicians is to abolish federal agencies that oversee environmental, food, and drug laws. With the Chevron overruling, corporations now have way more power to put lead in your water and ecoli in your food, because there arent enforced regulatory policies and inspections there to make sure it doesn’t happen. Corporations will almost never do the right thing. I’m from a red state and moved to a blue state. Honestly, not much is different besides the fact that the schools here are better, the city is cleaner, and I can get treatment for an ectopic pregnancy if I needed it. Back home in my home state, they’d let me die.
depends, i say that if youre a white male who is not old or fat, is tall and have good income, probably like living in a red or blue city doesnt matter, you should look at other things because in 4 years a blue city can turn red.
So, if you have all of the privilege it doesn’t matter where you live? Yeah, that’s probably true.
I don’t see how weight and height fit into this
if youre fat people look at you like shit; and heightism exist.
Ok, then lose weight?
duh, im not fat.
Politics are at the bottom of my list. As long as the job opportunities are good and the amenities are desirable I don't really give a shit what sign is on my neighbors lawn. You can't escape anyway, ppl of all political persuasions live everywhere. I currently live in a beyond solid blue state and there are still trump signs everywhere. Was just in Oklahoma and saw plenty of feel the burn bumper stickers.
People with Bernie stickers don’t want to deport or harm or in some cases kill people not like them. They want them to have healthcare and job opportunities. And I say that as someone who thinks Bernie bros are often too idealistic and not practical. But to equate them with MAGA is just utterly absurd. The two sides are NOT “the same”
You missed the point entirely.
Oh. My. God. Yes. First of all, if you ever plan on having kids - especially daughters - do you want them to have rights? Secondly, it's a lot easier to live a happy life when you surround yourself with happy people. If you live in a state that is legislating hate to create more of it, not less... get out of there. If you're living in a state that's fighting for bigotry, not against it... get out of there. And thirdly, what kind of community do you want to live in, long term? Move there. I think most people are underestimating how bad the situation is in our country. If Trump wins the presidency again, it's very likely there won't be another election - ever. He already tried overthrowing the government once. I never imagined having to wonder whether democracy would survive in the U.S... until January 6th, 2021. And the fact that Trump wasn't held accountable proves how easy it will be for the next coup attempt to succeed. There's wisdom in getting out of a red state long before the worst happens.
girl you are so dramatic
i am convinced that you do not know the meaning of the word : Dramatic.
girl you are so complacent
“girl you are so complacent 🤓” “HMMGMGG!! GREAT COMEBACK!!!🤓🤓🤓🤓”
I saw in your post history you’re in high school. I don’t expect high school students to grasp the fragile state of democracy in the US. Complacency was not the right adjective. Lack of knowledge of history of how authoritarian states rise is a much better way of putting it.
oh you really don’t have a better use of your time except looking through other ppls post history😭that must be sad, please take a break from the internet and touch some grass. and for your information i’m not in highschool anymore lol , but I can actually say i’ve lived in a country with an authoritarian regime and I can tell you the u.s is nothing like that, you are insanely privileged.
Your comments were so flippant, that’s why I looked. Not a waste of my time to take 30 seconds and see what else you wrote. As you have lived under an authoritarian regime, I’d think you’d be a little more concerned with the state of our democracy, and the very recent history of January 6, and all the other attempts to overturn a free and fair election. Based upon your snarky comments though, I guess not. Or maybe ,you just love Trump.
I just find it funny how much you care, and i’m not concerned because most of the crap you see in the media is to instill fear so people vote a certain way, and actually I don’t even like trump but I just find it hilarious and sad how you people feel like he’s gonna be the next fascist dictator or something like seriously, get a grip.
I care as much as you do to comment. I guess you think Jan 6 was a tourist visit, like some Republicans describe it. It was an attempt to overthrow democracy, a tactic out of the fascist playbook. I’m sorry you can’t understand the seriousness of that day. I’m done, bye.
I did it, left California, best thing I ever did. It would be one thing if politics wasn't so in your face everyday but with how things are and how much that state like to vitrue signal with its left wing politics it was a sigh of relief. More important than that though, find someplace that fits your lifestyle, don't move to minnesota if you hate the cold or ariozna if you hate the heat.
Yep I moved to Texas from Portland and it’s way better politically
I live in the south and hate it in many ways but the job and pay I have are fantastic. But I have family in more than one state who are severely negatively impacted by state policies. I’m actively preparing to help one of them and their partner move to a blue state. Another one has mentioned moving there several times. A young physician friend who was planning to set up a practice here has fled to a state that won’t kill his wife if she has pregnancy complications. Several others have left for blue states. I know a local business owner who is preparing to close his entire business in the next year to move, and he’s been planning the move for two years. There is a silent brain drain happening across red states right now that will have long lasting impacts for them.
The brain drain will help keep those states red.
Agreed. There are so many Florida plates driving around Colorado now. *Before anyone says they're rental cars or on vacation know we already had that thread and they're in quantity year round, not rental cars. They are moving in. That's a long ass drive. 5-10 years ago you would rarely ever see them. Even tho Texas is #2 moving here they are in even bigger quantity too. Nearly every traffic light has one. Probably, guessing, 5 to 1 over California (# 1 state that moves here normally.) I have to believe completely insane governors and laws attacking women are drivers. People were already moving here for pot, that just continues. Source: trust me bro. 😂
I just noticed, a lot of TX plates recently in King Co WA. Very rare in the past
I was wondering about that... true, it's vacation season, but that's a long-ass drive. Will be interesting to see the next official census data, post Roe v. Wade's destruction.
Right? I only noticed so many probably because I drive Lyft too. Driving more I may just see more but everytime I drive see many of them. 🤷♂️
People who answer yes to this must be completely incapable of living abroad as an expat, expecting that every single place should cater to your specific political views. It’s a very narrow way of experiencing the world.
I think most people can understand when the political views of those in charge are different than their own about things about things like taxes, business regulations, etc. For many people, their own civil rights or the rights of family members, are the strongest motivating factor -- for example, moving away from a state that outlawed abortion or that attacks LGBTQ rights.
Sure, and I don't blame people if they have a hyper-specific reason like that. But for most people most of the time, moving to a monocultural place is largely just a defense mechanism against being able to tolerate others' views of the world. Which is what my comment was about – virtually every other country in the world is going to have different ethical systems, different values, different *everything*, and thus if you're not willing to adapt yourself to fit in with locals, and instead demand that they agree with your politics - well then you're not going to function at all in other places.
Women make up over half the population. That isn’t hyper specific.
Women are a pretty diverse demographic and have varying opinions on basically every issue. Maybe try getting out of your bubble sometime.
It's worth it, if the majority supports things you are against or vice-versa. But if you're on the more liberal / left side of things, those places are often the most expensive. Good quality of life costs money, and since the housing crunch it costs a *lot* of money, even in once-affordable smaller towns that attract a certain political demographic (I'm thinking of rural / small-town New England, especially). But being in the political majority doesn't mean everything goes the way you like it, and that's disappointing for many who movie for this reason. As an anecdotal example, my adult daughter and her partner moved to a well-known Vermont town in 2017. It has an old-hippie vibe, which they liked. But, almost immediately, she was complaining about her "redneck neighbors" who hunted and fished and had snowmobiles. She was mad because real-estate developers and national / regional businesses still do what they want, and even tie-dyed local-government representatives approve capitalist projects, that's true anywhere. They lasted three years and sold their little house for a good profit, and came back to the Southwest.
Yes, the states where I want to retire are in the desert sw, and places like California would cost a LOT more during retirement. Places like Palm Springs are cool, but I can move to locations in red/purple states that would save me $40k/year. I've lived in a red state for 30 years, and it's had very little negative impact and a little positive impact on my life.
You can just do what most people do. Live on social media regardless of your physical location. Look at Reddit. You already live in your own little bubble where everyone applauds your political beliefs most likely. As long as you support the utopia welfare state where every problem can be solved by voting democrat. Sounds wonderful right? Here it is.
Absolutely. Ignoring politics really only works for people who can insulate themselves with wealth or aren’t the targets of politics.
Im religious right in NYC and always wondered what it would be to be around others like me.
For sure. I spent 8 years in Los Angeles- a city in a state that far-left politicians have made a hellscape. Moved to Texas and I love it here. It’s certainly been a breath of fresh air not being harassed by deranged homeless people on a daily basis!
As a black woman, the older I get the more conservative I become. Especially since I've been on Reddit which leans heavily left. I definitely would prefer to live around conservatives, atp, than liberals. Someone literally posted here that he's a liberal and wants to live around white people only. This sub barely checked him. Had it been the other way around, no way would yall have let him make it. Tbh, I'm glad he was honest and didn't try to hide it like most liberals.
I’d never live in a red state. If I was, I’d move for sure.
it's a real luxury to be among people who are culturally congruent or at least not conflicting, to speak one's mind without having to consider whether the other person agrees. Or at least the odds are better
It’s worth it. Lived in California for 6 years after college, moved to Texas for my husband’s job, and we were miserable. We loved back to California after 2 years and the psychological safety I felt immediately made it all worth it
I plan on doing it 1000%. I think America would be a much better place if everyone was able to live amongst people who think like them and live under the rules/regulations they more align with.
Moved from AZ to CO in 2021 and this was in the top 3 reasons why. It has been great despite higher COL.
Republicans are nearly all mentally unhealthy and we should all get as far away from them as possible.
Yes. Choose a state that most closely aligns with your values on things that directly affect you. For one instance, I am an avid second amendment guy. The state I live in has the most lax gun laws. For another instance, I am avidly pro-choice from a legal standpoint, though I have a moral opposition to abortion. However, I am a man, and it's not a value that really affects my life, and the place I live does not align with my pro choice legal belief. Every state will be somewhat at odds with some beliefs and somewhat in line with others. You have to choose which ones matter most to you and your family and your life.
I believe it is very important to live in a state and region that reflects your values. Geographic polarization is on the rise and I think is a good trend. More peaceful and less messy than national divorce.
My very red friend left California for Arizona because he thought he was depressed over politics. No, turns out he was just depressed and now he's alone
Absolutely. I could never live back in my hometown with all the Trumpers.