re: Anyone miss Baton Rouge after moving away?

I moved away in 1998. I lived in Oklahoma for a year and it was too far a drive to just go home for a weekend. During that time I missed it some. But I was a new college grad, newly wed, in a small town where I only knew two people other than my wife.

Then we moved to Houma for 6 months and I drove back to BR almost every weekend. There was always something going on and after a year away my wife and I took advantage of being close.

Then we moved to Houston and at first we drove back about once a quarter. Over time I came to hate that fricking drive so much. I loath it now.

In all that time, it wasn't BR I was missing, it was my family and friends. That is still the case. There's nothing about BR itself worth moving there for. It's the people I love that keep me coming back.

Now that I've been away longer than I lived there, and lived in other places and travelled the world some, there's no way in hell I'd move back unless I had no choice.

But I've missed out on a lot of time with my family and that part sucks. I never had the chance to randomly go visit my parents after work and sit and drink coffee and talk about my day. I regret that kind of thing.

But I had to forge my own life and opportunities are so much better outside of LA.

So no, I don't miss BR.

But I miss the people terribly.

Left almost three years ago after retiring. I miss a few good friends that I had and a great work environment.

Relatives who lived here moved away after parents passing

I miss the food, not much else. I saw a steady decline in the city in the 8 years I lived there.

I did but that was in 1997 when we moved away. I did miss it .. until 2005 post Katrina BR.

And I sure as hell don’t miss that traffic cluster.

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You’re not even 5 hours down the road.

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i hate to ever agree with Paul Allen, but technically this is true with the opening of the 99 expansion from 59 to I10

Never looked back. I come in for LSU games and happy to leave right afterwards.

BR obviously has a myriad of cultures but I was specifically referencing the culture south of I-10 from LSU to ascension parish and expanding from the lakes to capital heights over to bocage, goodwood, etc. It consists of several communities, centered around a good school / churches, restaurants, and parks.

Most of the people who live there know a lot of their neighbors because they either grew up in that area, have kids attend same schools, or have been there a long time. Basically way more people living in those areas are from Louisiana compared to the number of Texans living in Houston neighborhoods. That in itself lends to more relatable interests and commonalities to bond with. Additionally, there is probably only 1 degree of separation in terms of two people who don't know each other but they both know a friend who knows them. That actually keeps people in line because its hard to keep secrets in BR. In Houston, you can act like a JA in front of thousands of people and it would never get back to your circle.

Families are known. Who owns most of the McDonalds here in town? Who owns restaurant xyz? Who owns said construction company, or medical practice, or best place to get dental work, plastic surgery, etc. Hardly anyone knows who owns what in Texas because it is probably owned by a corporation and thousands of shareholders (except mattress mack).

In short, our culture has always been to be southern hospitality combined with knowing how to have fun. Its way more enjoyable to are around more like minded people that you either know or can relate to than a bunch of transplants with an array of viewpoints that don't mix well enough to allow people to be themselves. Whether its a GALA, Mardis Gras Ball, CCA/DU Banquet, Fundraiser, Golf Tournament, St. Patricks Parade, School Fair, etc. BR is way more preferable than in Texas.

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but technically this is true with the opening of the 99 expansion from 59 to I10

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Yep. I live in Tomball and not having to drive south to I-10 and get embroiled in inner city traffic frickery has been a Godsend. I can get from Tomball to my parent's house in Central in under 4.5 hours.

Well, unless my wife is with me. Then it's close to 5 hours thanks to her bladder being the size of a walnut.

I miss being so close to Sportsman's Paradise and that's about it.

ETA: And the food. However, Baton Rouge still doesn't have great pizza or BBQ. Reason enough to find a new spot imo.

Moved away in 2011.

I miss my friends. That's it.