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re: Question for Those Who Moved Away From Louisiana

Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:09 pm to
Posted by TSmith
New Orleans, La.
Member since Jan 2004
2159 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:09 pm to
Louisiana has a lot of problems, but when making a thread about this, remember:

Expectation and Optimism Bias: Before moving, people often have high expectations and optimism about the positive changes a new city will bring. This anticipation can lead them to focus on the potential benefits and downplay any negative aspects once they have moved.

Social Pressure and Image Management: People may feel societal pressure to present their life changes as successful. Admitting that a move didn't improve their life might be seen as a personal failure or poor decision-making, so they maintain a positive front.

Honeymoon Phase: Initially, the excitement and novelty of a new environment can create a temporary boost in happiness and satisfaction. During this "honeymoon phase," people might genuinely feel better and report higher satisfaction. However, this effect can fade over time as the newness wears off.

Self-Justification: After making a significant decision, people tend to rationalize and justify their choices to themselves and others. By focusing on the positive aspects of their new city, they can reinforce their decision and feel more confident about it.

Comparative Thinking: People often compare their new situation to the aspects they disliked about their previous one. By emphasizing the improvements or differences, they can convince themselves and others that their move was beneficial, even if the overall quality of life hasn't significantly changed.

Memory Bias: Over time, people might idealize their new city and forget or minimize the negative aspects. This bias can lead them to report higher satisfaction when reflecting on their move, even if their day-to-day experiences haven't improved substantially.
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
72521 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:12 pm to
quote:

We just moved to Magnolia MS and it's still better than Louisiana.
Amazing what less than 10 miles can do.

Posted by NYNolaguy1
Member since May 2011
21689 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:13 pm to
quote:

small part of me wishes I would have tried NYC right out of college


Large learning curves in terms of work life balance, office expectations, not to mention logistics and high costs of living...

On the plus side there's never a shortage of things to do, but unless you are swimming in cash and don't want kids eventually you will move out.
Posted by fallguy_1978
Best States #50
Member since Feb 2018
52853 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:18 pm to
quote:

A small part of me wishes I would have tried NYC right out of college

I did for a brief period at 22. It was fun for awhile, but not for me long term.
Posted by AbitaFan08
Boston, MA
Member since Apr 2008
27871 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:20 pm to
Quite literally everything you just said could also be posited in the reverse as well.

I’m not saying you’re entirely wrong, but you could almost copy and paste what you said and apply it towards those who choose to stay in Louisiana.
Posted by Slingscode
Houston, TX
Member since Sep 2011
2184 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:21 pm to
Absolutely. No state taxes. No casinos.
Posted by TexasTiger89
Houston, TX
Member since Feb 2005
26255 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:28 pm to
We moved to Texas without kids in '93 and enjoyed it but missed Louisiana the entire time. Moved back in '98 for two years but with kids and it was different since needed a house and schools. We moved back to Texas (Houston suburb) in 2000 and never looked back. Better career opportunities, salaries, great public schools, cheaper real estate, government that pretty much works for the population, etc., etc. Just so much more to offer here raising a family.

We visit Louisiana quite often for football season and Mardi Gras. Don't have to live there to enjoy what it offers.

Posted by GeauxZone90
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2010
3247 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:28 pm to
quote:

The worst traffic I experience is when I go back to BR to visit family. By far worse than anything I face in DFW


I’ve been to Houston during rush hour. To go 13 miles takes about 1 hour minimum.
Posted by X123F45
Member since Apr 2015
29388 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:30 pm to
I feel like I must be the only one who has legitimately lived on the other side of the globe, have been to almost every state, and still prefer living in Louisiana.

It's that sweet ratchet heat
Posted by LSUGrrrl
Frisco, TX
Member since Jul 2007
44503 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:33 pm to
quote:

I’ve been to Houston during rush hour. To go 13 miles takes about 1 hour minimum.


Yeah. Houston is another animal but it’s not every animal. You can’t judge big city traffic by Houston alone.
Posted by el Gaucho
He/They
Member since Dec 2010
58254 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:35 pm to
It’s like back in the day when the stronger males would kick the weaker males out of the tribe but nowadays the ones that get kicked out of the Louisiana tribe have the internet
Posted by bdavids09
Member since Jun 2017
1309 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:36 pm to
quote:

This. I’m a miserable, insane, depressed person. I’m not suddenly going to become happy, healthy, successful, and socially adept by changing my zip code. If anything, South Louisiana may be the only place where I can survive thanks to my support system which I have built up over the course of my life.



What's going on man? Why are you so depressed?
Posted by biglego
San Francisco
Member since Nov 2007
82741 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:36 pm to
Yes better. No I Don’t miss Louisiana at all.
Posted by Sayre
South Bend, Indiana
Member since Nov 2011
5754 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:36 pm to
There's no downside to leaving Louisiana. Only wish I'd done it sooner.
Posted by biglego
San Francisco
Member since Nov 2007
82741 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:37 pm to
quote:

I’ve been to Houston during rush hour. To go 13 miles takes about 1 hour minimum.


Houston traffic is not as frustrating as Baton Rouge traffic.
Posted by Freauxzen
Washington
Member since Feb 2006
38365 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:42 pm to
quote:

For those of you who have been able to leave Louisiana and move elsewhere, did you find that your life drastically improved when you settled in a new place? Did most things in life get better or stay the same?



I would say place is lower on the list of things that will make you happy. Like JUST the location.

But I will say, I don't see it in anyway possible that I would have been as happy as I am now if I would have stayed in Louisiana. Too many things happened because of where I went. Some of that is due to location and what I jive with (I like the mountains over the swamp, but I do miss good access to open water), but I don't think it's because I moved. Life changes, opportunities are different, my career went different places, life went different places. I just don't see a chance I would be this happy in Louisiana. I'm exactly where I need to be, that I know - and it isn't Louisiana.
This post was edited on 6/3/24 at 3:43 pm
Posted by NPComb
Member since Jan 2019
27891 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:45 pm to
I moved away and moved back. I love it here except when i try and deal with privilege checks from shitty service.
Posted by Louie T
Houston, TX
Member since Dec 2006
36580 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:45 pm to
quote:

I’ve been to Houston during rush hour. To go 13 miles takes about 1 hour minimum.

i did a 25 mile houston commute for years, and the only times it took more than an hour were accidents / road closures. nothing i've dealt with in houston is half as miserable as traversing the wilkinson bridge on a friday afternoon.
Posted by McLemore
Member since Dec 2003
34562 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:48 pm to
I moved from New Orleans to Atlanta in 2001 for a job and it was drastically worse. Moved to Montana and right by NC border in western upstate SC (between Greenville and Hendersonville/Brevard) and it’s all vastly superior to the previous places.

But if I had the time, money and flexibility to travel then I wouldn’t complain about Louisiana. Put me on a quiet bayou with a fishing pole.
Posted by TN Tygah
Member since Nov 2023
7837 posts
Posted on 6/3/24 at 3:49 pm to
quote:

Yes. Things are drastically better. Nashville. Crime is non existent where I live. Nice people. Everything comes to Nashville so there’s always something to do.


Nashville guy here too. I was born and raised in New Orleans. Lived in L.A. 2011-2020 then Nashville.

It’s not even close honestly. You really, really have to have an undying passion for Louisiana culture and a lot of family there to justify staying. I got over the homesickness pretty quickly.

I went back to NOLA for a friend’s wedding 3 years ago, was there for 2 days. I left my hotel in the CBD twice. 1st time to a Walgreen’s, an older gentleman of a certain variety couldn’t pay for a bottle of Vodka so he hurled it at the window. Second time I left I went to the corner store, a teenage kid walked in, also of a certain variety, and stole everything off a top shelf and put it in his hoodie.

No thanks. Not going back. Not even to visit, honestly. It doesn’t feel like home anymore. And I never thought I’d say that but I’m in my late 30s now and I grew up. Crime is also not an issue where I live in Nashville, and I’m not rich by any means.
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