I cannot stand generalizations in any way shape or form.

themanfromnantucket, all southerners are superficial. Especially me.

Why I just spoke to that damn carpetbaggin' yankee that lives next door and went he went inside, I cut his tires.

I can't tell you where, but I can tell you "where not"! Clearwater, FL has one of the largest retirement communities in the States and it's great with activities and neighbors, but set foot (or tire) outside and you are in the middle of non-stop traffic, lost tourists and long waits at restaurants and attractions. This Tampa suburb has outgrown it's road system and property value has skyrocketed, so if you are interested in Florida, I would just skip this area and head for Ft. Myers or Naples.

yeah, Go Travel, well I will top that!
I found a Damn Yankee and married him and brought him South! LOL
And now he is the one waving at strangers all day =;

HA! Served him right Scarlett! You get back at that damn yankee and marry him good:-D

:::::::basking in superficiality:::::::::::

Go: Actually, I'm with you, the carpetbaggers deserve it! And I'm sure you slashed those tires with a smile too...! ;)

Funny thing about my neighbors: The friendliest ones are the California-born people! Go figure....

Hi and thanks for all your replies....I didn't mean to start a battle between the north and south. Anyway, I don't think we could take the July and August heat of the south. Any parts of Virginia without extreme temperatures and no snow?

Pepin, I have to tell you that Clearwater is a city all by itself. It is not a "Tampa suburb". It is separated from Tampa physically by a huge body of water known as the Tampa Bay. But not to worry. When you're tired of the problems over there, you're always welcome to come to Tampa and enjoy some of our traffic and restaurant lines. That's the kind of friendly people we are.

Yes, I was jokkking...we have to laugh at ourselves don't we (I would have to consider myself southern after 20 of my 38 yrs in the south.) Has anyone ever seen the movie "oh, brother where art thou?" Funny satirical look at the south. I have a strange sense of humor I guess.

Yeah, I've lived in Tampa too, so I know what I'm talking about. I've sat in rush hour traffic every week day for the last 5 years. Clearwater may have started out as it's own city, but now most of us work in Tampa or St. Pete, so I consider it a suburb. It's all Bay Area and it's all congested.
I'm bedazzled by your friendliness...

I loved the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" (what a great soundtrack too). Humor is what gets one through life, if we can't laugh at ourselves then we are living a poor life indeed. However, I can appreciate that southerners get a bit of an unfair media portrayal, so I am not suprised if "you guys" ;) down there occaisionally get a bit defensive, I probably would too.

Red states correlates with nice intelligent folks that favor hard work.

Blue states correlates with elitest uptight folks that favor socialism.

Aren't most southern states red?

I am assuming you are joking ahhnold.

The notion of Red and Blue states is a false one (take a look at a county map), and I don't want to see this becoming a political discussion.

Heres the point: People are quick to insult southern people that are republican because they care about morals. Yet, there is discussion here that they are "friendlier" people and that is a good thing.

And, tell me one state in the southeast that went democrat. Just an observation from a "blue stater".

dancer, while Virginia is very hot in the summer, I suggest you look at areas on the coast. The water temps with keep the air temps cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Besides, who wants to live inland?:-D

It wasn't until I tried to watch the Sopranos that I decided that people in the South were inherent geniuses. Nobody I knew beat anyone else to death with a golf club here. And why do they talk like that in the northeast? Don't they go to schools, aren't they educated? I can understand how you guys up there might be a little defensive about the way you're portrayed in the media. It is a miracle that you survive what with all that violence around you all the time. And the crime. And the morons.

OK. I admit it. I'm stereotyping. Just a little.

Tandoori_Girl - my ex-roomate was from northern New Jersey and actually had an answer to the question "what exit?" but it was an answer that I will not repeat in polite company ;) and I miss her. Actually, she was one of the nicest friendliest people I ever roomated with in college, 12 years later and we are still friends.

Wow, Tandoori. You certainly turned the tables. (And I have to admit, I rather enjoyed it! Hee Hee!)

Yeah, that was a good one. Very clever ;)