I've been here in Kansas for six weeks.
I still love it. The locals get a little pissy when I make fun of
their “small town” (it's the 6th largest town in the
state). A town of about 90k is not small. When I go to classes in
Topeka, I learn a lot about the tax laws in the state, and how
different it is from California. Of course I noticed the sales tax
and personal property tax were higher right away, but income tax is
lower, and going down (with the goal of being eliminated). And the
Topekans love to tell me how liberal Lawrence is. It's true. Lawrence
is the Democratic center of the state. I like learning about my town.
There's a lot of historical significance here in the Civil War era
because of the wrest between pro-slavery men and the anti-slavery
Kansans. There were a lot of Missourians who flooded the polls and
voted in favour of slavery to swing the vote. Voter fraud is nothing
new.
But when I tell other people I moved to
Kansas, immediately, the response is a reaction of almost disgust.
Like. "Eww. Kansas. Why would you move where there are rednecks and
corn fields and country music?"
When I tell the locals, they just ask
how I like it. For the most part, they are incredibly friendly. The
reaction when I tell them I'm from San Diego is even better. They're
proud I've come here. And they know why I would. Because they can see
it too. They don't need me to explain it.
And I'm not going to try to explain it
to the people who question me without really wanting to know why.
They don't matter. I have my reasons. And they are fluid. One day
it's just because I hated where I grew up. One day it's because this
is where I have opportunity. One day it's because I spent a week in
the Midwest once and I loved it. But every day it's the sum of those
parts. And they make a heck of a reason to be here.
I wonder how much better the air is.
There is so much less concrete and so much more green. Everywhere.
There are woods all over. How much more photosynthesis happens here?
How much less smog do I breathe? How much healthier are my lungs? I
know I'm healthier, because woods make me want to walk to them, and
so I do, and last week I walked some 13 or 14 miles.
It doesn't matter what your ideal place
is. I'm allowed to have mine, and if I haven't asked for your input,
then you can stick to asking questions like “What made you move
there?” “What are the people like there?” “How do you like
the weather?”
and none of that:
“WHY THE HELL DID YOU MOVE TO
KANSAS?”
because I wanted to get away from jerks
like you, idiot.
