I grew up in Oklahoma. My family moved me to Naples Florida when I was 16. Then I moved to Orlando. Back to Oklahoma around 23, then to North Carolina around 27 and back to Oklahoma at 30.
Lots of people move away, but most come back. Now great things about Oklahoma that florida doesn't have.
1. Four real seasons. There is more to this than just weather. I have come to believe that 4 real seasons is part of what keeps people sane. You always have something to look forward too. It would seem that it would be nice if it was always spring or fall, but that's what folks in Florida have and many of them seem just downright wacko. Of the places I've lived, Oklahoma and North Carolina both had really genuinely nice folks. Florida everyone had some kinda wierd quirk about them, IMO and no offense if your one of them.
2. Beautiful girls. Florida Girls are so cliche. Real hot chicks come from Oklahoma. I got me one from right here in Norman. I often wonder if this comes from the large % of indian blood mixed with other races around here. Course my wife has no Indian in her, but girls that have aout 10 to 50% are usually pretty attractive.
3. The best sunsets. Okay so they aren't over water like the were in Naples, but man, Oklahoma has way better sunsets than Florida ever thought of having.
4. Real conservatives. This one is actually a draw. On one hand it's nice to live in a state where you can count on the folks with conservative ideals winning most elections. On the other hand sometimes I wish I lived in a state where it was closer so I knew that my vote would make a difference. (I still vote none the less).
5. I'd say great college football, but Florida has a pretty good tradition there too. Course we got Stoops and he's not going to florida like people always speculate. After all why would he build a castle if he was planing to move to flordia? And Mike Gundy too. He's turned out to be a pretty amazing young coach. It's awesome what he and TBoon Pickens have done with OSUs program lately.
6. Tough anti illegal immigrant laws with more in the works. OK passed a law a couple years ago requiring anyone doing business with any OK Gov entity to screen all their employees through an instant ID verification system. It's on hold right now cause it's in the courts(last I heard) but none the less this seemed like a bunch of extra paperwork for me as a business owner, but really only until it's setup and working right. On the other hand it would have drastically cut down on the number of jobs available to illegals in the state. I understand there was a pretty big exodus the week before the bill first was supposed to take effect. Also from what I've heard they are supposed to be considering Arizona type laws as well.
7. Churches. I don't know your religious background, but if you think churches are a good thing, then there is no shortage here. When I lived in Florida they seemed few and far between. Here there is practically one on every block. Maybe not quite that dense but there are a lot. From small 20 member churches to the large mega churches with 1000's of members. We got it all.
8. Arbuckle Mountains. If I recall right from my childhood they are the only mountains in the country where the rock layers run vertical instead of horizontal? Someone else could back me up on this.
9. Barbecue! Van's Pig Stands is the best! Nah, really Q is really a personal thing and there are lots of places out there that are good enough to be someones favorite. I am a bit partial to Van's though.
Well, I guess that's enough info from me. It seems like some nationwide magazine rated Norman, OK (or was it OKC) as one of the best places to live right now? I also believe we have been listed as one of the areas least effected by the recession.
I grew up in Shawnee. Van's Pigstand is the best!
The Arbuckles are also the oldest mountain range in the world.
