Why do you like living in Mississippi? (Gulfport, Biloxi: crime, motels)

[mackinac81]

Hi! I'm from Michigan and I like to learn about the world. In the media the deep south doesn't have a great reputation, but I also know the media isn't always right.

Now, I know almost nothing about your state (I drove through when I was ten), so I'd like to know...what is the best thing about living in Mississippi? Why do you like it, for those who do?

Thanks

Mackinac

[windfarmer]

Hi Mackinac, I'm from Michigan too! Heheh...

I used to live in Louisiana when I was about 3 to 7 yrs old. Frequently we used to visit Biloxi in Mississippi for day trips. I remember Biloxi as a small beach town with a bunch of restaurants and motels lining the beach front. Since that was in the 80s, I don't remember a whole lot else. I do remember that Louisiana was humid and hot in the summer and rather cold in the winter.. We lived just outside Baton Rouge.. There is a lot of crime in NOLA and the Red Stick (Baton Rouge).

The awesome stuff: Picadilly Cafeteria, Catfish Town, Popeyes everywhere, Cafe Du Monde, lots of trees, VERY affordable housing.

Questionable stuff: I'm not a baptist nor conservative, Too hot and sticky during the summer months, TOO MANY FREAKING BUGS!

[mackinac81]

So we meet again, windfarmer!

[tennreb]

I don't live in Mississippi any longer, but I loved living there because of the friendly people, laid-back attitude, and great culture. I only lived there for four years, but it will always feel like home. Mississippi seems to do that to a lot of outsiders. As Paul Harvey said, "If people knew the truth about Mississippi, the yankees would show up and ruin it." I live in Charleston now, and the yankees are ruining it. Not that all yankees are bad (there are plenty in Mississippi who are great people), but a significant portion of them are just difficult people to be around.

[Tama]

I was at the beach this week and any time I didn't lay the pedal to the metal in a nanosecond after the light turned green the car behind me would start honking. Wow! Like Boca Raton when I was there I thought. Yankees! Now I am a transplanted Yankee and that little episode reminded me of one thing I like about living in Mississippi. Nobody has ever honked at me unless I fell asleep behind the wheel! Yankees are so uptight. Life in Mississippi is totally different. Kind of like being in a pair of comfortable old shoes.

Another thing for our Michigan inquirer--when I go home-though I love my home state-people are indeed dour and brusque in everyday interaction. Blue skies and friendly smiles greet all in Mississippi.

[Muhnay]

I lived on the Mississippi coast. I loved the people, the water, the casino's, and the food!

On the water.. I liked to look at it.. but would never go in it.. yukk. But it was nice to sit on a white beach and look out over the water and see the wonderful sun rises and sunsets. If I wanted to go in the water.. Orange Beach in Alabama was where I would go.. or heck down to Florida Destin area.

The People, they have an inner strength, and pride, without being pompous. They are friendly and would give you the shirt off their back to help you. I got along with both black and white people there.. they are no different, even though some would like to think they are.

The Casinos, I worked security in one of them, and loved the daily interaction with guest, and tourist. It was a very rewarding job. It was a great place to work and play. I miss some of my co-workers as well.

The Food, wow talk about flavor! And hearty portions too.. no wonder they claim to have an obese problem down there.. everything is so good, and you cant help but go back for more. Want to have some good Cajun food, then the Mississippi Gulf coast is a must!

I miss Mississippi very much, and would be there right now, if Family in Texas did not need me close by.. Family is very important to me, and an Obligation I don't take lightly. Mississippi shares that same value.. and I will return to her some day.. because Mississippi, its like coming home.

[Cain]

Biloxi MS was home for me for about 3 years, and is home to my Parents as they own a house there. They lucked out when Katrina hit and got no damage.

They like it there so much that some investored offered my parents a cool million dollars for there home when he found out it got no damage (they are about 5 - 10 minutes from the coast) but they turned him down flat.

I could see myself living in MS, though, I am not sure what my wife would think about that as she is a native north dakotan. She did like when we visited there.

I think the big thing I enjoyed about the coast was just the way of life there and the food no doubt.

[3jsndez]

I live in North Mississippi. I am a transplant, but have lived here for 10 years. Mississippi can be a nice place to live. I am sure that there are pro's and con's to just about anywhere in the states. I will start with the pro's...

The south in general is a VERY friendly place to live. People are polite, laid back (yet more conservative than most), and most would give you the shirt off your back if you needed it. Housing here is very cheap, the small towns are very eclectic. Most people here present themselves as good Christian folks with very good morals and high family standards. Everything here is close together so even if you live in a small town there is a large one within an hour.
The Cons about Mississippi are thus...
Schools are rated the lowest in the nation, Old money runs the state and it tends to be pretty crooked, The black and white population are still at each others throats, People don't mind living off Medicaid, Taxes are Incredibly high, and the drug problem here is horrible. If you live in a small town like we do people are INCREDIBLY nosy and phony.

[cmiss]

I'm surrounded by great people and no traffic.

[tyeebeacon]

Well, I was born in Upstate NY lived all around country growing up, AZ, CA, NH. Moved to MS when I was 18, went to college at USM in Hattiesburg, married a Bay st Louis boy, had 3 kids at Gulfport memorial, bought home in Waveland MS, was a speech therapist at a local school.
What I liked: Friendliest people I have ever met, mild weather in winter, cheap housing, cheap utility bills, safe town to live in (relatively speaking)

What I did not like: HURRICANES, poor access to healthcare, poorly run government, elitist attitudes at time (big boy clubs), too much emphasis on sports, not enough on the arts (although before katrina was improving in Bay St Louis), Summers too long and hot, lack of clean rivers and mountains,

Neutral attitude: although MS usually comes in last for education, I must say that I personally had great experience, all of my children went to public schools and I was very happy, of course the uniforms (I felt was ludicrous, I do not see the point), My education from a public MS university I felt was excellent and I had some excellent professors. Some people from Bay st Louis felt that their children must attend private institutions to receive a good education but, I do not agree with that. Personally I felt that most simply felt their children should be around a better "type" of kid, more poverty in public schools but, from my prespective this builds characther in children and helps them get a grip on reality, plus, I personally never wanted my kids to feel privleged ( one of my biases).

Overall, am returning to MS after 3 years in upstate NY and hope I am happy enough to live in MS once again.