Vermont

Everyone knows how much I love my home state, even though it's a little cold and a little empty. Maybe we just feel defensive about everyone picking on us, and so then we just love our state all the more. But I do think it's pretty funny that everyone I run into down here says, "Oh, Vermont! It must be beautiful this time of year!" Even though 90% of them have never been there. I guess they just have a picture of it in their minds (and it's probably actually of New Hampshire), and assume that it must be spectacular (which it is). But then, no one wants to live there. I think it's pretty funny that so many people live in places like Texas (or insert midwestern states here - although I shouldn't malign Texas because I've never actually been there - I have, in fact, been to all of the "midwestern" states that aren't considered "southern"), even though you probably won't hear someone say, "Oh it must be so beautiful this time of year," about 70% of the states in this country. Why do people insist on living in places that don't actually look nice (ok, practical people - don't tell me it's just the jobs - if more people lived in pretty places, the corporations would open offices there)? I just don't get it. I know people move to the south because of the weather, but what about Wisconsin? Sure, it's green and has pretty leaves (and some maple syrup), and it does border a Great Lake, but do you want to live there in the summer when it's hot and humid and 90 degrees, or in the winter when it's freezing cold and 10 below (trust me, it's colder and hotter than Vermont)??? There aren't even any mountains to enjoy the snow. But then, maybe Vermont wouldn't be as beautiful if people actually lived there.