Lived here most of my life, visited many areas along the east coast to the midwest. Haven't seen anything to cause me to move. It's been good to me, and, if you can find a reasonable job, is a great place to be. Changing seasons, decent people, family friendly, lots to do, low cost of living, proximity to many larger cities. Like anywhere, it is what you make of it. I don't need constant urban stimulation in my life, anymore that I need total isolation. We don't really care what the rest of the state thinks of us, as it's usually wrong, when they bother to pay attention at all.