If I could afford to leave Alabama, I would.

[trof]

I'm 73, unemployed/unemployable/retired, and I'm financially unable to leave my native state.
I won't go into the details, but Miz t. and I just can not afford to leave the state.
It's a tax situation.

I guess you could say we're financial prisoners.

If I could, I'd be out of here in a New York minute.
This latest clusterf#ck circus with our probate court judges and our supreme court chief justice over same sex marriage is just the icing on the cake.

crap

[MoonRiver]

1. I'm sorry.

Lots of us are stuck in disgusting states, me and mine in KansASS. Sucks.

[Ilsa]

2. I feel your pain.

We aren't retired yet, but we can't afford to "start over" in a new place with probably new debt.

Hang in there. Try to keep your little bubble happy, positive, and loving.

[trof]

3. We are blessed with some good friends.

That kinda keeps us going.
I love the topography of the state.
Mountains to beaches.
But the politics is just maddening.

[Nobel_Twaddle_III]

4. where would you go if you could ?

[trof]

25. Massachusetts, if they'd warm it up a bit.

Yeah, that sounds dumb right now, but my daughter and family live there.
We'd love to be closer to them.

[Hoyt]

5. Alabama needs you, but I know it's tough.

[Brother Buzz]

6. My cousins chose to move from the whacked-out West Coast to Florence, Alabama - Go figure

[Hekate]

7. And yet, they are going to lose. The schoolhouse door is open and now the courthouse door will be...

This is a good thing, trof, a really good thing.

Be well.

[hunter]

8. I'd leave.

My parents, older than you and retired, escaped everyday U.S.A..

They live in a rain forest, drink and bathe in the water that falls on their roof, and eat locally grown food.

I haven't visited their home yet. I can't afford to get there.

If the entire world turns to shit before I can fly, I will sail.

I've got an accurate watch, a sextant, and charts. These keep me sane.

[trof]

26. Sounds like they're in another country? Family means too much to us.

Hell, I'd like to live in the south of France or the Italian countryside, but that's not feasible.

[NightWatcher]

9. Aren't you on the east side of the Gulf near Mobile?

That area is probably the nicest part of Alabama from what I remember of my travels. I used to work on a dredge that went up and down the Mobile Bay for months-years at a time.

Don't give in or up to a state full of jackasses. It's your state too. Stay, live, enjoy.

[trof]

27. On Wolf Bay. Check it out on Google maps.

[ChiciB1]

10. I'm Not Quite Your Age, But Pretty Close...

Let's just say I'm a "true Boomer" and more Liberal than many here. I live in a state where sooooo many people want to retire to, BUT it's a really screwed up state. I suppose my state might have MORE jokes pointed at it than most, and for GOOD reason! It's FLOR-EE-DUH! Weather is hard to beat, I live in a sleepy little area on the west coast and can ride my bike to the beach, and there's very little crime!

BUT I feel the same way. But where can we go? I call my area a "white bread, home of the rich" homestead, but it sickens me! My voice means nothing to most, the Democratic Party is "blue dog" at best and the state re-elected a COMPLETE IDIOT! I want to pull my hair out most of the time! Trying to have a sensible conversation that factual information can be discussed with the other side is mind boggling, IF they even take time to hear what you have to say. As one who's left of center I may as well have leprosy, I'm sort of unworthy to voice an opinion. I'm not of the "upper class" so obviously how would I understand people who graduated from Harvard, Yale or the like. Democratic activism here is a joke and I'm truly out in left field. Many would love to be here right now, the sunshine, no snow, the beaches... having a "wonderful" retirement life!

But it ain't so wonderful! Look under the hood and the dirt has piled up and it's too easy to ignore, waaaaaay too easy. Caring for the less fortunate, people of color or of different ethnic backgrounds who don't have wealth are so easily dismissed. THEY are the 47% and those of wealth flick them away like gnats.

Why should I leave this great state that has so much to offer? It's a state that's left too many people in the dust and APATHY abounds! Where can I go because it sickens me to see up close and personal how the rich live, breathe and BELIEVE they're actually better because they grease their palms with "green" on the backs of those who labor for them that many call "rednecks!"

I can't leave, I have roots here and can't afford the price I have to pay. Unfortunately, my heart breaks for too many people who have it so much worse, but still am unable to make others UNDERSTAND the life of the "common man!"

[Rhinodawg]

11. Well, at least you have the Crimson Tide.

Roll Tide.

[trof]

28. Yeah, at least I got that. ROLL TIDE!

[LuvNewcastle]

12. If it ever gets to be too much,

you can always move over to Mississippi.

[Laffy Kat]

13. LuvNewcastle! That was just mean.

Funny, but mean.

[LuvNewcastle]

17. There are always options.

Sometimes I get tired of my apartment. Now, I could go live in the local roach motel -- that would be my option. I can work for Wal-Mart or Target. I can vote for Democrats or Republicans. This wonderful free market.we have just abounds with choices.

[Laffy Kat]

18. True that. nt

[trof]

29. Alabama's motto: "Thank God for Mississippi!"

[kwassa]

14. Sweet Home Alabama, or maybe not so much.

My first visit was in the early 70s when I was working on a film documentary while in college.

It was about the life of a long-distance trucker. He went down to pick up a load of peanuts in Alabama just a little ways over the Georgia border. I was quite shocked at that time to see the rural black folk living in shacks and still plowing cotton fields with mules, and picking cotton by hand.

I thought that was ancient history stuff. It wasn't.

My later trip was simply driving along the Gulf coast, and staying overnight in Mobile. Hot as hell.

[MohRokTah]

15. I'd move to Alabama if not for the politics.

Absolutely beautiful state that has it all. I adore the state. The people are lovely in their manner.

But their politics bother me, and thus I choose to only visit once every few years.

[sweetapogee]

16. you can just come to PA

Take a bus to Allentown. Find an inexpensive place to live in the Lehigh Valley. I must tell you though, taxes are higher here than what you have and the weather is harsher. Also, everyone has multiple firearms. We have had snow on the ground since about the third week of November. The hockey arena is hiring, as long as you don't have a criminal record, your good!

[Arwinnick]

19. I'm in the same boat

old,broke,and stuck in the Salt Life.If I get 50 miles from salt water I start getting ill.Yet,I'm dreaming of mountains and thin air out west.I know I could not physically handle cold weather yet I want COLORADO.So I guess dreaming and wishing is all I got.

[Liberal Veteran]

20. The sad thing is Alabama, Georgia, SC, Tenn, Louisiana, Miss, are such beautiful states.

And there are some wonderful people there. Unfortunately, the cancerous rot of right wing politics has made living there unbearable for so many people.

I grew up in Georgia. What really hurts is that I know deep down I can never really go home again. I don't even have my accent anymore.

I'll have to be content with my memories.

[yallerdawg]

21. trof, look on the bright side!

Do you know what a snow shovel is?

Case closed.

[trof]

31. I do know, but no longer own one.

We lived in southern NH for 16 years.
Got there just in time for The Blizzard of '78.

[roody]

22. You must not be too far from Columbus, Ga.

Every November there is a meeting of fabulous peace and justice activists at the School of the Americas Watch Vigil. http://soaw.org/

[Blue_Tires]

23. Well, I'll hope for the best with you and the Missus

Just take heart that things aren't always as bad as they seem!

[Jamastiene]

24. That is the sad thing about those of us born in and living in red states, who

are not right wing. People assume we stay out of choice. No, mostly it is the abject poverty they keep these areas in that makes it so people have a really hard time trying to save up to move. When most of the jobs around pay minimum wage and it costs to live while you are saving up AND you need to save up about 4 times as much as you currently spend to live to be able to look at getting your feet on the ground for at least the first month elsewhere, it is super hard to up and leave. On top of that, life has a way of making it even worse by throwing problems that happen along the way into the mix. That sets a person back on saving money. It becomes a lifelong goal to save up to leave and with all that life throws at you along the way, you end up stuck.

I understand how that feels. I feel for you. I'm in a similar boat without a paddle or even anything I can use to make a paddle.

[Dont call me Shirley]

30. Alabama, you got the weight on your shoulders that's breakin' your back.

I'm sorry trof, hope your circumstances improve soon.

[Tsiyu]

32. We need a

Democratic Underground Railroad.

"Save the Southern Liberal!" the flyers would read. lol

I'm only half joking.

[SheilaT]

33. Every state has its good and bad points.

It is truly a shame if you'd prefer not to live in your state, but from what I think I know of you, Trof, from reading your posts here on DU, you'll be improving the quality of Alabama immensely, just by staying there.

I had the amazing good fortune to be able to move anywhere I wanted, when I relocated after a divorce nearly seven years ago. Well, various high cost-of-living places were off the radar, like NYC or San Francisco, just to name two. But otherwise, I took a good look at various parts of the country and moved myself to Santa Fe, NM. Which I like a lot, but has its own share of flaws. I stay here for now because I love the climate here -- more clear skies than are probably allowed under the law -- and I've made some good friends. I don't expect to live here forever. I warned my two sons when I came here that someday I would probably relocate to be in the same city as one or the other of them, but there's no rush just yet.

[trof]

35. Thank you, Shiela. I have made one difference.

I helped get my town's first female AND black city councilwoman get elected.
I was her campaign treasurer and fund raiser.
After her first 4 year term, she ran unopposed for the current term.
I am damned proud of that.

[SheilaT]

36. Yes, you should be very proud of that.

[seveneyes]

34. One of these days...

[malokvale77]

37. I feel your pain...

Stuck in Texas (where bigoted killers are considered heroes). Things are about to get really, really, off the rails bad in this state.

Good luck.

[shenmue]

38. Hugs