If You Left North Dakota: What Would You Miss The Most?

Besides your friends and your family, name something you would miss if you moved away from North Dakota?

This is a question I asked my listeners and readers both on-air and online. It received a lot of interesting answers for sure.

People often complain about North Dakota, citing the weather, mosquitoes, lack of things to do, and numerous other reasons.

It's interesting, though, that so many people who move away from North Dakota eventually come back.

I know this because I was one of those people, and I've known several like myself. I took a radio job in Southern California when I was much younger and just getting into the radio business. Most called it paradise (Santa Barbara).

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I guess I never realized how North Dakotan I really was until I moved away. In fact, all I could think of was how to find a way to get back to North Dakota. I would even dream about it. Thankfully, another radio job would bring me back to North Dakota eventually.

I was born and raised in North Dakota, and I have spent all but two years of my life in this great state.

Yes, there are warmer places I could move to. Jobs that would probably pay a lot more money in bigger U.S. cities. Locations that offer more cultural opportunities. No thanks, North Dakota is where I want to be.

For those of you thinking of moving away from North Dakota, here are the Top 11 things you are likely to miss the most.

I tabulated several hundred answers, and these were the Top 11.  Some of these answers will surprise you. Why? They are the same reasons why so many people say they are leaving. Go figure.