INDIANA? I'm in L.A right now, is it ok to settle or move in indiana? Are the people friendly?

Question

omg.. matt scared me ..

Answer 1

First of all, IGNORE what Matt said about everyone from Indiana being fat or eager to pick a fight in a bar. That is just NONSENSE !!! I WAS RAISED IN INDIANA, so I know what I am talking about- I grew up in West Lafayette, near Purdue, which a couple of the others already mentioned. My parents were administrators and faculty members at the university, and as a child, I grew up running loose on and around campus. There's also no truth to this statement that Indiana is not a diverse state, or that you can't find good cultural or civic events there. The people I knew ( and still know, I still have relatives in the northeastern part of the state, and I have friends in the Lafayette area) were VERY friendly, and very welcoming to strangers, visitors, and guests. Indiana is a lovely state in many ways- it's farm country to the max, and there are lots of good places for recreation and sports in the state. The state's largest city is the capital, Indianapolis, and that city is also home to the state's largest airport. Just to the south of the capital is the town of Claremont, where the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located. As you undoubtedly know, that track plays host to the Indianapolis 500 every Memorial Day weekend. This is just one example of the kinds of events that Indiana is famous for. This is also a state where team sports, such as football and basketball, are very popular, and there are lots of collegiate and high school rivalries from one end of the state to the other. Indiana is home to more than Purdue- it's also home to Indiana University ( of legendary coach Bobby Knight fame) Notre Dame University, Ball State U, Indiana State University, DePauw University, Vincennes University, The University of Evansville, and several other major institutions of higher education, including my alma mater, St. Mary of the Woods College near Terre Haute. Purdue has a bunch of regional campuses as well, in addition to the main one in West Lafayette. These are scattered all over the state- there's one in Ft. Wayne, one in South Bend near Notre Dame, one in the capital ( that one is called IUPUI, because it's partially run by and affiliated with IU) and one down south near Evansville.

As far as natural areas go, Indiana is a state which is loaded with parks, open land, and recreation areas. There's even a ski area- Paoli Peak is located south of the capital, in the hill country down there. That will be one of the biggest changes that you will experience by moving there from L.A. The other major change will be the climate- Indiana definitely has seasons !! Winters are usually cold and wet, with lots of snow, rain, and ice, and they typically start in November and usually don't end until late April. Summers are long, hot, and humid- and it's not unusual to go for weeks at a time with very little rain, but lots of humidity and heat. This is what makes that area, like most of the Midwest, such a hot spot for growing corn, soybeans, alfalfa hay, and a variety of other crops which are heat dependent. The 2 nicest seasons in Indiana are ALWAYS the fall and the spring- though they tend to be on the short side. The first frost date is usually the first week of October, and the last frost generally happens in May.
The other big thing to be aware of where the weather is concerned is that Indiana is on the northern end of the famous "Tornado Alley". Tornadoes and violent thunderstorms are very common throughout the whole state in the spring, summer, and fall- and the wintertime will often bring blizzards and whiteout conditions to some of the northern areas. If you decide to move there, you need to take the time to visit first and familiarize yourself with the climate and how to cope with it- and also learn how to protect yourself from the storms.

You will encounter some other major differences between life in Indiana and life in California. One of these, and perhaps the best one, is that your cost of living will drop to about a third of what it once was. EVERYTHING in Indiana is MUCH cheaper than in L.A.!! Housing prices are reasonable, the schools are really good in most places in the state, crime rates are very low to non-existant ( especially in the smaller towns and villiages, like the ones around where I grew up) and costs for things like gas and food are also pretty reasonable most of the time. Quite a contrast from California and L.A., where there are neighborhoods where it's not safe to leave your house at night unless you have either an escort or a group with you. In Indiana, you will be able to leave your doors unlocked, your car unlocked, you can even leave your keys in the ignition without worry !!! In all the years I lived there, the only time I can remember anyone ever having anything stolen was in one neighborhood where some local boys decided to pitch a bike belonging to my sister into a neighboring creek. The theft was reported, the boys were caught, and my sister got a new bike out of the deal, so it wasn't all that bad. NONE of my friends ever had anything stolen, nor did anyone else we knew.

One final note about Indiana before I go- there is no truth to this idea that people there are all fat and obese. The reality is that people in Indiana are no different as a whole than any other group of Americans. There are some who are overweight, yes, but it's unfair of Matt to say that everyone there is. Perhaps the only people he's met are overweight, but if that's true, he needs to get out more. Indiana is a lovely state and a great place to live and work, as well as a wonderful place for kids to grow up in. I know- I'm a Hoosier myself ( though I currently live in Delaware) and there is no other place like it. I wouldn't have traded my years in that state for anything. You will love it too, once you get used to things there. Good luck with your move.

Answer 2

I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana for five years and loved every bit of it! The people are so nice there!!!! I think Indiana is a VERY VERY VERY nice state. I later moved to Boston and ended up missing Indiana soooo much because people in Boston are all stuck-up, mean, and cranky all the time. And they complain a lot. Indiana is really kind and caring and the people there are the nicest people I've ever met in my entire life. GOOO COLTS!!!!!

Answer 3

I'm not sure at all that I agree that an accidental bump in a bar will lead to a fight ... maybe way out in the sticks, but not where I'm at. I'm currently in northwest Indiana in the extreme southeastern Chicago suburbs. The folks are quite nice here. There aren't a lot of "attractions" here, but real estate is very reasonably priced. For fun I go to Chicago. I find this is a nice place to live and work. Believe it or not I came here from San Diego.

Answer 4

Born and raised in Indiana, and I'm still here. The people here are great, but moving from L.A. to here... be prepared for some major culture changes. Things aren't quite the same here as they are in L.A.; Indiana is a bit more "low key" and/or "redneck" as some like to think of it. :)

Answer 5

i live in indy and always wanted to move to LA, been out six times over the last four years. i would take a different perspective on the friendliness idea....for example, in LA, you're walking through a bar and bump into someone, the person says sorry and introduces themselves. accidentally bump someone in indy, get ready for a really lame fight. There's lots of great things about indy - you can buy an amazing house for less than $200k, traffic is light, living is very inexpensive. But its also not a very diverse community, so if you aren't a mainstream type person, your options are much more limited. oh, and everyone is very, very fat.

Answer 6

Just like any where else some people are nice and some aren't. Here are two links to check out intakeweekly.com and nuvo.net local free papers with info about mostly Indianapolis and surrounding area. Give you a chance to check Indy out.

Answer 7

All Hoosiers are VERY friendly.

Purdue Graduate and Florida resident.

Answer 8

i live in Lafayette, IN & i moved here from New Castle,IN & EVERYONE i have come in contact w/ are 4 the most part pretty nice

Answer 9

Why not you come down to INDIA ?