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greg dahlen

Alumnus, academy of achievement

TEDCRED 20+

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How does it feel to live in a "flyover state"?

Some people say life in the U.S. is most exciting on the coasts, East Coast and West Coast, and they jokingly call the other states "the flyover states," meaning they're not too exciting and you just fly over them as you go back and forth between the coasts. For those of you living in "the flyover states," is this a fair characterization? How does it feel to live there? For people on the coasts, is your life more exciting?

For people in other countries, is there a similar division, that life is considered most exciting on the coasts?

I live right on the edge of Los Angeles, and I'm kind of torn. Part of me thinks it's pretty exciting to live anywhere. Another part just loves L.A., feels like it's the only interesting place to live on Earth.

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    Kate Blake 50+

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    Jan 26 2013: Hi Greg as Australia is one huge island most of us live on or near the coast, as I write this my area was struck by a tornedo today and declared a disaster area. Roofs off, trees over, power lines down, people seriously injured. So part of the hazards of coastal living is the intense extremes of weather we have here. Not the kind of excitement I think you are meaning?

    Over here most of our jokes are about which state is the best, but as Ken can verify our largest parley is with the kiwis. They are just another state of Oz ... lol

    • greg dahlen 20+

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      Jan 26 2013: Well, as best I can tell, the excitement that people associate with coasts is the port activity, ocean and air. You have ships and airplanes coming in from many farflung places, bringing people and goods and along with the people and goods come new ideas, new ways of looking at the world, new ways of dressing (clothes-wise). So it is stimulating. Are you sure you can't divide between the parts of Australia that feature ports, particularly seaports, and the inner parts? After I wrote this, I realized that another name people have for our inner states is "the heartland." That's much more flattering, isn't it? But you know, I wonder what the excitement is in the heartland, I get the excitement on the coasts.

      I get the joking argument with New Zealand. But how another state of Oz, are they run by a wizard who is really just a little guy behind a curtain?
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        Kate Blake 50+

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        Jan 26 2013: Sorry Greg Oz is our slang for Australia, we are called ozzies whilst those from NZ are called kiwis. All done with great affection and no slur meant.

        Our centre is called just that 'the centre', the outback and I must say I love the life there. People are very down to earth and we made our own excitement eg bush dances in the wool shed, tours of the big stations (some are bigger than your states), a 3 hour trip to the cinema. Everyone knows each other and that community spirit is often lost in the coastal areas.

        My little coastal town has no port or planes only tornedos ... but again it is a nice small community but growing way to fast.

        • greg dahlen 20+

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          Feb 9 2013: Although if it's growing that has a good side, right, more people to meet and things to do?
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        Kate Blake 50+

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        Feb 9 2013: Sure Greg there is that on the positive side but on the down side because there are so many vying for very limited accom. It means that real estate and rental prices are going through the roof. The prices are nearly equivalent to those in a major city. Some cope with this by sharing but I prefer my own space ....

        And although there are buses running they are not always every hour and last bus home is 5pm, so that limits work and social life.

        • greg dahlen 20+

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          Feb 10 2013: well the buses were always that way, no, that doesn't have to do with the town growing?

          Are you a renter? Has landlord raised your rent?
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        Kate Blake 50+

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        Feb 10 2013: Greg I have just returned home to oz after 9 years absence, and the rents have doubled, and sometime more, in that time. So any rent is outrageous!

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