what is it about New Jersey folk?

What is it about New Jersey folk that makes us want to stay here?  Is it being part of the Metropolitan area without actually being in it?  Is it the shore allure?  Gambling at Atlantic City, or Kelly Ripa?  Those are just some of the possible answers that come to mind, when asked why we are still here.

For those of us who grew up in cities closer to New York, for example Hoboken, Jersey City, or Weehawken, I guess part of it would be having the advantage of being part of the most exciting city in the world.  But is that all it is?  I think about it often and wonder why the attraction, why am I still here?  A lot of my friends have moved to other more appealing places like say, Florida, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico, to name a few.  And let's not forget the thousands who go west every year, and not necessarily seeking to be stars.

80 West before the Delaware Gap

 

I am going to attempt to answer the question of why the rest of us are still here.

River Edge Public Library

I, for one, lived for two years in San Jose, Costa Rica, and another two years in Mexico City, two of the most sought after vacation spots worldwide.  My family and I were lucky to have lived in luxury in these two cities for four years.  Yet, after four years we chose to come back to New Jersey.  Several years later, we were presented with the chance to live in Coral Gables.  Now what could be more beautiful than Coral Gables?  Yet, I turned it down, opting to stay living in New Jersey and preferring to let my poor husband move there by himself for two years.  Oh, don't worry, we would visit each other every two weeks.  When he couldn't come up, we would go down and stay with him.

New Jersey's location makes it prime for all kinds of crazy weather, below freezing temperatures, snowstorms to boot (no pun intended), fog-like conditions, heat waves, etc., etc.  We are not exempt from the harsh climate changes, and lately the polar vortex that has besotted more than half of the country.

Van Saun Park, Paramus, in the spring.

We are also not in denial of the dirty politics that have plagued our beloved state for so many years. They are still going on, but that's the nature of the beast.  Even with the highest car thefts in the country, it could always be worse.   But here, we are among family, like the librarian at Hoboken High assured me.  We love our shore and look forward to the day trips to the beach.  We have the longest boardwalk in the world in Atlantic City.  The first baseball game was played in Hoboken.  We love the fact that we can catch any Broadway play on a moment's notice like tourists do, but yet be back in our comfy homes by midnight.  New Jersey is referred to as the diner capital of the world, because we have so many diners. We love our suburbs.  They are clean and for the most part safe.  We feel comfortable here.

View of the Freedom Tower, site of the World Trade Center attack, as seen from the NJ Turnpike.

12th & Hudson, Hoboken, with Empire State Building in the background!

 

The reason why we choose to stay in Jersey?  I think I just answered in that last paragraph.  But the most important reason I think is the size of our state.  We are not a huge state, neither are we the smallest.  Most of us know the state like the back of our hand.  We are comfortable whether we are in Bergen, Hudson, or Ocean county.  It doesn't matter, it's all home to us.  And that's a great feeling that I won't get in another state.

One of our many beautiful rivers!

Cheers to New "Joisey," like others jokingly call it, and like some of us don't care if we're called "cancer central."  Here, we don't have our own baseball or football team, but that's okay.  We live in the shadow of the most exciting city in the world, but that's okay.  We are still reaping the benefits.  And now with the Super Bowl being played in New Jersey for the first time, we are still relegated to second place, but again, it's okay.  We don't mind.  We know who we are and we are proud.  We are New Jersey strong! like Governor Christie refers to us.   And like he said in his last address, we welcome anyone who comes here with the purpose of working hard and making it.

The famous Tick Tock Diner - one of so many in the State 

New Jersey, ranked the second highest per capita state in the country, the most densely populated, but also the most beloved state by its residents!   There are so many interesting things about this humble state that bond us.  Google New Jersey so you can see for yourself, or better yet, vist us.

New Jersey so appropriately called the Garden State!  Any more good things, and we would be called the Garden of Eden!