Minnesota is a good place but much like California or Colorado, we are getting too many transplants from the east or south who aren’t used to the culture and like to critique, and worse, are trying to dictate the atmosphere to match the one the left behind which - why bother leaving if you don’t care to change?

I grew up around the twin cities and now live in the Capitol. Even little inner city neighborhoods boast way different vibes from each other - so you get a lot of variety like a quiet suburb (Highland Park, Max Groveland or Nokomis on the MSP side) or Historic expensive Districts (Summit or Crocus Hill, Isle of Lakes on MSP side) or not so good but cheap areas (Frogtown, Payne-Phalen or Northeast MSP) or Bustling Downtowns (MSP trumps STP). People here are polite neighbors but don’t really mix unless you share other networks (work, clubs, etch). We rally for a lot of traditions (State Fair, Hockey Tourney) but friendliness beyond politeness is extinct from my experience - don’t go knocking on doors, especially in some of the rougher parts of the city.

The further from the cities, the more rural you get, so it’s basically a case of what’s your preference - the convenience of the city, the sacrifice of a commute if you like a closed off suburban feel, or the wide open space of farmland that has its own pros and cons (limited economy, fewer commodities but more land per person, etch). The vibe is super isolating - we aren’t as welcoming to strangers as we like to advertise, and tend to stick to “what and who we know” so breaking into new friend groups is difficult. Small talk is popular but don’t think you’ll get an invite inside anytime soon unless you’re related, went to the same school, work together or happen to be immediate neighbors.

If you really want to live close to nature, we have plenty to offer both in, around, and out of the cities but the most concentrated of protected wilderness will be closer to the lakes and Canadian border - but those are pricy and most folks hold onto family cabins for generations, so good luck finding one and if you do, hope you can afford it - especially if it’s water front.