If my family weren’t in Indiana, I’d probably live in a warmer climate. I lived in North Carolina for a couple of years and loved it. That being said, I still think Indy is a great city with a lot to offer and the people are generally pretty nice.

I love it here! Such an underrated city! But I do wish that there was better mass transit. Plus concerts and tours often skip over us =(

I have to say Indy has grown on me since I moved here four years ago. I’m not originally from here but I’ve traveled all over the world and (contrary to what I thought when I first moved here), I can honestly say I enjoy living here. I’ve actually even found myself getting a little defensive when people complain about it – trust me, there are MUCH worse places to live! I like to think of it as the little city that could and very soon will!

I moved here 30 some years ago, under the guise of helping a brother…he moved to New Orleans and I stayed….the thing Indy REALLY needs at this point is a good mass transit system. Going downtown to go NE from the NW side makes no sense to me. I burn less gas than the city does transporting myself.

I just moved my family here after ten years in San Diego. So far I like it and I think it is a great mid-size city. There seem to be a lot of activities to do for someone that likes to be active. Of course the weather was better in San Diego but the cost of living here can’t be beat compared to California now that we have two little kids. I also like that it’s close enough to Chicago to visit but doesn’t have the gridlock and other things about Chicago that I don’t like. I wouldn’t mind some food suggestions or kid activity suggestions though since we don’t know that many people

I have lived in the Indianapolis area since 1981. I have enjoyed living here, going to school here, starting a career here, getting married here and raising children here.

But I get a sense that it is time to go.

In looking at the “Reasons You’d Leave It” (Indy.com 2/12/09), I have to say I agree with most of the things on that list.
The lack of mass-transit, focus on the almighty Car and sub par city schools have created the Fishers Fallacy up I-69. It is sprawl, plain and simple, and it should not be celebrated or reproduced.

“But it’s a great place to raise a family,” some say. Yes, if you are in the “right” schools. Say, Zionsville, where we are with a 99% graduation rate. But to get up there, you have to make substantial money and live in the village or risk putting yourself in debt to live anywhere else.

So, one recommendation would be to focus on the schools in the city of Indianapolis. Give people real options and incentives to move back to south of 71st Street and stop the exodos to the suburbs.

As for the potential, people cite the NFL Franchise and the money it brings to the community. And the fleeting pride. Last I checked, the shiny new stadium was losing money and the fairly new one they tore down on Dec. 20th wasn’t quite paid for after 20 some years. Hmmm.

Number 15 on the list, “Not enough original restaurants…” does speak to the “middle of the road” nature of Indianapolis. What’s more, I must mention that several months ago, the Indianapolis Monthly featured chain restaurants in their magazine as a good thing. Wow, that is really pathetic.

Finally, I will never understand why this state does not catch up with the 20th or even 21st Century and allow residents to buy alcohol on Sunday. It’s a legal product, it’s sold in the aforementioned shiny new stadium during games, it’s sold in bars and other spots, but I can’t go to a supermarket and pick up a bottle of wine or 6 pack on Sunday afternoon. Let’s catch up.

We’re overweight, depressed and one side of the city looks pretty much like any other side of the city. Strip mall after strip mall after strip mall do not a culture make.

I hope to find the “sweet spot” for my family and while I hope things are looking up for Indianapolis, I fear that attitudes will keep it looking the same way for years to come.