What's the BEST state in the union?

It'd be hard for me to pick any state other than Texas. The biggest problem here is when you open your front door you almost immediately start sweating in July and August. All three of the major cities (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio) have such different personalities as does each region of the state. Plus it has about 20 counties bigger than the state of Rhode Island.

After that Alaska (I'd miss pro sports, but man Alaska is gorgeous) then Washington (primarily west of the forest)

 

Typical Texan. Picks his favorite states by size.

 

For the record, I love Vermont.
Since it does not have a seashore, however, it is out of this conversation.

 

As someone who lives a block from the Ocean, I'd take a freshwater lake over the ocean any day.

 

OK. I'll trade you Lake Erie for the Caribbean.

 

Of course Alpine might as well be on Mars for as far as it is from civilization.

Here's a good example of how big Texas is:

Dallas to Alpine- 491 miles

Dallas to Meridian, Mississippi- 492 miles

 

I couldn't live anywhere in the Central Zone. I lived in it for six months once and hated it because you're an hour behind everything. I hate it every time I have to travel there "OK, what time is it really?"

 

My dad has always told me "it's not where you're at, it's who you're there with." If you live in the greatest city in the world, but don't have any good friends and/or loved ones to share it with, you'll probably be miserable. You can be in a pretty shitty place, but if you're living it with great friends and family, you'll probably enjoy yourself quite a bit.

That being said, I wouldn't mind living somewhere that has warm weather year round. Austin/San Antonio/Houston wouldn't be too bad. Houston gets humid as hell, but I mind that less than cold weather. I spent the largest chunk of my youth living in Northeast Texas, and I really enjoyed it, but every time I go back I wonder WTF I liked about it. Of the places I've spent a significant amount of time, I'll vote for Texas. The worst part, for me, is the conservative nature of the general population.

 

Washington, but only the western part of the state.

 

I'll take Mars.

 

To each their own. I'll take the cold weather over the heat any day.