How much have you traveled in the USA?

[aolwien]

I've been to 47 states. Not Alaska, Vermont or Maine. I've seen a great portion of the United States which I try to use in my understanding of just how messed up our country has become. Most people it seems are just hanging on trying get by in life in the best way they can. I'll be on a train in say Missouri and see a house in a small town or out in the country and try to imagine what life is like for the people living there.

[hunter]

1. I've shared beer with people living under highway overpasses.

Haven't visited Alaska or Florida yet.

Gasoline used to be cheap compared to what I was earning.

[leveymg]

2. I suspect that's how its been for most of the history of the US. The difference now is that a hell

of a lot of those just barely hanging on are now college educated middle-age suburbanites who have been downsized and are trying to survive as 'consultants' or P/Ters.

It's very tough, and being poor is not a matter of lack of education or merit, anymore. That's why this Recession is so much crueler than those of the past seven decades. It's also why there is real potential for a broad-based rebellion in America.

I guess I've been through 30-35 states, altogether.

[aolwien]

5. First time in San Francisco

in the late 1990s I remember a billboard on 101 "High cctane capitalism just ahead"

[leveymg]

10. That must've been the road to San Jose.

There's always been some joblessness even among educated groups.

But, the difference is that twenty years ago there were high-growth industries, like software development, in America where if you had relevant skills, you probably could find a job. The job market was so hot that there was also room for much larger numbers of immigrant workers, and everyone wanted to come to America. Not today, not in many skilled occupations in many parts of the country. The brain drain seems to have shifted and is moving the other way.

[KamaAina]

15. Indeed it is. And it runs right through $ilicon Valley.

And now, our unofficial civic anthem...

[leveymg]

21. I lived in Santa Cruz and Cupertino for a while when the boom was just starting.

Last edited Thu Sep 19, 2013, 08:19 PM - Edit history (3)

Amazing times, amazing people. Lots of fun.

But, I never believed the Silicon Valley hype. I foresaw the dot.com crash of twenty years later and wrote about it in 1982 in a series of articles for a little weekly newspaper, The Santa Cruz Express. Here is one of several of the installments I've posted at photobucket, part of the series: "Santa Cruz in the Years 2002-2012" (1982):

[hunter]

16. "Consultant" sucks.

Just saying.

My wife has crappy family health insurance and somewhat reliable income.

I ain't got nothing.

Fuck 1099's.

[leveymg]

25. Yup. I've been part of the 1099 Club for a decade.

[gopiscrap]

3. I have been to all 50 states

spent the night in 528 towns, cities and villages. Slept under a bridge and have been invited to the White House. I used to be a social worker working with street people, but also have ran for congress myself.
I have lived (185 days or more in 8 states) and have spent 60 days or more in another 11.

[leveymg]

11. How did you keep track of all that?

Remarkable.

[gopiscrap]

19. I have a good memory and can tell you what I did for the past

35 years. Pick a date and I can tell you where I slept that night and a highlight of the day (if there was one) I've won quite a bit of money having my memory challenged. Plus I was responsible for scheduling and went over this stuff many times.

The sad thing is since cell phones, everyone I met before having a cell phone, I still have their number memorized, but only very few numbers of those I have met after acquiring a cell phone.

[gopiscrap]

4. BTW welcome to DU

[aolwien]

7. Thanks!

Sounds like you have some great stories.

[Th1onein]

6. Only states I haven't been in yet are Alaska and Hawaii.

I travel extensively because of my business.

[seabeckind]

8. Missed 3

Oklahoma, Alaska, Hawaii.

Then again, can't really say I miss them. Except maybe Hawaii.

[Wwagsthedog]

9. All but N Dakota

[1-Old-Man]

14. Quick North Dakota story for you

I used to have to go to Grand Forks a couple of times per year for my work. My stay's would normally be for about a week and I'd stay at a place near the University, which is located there. One evening I was in the bar of the motel and noticed they had T-Shirts for sale in a display case by the door. Printed on the T-Shirts was a Bull's Eye and each of the rings had part of this printed within them: I've been to the exact middle of nowhere, Grand Forks, North Dakota. Hell of a way to advertise your own town, but it did make me laugh to see it.

[SomethingFishy]

12. I'm a roadie. I have been to every state except Alaska..

I have also been all over Canada. Been to Japan, Singapore, England, France, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Australia, Italy, New Zealand and probably some I have forgotten.

I do the "small house" thing all over the world.

You are correct. Most people are just hanging on, doing the best they can for themselves and their loved ones. I for one try to keep my head down and just deal with one problem at a time. If I sit back and look at the big picture too long I will drive myself insane. It's a crazy world.

[DiverDave]

13. Every state except 1, South Dakota.

Course it helps I was a truck driver for 4 years.
Hi. and Ak. before I had that job.

[KamaAina]

17. Lived in eight states.

In chronological order: MD, CT, CA, IL, LA, HI, NY, NJ (now back in CA).

Visited: AR, CO, FL, GA, IN, MA, NH, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WI (and DC).

Passed through: AL, DE, MS, MO, NC, SC.

[seveneyes]

18. 49 states

Every state except Hawaii.

[RebelOne]

20. Not a whole lot. I loved in Florida most of my life.

I went to New Jersey and New York when I was newly married where we lived for about 6 months. And my husband and I traveled from Miami to California by car where we lived for a year. We also lived in Alabama for about 6 months. I now live in Georgia and have been to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, about 5 times. And then I won a ski trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I loved Colorado. But I have traveled to more countries out of the states than I have here in the U.S.

[Boom Sound 416]

22. 35

Have slept at least one night in the 35. (Vermont's my only one night stand)

[LeftofObama]

23. I've been to 46 states.

Never been to Alaska, Vermont, Maine, and Delaware.

Much like you I have seen houses out in the middle of nowhere and wonder what the people do for a living and generally what life is like for them.

[sdfernando]

24. Not all that many states

Lived in Texas, Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii, California.

Visited or passed through: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Seattle, Illinois, Washington.

[Link Speed]

26. I did a motorcycle tour of the lower 48 in 1968

'47 Knucklehead which broke down in every state at least once.

I think I have been in every state except SD.

[Art_from_Ark]

27. There's no greater way to experience a state

than to have a vehicle break down in it

[Link Speed]

31. Especially when one's hair is halfway down one's back.

Man, I had some times.

[Art_from_Ark]

32. 1968-- Easy Rider

I'm glad you didn't meet the same fate as Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson

[Link Speed]

33. I saw that movie in Villanova, PA.

I was headed south down the Eastern seaboard on my way back to Texas.

That movie freaked me out so bad that I stayed at a woman's house in Bryn Mar for a month, not even getting on my scooter.

[Art_from_Ark]

35. I wonder why the Easy Riders just didn't stay at that New Mexico commune

or at least, with those fine ladies in New Orleans...

[pangaia]

30. Wow.. your knucklehead sure beat my Beamers...

Did a 12 week summer..
around the USA west of the Mississippi on a 1968 R-50-- back when they still had the Earles fork. - TN AR,TX,OK,AZ,NM,CA,OR,ID,MT, SD,IA, IL, IN MI, OH, KY and home to Memphis.. Did I miss one? :&gt
Six folks on the trip...including a Bonneville and a Suzuki something or other..

Then another 10 weeker in 1977 on a '76 R-75 from NY to WA, into British Columbia and back through Canada to Ithaca. . 4 of us..
Tried to make it to Alaska but ran out of time.
Neither of my BMWs ever had a problem. :&gt )

Camping all the way both times.
I'll never forget either summer...

Been in every state except Nevada on one bike or another... plus PR--on a plane... :&gt

[Nite Owl]

28. Have never been in

Oklahoma or Hawaii. We did all the rest and Canada west of Montreal.
Drove the Alcan twice which was quite an experience.
Got to go to Hawaii! Right now mostly New England as the arthritis can't do long drives anymore.
I think you really get to know the country when you can meet the people in different states.

[NuclearDem]

29. In terms of length of time spent in each (from longest to shortest):

Lived in: IN (lived around Indianapolis most of my life), NE (Offutt AFB and Omaha, 2 years), NC (Cary for a year and a half), CA (Monterey for the same amount of time), TX (San Antonio and San Angelo), WA (Spokane for three months).

Visited: OH, PA, WV, VA, MD, DC, KY, TN, FL, SC, ID, MT, ND, MN, WI, IL, IA.

So, nearly half. Never been to New England, most of the Gulf, Alaska, Hawaii, or most of the plains states.

[riverbendviewgal]

34. 38

And have no plans to ever visit the USA again. Much too scary.

[SheilaT]

36. I have been to 45 of the 50 states,

and lived in 8 states.

I like to say that this is a wonderful country, with fifty wonderful states.

There are states you could not pay me to live in, but those states still have wonderful people who love living there. What I personally care about in terms of climate, or job opportunities, or cultural stuff matter to me, and not necessarily to those who live in a particular place.