Have you ever wondered what makes Minnesota so attractive to the natives that are said to live there? Well, you are not alone. People have asked me for years what we Minnesotans even do in our spare time because, well, isn't it always cold? The short answer? We do beastly things. The long answer? Well, we don't have that kind of time. So I’ll break it down to five things that make us beastly Minnesotans.
1. We are bred for cold weather.
Colder than Antarctica? A couple feet of snow? Cars covered in snow during below freezing weather when it’s still dark outside? Welcome to just another day in Minnesota. You will most likely find us in school, church, work, a coffee shop, Mall of America, etc., etc. The snow does not stop us, the cold does not faze us, and the ice does not hinder us. No matter the weather, we will continue as usual. Georgia can't say that, can they?
2. Hunting is a state-wide holiday.
I know that everyone thinks I am joking. But when deer season, duck season, or turkey season comes around, you’ll find businesses low in employees and the forests high in people. If you’re not a gun person, you’re probably not a Minnesota person. But if you are into hunting, then this is the perfect place for you. It is not uncommon to see, or rather not see, people walking around hidden beneath layers of camouflage. Some people wear that trending pattern on a regular basis, whether they are hunting or not. But don't get me started on the neon orange that some proud hunters flaunt on a daily basis, it's enough to give me a headache almost daily.
3. We fish a lot.
Some people have tried to convince me that everyone fishes a lot. But that is just not so. With nearly 15,000 lakes, we Minnesotans find ourselves fishing more than we find ourselves working (well, hopefully not, but probably). It does not matter if it is 80 degrees and sunny or three degrees and the lakes are frozen over because our love for fishing is not hindered by Mother Nature. And for most of us, we threw our first line before we had even spoken our first word. Maybe that sounds strange to some people, but fishing is just what we do here. I am not sure what else you would do with this many lakes, but occasionally we catch foreigners swimming instead of fishing in them.
4. We are pretty nice people�.
We make friends with everyone. Whether you are in line at a coffee shop, walking through the biggest mall in America, or cruising past a fellow boat, we will say hello. We will ask you how your day is or if you've caught anything. We will find some bizarre, small world connection with you. "Minnesota nice" is very much alive here. We believe in taking the time to be decent to people. We don’t care if you are a total stranger, you are still a friend.
5. Small Businesses.
Okay, I cannot stress this enough. Our small businesses are awesome. With everything above combined, our small businesses are the place you want to be. From coffee shops to bookstores to restaurants to bars to antiques to whatever your heart desires, we won't only have it but we'll blow your mind with it. On top of the never-ending supply of new businesses to visit, the owners are friendly. Sometimes, a little too much so. If you enter a small business in Minnesota, be prepared to get lost in conversation with those working there for at least 15 to 30 minutes before you remember that you came in for a reason. It’s just what happens here. But don't try to say goodbye too fast, we Minnesotans take a good hour or 12 after the initial, "I should go" before we officially part ways.
Maybe you think that you can find these qualities in other states, but I guarantee you that you cannot find the same thing anywhere else. The world is becoming scarier and scarier, but we Minnesotans do our best to keep things simple and decent. We like weather the cold, we hunt religiously, we fish all the time, we are weirdly nice, and we are always finding/starting new businesses. In my opinion, this is what makes us beasts. So, if you want to live in a place where life is simple and the people are beasts, just continue driving until you come to a place where the people are saying, "Oh yeah" in almost every sentence that comes out of their mouth (and a lot of sentences will come out of their mouth). That’ll be Minnesota.
