My whole life I have lived in New Jersey. Everyone is always talking about why they want to stay in New Jersey but I cannot wait to move out. To get away from the things no one ever wants to talk about.
1. It really is dirty.
People always joke about New Jersey being called "Dirty Jersey" and sadly, they are right. It is not the cleanest place in the world. There are some places that are nice-- the suburbs. However, it smells horrible almost everywhere else you go. There is no way to get away from the smell of industry unless you leave the state. I always know when I am home from traveling when the smell of rotten eggs fills my car again.
2. You can never see the stars.
Now maybe if you are closer to Pennsylvania, or maybe even close to Maryland, you can see a handful of stars, maybe. Even still, it is just a handful. You never truly get the beauty of all the stars in the sky because no matter where you go light pollution is a problem. There is always a city too close to let you see more than 10 if you can even see that many. The beautiful stars in the sky are just not something New Jersians have the ability to see.
3. Everyone is rude.
Now I am not saying you personally are rude, but everyone in New Jersey can agree that the people here are super rude. Whether it be in a store or on the highway, everyone is rude at some point. There is no way to find people that smile. Maybe if you are in the middle of nowhere... but even then the rude mentality of New Jersey always stays a little.
4. No one knows how to drive.
No matter where you are there is always at least one person deciding to go 46 m.p.h. on 95 or vice-versa. And I don't think there is a single person out there who knows how to use their directionals. We are all just taught to drive in the rudest way possible because if you don't then how in the hell are you getting anywhere. You have to be rude or you will never make that turn or get to move over a lane.
5. The traffic makes me want to scream.
Who doesn't know the hardships of rush hour traffic? People who live almost in the middle of nowhere hit it every once in a while. I am talking about the standstill traffic on a Sunday at 5 p.m. Who is going anywhere? There is no accident to be seen, nothing crazy, yet you are going 5 m.p.h. on the highway. There is no where to go and you are stuck behind what seem like idiots because once you are out of it the traffic seems to have come out of no where.
6. Why can't I make a left turn?
If you have even gone through New Jersey you know that, no matter where you are, 3 out of 4 times you can't make a left turn. Instead of a left turn you have to go through a jug handle or roundabout way just to make that left. You may even have to go farther than where you wanted to turn just to turn around to make a right onto the street you want. Every trip has to be 5 minutes longer if at any point you need to make a left and if by the grace of God you are able to make a left turn you have to wait an extra 20 for the light to let you turn or for people to be polite which both take longer than anyone wants.
7. Holidays + Malls = Anger
Now I love the mall, the place where you can get all your shopping done especially during the holidays but New Jersey has too many malls for any sane person to do anything. Though there are 20 malls within 50 miles of you there is still no parking and no where to go. You can't even get close to the mall and when you do you want to punch almost everyone there cause it seems like the whole state is there getting in your way. The holidays are the worst and having so many malls near you is what makes them the worst.
8. Sick of the Jersey Shore
Now I love the beach that is not what I think anyone is sick of. It's all the other things that come with the jersey shore. I mean the whole television show and the annoying people from New York and other states pretending they are from New Jersey and giving us a bad name. I love the beach and being able to drive only an hour tops to get to one is amazing and I don't know how I will live without it but I know I will be happy getting rid of the Jersey Shore stereotype.
9. Everything cost too much
No matter what paying for anything is ridiculous. Rent is through the roof no matter where you live and car insurance is insane. Everything you need in New Jersey costs you an arm and a leg. Even if you work an amazing job you still give 98% of your money to bills. No matter what you pay too much for everything you need in life. There is no way getting around it, the state of living in New Jersey is too high.
10. Sometimes you just need a change.
I have spent my whole life in New Jersey and at 21 I cannot wait to leave and live my own life. New Jersey will always be my home and there are so many more things that will make me love it. There are just some things that need to change and living here for 21 years has taught me so many things. Now it's time to go out and learn different things, but never forget where you come from.
