What do you miss/appreciate about Iowa?

[tm3308]

I think “Iowa nice” can be superficial/shallow. So it’s things like smiling at someone as you pass them, asking them how they are, small talk with the cashier, wishing someone a good day as you leave, etc. All of which I like and all of which I think makes day to day life a lot more pleasant. But they aren’t deep meaningful gestures. Plus, when you do something like ask someone how their day is you don’t really want them to say anything worse than fine, and even that’s pushing it.

I’m not saying Iowans aren’t actually nice, just that people in other places will also do the nice things that require more effort (e.g. shovel the old neighbor’s driveway when it snows).

It's absolutely superficial. Especially in the area where I'm from. No amount of "ope, sorry, just gonna squeeze past you"s and doors held open can make up for absolute **** views that saturate those communities. There are some genuinely good people back home, but it's not the empty gestures that make them so.

 

[carvers4math]

The Iowa Nice thing reminds me of the “Be Kind” people that spew hate on social media like it’s their job. Iowa is certainly no nicer than many places, and much like the rest of the country in the declining level of civility. People have profane flags, signs, and bumper stickers right across the street from the elementary school.

The fireworks really drive it home for me. Hours and hours of fireworks at all hours of day and night, certainly not within the days allowed by city ordinance. So many people reporting their dogs ran off when spooked by them. After our pup whimpered for hours, we then see the trash all over our yard. I guess if you are violating the fireworks ordinance you don’t really care that you are littering all over your neighbors property. So we also spent hours picking that crap up to protect our dog.

 

[Sousaclone]

We moved from Iowa in 07 with every intention of coming back, but after a couple of years knew I would never live there again. We went to Chicago initially, then Denver, then St Louis before settling permanently in Denver.

Things I miss:
Proximity to family
ISU sports
Sweet corn
Summer nights- those nights when the humidity is just right there just seems to be this perfectly electric feeling in the air. I don’t know if I even recognized it growing up but I was working in Iowa a few years back and it just hit me like a ton of bricks.
Cost of living
Good grocery stores
Naturally occurring water

Things I don’t miss:
Tavern hoks (I have a good amount of friends that are Hawkeye fans out here and the rivalry is good natured and not a big deal to any of us. Back when I lived in Iowa I would almost get physically ill in the lead up to the Cy-hawk game.)
Hickory park- it seriously sucks.
Proximity to family-we’ve got some busy bodies and guilt trippers in our family so being far enough away that they can’t always be in our business is nice.
Casey’s pizza- see hickory park above
Endless political ads
The lack of variety in entertainment- people like to talk about the slower and more relaxing pace of life which I kind of understand, but it’s mainly code for “there’s not much to do.”

Yeah. It's nice not to have endless lines or things where it's super busy, but on the other hand, if the only source of entertainment is the local bar/pizza place/restaurant/post office/mechanic well, that just means that there's nothing to do OR there's nothing there to make you a better or more educated person

 

[Cyrealist]

No traffic
This time of the year, everything is so green
The change of seasons. It's like living in 4 different places
Low crime
Dirt tracks
Fairs

Other than during Covid, we can travel and/or read for culture.

 

[bos]

The Iowa Nice thing reminds me of the “Be Kind” people that spew hate on social media like it’s their job. Iowa is certainly no nicer than many places, and much like the rest of the country in the declining level of civility. People have profane flags, signs, and bumper stickers right across the street from the elementary school.

The fireworks really drive it home for me. Hours and hours of fireworks at all hours of day and night, certainly not within the days allowed by city ordinance. So many people reporting their dogs ran off when spooked by them. After our pup whimpered for hours, we then see the trash all over our yard. I guess if you are violating the fireworks ordinance you don’t really care that you are littering all over your neighbors property. So we also spent hours picking that crap up to protect our dog.

Our city has been good for this. Only two days worth of fireworks and a smaller window at night during it. Otherwise the fines are big. The past few years have been respectful.

 

[BCoffClone125]

Another thing I've noticed about Iowa (and most if the Midwest) when I come back is almost all social events seem to revolve around drinking in some fashion. I feel like I live a much healthier lifestyle where I am now where the after work happy hour is now replaced with an after work hike or other outdoor activity. Is there booze still involved sometimes? Of course, but it's not the main focus like it seems to be in Iowa.

I actually know of few people who have struggled with alcoholism that had to move away from IA for that very reason. All of their friends and family wanted to go out and drink.

 

[NoCreativity]

"Iowa Nice" is extremely overrated. If you need any proof of it just checkout the comment sections on Facebook of any news outlet in the state like KCCI.

 

[carvers4math]

Our city has been good for this. Only two days worth of fireworks and a smaller window at night during it. Otherwise the fines are big. The past few years have been respectful.

It’s only two days here too with reasonable hours, but so many people violate it, the cops are overwhelmed.

 

[bos]

"Iowa Nice" is extremely overrated. If you need any proof of it just checkout the comment sections on Facebook of any news outlet in the state like KCCI.

Comment sections of anything everywhere are like this. People feel brave on the internet.

 

[Bipolarcy]

Same with Iowa

Nope. Like I said, the only places where you won't find another crossroad in Iowa after a mile is where natural impediments occur that prevent it.

 

[Land Grant]

Iowa nice is a sham. It's the way that insecure Iowans convince themselves that they're better than everyone else. In my experience, it also papers over the judgy and self righteous attitudes of many.

As for what I miss-- for me it's watching the tread of a tractor tire as it digs into damp soil. But that's mostly nostalgia.

 

[Fococlone]

I miss walking beans in the summer with Maid Rites and ice cold bottled coke lunches. Playing 4 man neighborhood baseball or football from morning until street lights came on at night and moms hollering out for us all to come in. Riding bikes all around town in a pack. And home Iowa State football games, then coming home to recreate plays in the back yard with buddies with a nerf football.... lots of Archer to Henderson. for a touchdown... That's what I miss.

 

[NWICY]

Another thing I've noticed about Iowa (and most if the Midwest) when I come back is almost all social events seem to revolve around drinking in some fashion. I feel like I live a much healthier lifestyle where I am now where the after work happy hour is now replaced with an after work hike or other outdoor activity. Is there booze still involved sometimes? Of course, but it's not the main focus like it seems to be in Iowa.

I actually know of few people who have struggled with alcoholism that had to move away from IA for that very reason. All of their friends and family wanted to go out and drink.

They should be grateful they weren't Sconnies those folks know how to drink.

 

[madguy30]

What is with all the “lushness” and “green” stuff about Iowa? There is green and “lushness” (whatever the **** that is) for like 3 months of the year.

That's more than a lot of the west and makes quite a difference.

Not so much the green but if I spend time in CO or similar the first thing I notice about the midwest is how much water is around.

That said there's places that are pretty much always green. PNW is like being in Jurrasic Park with all the ferns and what not.

 

[madguy30]

They should be grateful they weren't Sconnies those folks know how to drink.

Can confirm.

 

[BCClone]

Yeah. It's nice not to have endless lines or things where it's super busy, but on the other hand, if the only source of entertainment is the local bar/pizza place/restaurant/post office/mechanic well, that just means that there's nothing to do OR there's nothing there to make you a better or more educated person

No matter where you are or where you go, there are always things to learn. When you think you can’t learn anything from a small business of any sort, or a casual walk down the street, you have wandered into the land of being an arrogant and pompous ass.

 

[MisterO]

I left in ‘95 and have mostly been in Texas most of the time with stints in Asia and California.

I love Iowa and every time I come home it always feels good- still feels like home even though I’ve been away for a long time.

I miss:

1. Seeing my Iowa family regularly and making all the games at the Jack and Hilton with my dad.
2. The awesome bike trails around the DM area. I’ve biked in a lot of places- Iowa has some of the best trails of anywhere I’ve ridden…they’re beautiful, usually at least some tree cover, well maintained and most the people you see are cool. They usually give you a quick ‘hi’. If you’re stopped, you get an occasional convo with a complete stranger which is kinda neat.
3. Tasty Tacos…even though they’ve gone down a little over the years, they’re still some of the best tacos I’ve ever had.
4. Casey’s pizza…I’m so hungry, I could eat pizza from a gas station.
5. Iowa sweet corn.
6. The early summer mornings…biking while watching the sun come up is amazing. Cool air and you’re dripping with sweat because of the humidity. Nothing else like it.
7. Small towns…they’re all alike, but they are all unique. They’re a great place to be.
8. All the water- beautiful lakes and rivers everywhere, big trees, and hills. Iowa is gorgeous from May- early November.
9. Adventureland- where else can you pretty much ride all day with no lines or crowds for under $50?

My daughter is starting college in a couple of years and she’s expressed an interest in going to ISU. I try not to show it, but I’d be thrilled if she went. I would probably buy a house near Ames and live there from May to November.

 

[Al_4_State]

Nope. Like I said, the only places where you won't find another crossroad in Iowa after a mile is where natural impediments occur that prevent it.

How is that different than Minnesota? Are hundreds of miles of impenetrable forest not “natural impediments”?

 

[tm3308]

That's more than a lot of the west and makes quite a difference.

Not so much the green but if I spend time in CO or similar the first thing I notice about the midwest is how much water is around.

That said there's places that are pretty much always green. PNW is like being in Jurrasic Park with all the ferns and what not.

The PNW would be my dream place to live if I could afford it. I despise the Midwestern climate. Give me 40-75 degrees 300+ days out of the year, and rain in the winter instead of snow and ice. I'm a pretty hardcore griller/barbecue guy and I go all year round, but it'd be a damn sight more pleasant in Oregon or Washington than it is in Wisconsin or Iowa.

 

[frackincygy]

Yeah. It's nice not to have endless lines or things where it's super busy, but on the other hand, if the only source of entertainment is the local bar/pizza place/restaurant/post office/mechanic well, that just means that there's nothing to do OR there's nothing there to make you a better or more educated person

If you're bored/uneducated in Iowa it's because you're a boring/uneducated person.