Why I Live in Minnesota

In honor of our state's 150th birthday, Minnesota Public Radio is collecting stories from Minnesota residents about why they live here.   This is mine.

How did I get here?

My family moved from Andover, New York to Lawrenceville, New Jersey when I was 9 years old.  When I was 12, I met Matt Masotti, who lived nearby, through our mutual interest in sports.  Matt and I stayed friends through high school and college.  I attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.  He attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.  After college, Matt wanted to move to Minneapolis to be near his girlfriend who was moving there as well.  He invited me to come to Minneapolis and share an apartment with him and couple of other Carleton grads.  I had only visited Minneapolis once before (with Matt) to see the Twins play at the Metrodome.  Despite that limited exposure to the city, I was ready to try something new.   At the time, I was living with my mother in New Jersey, employed as a stock clerk at the Princeton University Bookstore.   So, I took Matt up on his offer and moved to Minneapolis in the fall of 1983. 

Why did I stay?

I have stayed in Minnesota for a number of reasons.  I got a job that grew into a career working for Minnesota Public Radio.  I made quite a few good friends.  I met my wife (who came here from Cincinnati, Ohio) and we had a child, the first native Minnesotan in our family.  In addition, I just like the people here.   They are not as stressed and irritable as people on the east coast.  I also like all the exciting weather and the joy of spring's arrival each year.