Where we are born/where we die

[JohnnySavage]

I was reading some census data the other day and have been pondering on one of the statistics...

Most Americans (and I suspect most humans, in general), die within 100 miles of where they were born. I've always thought myself a pretty worldy guy, having traveled extensively and having lived abroad for about 20% of my adult life. But then it occurred to me, I live about 80 miles from where I was born; and there's really no reason for it. I could live anywhere... how did I end up here, and why do I stay? I rarely go back to my home town, even though it's only about 3 hours away so it doesn't seem like I'm tied here because of proximity to my roots.

Further thought: I know a lot of people from my home area who have never gone more than 100 miles from where they were born. Now granted, I'm from Appalachia, which is a very insular region and people don't generally migrate in or out. But it still amazes me. A lot of people from my region see airplanes flying over, but have never been on one.

I never rode on an elevator until I went off to college...

 

[Wings27]

Finally a statistic I don't fit in to!

 

[JohnnySavage]

Finally a statistic I don't fit in to!

You live in Minnesota by choice?

 

[Wat_Tyler]

We ain't dead yet, so who knows?

 

[JohnnySavage]

We ain't dead yet, so who knows?

If I knew where I was going to die, I'd never go there

 

[Wings27]

You live in Minnesota by choice?

I do, actually. It's beautiful here. But I am well over 100 miles from where I was born.

 

[Johnny_Ray_Wilson]

I lived within 50 miles of where I was born most of my life. For years, I could not imagine living anywhere else. Except when I was in the Navy. Then I moved out of the great state of Texas last year.

I moved both because of my job and my town had became too populated.

Unlike most people, I do not care what happens to my body or where I am when I die.

I am amazed at the mindset of some people where I live now. Many people speak to others outside their social circle as if they should know exactly who and what they are talking about when no one is even remotely familiar with the same people or situation. I have limited mind reading abilities.

 

[TexasWife25]

I dont live within 100 miles of where I was born
but I imagine at some point I will move back, and
most likely die there

I think people stay for a lot of reasons
family friends job, even simple familiarity.

 

[oggbashan]

My paternal family history shows that MOST of my ancestors moved very little in 600 years, remaining in or close to the City of London until 1915 when their home was destroyed by a bomb dropped from a Zeppelin.

My maternal family history is centred around a group of Suffolk villages within 5 miles of each other until the mid-19th Century when they moved to the City of London and lived in the same block that was destroyed by the bomb.

However, those from both sides of the family that didn't stay went to the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa. In the first three countries they bred like rabbits and I now have more living relatives in any one of them than in the UK. The South Africans moved on to Australia.

I was born in Wales (blame WWII) and have lived in Gibraltar and Australia but I am still less than 100 miles from the City of London. This month I was back at the site of the Zeppelin bomb, visiting the nearby Museum of London.

 

[islandman]

I do not fit this stereotype.

 

[KRCummings]

I'm well over 100 miles away but I'm still in the same geographic region. I know why though, I like it in the Midwest. I've lived other places and visited more and the Midwest is where I want to be. Maybe it's because this is where I grew up but it doesn't feel like it.

 

[CandiCame]

This thread depresses me. I hate where I was born. But I always knew I would die in nowheresville.

 

[richard_daily]

I plan to die half way around the world from where I was born.

 

[JohnnySavage]

I didn't really tend to this thread as I should have. I got distracted by something else and lost interest.

 

[pointless]

i'm more than a hundred miles away from my birthplace, but i'm not sure it counts anyway since i wasn't even a year old when i moved away.

 

[warrior queen]

I fully intend to choose the time, manner and location of my death.
I have plans.

I live as far away as one can possibly get from the place of my birth.

 

[MonaLittle]

I didn't really tend to this thread as I should have. I got distracted by something else and lost interest.

What caught your interest?

I live very close to where I was born. I am this statistic

 

[Wat_Tyler]

If I knew where I was going to die, I'd never go there

Right. And if frogs had wings . . . .

 

[JohnnySavage]

What caught your interest?

I live very close to where I was born. I am this statistic

Two things: For the first time in history, the majority of Americans live in a city; and, 90% of the world's population lives within 100 miles of an ocean.

 

[Liar]

I plan to die half way around the world from where I was born.

I plan to die on the moon. I'm counting on Newt.

 

[JohnnySavage]

I plan to die on the moon. I'm counting on Newt.

Sorry, no immigrants allowed on Newt's moon base.

 

[Morcheeba]

What's also creepy is that (they say) most car accidents happen within 2 miles of a person's house/home.

*knocks on wood

 

[islandman]

Two things: For the first time in history, the majority of Americans live in a city; and, 90% of the world's population lives within 100 miles of an ocean.

And this is why the polar ice caps melting will be a problem.

But not if you live in Montana.

 

[JohnnySavage]

And this is why the polar ice caps melting will be a problem.

But not if you live in Montana.

When I was 18 I took a cross county drive and got a speeding ticket in Helena Montana.

True story.

 

[jomar]

What's also creepy is that (they say) most car accidents happen within 2 miles of a person's house/home.

*knocks on wood

I thought it was five. Must be more grocery stores around these days.