Why Is It Shocking That I Chose to Live in Rockford, Illinois?

Being born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, it comes with a lot of questions from people who aren't totally familiar with this place.  I'm kinda getting sick of it.

People find it surprising that I ended up staying in Rockford after college.  Many expect you to move away and start a whole new life somewhere else, but why do that when I am perfectly fine right here in my hometown?

Whenever I run into people I haven't seen in a while, the reaction is always, "Whoa, I thought you left a long time ago!" or my favorite question...

"When do you plan on moving out of Illinois?"

This one irks me a little bit.  More specifically, I hate when people ask when I'm leaving Rockford.

The older I've gotten; I've noticed people move away and think it'll fix everything for them.  For some, that is the case!  For others, I see they're moving right back to Rockford to be closer to family.  You don't have to move if you're happy here!

There's such a stigma in this city.  I get it, though.  There's crime, cost of living isn't the best, rent is high, not bike friendly, and we're not like Milwaukee, Madison, or Chicago.

But guess what?  No matter where you go, there's always something to worry about.

To answer the question: I don't plan on moving anytime soon.  I have my favorite people just a few blocks away, I work here and am doing just fine.  Something crazy would have to happen to push me out of Rockford.  For now, I happily, willingly stay!