It gets pretty old after a while, so of course I decided to make up different answers every time someone asks me, "Have you been to Chicago?"

It's been tough living in Illinois my entire life, you become the "local" who everybody thinks is an "expert" in everything Illinois.  In my opinion, the infamous Bean (Cloud Gate) is cool the first time you see it and then you realize you're just staring at a gigantic bean that many people have licked over the years. Gross.

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I wanted to gather my thoughts and give you 10 questions people seriously want to know when they find out you're from Illinois.  Here we go!

#1 ISN'T ILLINOIS REALLY DANGEROUS?

Doesn't every state have crime? All depends on the area you live in!

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#2 YOU EAT A LOT OF DEEP DISH PIZZA, RIGHT?

My boyfriend grew up eating deep dish pizza and loves it.  Me?  I've never had it and I've lived in Illinois all my life!  Am I missing out?

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#3 WHAT STATE IS ILLINOIS BY?

Our friendly neighbors are Cheeseheads, so I'll let you figure that one out.

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#4 IS THERE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION?

I'll be honest, there was one summer every intersection was under construction and I couldn't believe it.  I'm not even sure anything was fixed.

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#5 YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, WHY ILLINOIS?

This questions frustrates me because we all live in different states for different reasons, why do you not live in Illinois? Hmm....

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#6 SO YOU'RE INTO SPORTS, CUBS OR WHITE SOX?

I refrain from answering this type of question because it's the deal breaking question that determines whether you like me or not.

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#7 HAVE YOU BEEN TO NAVY PIER?

Way too many times.  Navy Pier is actually pretty fun in the summer, music and all sorts of food to choose from!

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#8 IS IT COLD ALL THE TIME?

Uh, most of the year.  I guess that's why so many Illinoisans vacation South a lot.  But, I do enjoy season changes.

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#9 WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A CHICAGO ACCENT?

Maybe it's more of a Midwest accent since we're not all from Chicago!

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AND #10... WHAT'S IT LIKE TO LIVE IN ILLINOIS?

Well, I'm just one of thousands of people who live here so my opinion may not be the best.  I think that because I still live here it sorta means something.  Lots of bars, markets, and local events happening all the time so I think living in Illinois is a pretty great state to live in!

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LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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