There’s a lot to love about Mississippi. But after living in the state for some time, you learn there are just some things better left alone. Here are 12 of them.
- The frustration known as Wal-Mart.
LevoisJ/Flickr From no parking to long lines, avoiding Wal-Mart for as long as possible is always a good idea. You know, for your sanity.
- Shopping right before a hurricane.
Nick/Flickr Let’s face it; we’ve all put off buying some much-needed hurricane supplies and then found ourselves running to the store at the last minute. If this applies to you, you probably promised yourself at that moment, “Never, ever again.”
- Outdoor activities during the summer.
bark/Flickr If at all possible, avoiding any type of outdoor activity during the summer is recommended. This includes things like strenuous yard work, going to the zoo, and walking to your car. Okay, the last one is probably fine, but in the heat of summer, you may not think so.
- Traffic on game day.
Visit Mississippi/Flickr College football can attract thousands to the stadium, which means game day traffic can get pretty hectic. So, if you’re one of the few not headed to the big game, staying off the road is probably a good idea.
- If you’re trying to lose weight…the entire state!
Nongbri Family Pix/Flickr Between the amazing local cuisine and the fact that Mississippians show their love with home cooked comfort food, losing weight in the state is practically impossible.
- Stopping somewhere in a hurry.
Natalie Maynor/Flickr Have a few minutes before work and think you have just enough time to run into a store and grab a cup of coffee? Think again. This is the Hospitality State, which means going into any business will likely turn into a 15 minute conversation with the store owner or a fellow customer…and it’s great.
- Slithering snakes.
tom spinker/Flickr Even though there are all kinds of catchy sayings to help us remember which are poisonous and which aren’t, keeping your distance from all snakes is your best bet.
- Hiking after a rainstorm.
Frank/Flickr Mississippi mosquitoes are always pretty tenacious; however, they’re definitely at their worst immediately following rain.
- Driving in the snow.
Tom Wicker/Flickr Snow is a pretty rare sight in the state, which means many of us Mississippians don’t have a lot of experience driving in it. And why take the chance when we can just stay home in front of our cozy fireplaces?
- Travelling throughout the state without cash.
me and the sysop/Flickr Although few and far between, there are some businesses in the state that only take cash, so travelling with cash is definitely advised, especially when visiting more remote areas of the state.
- …Or when you’re low on gas.
Richard/Flickr There are some areas of the state where you can drive for miles and not see a single person. And if there are no people, there’s no gas, which means you could end up stranded on the side of the road. And too many horror movies start off that way.
- Repeating stereotypes about the state.
Sarah/Flickr Yeah, yeah; us residents have heard all the stereotypes before and guess what? They’re just that, stereotypes. So unless you want to comment about how hospitable the people are or how great the food is, keep it to yourself.
In spite of these things, I wouldn’t trade living in Mississippi for anything. How about you? Do you try and avoid these things? What should be added to this list? Tell us in the comments section below.
LevoisJ/Flickr
From no parking to long lines, avoiding Wal-Mart for as long as possible is always a good idea. You know, for your sanity.
Nick/Flickr
Let’s face it; we’ve all put off buying some much-needed hurricane supplies and then found ourselves running to the store at the last minute. If this applies to you, you probably promised yourself at that moment, “Never, ever again.”
bark/Flickr
If at all possible, avoiding any type of outdoor activity during the summer is recommended. This includes things like strenuous yard work, going to the zoo, and walking to your car. Okay, the last one is probably fine, but in the heat of summer, you may not think so.
Visit Mississippi/Flickr
College football can attract thousands to the stadium, which means game day traffic can get pretty hectic. So, if you’re one of the few not headed to the big game, staying off the road is probably a good idea.
Nongbri Family Pix/Flickr
Between the amazing local cuisine and the fact that Mississippians show their love with home cooked comfort food, losing weight in the state is practically impossible.
Natalie Maynor/Flickr
Have a few minutes before work and think you have just enough time to run into a store and grab a cup of coffee? Think again. This is the Hospitality State, which means going into any business will likely turn into a 15 minute conversation with the store owner or a fellow customer…and it’s great.
tom spinker/Flickr
Even though there are all kinds of catchy sayings to help us remember which are poisonous and which aren’t, keeping your distance from all snakes is your best bet.
Frank/Flickr
Mississippi mosquitoes are always pretty tenacious; however, they’re definitely at their worst immediately following rain.
Tom Wicker/Flickr
Snow is a pretty rare sight in the state, which means many of us Mississippians don’t have a lot of experience driving in it. And why take the chance when we can just stay home in front of our cozy fireplaces?
me and the sysop/Flickr
Although few and far between, there are some businesses in the state that only take cash, so travelling with cash is definitely advised, especially when visiting more remote areas of the state.
Richard/Flickr
There are some areas of the state where you can drive for miles and not see a single person. And if there are no people, there’s no gas, which means you could end up stranded on the side of the road. And too many horror movies start off that way.
Sarah/Flickr
Yeah, yeah; us residents have heard all the stereotypes before and guess what? They’re just that, stereotypes. So unless you want to comment about how hospitable the people are or how great the food is, keep it to yourself.
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