Living in Louisiana
To live in Louisana means to live by the water, even if you’re living inland. Being able to swim will be wise, being able to fish will decrease stress, and being able to operate a boat will make you complete in a state famous for its bayous and waterways.
WORKING
According to the Department of Numbers, the median household income for Louisiana was $46,145 in 2017. At the moment, the state also has a high demand for software experts, analysts, and physical therapists. And because of the state’s reliance on tourism, the lower-paying jobs offered by the hospitality and personal care industries enjoy a perpetual demand.
WEATHER
This is a big factor when considering a relocation to Louisiana. On the upside, the state enjoys a humid subtropical climate, which means you’ll get to enjoy warm weather on a nearly year-round basis. So while you’re enjoying the brief cool spells that might show up during the winter months, you can also laugh at your friends up north as they spend months shoveling snow out of their driveways. It’s only mean if you don’t like them.
Weather prediction tends to be a bit tricky, though. Depending on the time of year, it won’t be uncommon to experience a diversity of Mother Nature’s offerings. Heavy rains on Monday might be followed by cool winds on Tuesday, both of which could make way for a hot and humid Wednesday. And it’ll be the kind of hot and humid you hear about in the south.
But the climate, coupled with Louisiana’s perch right on the Gulf of Mexico, also means that heavy rainstorms, flooding, and hurricanes will be a fact of life. Now that doesn’t mean every storm will be The Big One, but it would be wise to create and maintain a storm supply kit, have an evacuation plan, and keep on good terms with your friends up north in case you need to flee. It’s only fair if you let them crash at your place for Mardi Gras.
THINGS TO DO
Thanks to the state’s features of great food, warm weather, a party atmosphere, and jazz music, anyone recently relocating to Louisiana won’t have trouble finding stuff to do with their free time.
Naturally, the biggest thing to do will be the annual party that is Mardi Gras season. And we do mean season; Mardi Gras parades go on for weeks before Fat Tuesday at various spots throughout the state, so even if you’re not interested in the party, you’ll be dealing with pomp and anticipation of the season. It may help to think of Mardi Gras like some of the other major American holidays and plan accordingly, like the people who don’t like seeing Halloween stuff going on sale in August. Or pumpkin beer in July.
But to not engage in Mardi Gras will mean missing out on one of the most unique and colorful celebrations in the entire world. So forget about any stories you’ve heard about Louisiana being the Delta House of the United States and jump right in.
More importantly, since you can’t evade the festival atmosphere, why not look around and see what you can find? In addition to Mardi Gras, Louisiana offers a variety of events and festivals throughout the year, all of them celebrating the things that make Louisiana famous throughout the world. Like seafood? There’ll be festivals about everything from catfish grilling to po boy sandwiches. Enjoy jazz music or just getting exposed to it? There’ll be festivals for that, too. There’s festivals for everything including fishing and boating, zydeco music, crawfish, and strawberries, including the Strawberry Festival of Ponchatoula and the Red River Revel in Shreveport.
And if you enjoy sports, you won’t be hurting for something to do, either. The state goes bananas for everything from ice hockey to basketball, with a particular emphasis on football (especially collegiate football), And if you have any interest in water sports, that enthusiasm will be warmly greeted by the natives, who engage in everything from paddle boarding to water skiing.
CULTURE
The cultural makeup of Louisiana is highly diverse, a gumbo mixture of French, Spanish, African, and Native American influences that contributing to everything from art to architecture. The most obvious display of those influences can be heard in the music, which infuses everything. It will not be uncommon to walk down a street in any part of the state and hear music being played; head for the cities and you’ll see musicians parading in the middle of the day for no particular reason.
Dialects and the accent may play hell with your responses for a bit. Thanks to the previously mentioned cultural influences, a trip through Louisiana will feature a variety of languages, the heavy emphasis being French and Creole but also featuring Spanish and German. This also means the accents will be heavy and thick even when speaking English, so some adjustment time may be required.
Never had the pleasure of eating a good gumbo? You’ll find it here, along with some of the best food in the country. While the usual big-name items like etouffee, muffuletta, red beans and rice, and even alligator ribs can be found anywhere, nobody does them better than the state where they originated.
Also, speaking of gators, quick survival note: do not, under any circumstances, attempt to engage in conversation with the wildlife like it’s a Disney movie. The gators cannot play trumpets, but they’ll eat ya. We’re saying it now because somebody has to.
LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER
Ready to head for Louisiana? Liking the idea of living someplace where celebrations can be constant and the excitement never dissipates for long? Why not get started today? Colonial Van Lines can help make your moving experience stress free. Call a Colonial Van Lines professional and find out how easy a move to Louisiana can be.
The sooner you call, you sooner you can start planning on attending that voodoo festival. Bring your own pin.