John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads” always made me think West Virginia was a paradise. I’ve never been there, so I don’t know.
But maybe he should have sang, “Almost Hades, West Virginia…” based on this Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index that was released yesterday.
The report measures well-being and says Hawaii residents are the most chill, based on emotional and physical health and other criteria.
West Virginia was last.
Look at this video and tell me that isn’t some nice looking country.
On the other hand, West Virginia’s population tends to be under-educated and poor. Residents traditionally rank near the bottom in nationwide median household income.
I guess you can only stare blissfully at a mountain dotted by colorful trees for so long. Eventually you’ve got to pay your bills and go to college or learn a skill and make a decent living.
The report lists Texas in the middle when it comes to well-being.
Not bad, considering the industrial onslaught happening in cities such as Fort Worth and elsewhere with little regard to the environment.
I guess we’re fairly chill, but not so much that we don’t occasionally get our Wranglers in a wad. And oh what fun it is to see Mayor Mike Moncrief’s sense of well-being challenged:
