[dexwiz]

Out of curiosity do you live in the Great Lakes basin? I moved from Indiana to the West Coast, and I am always shocked at how bad the air quality is when I go back, even in rural areas. During wild fire season I monitor AQI, and when I zoom out I always see that Indiana is just as bad as the smokiest days on the West Coast.

Something about the large, hardly noticeable depression traps bad air at a regional level. I wouldn’t move back for a myriad of reasons, but everyone is always surprised when I list air quality as one.

[selecsosi]

Similar migration (IN->CA), it has changed my life. I had the worst sinus/migraine issues growing up and my breathing has dramatically improved after moving out of Midwest, even compared on the worst wildfire weeks out here.

Coming from NWI, I know the mills had a lot to do with subpar air quality, but I had similar issues when I lived on the far Northside of Chicago so it seems to be more regionally affecting.

It's a similar top reason on my list to not living there long term again

[dexwiz]

Same with the sinus infections. Cold air + pollution = two weeks of sinus infections every winter. I haven’t had one since leaving.

[TylerE]

North Carolina. Locally it's not so much exhaust type stuff, but all the damn pollen, which I'm somewhat allergic too. Pine trees for miles. I'm about 50 miles inland from the coast so lots of wetlands so in the summer (Which means basically... late March through mid October - it's going to hit 82 here toomorrow) it's oppressively hot and humid.