Kansas City Swings Both Ways

I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. Not some shitty suburb but the actual city. A little over a year ago I bought a house in Kansas City, Kansas. After realizing that my money would go further on the west side of State Line (in the midtown neighborhood at least), it was an easy decision. Besides, I can still see Missouri from my house.

People have asked me how I’ve adjusted to the change and or if I prefer one state to another and I’m floored. Besides a few clerical differences there was no chasm or divide to “get over” in my out-of-state move. I couldn’t believe people thought there would be. Kansas City goes both ways!

I can still see all my friends and family, eat at the same great restaurants, get drunk at the same dirty bars and root for ALL the sports ballz team.

But maybe there are a few differences (Brownback not withstanding), Kansas has:

• Snow Removal. On ALL street INCLUDING residential streets. Good luck getting anything plowed in Missouri. Sucker.

• Unlimited trash pick-up. MO limits you to 2 bags.

• Only need a rear license plate. The front of my car feels liberated.

• No car inspection required on tag renewals. Live dangerously.

• When traveling abroad no one knows about Missouri but everyone knows Kansas. Thanks Dorothy.

I’m not saying one is better than the other (except on the snow removal point- that one definitely goes to KS) rather, we’re just one big city with arbitrary lines that define whether or not we have an all blue license plate or a white and blue license plate.

Maybe we need to do away with the “State Line” and have a “State Spectrum” instead. KC lands squarely in the middle and will not conform to any state identity labels you have for her! And this is just another reason to love Kansas City.

Leave a comment about why YOU love Kansas City.