Born and raised here. I love it.
My home town was Springfield, and now I live out by the Berkshires, which, by and large, are mostly forgotten in the travel brochures. Or maybe get a small mention after all the hoopla over the Cape and Boston.
We have, of course, the Berkshire Mountains (really hills) with lovely scenery, especially in mid spring and mid autumn. Jacobs ladder trail. The Norman Rockwell Museum. Skiing. Camping. Lovely little rural towns with history every bit as rich as what's in the eastern part of the state. I live in a town called "The Gem of the Valley", and it's called that for a reason.
We're off the beaten track (no major highway exits) but close enough to the turnpike so that we're not totally isolated.
Out east, there's Plymouth Rock...Salem...Old Ironsides...Bunker Hill...and mid-state there's Sturbridge Village. Like I said, we're loaded with history and lots of fun things to do.
Standard of living...pretty decent, I would say.
I'm so happy to be a New Englander.
PS...clam chowdah is always white here. "Manhattan" clam chowder is a poor second. Oh, and I am making my favorite New England meal for dinner tonight...boiled dinner.
OK now I'm done talking up my state 
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