@farmerman,
Farmerlad, I think that was your bestest post ever.
Worst storm I was ever in, well, while trying to drive, was near Rolla, Missouri. Gadzooks. (Hmm, I wonder how TwoPacks is doing lately. . . )
Not to dump on the US, my country, which I'm mixed about but hey, it's mine, and it's very very varied, but WHY also comes to the forefront, re superduber's cause.
I'm someone who likes a couple of other countries a lot (Italy, Mexico) and at one point considered a move to Italy on a part time basis - and I couldn't do the move and stay connected here. But even I know that fantasies about the loved place don't correspond greatly to real life much of the time. (Favorite Italy writer, Tim Parks, by far.)
So, WHY, superduber, are you fixated on Missouri? Have you been there?