I still have fond memories of hot, humid childhood summers spent visiting my grandparents in Lake Providence, Louisiana. There's nothing like riding ATVs in the mud with your cousins, shooting BB guns and sucking down ICEEs -- and then tucking into a huge platter of crawfish.
You should go visit. With the gulf oil disaster, Louisiana desperately needs your tourist dollars. Plus, Louisianans
really know how to relax. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),
Louisiana is the laziest state in the nation:
While residents in developed areas such as New Orleans, a compact city with sidewalks, gyms, and outdoor events, have opportunities to be active, Louisianans in the rest of the state spend more time at sedentary activities than the average American. According to BLS data, for example, they sleep an average 8 hours and 44 minutes per day, watch an average 3 hours and 5 minutes of television, socialize for 54 minutes, and relax for 29 minutes. The average time spent working among all Louisianans -- 2 hours, 41 minutes -- is shorter than in all other states, according to the BLS data.
Over a year's time, an average Louisianan spends "3,285 more minutes sleeping and 9,855 more minutes watching television than the national average." The numbers were compiled before the oil spill, which has undoubtedly driven down Louisianan's work time even further.
Don't sweat it, Louisiana. (I know you won't.) I still love you.
(Source:
Businessweek)
