A Southern comedian once said, “The only reason people live in the North is that they have jobs up there. You ain’t ever heard of nobody retiring to the North.”

That inanity popped to mind upon reading about recent research that shows people in sunny, outdoorsy states are happiest. The research, interestingly, is conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the journal Science.

To end some of the suspense, let it be known that Texas finished 15th on the happiness scale.

CDC surveyed 1.3 million people, comparing self-described pleasant feelings with what the center termed objective measures. In those “happiest”states such things as climate, air quality, schools and crime rate were important factors to those surveyed.

This most recent survey covered four years (2005- 2008). CDC began its Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 1984 collecting information on a variety of health measures.

Researchers compared the “happiness” ranking with studies that rated states on such things as local taxes, commuting time and availability of public land, i.e. parks and other such amenities.

And, the winner is...tada... Louisiana.

An Associated Press story on the survey credited such things as Dixieland music and Cajun-Creole cooking as reasons Louisianans are happiest.

Another reason might be revealed in the creativity of our immediate neighbors to the east: Louisiana invented drive-through daiquiri bars. Then, when the state passed an open container in vehicles law, those bar owners came up with a cover/lid for the daiquiris through which a straw can be inserted.

Louisiana has long had a reputation as a “fun state,” mostly because of the unique city of New Orleans and the Cajun- Creole culture of “laissez les bon temps roulet.”

As mentioned, this most recent survey occurred from 2005-2008. New Orleans and much of Louisiana were devastated in late August 2005 by Hurricane Katrina and in September Hurricane Rita wreaked havoc in the western part of the state.

Researchers said they had no reason to discredit the survey since part of it was done before the storms and some after the hurricanes.

Which states were right behind Louisiana? In order, the top five included Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee and Arizona.

The U.S.’s only island state is certainly among the most beautiful plus the climate is outstanding. Air quality has to be wonderful. Schools get good marks and, it has been said, the native Hawaiian love of peace probably contributes to keeping crime statistics down. However, many reports over the years indicate high costs and taxes, negatives on the happiness scale.

Florida certainly meets the sunny and outdoorsy criteria cited in the study. However, the state seems to have more hurricanes than almost any state plus Floridians must cope with urbanization and the accompanying problems.

Tennessee? While, it’s just barely below the Mason-Dixon Line, Tennessee can’t be as sunny and warm as most of Texas. It does garner a bunch of points for outdoorsy. And, finally, there’s Elvis’ Graceland and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood.

Arizona has long been a haven for retirees with its sunny climes and some wide open spaces.

Now, which state was dead last in the “happiness” rankings? Why, New York, of course. The Empire State strikes out on local taxes, long commutes, unbelievable congestion and high prices. As the saying goes, “It’s a nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there.” Someone from a sunny, outdoorsy state must have coined that one.

One of the “sunny” states that ranked low was California (46th). Again, congestion, housing prices and local taxes are seen as major factors in that ranking.

Researchers said they wanted to study whether people’s feelings of satisfaction with their own lives are reliable. They concluded they do match.

Texas’ growth and the accompanying problems over the last 30-40 years has likely shoved it down the rankings a bit to 15th. Still, people keep moving here because of wide open spaces and opportunity.

Smile when you say that, podnuh.

Willis Webb is a retired community newspaper editor-publisher. He can be reached by email at wwebb@wildblue.net.