Ok...I can add to this....
I grew up in nj and just for the record:
NJ DOES NOT SMELL!!!
I hate when people say "dirty jersey or dirty jerz"...it just pisses me off. I met a guy on vacation who thought that I should have a "north carolina like east coast accent"...yea...cuz the last time i checked north carolina was right next to jersey
It isn't called the garden state for fun...it really is a great place to live...and its right near nyc...without having to actually live there.