Do you like where you live?

[brettg20]

Another OC resident here...f'ing expensive but worth it to me

 

[ubnserved]

I guess it really would help to know what kind of community you are looking for and what kind of activities you are looking for. I have live in KY -hot and humid didn't get out to see anything so I can't say much else. Lived in VA tons to do but crowded. Lived in FL panhandle inland waterway across the street. Hot from may to November was nice only having a couple of weeks of winter usually picked the last of the garden Christmas day to go with Christmas dinner. Great fishing and beautiful beaches and plenty of summertime activities - parties, parades, festivals. Visited Denver for a few months liked it but expensive and crowded but plenty to do. Originally from Vancouver WA. Lots to do not too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer and it is basically a suburb of Portland so you can find any thing in the world there. Lived in Vernonia OR for a year quiet town closer to the ocean far enough away from the big cities to enjoy the peace and quiet and great fishing. A place you can still swim in a river and see your feet when standing in chest deep water. Live in Lincoln NE, as long as you can tolerate the bo polene talk you can live here. Winter is long and cold, summer hot. We have low unemployment 3.2 and top ten of almost every list of great things about cities you can think of, i can't think of anything right now because of my head but it's easy to look up. Schools I would say are at best average if you are planning kids. Cost of living is low about on par with ft Walton Beach area of FL panhandle although car insurance and food is cheaper here. NE also has its share of idiots and seems to be in the news lately for stupid things. (Bo badmouthed so n so, AG suing CO, no pipeline etc) who cares and get off your high horse. (Pun intended). Oil in a pipe is safer than oil in a train and you can lease my yard. But I'm rambling now so I better go to bed.

 

[markme]

I live in MN, can't complain, at least not 5 months out of twelve. Northern Brewer is right here, can't go 20 miles without hitting a lake, craft beer is good,and golf courses are good. Wait I'll complain, it's damn cold now, in the summer the mosquitoes are the size of wasps, only more vicious and I think our taxes are high. But if you like professional sports we do have.......well tickets are cheap

 

[HB_in_Subic]

I think that you have to first set up some criteria for what you are seeking.

For me, I lived in Central FL for 20+ years. I found myself not getting ahead and barely treading water with finances. I also hated winter and the 2 or 3 freezes there. I always wanted to live further south.

I chose to do overseas work and haven't looked back seriously in 7+ years. I got out of debt within 2 years and purchased my retirement house within 4.

Where I live is not 100% the same as the US but I don't want it to be. I live where it is 68F-93F year round, get rain for 6 months out of the year. I am able to relax and do what I want when I want.

Con's; some things are not readily available (HB supplies I have to ship in from the US), I have to be proactive and plan ahead (moving money and purchases from abroad).

Pro's; weather, security, decent living, plenty of stuff to do, expenses low (live on $1500/mo.) in comparison to the US, zero property tax.

I make the best of what I have and enjoy life to it's fullest. I enjoy every day I am home and would never trade what I have for anything else.

 

[bobeer]

I guess it really would help to know what kind of community you are looking for and what kind of activities you are looking for. I have live in KY -hot and humid didn't get out to see anything so I can't say much else. Lived in VA tons to do but crowded. Lived in FL panhandle inland waterway across the street. Hot from may to November was nice only having a couple of weeks of winter usually picked the last of the garden Christmas day to go with Christmas dinner. Great fishing and beautiful beaches and plenty of summertime activities - parties, parades, festivals. Visited Denver for a few months liked it but expensive and crowded but plenty to do. Originally from Vancouver WA. Lots to do not too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer and it is basically a suburb of Portland so you can find any thing in the world there. Lived in Vernonia OR for a year quiet town closer to the ocean far enough away from the big cities to enjoy the peace and quiet and great fishing. A place you can still swim in a river and see your feet when standing in chest deep water. Live in Lincoln NE, as long as you can tolerate the bo polene talk you can live here. Winter is long and cold, summer hot. We have low unemployment 3.2 and top ten of almost every list of great things about cities you can think of, i can't think of anything right now because of my head but it's easy to look up. Schools I would say are at best average if you are planning kids. Cost of living is low about on par with ft Walton Beach area of FL panhandle although car insurance and food is cheaper here. NE also has its share of idiots and seems to be in the news lately for stupid things. (Bo badmouthed so n so, AG suing CO, no pipeline etc) who cares and get off your high horse. (Pun intended). Oil in a pipe is safer than oil in a train and you can lease my yard. But I'm rambling now so I better go to bed.

I think what I'm looking for doesn't exist. I have most of it where I am now but I can't stand how expensive it is here and the crowds. The lack of culture is also very annoying to me.
We just had my daughter in June so where ever we go has to have good schools and low crime.
I've lived in FL before, in the Tampa area, and it's not for me. Great place to vacation but living there sucks.

I'd love to live on the coast but it's just too risky these days. Erosion is going to take away a lot of the coast line in the next 50 years and i don't want to be at risk of losing my house. So, living by the coast is an important thing to me. Maybe an hour away.
I love the mountains too because I like to snowboard in the winter and hike/camp/bike in the spring/fall/summer. So living an hour or so away from that is preferable. I also like fishing, sports, live music, good food/beer, and restaurants that are not big chains.

I love the 4 seasons too. I missed it when I lived in FL and CA. I think winter could be a little shorter but with the right gear you can have some fun outside in it.

Obviously jobs are important too. The area has to have a decent job market. I work in IT so it should be getting easier and easier to find a job doing something IT related as the years go by.

So in conclusion good job market, good schools, 4 seasons, close to the beach and mountains, not crazy expensive to live, not super crowded, nice locals, a good culture, and things for kids to do. Is THAT so much to ask for?? :fro:

 

[Ridire]

I think what I'm looking for doesn't exist. I have most of it where I am now but I can't stand how expensive it is here and the crowds. The lack of culture is also very annoying to me.
We just had my daughter in June so where ever we go has to have good schools and low crime.
I've lived in FL before, in the Tampa area, and it's not for me. Great place to vacation but living there sucks.

I'd love to live on the coast but it's just too risky these days. Erosion is going to take away a lot of the coast line in the next 50 years and i don't want to be at risk of losing my house. So, living by the coast is an important thing to me. Maybe an hour away.
I love the mountains too because I like to snowboard in the winter and hike/camp/bike in the spring/fall/summer. So living an hour or so away from that is preferable. I also like fishing, sports, live music, good food/beer, and restaurants that are not big chains.

I love the 4 seasons too. I missed it when I lived in FL and CA. I think winter could be a little shorter but with the right gear you can have some fun outside in it.

Obviously jobs are important too. The area has to have a decent job market. I work in IT so it should be getting easier and easier to find a job doing something IT related as the years go by.

So in conclusion good job market, good schools, 4 seasons, close to the beach and mountains, not crazy expensive to live, not super crowded, nice locals, a good culture, and things for kids to do. Is THAT so much to ask for?? :fro:

So, you want to live in a place where everybody wants to live...but nobody has chosen to live there. Sounds like it should be easy to find...

 

[bobeer]

So, you want to live in a place where everybody wants to live...but nobody has chosen to live there. Sounds like it should be easy to find...

Exactly. At least someone gets it!

 

[Qhrumphf]

So, you want to live in a place where everybody wants to live...but nobody has chosen to live there. Sounds like it should be easy to find...

Yep.

I gave up trying to find the perfect place to live a long time ago. All places have their good and bad. And the places that have the most good otherwise inevitably get filled up with ******s who drive the cost of living up, which quickly moves it into "bad".

 

[hunter_le five]

I hear Antarctica is nice this time of year, and barely any people. I wonder what the property taxes are like there?

 

[Yooper]

I LOVE where I live- that's why I chose it. I moved to the UP of Michigan as an adult, after growing up in Youngstown Ohio and spending time traveling in the military.

My house is never locked, nor is my car. I'm pretty sure my purse is in my car right now, but not totally sure.

There are 10,000 people in my whole county, and one traffic light in the county which is only "on" Monday-Friday during the day.

We live in town, but have a cottage on a lake. There are over 200 lakes in our county, and millions of acres of National Forests and State Forests surrounding us. The nearest four lane highway is over 150 miles away.

We kayak, hike, fish, hunt, go on canoe trips, etc. I love it here. It's a wonderful place to raise a family, and to grow up.

The winters suck now, though. I used to play hockey, and ski (both cross country and downhill), and snowshoe and that made winter a lot more fun. So we go to S. Texas for two months in the winter.

I vacation or visit a city if I want to, and do that at least once or twice a year. I wouldn't change where I live for anything!

 

[hunter_le five]

I LOVE where I live.....

Everyone I've met from UP raves about it. One of my buddies who is a Texas Transplant from UP keeps threatening to go back there. I keep meaning to take a vacation there, someday. The pictures I've seen of it are nice.

 

[bobeer]

I LOVE where I live- that's why I chose it. I moved to the UP of Michigan as an adult, after growing up in Youngstown Ohio and spending time traveling in the military.

My house is never locked, nor is my car. I'm pretty sure my purse is in my car right now, but not totally sure.

There are 10,000 people in my whole county, and one traffic light in the county which is only "on" Monday-Friday during the day.

We live in town, but have a cottage on a lake. There are over 200 lakes in our county, and millions of acres of National Forests and State Forests surrounding us. The nearest four lane highway is over 150 miles away.

We kayak, hike, fish, hunt, go on canoe trips, etc. I love it here. It's a wonderful place to raise a family, and to grow up.

The winters suck now, though. I used to play hockey, and ski (both cross country and downhill), and snowshoe and that made winter a lot more fun. So we go to S. Texas for two months in the winter.

I vacation or visit a city if I want to, and do that at least once or twice a year. I wouldn't change where I live for anything!

What's the town called? What is the job market like up there?

 

[WNCBrewman]

Asheville, NC baby! Beer City USA.
Livin in the Blue Ridge Mtns and within 3 hours you can be on the coast.
Moved here 9 years ago. Love it here. Never leaving. Weather is perfect in summer, and never too cold in winter. You get all four seasons.
Doesn't hurt that Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues and New Belgium decided to jump on board.

 

[bobeer]

Asheville, NC baby! Beer City USA.
Livin in the Blue Ridge Mtns and within 3 hours you can be on the coast.
Moved here 9 years ago. Love it here. Never leaving. Weather is perfect in summer, and never too cold in winter. You get all four seasons.
Doesn't hurt that Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues and New Belgium decided to jump on board.

I've heard a lot about Ashville. I've heard it's pretty expensive too. Is that true? How's the job market out there? I think there's a lot of hippie type folks live there so there's a pretty good art and music scene.

 

[iijakii]

Moved from DFW, Texas to Portland, OR suburbs 1.5yrs ago. Love Oregon. Living somewhere green and beautiful just does so much to your mental health. Drive or go hiking in The Gorge and let me know if there's any place else you'd rather be.

 

[Yooper]

What's the town called? What is the job market like up there?

I live in Iron River, and the job market is dismal, except for jobs in the medical profession and a few other things. My husband is a retired wildlife biologist, and I'm a semi-retired health care provider (mostly retired) so it's never been an issue for us. The primary industry is logging, and second is tourism I believe.

North of us about 85 miles is Marquette, a college town with culture and diversity, so there are jobs and more people there. The university there has about 10,000 students and lots of jobs as a result as well as many businesses.

 

[ubnserved]

Moved from DFW, Texas to Portland, OR suburbs 1.5yrs ago. Love Oregon. Living somewhere green and beautiful just does so much to your mental health. Drive or go hiking in The Gorge and let me know if there's any place else you'd rather be.

I have to second the Oregon/Washington thing - snow skiing, boating, fishing almost all times of year and depending on where you live you could do all in the same day if so inclined, WA/OR western 1/3rd have very mild climates, rain forests and oceans etc. I can't say much about the schools or cost of living these days but 8f my wife didn't have family here in the Midwest I probably would have moved back to the area years ago. Lots of state and federal lands a good and bad thing. Both have vibrant beer scenes.

 

[drainbamage]

I live on the edge of the Cincinnati suburbs (albeit on the KY side of the Ohio River).

Pros:
Reasonable cost of living
Good job prospects
Cincinnati constantly has new breweries opening, N. KY has a burgeoning wine industry, and bourbon country is a short drive away.
Safe, close-knit communities (for the most part)
There are lots of other big cities to visit within a couple hours' drive (Indianapolis, Columbus, Lexington, Louisville). So are parks and wilderness if that's what you're going for.
UK Fans

Cons:
It snows just enough that everyone loses their s**t and forgets how to drive...and there are a lot of hills.
The Cincinnati/N. KY airport consistently ranks near the top for highest airfares in the US
Having a bunch of small-ish cities directly adjacent to one another usually means a bunch of bickering over what is best for the area.
The city where I live is almost quiet to a fault. Low crime rates are a plus, but there isn't much in the way of interesting stuff going on either.
UK Fans

 

[bobeer]

Thanks for all the responses. This is a very interesting thread and opens my eyes to what the US, and Canada, have to offer. It's fun to read about other areas. Keep em coming!

 

[jrowland74]

I live on the edge of the Cincinnati suburbs (albeit on the KY side of the Ohio River).

Pros:
Reasonable cost of living
Good job prospects
Cincinnati constantly has new breweries opening, N. KY has a burgeoning wine industry, and bourbon country is a short drive away.
Safe, close-knit communities (for the most part)
There are lots of other big cities to visit within a couple hours' drive (Indianapolis, Columbus, Lexington, Louisville). So are parks and wilderness if that's what you're going for.
UK Fans

Cons:
It snows just enough that everyone loses their s**t and forgets how to drive...and there are a lot of hills.
The Cincinnati/N. KY airport consistently ranks near the top for highest airfares in the US
Having a bunch of small-ish cities directly adjacent to one another usually means a bunch of bickering over what is best for the area.
The city where I live is almost quiet to a fault. Low crime rates are a plus, but there isn't much in the way of interesting stuff going on either.
UK Fans

I can certainly attest that the UK fans deserve to be in the cons column! I am in Lexington, home of UK. I will never understand the concept of celebrating victory by burning couches and flipping cars! I personally observed a large group trying to flip a fire truck once.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I've lived in Tucson since 81. I left for a while when I was in the Navy, but came right back. I used to really love it here, but the last few years the heat has started to wear me down. Well, that and the people I work with at my job for the last 6 years. It's on the southside, barrio/gangland types. I'm definitely an outsider but I'm the supervisor and quality control. Being the outsider works in that position, but I miss having camaraderie and friendships at work.

Having said that, things may be changing soon and I really do love the Sonoran Desert.

If money were no object, I would probably move to the Bayfield area of CO. Get a spread on the river and raise chickens and vegetables. Steamworks and Ska are both a few miles away in Durango.

 

[bobeer]

I've lived in Tucson since 81. I left for a while when I was in the Navy, but came right back. I used to really love it here, but the last few years the heat has started to wear me down. Well, that and the people I work with at my job for the last 6 years. It's on the southside, barrio/gangland types. I'm definitely an outsider but I'm the supervisor and quality control. Being the outsider works in that position, but I miss having camaraderie and friendships at work.

Having said that, things may be changing soon and I really do love the Sonoran Desert.

If money were no object, I would probably move to the Bayfield area of CO. Get a spread on the river and raise chickens and vegetables. Steamworks and Ska are both a few miles away in Durango.

I hear you. The muggy summers here get harder and harder for me every year.
If money wasn't an issue I'd buy a farm somewhere and grow hops for the booming craft beer industry. I'd grow veggies too and sell them at all the farmer's markets that are popping up everywhere. Sure it would be a ton of work but it would beat working the 8-5 mon-fri office gig.

 

[drainbamage]

I can certainly attest that the UK fans deserve to be in the cons column! I am in Lexington, home of UK. I will never understand the concept of celebrating victory by burning couches and flipping cars! I personally observed a large group trying to flip a fire truck once.

I'm a UK grad myself, I'm just not especially rabid about sports. The atmosphere can be fun to an extent, but a lot of them take it way too seriously. And of course, there's never any reason to start burning stuff over a sporting event.

 

[celticinnbrewery]

I live just outside of Pittsburgh and have to admit I really enjoy it. It is a pretty diverse area - four distinct seasons, tons of outdoor stuff to do, good cultural offerings downtown, cheaper housing, good job market depending on what you do, everything is a fairly short drive, good sports, pretty safe and a good place to raise kids, and generally pretty easy going people. We're finally jumping on the microbrew train, with a few new ones starting up over the last couple of years. Pittsburgh probably isn't what most people think of when coming up with exciting places to live, but I definitely appreciate what we have here.

 

[captianoats]

Illinois
Cons
Chicago runs the state.
Chicago has run the state into the ground
Taxes are increasing
The state is broke, yet still spending like crazy
State infrastructure is crumbling
State population is decreasing
A area politician ran with a campaign of "Illinois greatest export is not grain, its college educations"

He's not far from the truth. My wife and I both were born and raised in so. IL and moved to ohio. Many of the guys in my dept are the same way, moved from Illinois after college.

 

[Hamaki]

More pros than cons here.

Excellent climate, plenty of outdoors stuff to do, cost of living is pretty reasonable (especially by California standards), not crowded, folks pretty well mind their own business and I don't have to worry about locking the house or vehicles while at home.

On the down side, there's not much diversity here and everything is an hour or more away, including universities, major employers and anything of much cultural value (unless your interests are confined to the history of the gold rush or the local branch of the Miwoks).

I've been on a few road trips, kinda like the OP, scouting for somewhere better. In my experience I found people in Montana and British Columbia to be the friendliest, most helpful and (seemingly) the most genuine. Had bad experiences in Texas, though.

 

[Curtis2010]

Sort of a weird question but my wife and I have been trying to move out of VA for years but can't seem to find a place that fits our lifestyle, wants, or needs. So, I'm turning to you HBT... Where do you live and what do you like and/or dislike about it?

More importantly, what are your wants & objectives? People can then suggest places that might meet them.

You can create your own reality, but you first need to carefully choose what it will be.

 

[ol-hazza]

I live in New Zealand (i'm not sure if you are after overseas entries?) and I think its pretty damn flash.
Terrain wise we have a bit of everything, mountains, plains (sorta) plenty of bush, glaciers, lakes, beaches, fjiords and some cool cities. apparently you are never further than 70 miles from the sea either. You can be skiing in the morning and surfing in the afternoon, and then probably pop back for some more skiing and a quick surf.
Climate varies, in the south it gets pretty cold but you wont have snow settling for any real length of time, where as in the north you would be lucky to see snow.
The food and beer scene is really coming along, I live rurally but have a couple of people brewing locally, and a craft beer is available on tap at most decent bars.
Outside of the biggest cities houses and land are affordable, with most working families owning a house on a 1/4 acre.

Oh and did I mention its beautiful? and our cops were only just allowed to carry tasers and when the buzz someone with them it makes the national news.

On the down side we have earthquakes, volcanoes, storms and sharks but no where is perfect. Its also fairly expensive by international standards i have been told but i live pretty comfortably.

Oh and you can grow hops here