Comments on: Where Should I Live?

By: Penny Mackie

Penny Mackie — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:19:57 +0000

David

My husband and I moved to Boise from the midwest three years ago. The move has been an across the board success. We used a Vedic astrologer from Seattle to do career/location/timing charts for us, and then spent several years checking out the areas that (on paper) would be great locations for us. We both have had the experience of absolute ease in making huge mid-life transitions, and success in our work. Several of our grown children have based their living and schooling situations on the same method, and are having very positive results. Though unconventional, this method of placement and timing is based in ancient sciences, and has been a great aid in living the life we had been seeking. Check out the website: http://www.vedicsciences.com.
And the best of luck to you in finding your place!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:13:03 +0000

David, I recently moved to LA from SF and I agree re: the people, although I did not like/click with the people in the Bay area at ALL — and I gave it a good long try for over 17 years. I am from Athens GA so I know what it means to be from the South. The problem is, I think you (we) are looking for the best things about the South (friendliness, caring, warm) without the worst things (conservatism, culturally safe/mindless, anti-education). That is a tall order to fill. You will not find it anywhere on the west coast or in Vancouver or any of these northern cities people are telling you to look at. My suggestions? Philly (the NE culture mixed with heart), Austin (friendly, southern, cool), San Antonio (friendly, lots of culture, and underground hip if you know where to find it), St. Louis, Louisville, Baltimore. That’s about it. Find the “second city” that’s close to the “first city” filled with all the self-absorbed types. (Postnote: Athens GA is still a great town.)

By: Albreda

Albreda — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:15:11 +0000

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Madison, WI as a potential fit. I lived there for almost eleven years (during which time I got my bachelor’s at the UW). It is constantly ranked as one of the best places to live; people are very friendly and overall pretty outgoing. The crime rate is low, it’s a beautiful area, and you will meet people from virtually every country, including many from Mexico, Central, and South America. I strongly recommend you consider and even visit Madison, WI. I think you will be pleased.

Best of luck to you in all endeavors.

By: Seattle native

Seattle native — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:56:58 +0000

As someone who grew up in Seattle, your comment made me laugh! I’m one of those introverted, book-reading, coffee-drinking, hiking types. And I have heard your similar comment from newbies to the Seattle area. There are extroverts here! One of my good friends (a native) loves introducing newbies to the area and to our group. Some of the ‘newbies’ have stuck with us for almost a decade. Vancouver natives are fairly similar to Seattlites, having relatives there. Unfortunately, Vancouver is no longer a secret haven for us in the NW.

Overall though, (running counter to this site), I think ultimately how happy you are depends on YOU and not on the city. I’ve also spent extended time (years in some cases) in NYC, upstate New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and now San Francisco, with stints in Alaska, Boston, D.C., urban/ rural China. I’ve been happy and adjusted to wherever I am. Now, a rural place in the midwest would likely make me miserable but most urban places with progressive attitudes and quick access to nature are fine with me.

Also, would comment that as my globe-trotting friends have gotten older, settled down, and had kids, many have returned to Seattle or their native hometown because FAMILY is a top priority for them.
You may love your work (substitute weather, hobbies, cultural amenities, etc.) but your work will never love you back.

By: jamie

jamie — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:54:45 +0000

I too lived in Seattle for 11 years. I left because my midwestern friendliness was not well received. The gold rush mentality of the west coast just left me feeling very lonely. Everyone was soooo closed off and introverted…though oddly enough it is a friendly and fun place to visit. Chicago sounds more like your speed. In fact, most places east of the Mississippi may work. I currently live in St. Louis which has a good quality of life but a rather limited tolerance for people who didn’t go to high school here. You’ll make friends but they’ll all be from somewhere else. Getting ahead in business is hard though, due to the untrusting reality of the natives in control who are proud of themselves and only trust locals. I’m now leaving. Gave it a good try, 8 years. But I am outta here. Chicago or Michigan [employment will be tricky] is where I’ll probably head to next. I have family in Michigan and getting closer to where I grew up sounds nice again.

By: T

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:32:35 +0000

The northwest region of spain would be good for you if you like to stay up all night, a country who just came out of a dictatorship 30 years ago, and weird scrubby landscape. Lots of the politics there still address neo-nazism, communism, etc., and I didn’t have much patience for it, truthfully. The south of spain, however, was completely gorgeous, and although I just spent a couple of days there versus 3 months in the north, I think it would be a gorgeous place to live. The people are interesting, for sure, and the more south, the more diverse. The whole country is definitely for night-lifers, so make sure you don’t like to get anything done in the mornings before you move.

By: sarale

sarale — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:29:05 +0000

I have lived in the Pacific North West (specifically Oregon) for over 8 years. It is not the right place for me BUT I like it a lot. Portland seems way too clique-y for the young (especially single) and it often feels like if you are not a hipster with lots of tattoos and piercings you are not wanted – but it is amazing how many people you find are REAL friends. I thought I had a bunch of aquaintances until something went wrong and found out I could rely on almost every one of them (of course bunch of them are actually midwesterners…)

By: Rebecca Anderson

Rebecca Anderson — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:21:38 +0000

SF Bay Area- Very cultural/intellectual with soul. I live in Oakland, across the bay and love it! Seems like everyone you meet is a writer, artist, musician, or teacher in some capacity… Great access to nature too. I would say Chicago as well, but the weather kills me.

By: Lana

Lana — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:06:43 +0000

Hi,

I would say check out the Bay Area, Seattle, and then fly to Chicago to do a comparison. Keep in mind that your core motivation in finding a city to call home has to do with what most matters. I personally like SF and Chicago for its intellectual and cultural options.

By: Brandon Van Every

Brandon Van Every — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:14:29 +0000

I was in Seattle for 11 years. Gads I wish I could unpack all my mixed feeelings about the place without being long and boring. I agree about the introvert tendencies. Hang out in a cafe in LA and you will realize that people are far more extroverted. Places really do draw different types of people, owing to the industries they work in and the climate. I’ve bailed on Seattle but I’m nowhere great right now. Just lil’ ole Winston-Salem, NC, probably as a pit stop to somewhere else. I am working on social strategies that don’t require “place,” either by organizing social groups myself, or using the internet to identify and possibly create regional subcultures. I just think this old style economics of dragging yourself around to cities that turn out to be inadequate and very expensive is getting kind of silly. It is probably better to learn how to become a Culture Maker than to be a culture seeker.