The hubs has been in the process of a major career change for over a year. If everything goes as planned some major changes could be happening in just a few months. The good thing is- I can be a 'Crazy Old Lady' from ANYWHERE we end up (since I work from home). With this possible change the hubs and I have been talking:
"What if this career move doesn't happen- then what?"
So we've been playing around with the idea of just packing up and relocating somewhere- random (-ish).
Now, before you get all upset (you know who you are!), this is JUST AN IDEA we've been toying with. Of course, we have to see what's going to happen with the whole 'plan' he's been working on first.
The problem with "random" is you don't really know what you're going to get. So, I thought I'd ask all of you. Tell me where you live (or lived) and why it'd be a nice place to move. I wanna know EVERYTHING. For example- are there tornado's where you live? What about crazy sickening bugs? What's the cost-of-living like? Is it kid friendly? etc.
Can't wait to hear some ideas and share them with the hubs. :o)
I live about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta Georgia. The summers are hot and not just hot but sticky too. The winter's have been mild here so far but then I have only lived here for 3 years. There is The World Of Coke and the Aquarium, Zoo and Braves baseball. I have 3 little quilt shops that I frequent but then I have heard of more. Cost of living around here is not bad and I live on a quiet cul-de-sac with my family that includes 2 kids that are 3 and 5. The houses in my neighborhood range from the mid 200's to the upper 400's. I would love to have you as a neighbor so we could shop and create together. Have a great day! Shyla
ReplyDeleteMy husband is in the Australian Air Force so we have lived in a few places in Australia and spent 3 years in Missouri. I love moving and living in new places. I find it doesn't matter where you live (as long as it is in a nice area)-there are always things you like more and things you like less about each place. You just focus on the positives. I loved Missouri but now we are back by the beach and I love that too.
ReplyDeleteI a SW kind of gal, but we're Air Force, and we've move around a bit. We're currently in Las Vegas, and if you can stand the heat, it's a great city to be in. Especially if you're looking to buy a house, the market is a great buyers market. I'm also from NM, which is a great area too. Albuquerque has 4 seasons and is a big enough town to have all that you need.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in a suburb of Philadelphia, in northern Delaware, in Baltimore, and now in Roanoke, Virginia, with a few short stints in Europe.
ReplyDeleteHated Philly. Obnoxious people (especially the sports fans) and awful roads, to name a few. Moved away from there for college at 17 and never really went back. Apologies to those who love it - just would never go back.
Liked Delaware, spent 15 years there. But after a while, everyone knows you. That's got its pluses and minuses. Kinda creepy though when people you've never met know all about your family and professional history. Great history, good weather, no sales tax. But growing VERY rapidly. Hard to find land anywhere except in the southern part of the state, which is known as "slower lower" Delaware.
Baltimore needs some work. Very high cost of living, lots of crime, and it seems the few people who can afford the taxes and real estate are paying primarily to support the many who can't afford anything. Horrible traffic, too. City politics are a mess, the rats and the occasional stench of the harbor aren't mitigated by the local attractions, which cost an arm and a leg for both parking and visiting.
Roanoke, so far, I love. Not near any ocean or beaches, which bothers some people. Great culture (art museum, symphony, etc.), low cost of living, and taxes seem to go to parks & recreation and other things that really benefit the community as a whole. My car insurance is lower than it's ever been, and there's never any traffic to get anywhere. The scenery with the mountains is beautiful. Best of all, there is a HUGE contingent of quilters, more than anywhere I've ever lived. Four quilt stores within a half hour of me, and two more a bit further away, and a VERY strong guild. There's quaint city living and lots of land available outside the city, with home prices from $150K to $400K and up, depending on what you're looking for (good luck finding anything in B-more for under $250!). AMAZING restaurants, festivals, a small zoo, and lots of local wineries nearby. The crime rate here is very low, and the poor population is adequately served by the resources available. For the first time, I'm not afraid of accidentally driving into a "bad part" of my city and being randomly shot at. :-)
Just my opinions - I'm sure there are many wonderful places in this country and lots of criteria by which to choose one!
I am a born and raised Texas gal. Ive lived in the Dallas area my entire life and I love it! Ive visited a lot of places but this is my home. You neve know what to expect for weather (we had epic snow for texas this year!) and it does get really hot in the summer time. During the fall and spring though, the weather is perfect for picnics and outdoorsy activities. Theres lots of wide opens spaces I grew up on 4 acres which is a nice little plot of land for a kid to play on. Also the cost of living is a lot less expensive then most other states. I know for a fact that my cousin in cali paid more for her little house on 1/2 an acre then my dad did for the cost of his land and to build the house. Also there are some cute little quilt shops in the area!!!
ReplyDeleteIve always wanted to just pick up and move somewhere... good luck!
~candace
LOL I live in Long Beach, Ca (bordering Seal Beach) and you've been on vacation here. The weather is perfect. The parks and rec programs for kids are awesome. The cost of living is HIGH, but I would say it's totally worth it. I'm 10 min from the beach, 2 hours from the snow, 30 min from Disneyland, an hour from LA and everything you could ever want is within an hour...it's not for everyone, but it's home to me!
ReplyDeleteI live in a really cool city named Salem Utah. It is a small town, but close to large towns. Some really fun people live there too!
ReplyDeleteI live in Northern Utah, very kid friendly, lol! Cache Valley just made a list (CNN?) of the best places to find a job. We tend to have lower pay though than most but the cost of living is also lower. I've lived here since I graduated high school and never intend to move. No tornadoes. Okay, downtown Salt Lake had one about 9 years ago but other than that one we never have them. Haven't had an earthquake in many, many years and it was just a small one. We have plenty of shopping and the south end of the valley is growing in a very nice way. We're getting a Winco on the north end of the valley soon and I've heard it has excellent prices on food. We'll see on that one. I'd love to have you as a neighbor!
ReplyDeleteIs it me you're telling to not be upset? If you move, you're dead to me. BAHAHAHAHAHA. No. Really.
ReplyDeleteOne of the great things about the USA is that the climate range within the country has so much variation, it will suit almost anyone and what they want to live in. Hot and Dry, Desert, Long rolling Prairie with heat, rain, wind and miles of peace - huge evergreens and damp coolness, just anything that makes you happy. As for me, I live in Canada, where we get just about what you do with that winter wind and snow included with just about everything else. So really I can't suggest something for you, unless you're thinking NORTH...I love where I am, Just north of Seattle and just about the same temperate climate which suits me perfectly.
ReplyDeleteCome to Canada!
ReplyDeleteI live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It's about 1 hour SW of Toronto and maybe 1.5 hours to the border at Niagara Falls. There are actually three cities all joined together here -- Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. We call the area Kitchener-Waterloo or KW. Kitchener has a population of about 200K and the total tri-cities area is about 450K.
The quality of life is high and the cost of living is low. I like to tell people that it feels like a small town but has the amenities of a big city. Plus, Toronto is close enough for a day trip and has absolutely everything you would ever want. KW is safe and friendly. The average house price is around $325K and that will get you a really nice 3 or 4 bedroom house on a large lot. A 2 bedroom house in an older neighbourhood is easily less than $250K. Property taxes are relatively low ($2500/year would be typical.) Real estate listings are at mls.ca.
There are a lot of high-quality jobs here. We have a large number of high-tech companies, two universities and one college. There is also a significant manufacturing sector (ex., a Toyota plant.) I work in Waterloo and my commute is less than 10 minutes or I could walk it in less than 30. There is also a great transit system.
We are pretty disaster-free in this area of the country -- no tornadoes, earthquakes, tropical diseases or anything like that. It's snowy in the winter (of course) but hot in the summer.
I don't have any kids, but my impression is that this is a kid-friendly city.
Plus, there are all of those Canadian perks -- "free" health care, cheap university educations, polite Canadians, etc...
Find out more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchener,_Ontario
We would love to have you!
I currently live in Helena, MT. it's ok. I have mixed feeligns about it. I love it in the summer when we have ALive at 5 on wednesdays and a small farmers market on sat but I hate the long cold winters that Montana's known for and I really miss the diversity in color, religion, and lifestyes that I grew up around. Others love it here. People say they love raising kids here and its a safe place but I need more flavors in my bag of jelly beans. there are two fabulous quilt shops, plus Ben Franklin has a great fabric section and a third store is opening on our walking mall (best chocolate shop there too!)
ReplyDeletewe will be moving closer to my family to the Seattle suburbs next summer. I miss my folks!
ok I grew up and lived most of my marrid life in Idaho in the last 8 years we have been on a adventure. We lived 6 yrs colorado sprngs, and now 1 yr las cruces new mexico.
ReplyDeleteIdaho Falls, loved it.. people we great, town just big enough, cost of living good, windy, green and mountains close. Colorado springs, Awsome, north side, green, friendly, lots to do and see, big and spread out, cost of living medium. Las cruces, NM I am learning to love, Dry, HOT, winters are great, brown, people friendly cost of living good. I think were you live if you have the right attitude can be great. I didnt love it here and decided to learn more about the culture, cooking and am really enjoying my time here now. We will move again in a year. "Its a ADVENTURE"