Where else would you like to live in this country?

[Droopy]

If you were going to move and you could afford to live anywhere, where would it be?

I've been all over this great country in my role as an over the road trucker. The only two states I haven't been to are Hawii and Alaska. Believe it or not that made me appreciate my home town here in Ohio even more. But if I had to move, I would pick somewhere with a warm climate. I dislike winter because I am a trucker so I would go down south somewhere. Maybe even out into to the southwest. I hear New Mexico is a pretty liberal place to be and the southern part of the state is warm in the winter. I also like the gulf coast area of Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, but I might be too afraid of hurricanes to live down that way.

[Bullwinkle925]

1. Santa Barbara, Ca., Bend, Or., ...

are a couple of places that I could see myself settling down in.

[Droopy]

4. I've probably been to both places

But I'm having a hard time picturing them right now. I know that both CA and OR have some beautiful forests, lakes, and rivers. What makes you want to live in that area?

[av8rdave]

40. I was just in the Bend area a couple of weeks ago

Spring skiing on Mt Bachelor. Stayed in Sun River...nice town.

[XemaSab]

56. I live in SB. It's sweet.

If you have $1100 burning a hole in your pocket for rent. :o

[Ptah]

2. I live in Tucson, I might consider moving to

Hatch, New Mexico

[Droopy]

6. What do you like about Hatch, NM?

[Ptah]

8. It has a river

and there are peppers

[Droopy]

10. Do you want to be a pepper farmer?

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. Most anywhere along the Left Coast

From Eureka, Calif. to Port Townsend, Wash.

[Droopy]

7. That's a beautiful area

What makes you want to live there?

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. It's a beautiful area

:D

Besides that... I dunno, I just can't imagine not living near the West Coast. It has nothing to do with the ocean, unless it's some strange attraction I'm not conscious of. It's more about attitudes. Left Coasters are a unique bunch, and I revel in their brand of liberalness.

[fizzgig]

5. there are some parts of the country

i've not visited. i've spent much more time in the west than the east and, aside from childhood trips to new orleans and disney world, i've not spent any time in the south/southeast.

there are many places i could settle down. i would love to live in any sizable city anywhere from san fransisco to the canadian border. if it weren't for the winters, i wouldn't mind living (at least for some time) in rapid city. i loved santa fe, but it was a bit too dry for me. if money were no object, nyc would be among my first choices.

i love colorado but i still live in the town i grew up in and it's getting time for me to stretch my wings, if only for a little bit.

[Droopy]

9. Colorado is one of my favorite states

You get west of I-25 and it's not very trucker friendly, though. In fact one company that I drove for forbade their drivers to go west of Denver on I-70. But those mountains are gorgeous.

[fizzgig]

11. I-70 west of denver isn't too friendly

to my old volvo either :) i do count myself lucky to live in such beautiful country

[Random_Australian]

13. I like Sydney a helluva lot more than home home, and I hear Canberra is nice but I've never been.

I also hear they do polls without assuming that every responder is Canadian like yourself. :silly:

[Droopy]

15. Hey, I'm American

Where did you get Canadian from?

I apologize for my ethnocentricity. Have you ever been to America? I've never been to Australia, but I would like to visit there some day and impress all the girls with my American accent. :)

[Random_Australian]

17. Aha, the joke was that it was only a quasi-complaint of ethnocentricity,

thus the random addition of Canada. Hey, it fits with my screen name.

And as for your other idea, that is, impressing people with your American-ness, just remember who is the most visible American of all. The one who really says to the world "This is what it is to be American" the Pretzledent himself. The Chimperor.

An intellect as impressive as a pile of limp lettuce leaves, oozing with charisma like a rotting squid carcass, and with all the skill in international diplomacy of wolverine. On steroids.

But hey, you didn't need ME to tell you what people think when they think "American" - I'm sure you'd pick it up from peoples reactions pretty quick.

:) ;)

Ok, so it is not that bad. But American has not been impressive for a long time in many places of the world.

[Droopy]

18. Gotcha

But surely your Austrailian comrades understand that we aren't all like Bush.

Maybe if I go to Australia in the next couple of years I should wear a t-shirt saying something to the effect that I did not vote for Bush. "Kiss me. I'm a Democrat."

[Random_Australian]

19. Aha, don't worry, we're not a very judgemental bunch. Well, until recently.

It's almost certain that you'll run into at least one person who thinks they can hold any American responsible for years of corporatising the world. Well, and the latest war president.

Aside from that, no-one will care.

And if you say you are a democrat, people will go "of course you fucking are, this is a democracy, idjit!" because here "democrat" is to democracy like "fascist" is to fascist state dictatorship.

Just don't mention religion. Americans are funny about religion and we generally don't appreciate them trying to spread it. (They're funniness, not their religion). No offense intended. :)

[Droopy]

20. Blah

I'm a non-religious person. Maybe I'll just stay here in Ohio. It seems like Australians might have too many preconceptions. All I'd want to do if I went down there is see the sites and meet some interesting people.

[Random_Australian]

21. No, we just have obscure senses of humour. 1) We're not judgemental plus

2) you americans are like this, that, rat-a-tat-tat!!!11

Was meant to be subtle humour.

:rofl:

I promise to be less random with my humour. :)

[ellisonz]

14. Big Sur, CA

If I had like $10 million...

[Droopy]

16. Hey, you're allowed to dream

What do you like about Big Sur, CA? Isn't that where a lot of surfers go for the big waves?

[ellisonz]

43. Check some pictures out...intense natural beauty.

[raccoon]

22. New Mexico. OTOH, Montana in the summer and Florida in the winter

would be OK.

[LeftyMom]

23. Someplace back in the mountains over Santa Cruz.

Felton, Boulder Creek, someplace in that general direction. A not-too-big house with a big back yard and a spacious kitchen.

[tk2kewl]

24. Someplace on the Chesapeake Bay

as opposed to the Great South Bay where I live:

[Arugula Latte]

25. I've lived in Ohio, California, Boston (summer), Wash. D.C., and Colorado (summer)

as well as Oregon.

I've concluded I am never leaving the West Coast again -- unless it is for Italy or the South of France :D ...

I feel at home here ... love the ocean, forests, mountains and the good vibes, man :hippie:

We've got relatives in Colorado who want us to live there, but I can't take the landlocked-ness of it (to coin a word), the altitude, the freakishily changing climate, and, frankly, outside of Boulder and certain parts of Denver, I'm not that comfortable there ... although it has spectacular scenery in many places.

[fizzgig]

41. the freakishly changing climate

that pretty much describes the weather here. but come on, variety is the spice of life :P

[pitohui]

26. anywhere but here

i've been to all 50 states, frankly, i don't even care, just wish i could get away from the storms

[realisticphish]

I'm in Ohio now

and i wouldn't mind minnesota/wisconsin or the Pacific Northwest. I like low temperatures in winter without the sweltering summers of central ohio.

[lizziegrace]

27. I've lived all over

my preference right now would be Colorado. But New England or the Blue Ridge mountains wouldn't be bad either.

But then, Columbus isn't so bad.

[RetroLounge]

28. Pittsburgh

:sigh:

RL

[femmocrat]

57. Are you a homesick Pittsburgher?

[RetroLounge]

62. No.

Just would like to visit sometime.

RL

[catmandu57]

29. Northern New Mexico

Maybe somewhere around Tres Piedras, we drove through there a couple years back and I fell in love with the area. Taos, Santa Fe are too rich for me, i'd prefer a small town that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to live in.
Durango Colorado is nice too, a college town with a liberal leaning.
I can't go, so it's only a pipe dream, my wife won't move and the cost would be out of our reach, so I'll make the best out of where we are red red red Missouri, not the entire state, just up here where we live.

[1gobluedem]

30. New England, definitely

Especially Vermont or New Hampshire. Or Boston if I could afford to live there the way I'd like.

But, I'm pretty happy in Michigan.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

31. In Brazil? Somewhere cooler. Therefore, in the Southern region.

I dream of this place:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caxias_do_Sul#Climate

[MissMillie]

32. Other than New England?

Maybe the Pacific Northwest.... but seriously, I'd have a VERY hard time leaving New England.

[Left Is Write]

33. I'd move back to Minnesota.

[LSK]

34. FL Keys, almost anywhere west of I25 in Colorado, Santa Fe, NM, Flagstaff, Az

Missoula, Mt, Taos, NM.

What would work best for me is a RV and just travel around to where I happen to feel like being that particular day.

[Morrisons Ghost]

35. New Mexico or Arizona

My wife and I have talked about this very recently. We live in Michigan and the economy in this state just keeps getting worse and worse. I love it here with the 4 seasons and all but I just don,t see it turning around anytime soon. Plus my wife suffers from SAD and is bipolar 2 so any place where there is alot of sunshine would help her immensely.

[azmouse]

37. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

I live in AZ. It's beautiful here but you have to be able to tolerate the heat in the summer if you live in the southern part of the state. Flagstaff has 4 seasons but finding work there could be a challenge.

[Morrisons Ghost]

68. Thank you azmouse

And thanks for the info. What is the housing market like there?

[azmouse]

69. We had a huge run up in home prices

for a few years but things have really backed off. Don't know what type of home you might be looking for but condos are going for around $150K and up. Starter homes about $250K and up. Builders are making deals now to sell homes since the slow down but the best deals might be resales because the market is slow and sellers are motivated.

I'm from PA originally but I'd never go back after living in AZ for many years. I love it here. I always admit it's not for everyone but it's worth a look to see if it appeals to you. I won't lie about the heat. There are days when I want to yell 'uncle'. But it's not hot all year. In fact most of the year is just beautiful.

[Morrisons Ghost]

70. I visited AZ many years ago

Saw the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest{I believe it was AZ} Absolutely beautiful and interesting. We did go in the summer so we did get a taste of the extreme heat.I would still prefer it to Florida in the summer{the humidity is what bothers me} plus the giant mosquitos and other assorted biting bugs is a turn off.May have to plan a trip out there again in the next year:think:

[skygazer]

36. Back home in Vermont

I'm perfectly happy where I am in California but I'd be happy in Vermont. I also really love New Mexico and I think I could like it a lot there. And there are parts of Montana that take my breath away.

I too have driven through all the lower 48 and I've found something to appreciate about all of them. There's such a cool diversity in landscapes in this country.

[lutefisk]

38. If it's a dream, I'd have to pick the time, too

San Francisco in the early 60's

Florida Keys in the 30's

That town where Ward Cleaver lived, in the 50's

[av8rdave]

39. Somewhere west with skiing access

Colorado (went to college there - great place), New Mexico, Utah if I shopped carefully, possibly Oregon

[leftofthedial]

42. Manhattan

but only if I could truly afford to live there

Boston
but only if I could truly afford to live there

the desert, again
for awhile before I die

[grace0418]

44. If money was no object, Northern California. Although Washington and Oregon

would be on my list. If just outside the border counts, add Vancouver B.C. to the list as well.

[Courtesy Flush]

45. New York City

I've never been there, but if I had the money to live well there, it'd be a blast, I'm sure.

[Left Brain]

46. Central Oregon Coast

[GoddessOfGuinness]

47. New England...

Vermont, NH, or Maine.

[CottonBear]

48. Beaufort, SC (near the ocean) or Eatonton, GA (on or near Lake Oconee)

I grew up around water (both fresh and salt) and I miss it. My family had a lake house and three boats and both sets of grandparents lived on the ocean. They had covered docks and boats. My Pop Pop had a 45 foot Pacemaker motor yacht and we used to sleep on board when we visited! My Paw Paw had a 20 ocean going power boat for trolling and fishing and a big outboard motor powered fishing boat for the grandkids.

I'd love to have a little boat for fishing on a lake or along the coastal tidal creeks and inlets.
For now, my kayak will have to suffice. I can kayak on the local rivers and lakes here in NE GA.

[u4ic]

49. Niagara on the Lake, ON

or the southern BC coast.

[idgiehkt]

50. New Mexico for me, too

Swing by and pick me up on the way over, okay? :)

[cloudbase]

51. Minden, NV

Soaring Mecca.

[supernova]

52. Key West

I still have romanti notions of living on the beach in an even warmer climate than I do now.

[stuntcat]

53. Appalachians, the NC part

I'm in the DC beltway for the time being but someday I'll get back to North Carolina

[Redneck Socialist]

54. Montana, Pacific Northwest, Alaska...

but then I live in New England, why move? :shrug:

[femmocrat]

55. I love New Mexico.

It really has it all.... including mountains and winter if you miss the seasons. I would love to retire there.

[hippywife]

58. We would like to live somewhere more

liberal than lovely Oklahoma. For a while now I've thought this would be a great place to live:

http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/

[KamaAina]

59. The only place on the mainland would be NOLA

because:

a) despite it all, it's still awesome (as one local blogger puts it, "Providing an alternative to herd mentality since 1718"), and

b) I'd be able to put my unique talents and perceptions (and in this scenario, the $$$) to use helping to right the wrongs inflicted on it by Katrina, Bush**, Heckuvajob Brownie, AllstateSomestates Insurance, et al.

edit: "lcoal"? Well, he has been kind of naughty...

[Zookeeper]

60. I chose Minnesota when I decided to leave S.F......

I've visited nearly every state in the lower 48, lived in the coastal redwoods north of S.F. as well as S.F., could have chosen the easy path of moving near family in Florida or So. Cal.

So, I guess I'm where I want to live if I'm limited to the U.S. If I had to pick another spot...maybe the Smokies or New England. It can't be crowded or arid.

[SPKrazy]

61. Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington

are all states that I'd gladly move to

:shrug:

[Saphire]

63. Anywhere near the mountains, where it gets cold. I'd like to see snow.

[SPKrazy]

71. What, no snow in Texas?

i know what you mean... i grew up where there was winter from october to april... i'd like to not live in that environment, but one where you could escape to the snow capped mountains easily enough

:thumbsup:

and see some winter

[RebelOne]

64. Steamboat Springs, Colorado

I was there on vacation a few years back and fell in love with the place. It is quite touristy, but the scenery is fantastic. And the Rockies are fabulous.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

65. san francisco

[crim son]

66. Ashland, Oregon.

Also a few points north of there, too.

[SPKrazy]

72. Oregon is a beautiful place!

only been there a couple of times but both times were impressive!

:hi:

[NMDemDist2]

67. well I lived in so many places it's hard to pick

I'm in NM now and have lived in Cal, NV, AZ, W VA, GA, LA, FL, TX, OH, MA, AK and visited HI

If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd stay right here and just buy a big ranch and build a house then maybe have a summer place in Montana or Eastern Idaho or maybe in CO

all places have good points and bad IME

[maveric]

73. Cambria CA. CA Central Coast.

And at the foot of San Simeon.
Beautiful little coastal town of craft shops and galleries. Very laid back and quiet.