I am fed up with NC!

[Jackie97]

Hi, I live in NC. It's obviously a red state. Not only is it a red state, but it's a state where people treat one like crap for being different. I am looking at some exceptional cities to move to in NC, but I'd like some other ideas.

I'm already considering NYC, DC, and perhaps somewhere in California. I've actually considered Canada, but I don't think I need to go that far to keep my sanity.

What are some other good places? I've heard Fairfax, VA can be good even though it's in a red state. What cities in Northern California are good? I've heard Washington state is good, but I don't know squat about that state. What cool cities are there? What about Colorado? I keep thinking I should avoid them because they seem to be the home of too many places like Focus on the Family (which will get on my nerves badly). Florida? How is Orlando like? Is Houston and Dallas different from the rest of Texas? I'm completly forgetting about the middle of the country. What about there?

I don't mean to sound so mean. I take a like into most people around me, and that includes most conservatives. However, many of them act too preachy and judgmental toward me. It's not even most of them. It's just a very vocal group of people that seem to have the silent support of the majority. I don't know how this works actually. I just know that living in a mostly conservative area is driving me up the wall right now. I'm not even open about being a liberal many of times except for around people who already know the "real me". In the town that I originally come from, I'm 99.9% in the liberal closet. Since I still come here a lot, I sometimes go out of my mind having to hide myself. I'm more out of the closet where I'm at now, but it still can be really hard at times. I want to be more about people like me, for my own sanity. I know that sounds awful. It's just that my liberal side really blossemed out a few years ago. It was a thing I fought against my whole life until I finally stopped fighting. It was wonderful for the real me to finally come out after a lifetime of denying it to myself. Now that it's out, I'm tired of feeling like I have to hide.

[Florida_Geek]

1. Look to St. Augustine Florida

I am probably going to move there in the next couple years. Close enought to Jacksonville for all the "big city stuff" but small enough to enjoy life.

[sherilocks]

34. Read "Bloody Sunset in St. Augustine" by

Nancy Powell and Jim Mast before you make that decision. It's an absolutely true story and it will give you a feel for St. Augustine, which is red, as is JAX with its god awful newspaper. But, as Florida cities go, it ain't that bad and has some interesting people.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Colorado is great

as long as you steer clear of El Paso county (home of Colorado Springs and Focus on the Family). Denver is a great place to live and the north-central part of the state is rather progressive. You could also consider Eagle county (Vail and Beaver Creek) if you're looking for a progressive home, but that's definately not cheap!

[seabeyond]

17. below i talked colorado.

i do love taking off and going over border to colorado, and i like co springs. i was tlaking to someone about that city when i was visiting and they did say that it has become awfully conservative. they were surprised in the change of it. between focus and the military i guess.

[otohara]

38. CS Has Always Been Conservative

it's always been a retirement community for retired military folks. It's crawling w/ conservatives now and that loon who started Focus on Family lives in CS. There is a liberal arts college in CS - even they don't venture into CS for fun.

I'd have to disagree w/ rockymtdem about Vail/Beaver Creek being progressive. It's split, if you look at the election results in Eagle County - Kerry won, but by only 1211 votes. What they have done to the Vail's landscape is nauseating. Greedy land developers have taken over the place. Vail is so expesive, immigrants do all the low pay service jobs now, and they live in packed trailers outside of Vail in order to survive. The rich liberals live in Aspen where Kerry won 69% to Bush's %30.

Denver & Boulder is safe for liberals.

[sherilocks]

35. I lived in Boulder

and found it very ethnocentric if you come from the northeast. I did like Denver and its great bookstore. Maybe things have changed, but its a tough place for a transplant to take root.

[slay]

3. I too have that problem with NC

Many people come to NC for one reason only - work. These people worship at the alter of the almighty dollar. Much of NC is all work and no play. I have found Boone and Asheville to be the exceptions. I myself am planning to move to Boone (college town up in the mountains, known for the acceptance of pot smokers - for those of yall unfamiliar to NC) for good. True, I may not find a high paying job there, but there are more important things in the world than money. Community, family, acceptance, freedom, truth, honesty, love.

[KTM]

4. Agreed

Boone is a blast, though work would be on the low end... Asheville is heaven, but jobs are rough. But since the OP lives in NC already, it's not impossible.

Republic of Chapel Hill is pretty chill as well, but nothing in NC compares to Asheville for what you're seeking.

[Jackie97]

5. I never thought of Boone as being a cool place to live.

I have heard Ashville is pretty good though. Have you mostly lived in the mountains of NC? I live in the piedmont. As for moving to Boone, good luck.

[slay]

8. I lived in Boone when I went to App State

It's nice and pretty laid back. Public bus system covers the whole town. Much more of a community feel than most cities. Quite a bit of college partying, but in a good way. A fun place. :)

[jab105]

19. I was in Boone for vacation a few weeks ago...

ate at Angelica's all the time to eat... it was a great little vegetarian place...you dont see a place like that in a conservative town...I saw no Bush bumper stickers there...throughout the rest of NC they were all over the place...

Going back to Boone in August to go hiking, it was really nice:)

Was asking the locals about it, and they said that it was because of Appalachian State being right there...

[slay]

36. I tell ya, towns where pot smoking is at least tolerated are nice

Mellow, laid back, decent people keepin it real. Best place I've found in NC. Beautiful mountians too. :)

[Flaxbee]

43. Boone? You've got to be kidding me...

the 5-6 times my husband and I drove thru, also contemplating a move there, we were verbally assaulted each and every time for being "liberal". We'd stop and have lunch and it seemed like people were listening to our conversations, ready to attack. I found it to be verrrrrry intolerant.

Asheville, on the other hand, was wonderful. But housing is expensive.

[yardwork]

6. Where do you live? I'm in Chapel Hill - Durham and it's pretty cool

If you are living anywhere else in the Piedmont, well, that could be a problem. Consider moving to Durham. Chapel Hill is very expensive but Durham is affordable and fun.

[Jackie97]

11. Well, I come from Thomasville.

I think it's a beautiful place, but DAMN! The city government channel actually had an ad saying (paraphrasing) "Do you pray? Do you vote". I think it was meant to get evangalical Christians out to vote Republican. I kept seeing stupid bumper stickers such as marriage equaling a man and a woman and "I still pray" (suggesting that liberals don't pray or that atheists are immoral). Now, the church that I used to go to acts like those who voted for Kerry are from an evil other side that was trying to destroy the country. I care about a lot of people in the town, but damn am I disgusted. There's no sense in that type of hatred.

I'm a little hesitant to say where I'm currently at because I'm currently there. It is a lot more liberal than where I come from though. At least over here I can join progressive groups, from where I don't think there are any in Thomasville. At the same time, there is a hostility toward the left that is often based on unjustifed reasons. I especially feel that when I'm on the campus that I go to school at. Maybe that's my problem. Maybe a lot of this will "go away" once I graduate in May. College people are sometimes more extreme than others, and I actually do like particular things about this place.

As long as I'm admitting to coming from Thomasville, I think I'll admit to my sin. Two years ago, I voted for one Republican. It wasn't just any Republican. It was freakin Hege! At the time, he appeared to do well with the subjects of catching people for drugs and the Domestic Violence subject. We know how that turned out. What on earth was I thinking?

[lectrobyte]

13. I think you'd be happier in a bigger city, more variety of people, but

I am curious about your college. Do you find hostility there? I'd think if there's any place that would be liberal friendly, it would be a college environment (I admit though, I'm not familiar with colleges here other than NCSU, Duke etc. in the RTP area).

[Jackie97]

23. Lots of liberals on the campus....

but watch out for the conservative backlash. What I'm about to describe was typically done by one and not all of them. However, they're all working together as the Republican group on campus. They've been known for doing the following:

1) Claiming that homosexuals will die sooner and that they molest children.

2) It's rumored that they tried to get the campus to allow them to put paper doll babies out all over campus as an anti-abortion tactic.

3) Rumored that they tried to get he campus to allow them to place the ten commandments outside the library.

4) Made people against the war look like traitors to the country and like people who comforted the enemy.

5) Tried to create a pro-war resolution a few years back, which would have been speaking for the whole school. Me and a whole bunch of liberals (and people against the war in general)had to go to the student government and assure that it got shot down.

6) Portrayed pro-choicers as people trying to excuse women for being "sluts".

7) Accused professors of trying to intimidate conservatives into being silent. What the problem really was is that the conservatives are feeling like they shouldn't speak up in class because they know the professor is leftist. I've spoken up against my professors in class. I've written papers that my professors really disagreed with. I never have been discriminated against, and I'm in one of the most liberal departments; History. Even when I spoke up against an idea considered to be liberal, I never got discriminated against.

8) One of them wrote school articles. One of the articles defended McCarthyism. Another one defended the KKK as originally and supposedly being a just white social club.

9) The same one as above attacked African American History and Women's history because supposedly the movers and shakers were mostly white men, and so blacks and women shouldn't have any real attention given to them. First, there were a lot more black and women movers and shakers than he thinks, but he wouldn't know that since he snubs these subjects. Second, a person doesn't need to be an official leader to have a big role in history. Women play a big role during historical wars, but men are the only ones spoken about most of the time. He doesn't get that.

I could go on and on, but I won't bother. All I can say is that the conservatives on campus are often really hateful toward those not like themselves. Bottom line, these people try to portray an idea that liberals are enemy number one. I wish I could say that nobody takes them seriously, but I don't know for certain.

[libnnc]

41. Sounds like UNCG

I'm a History major at UNCG and what you've described sounds just like what the College Republicans have tried to pull. Especially the part about conservative students crying about evil liberal professors (in the History dept).

I live in Winston-Salem btw and I have to get my dose of liberalism/sanity at school. Winston is hell.

[kodi]

48. sweet jesus, you voted for sheriff hege? what were you thinking?

i lived all over north carolina, raleigh for grad school with stays in chapell hill, greensboro, charlotte, west of hickory in connelly springs, and boone.

boone is the best, and asheville is next.

but thomasville? at least you got the big chair to look at! and sofas are cheap.

[Somawas]

7. I live in NC

and I'm a native. I live in Raleigh, and I like it here. And I'm pretty far left leaning. Chapel Hill is good. So is Greensboro. Asheville is all right in my book, but you have to sacrifice being able to find a decent meal, and you have to drive to Charlotte to get a direct flight anywhere.

[KTM]

27. Beg your pardon ??

Asheville is FULL of great food !! Jae's, in the Westgate plaza, has fabulous Thai food... Salsa's downtown is righteous, with a changing menu and fresh home-made sausage that will knock your socks off.. there are also Indian, Moroccoan, Carribean, Italian, Mexican, and a wide variety of other restaurants all over. Some of the best damn veg-head food around.. try Rosies... or some noodles from Doc Cheys.. We lost our Cajun place, which was also wonderful, due to the slow economy and the after-effects of hurricanes, sadly. There is no shortage of amazing food in Asheville... sure, there are some spots that suck, and of course they are in high-traffic, high-visibility spots where visitors fall prey.. but the only difficulty I have in finding a good meal is choosing where to go.

Yes, you can drive to Charlotte, an easy drive, for planes... or Greenville Spartanburg, a closer airport, or you can fly out of AVL.. yes, you'll have to make a connection, but the lines are short and you park your car 40 feet from the front door.

Meanwhile, liberals, artists, free-thinkers, etc enjoy hiking, mountian biking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, skiing... all within an hour. Other than low wages and expensive housing (cuz people like me keep raving about AVL), it's the shizzy.

(On second thought, my rent is expensive and I dont need anymore jhob competition... Asheville sucks... awful..lousy food...close-mided people...honest, I swear !) :-)

[Lorien]

51. Tupalo honey cafe

:9

I'm thinking of moving there if the wait for Canada is going to be more than a year. But don't worry; my job travels with me.

[oddtext]

37. no food in Asheville?

that be nuts. we have more neighborhood non-profit co-ops and locally owned groceries than anywhere else in NC, i'm sure of it. and the restaurants here are great! the value is generally outstanding in the $8-$15 entree range. sure, i haven't found good ethiopian here, but can you find that in Clt? there are 6 sushi joints within walking distance of my place, and yeah, Jae, the Thai restaurant just mentioned -- that's the best Thai i've had anywhere. i could go on. but it's wrong to say AVL doesn't serve it up for dinner.

[oddtext]

9. Asheville

you can't go wrong here. it's like an annex of old europe! move here. i live in montford; you'll love it.

[lectrobyte]

10. Chapel Hill would be OK, and the RTP area is pretty diverse

culturally, relatively speaking. You mentioned TX, the only place I'd consider there is Austin. I live in Raleigh now, it varies, it is a freepazoid hell where I work, with two hours at least of Rush-O-Contin blasting on the radio down the hall every day, but my neighbors and friends are pretty cool.

[Wind Dancer]

12. I would suggest Charlottesville, VA .

Vermont also has some wonderful areas, I plan to move there ASAP. They are two of my favorite affordable places.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. If you can take the cold, Maine is wonderful! Seriously. Portland

is a lovely little city.

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[seabeyond]

15. i am in the panhandle of texas over a decade now, i dream

of where i am going to go. i have some favorites i have done research. my hubby doesnt like the cold and rain. my ideal would be portland oregon or seattle washington. but because of hubby spokanne washington is more east, more hill country and good size city. so right now focused on spokanne.

i like colorado springs co and denver, outskirts littleton. i like santa fe new mexico and a smaller place flagstaff az. i grew up in calif. a lot of reasons i wouldn move back there too expensive. i lived in reno nevada. if you are single and like to have fun, a beautiful place. but not good to raise a family in my view only. dallas, houston and austin are all different than the parts of texas i live in or what you hear about texas. more diverse. but if i move it is all the way out of the state.

and there are a few

[nascarblue]

24. I'm with ou on Portand and Seattle...

... I hear great things about both. We should organize and form a mass exodus coaltion. I need to sell or lease my pad though.

[Cats Against Frist]

30. Eastern Washington is all red

Spokane has a lot of fundies. Think, it's practically Idaho.

***edit, because I don't know which way is east and west.

[jmowreader]

39. It's still better than Fayettenam, NC

Yes, that's right, I live in Fayette-FUCKING-Nam, North Carolina.

Oh, they get pissed off when you say that.

The fuckin' fundies go on and on about how this isn't Fayettenam anymore--a name the town got back in the 1960s because it was essentially a war zone, and because the snake-eaters and the jumping junkies* in division bounced back and forth between Fayettenam and Vietnam. Oh no! We tore down Rick's Lounge, which was quite possibly the most famous titty bar in the world. We tore down the Seven Dwarves and the Korean Bar--which, admittedly, needed to be torn down for fire safety if nothing else.

And then we turn around and build a huge Army museum right on the most prime piece of real estate in the whole fucking town.

Mister, the day my numbers come in I'm flying to Charlotte, buying a green Sprinter, painting Sweet & Low Upholstery on the side of it, driving back to Fayettenam, loading our cats and the rest of our shit in the back, topping off the fuel tank and heading straight for Seattle. My wife will drive the hybrid Accord she'll be purchasing while I'm dealing with Freightliner of Charlotte.

* When the Army realized it had a Drug Problem, they piss tested a sample of every unit in the service. Turns out the most stoned division was the 82nd Airborne and the most stoned unit in the whole army was the 82nd's rigger shed--where they pack the division's parachutes. People were coming to work fucked up and packing personnel chutes--which may explain why so many paratroopers were attempting to land at 120mph. That's when the army decided to solve this little problem by taking all of the riggers out at random intervals and telling them to jump a parachute they packed--without opening it and repacking it first. They still do this.

[KoKo]

16. I'm in Raleigh and it Sucks....I've tried to like the place..but it lacks

"cultural diversity" and is boring unless you like to eat at "fast food" restaurants and want to join some kind of church bordering on fundie or the "Club" and went to UNC or NC State.

The weather is better than Vermont or New England (where I lived for a time) but I know Raleigh is very unfriendly and folks don't spend money on culture and don't go anything "culterally" excerpt Football/Basketball/Hocky/CHURCH.

If you don't fit into all that..you will never have a friend here. Just my opinion....

[autorank]

18. Fairfax County VA is GREAT & BLUE

If you're in online services, networking, systems integration, or any network related high tech occupation, Fairfax is your Paris! It's the birthplace and operations center for the Internet. It's also a great place if you're a professional (e.g., doctor, psychologist, lawyer, accountant, financial consultant) because there are many around here who will use your services. It's suburban but looks pretty decent in any season but winter. The public schools are great and there are excellent universities (George Mason, Georgetown, GW, American) within a 15-20 mile radius. Great food, moderate/liberal county government, and no hate that I can detect. It's bordered by the Free Republic of Arlington, VA (total liberal), Loudoun County (lots of new companies, high tech, etc.) which is a mix of Blue and Red, and Prince William County, which has a ways to go (no offense).

We're part of Virginia which goes back and forth in control at the state level. If you hear a southern accent here (in the past ten years), it's probably someone who has moved here from the south. Lots of different nationalities and everybody gets along pretty well (Clinton praised Fairfax as the model for multi cultural communities).

If you want city life, forget it. It's the burbs but you're near a quasi city, DC and 3.5 hours from NYC (the real deal).

Good luck!

[nascarblue]

22. What about this new gay bashing in Virginia?

What's with all this liscense plate discrimating mumbo jumbo? Profiling people of color and sexual preference to aid Police in who they chose to pull over? Didn't you hear about that Virginia legislation they are passing?

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:0EO6dynrAZkJ:www.stonewalldemocrats.org/trailmix/+virginia+gay+marriage+license+plates&hl=en

[autorank]

31. Two parts: legislation sucks; in No. VA, there is none in real life.

This is a tough question for me because a good friend and colleague is moving because of the laws passed by the first Repuke state legislature in god know how long. The laws really make gay people feel targeted and create some problems that are very real for partners. My friend experienced NO discrimination here nor did his partner but they freaked with these laws and I can't blame them. There is a lot of interesting stuff going on here but it's all on the QT. This isn't San Francisco or NYC but it is one hell of a long way from being anti-gay (in Northern Virginia).

[GRLMGC]

20. California knows how to party

:) But the property rates are way too high. We'd love you here anyway. Just stick to the coast. It gets pretty red Inland.

[nascarblue]

21. Come to Cali NT

[shraby]

25. Wisconsin has some of the friendliest

people you'd ever find anyplace.

[jdj]

26. Just an NC'er saying you are not alone.

I got the election results for my BOE and was stunned that 7000 here voted for Kerry.

I feel so alone sometimes I couldn't believe there were actually 7000 people who voted for him. (Of course 20 something thousand redneck idiots voted for shrub.)

I'm in Monroe, by the way.

I was in Asheville but as I have no job skills I couldn't make a living. I am getting my paralegal now, so I hope I will be employable. At this point I am thinking about law school so I don't know if I will make it back to Asheville for another 20 years or so, but I call it "my beloved Asheville" for a reason. Of course the city council is doing it's best to rape it into a middle class hell just like Greenville or Knoxville or Charlotte or Richmond (and I've lived in or near all of these so I know) and this is such a shame...what differentiates Asheville is the art via George Vanderbilt's influence and the rich recoup'ing from tb in in the 19th century, but the people in power are doing their damnedest to kill Asheville, I personally think that they are trying to make sure that the starving artist types do actually starve...to death.

But there are tons of closet liberals everywhere. It's odd that the larger the "middle class" in a town the less culture there is to be had, always.

[pauliedangerously]

28. Former Hampton Roads Virginian checking in.....

I moved to Minnesota in '93. And yes, it's cold, but to be honest it's kind of cosmic to go outside when it's -15. I remember thinking I was going to die when it got below freezing, a balmy 32 degrees, in Norfolk. I remember all of my friends commenting every chance they got, "Why do you want to move there? It's cold up there."

I'm not trying to make a sales pitch for Minnesota by any means. Moving up here from the Mid-Atlantic region was a total culture shock. Contrary to popular belief, the children aren't all "above average." It's just regarded as politically incorrect to give bad grades (it hurts kids' feelings). Being a hardened liberal from the South, I don't have too much sympathy for people who get bent out of shape when you look at them cross-eyed.

I plan on moving out West in a few years; I've been eyeballing New Mexico. Call it red if you want, but in my view, all states are different shades of purple. Quite frankly, I miss taking on five or six Amway-selling, AM radio fuckwads all at the same time...pardon my Fre...uh...FREEDOM...BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

Let me just tell you this about the mid-Atlantic region...I sure do miss the way the women talk down there. That Scarlet O'Hara kind of cooing just makes my butter melt. All of that "Oh yah" crap up here is about as sexy as a bucket of weeds.

[Cats Against Frist]

29. Move to a Swing State

and for holy's sake, get out of there! There is no reason to live your life around those kind of people.

I'm from Seattle, but right now, I live in Iowa City, IA -- in the most liberal county in Iowa, in a very close swing state. I'm considering staying JUST so I can stay here to vote in Iowa, because Iowa needs me. Washington State is doing OK, because of Seattle -- at least for now.

[lildreamer316]

32. Greensboro NC here...

.....and I'm tired of hiding too. On top of being a liberal and a pagan, I'm also a stripper. I hide alot! We are going to move to Las Vegas (hubby used to live there, he's a DJ). Come join!
What's really bad is that I grew up here!

[neohippie]

49. I live in Greensboro too

I drive around with DU bumper sticker on my truck and I am surrounded by conservatives but, I don't think it is all that bad. There are some great folks here too.

I would love to move to Asheville, but, I would never be able to earn what I earn here. It's a great place to visit.

I am considered liberal by almost everyone that knows me, and I am actually fairly moderate. I was surprised that Kerry won my county in the election.

Don't let the wing nuts and fundies, drive you away. We need to stand up for what we believe in, and make sure that other points of view get heard in this state. Sure there is plenty of hypocrisy here, and religious zeal, but, most folks are educated and that gives you the opportunity to present them with good information and maybe open up their minds.

There are great restaurants all over the state, I haven't been disappointed with food anywhere, especially in Asheville.

Maybe some of us DUer's need to get together more often and then we can feel less isolated? I am hoping to buy a house in Burlington, and if I do, I will be glad to host a monthly gathering.

[uncertainty1999]

33. I left NC as soon as I could

I am not a NC native (or even a Southerner), and the place never grew on me. Before you take off for the blue heart of the blue U.S., consider that if you ever hope to own a house, your best bet is to stay in NC or another affordable state (or live in a "red" area in a "blue" state, which is probably not what you are looking for). I just noticed the bluest areas are the most expensive (SF, LA, NYC, for starters). If you stay in NC, your best bet is the Triangle area -- probably Durham/Chapel Hill/Carrboro (Carrboro had a gay mayor a few years ago - talk about progressive). You could keep abreast of events at Duke and UNC for relief from the suburban-like tedium.

[NC_Nurse]

40. I'm in Chapel Hill...

a little pricey here, but you can live affordably in Chatham county and be within a few miles of town.

Carrboro still has a gay mayor...same guy in fact.

Chapel Hill has been invaded by out of state yuppies who tend to be Repubs it seems, but the Libs still loom large here and in Durham as well. Forget Raleigh, it sucks. Basically the upwardly mobile rednecks from "down east" have all come there and they're overwhelmingly Repub and not the most reflective or articulate political thinkers...sigh. Plus it's got all the culture of a McCity... all chain stores and restaurants with the exception of a few good clubs like Kings and the Lincoln Theatre.

[GreenInNC]

42. stay and fight

If you leave, the assholes win. This is what the chickenshit republicans want you to do. Less liberals in NC, the easier it is for them to take more control of our state.

I have friends who have asked why I live here and I tell them somebody has to tweak the conservatives.

And don't just tweak the republicans, you got to tweak the conservative democrats.

[Guns Aximbo]

44. France or Illinois they're so similar

Just kidding about France, although it would be great, I'm sure.

Illinois is becoming more and more liberal although we have a plethora of right wing fascist pedophilic mother f@#kers here (Hastert is the "Representative" for my district and I live in down town FACSIST Town). It'll be great here once Bushler is out of office.

[timtom]

45. If you are considering Texas,

DO NOT go to Houston.

I would recommend Austin. It was (1976-1980) and probably still is, a world class city. Great people.

I've heard good things about Ft. Worth, but have never been there.

[CRK7376]

46. I hate that you are

having such a hard time in NC. I'm from the W-S area, have been here for 44 out of my 46 years and love this area. Ok, recently we have "Gone Stupid" as a Red state. Still it's home the mountains are fabulous and the people are friendly. I've travelled and worked worldwide and still keep coming back here. So I'm saddened to here that your NC experience has not been good.

[Shopaholic]

47. If you think NC is bad. . .try living in South Carolina

:puke:

[Rockholm]

50. Here are my thoughts Jackie.......

I went to college in Houston. Houston is purple. Lots of misguided republicans BUT many feisty Democrats as well. Great neighborhoods such as Bellaire, West University Place, The Heights. River Oaks, Memorial and Tanglewood are awesome places, but are probably more conservative.
Since I was a Houstonian, I can't recommend Dallas. Sorry.

I grew up in Charleston, SC. Formerly a liberal bastion in SC, the northern suburbs are RED RED RED. The City is still fairly liberal.

MOVE TO BOSTON! I have been here since 1986. Smart, historic, DEMOCRATIC. Hell, even our republicans are moderate. Sure, we have some arch conservative wingnuts, but we have to have them to keep us from getting soft. We have an improving economy, access to everything. Sadly, it is expensive to live here, but the quality of life is amazing.

As other posters had said, Asheville is awesome. Boone and Blowing Rock are cool. I have often thought about moving south again, and I would settle in Asheville if I were to move.

[Lorien]

52. I live in Orlando

though the weather is generally good (about 72 and sunny today), when it's bad, it's REALLY bad. My home was hit by three hurricanes last year, and with the warmer oceans, we can only expect more in the future.My neighborhood-the downtown historic district-is one of the most progressive areas of the city. The problem is the transitory nature of the residents. No one seems to live in their home for more than five years here, so they don't want to bother with getting to know the neighbors.I had a family visit from Syracuse not long ago. They visited many of the playgrounds and parks in my neighborhood with their two year old while they were here. They kept remarking on how stone faced and unfriendly the people were that they encountered. "We kept smiling and saying "Hello", and they looked at us as if we were freaks"! I told them not to worry; I get the same reception. I've lived here nearly 16 years, and I only have four friends that I ever see for lunch or a movie. If you like cocooning, then it's the place for you; but if you're more social by nature, it's hell.

[HeilChimp]

53. red state? have you checked the statewide officials lately?

North Carolina always seemed like a fairly middle of the road southern state to me. It CERTAINLY is more progressive than it's neighbors. Yes, you currently have two Repug Senators, but that's probably a fluke. Until recently, the other Senator was John Edwards, and that's the "one term curse" seat that has been switching partries since 1972, so it should go Dem again in 2010 (before Edwards, it was held by Repug Lauch Faircloth, but before him it was held by Dem Terry Sanford)

Didn't Clinton win NC twice? Also, look at who runs your state. I'm not seeing any Repug mandate on the state level:

STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS

GOVERNOR:
Mike Easley (D)

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
Beverly Perdue (D)

SECRETARY OF STATE:
Elaine Marshall (D)

ATTORNEY GENERAL:
Roy Cooper (D)

STATE TREASURER:
Richard Moore (D)

STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER:
W. Britt Cobb Jr. (D)

STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER:
Jim Long (D)

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION:
June Atkinson (D) - NC Department of Public Instruction Official & Educator


U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

District 1:
G.K. Butterfield (D)

District 2:
Bob Etheridge (D)

District 4:
David Price (D)

District 7:
Mike McIntyre (D)

District 12:
Mel Watt (D)

District 13:
Brad Miller (D)


STATE LEGISLATURE

President Pro Tem, NC Senate
Senator Marc Basnight (D)
2005-2006 Session

Speaker of the NC House
State Representative James B. Black (D)
2003-2004


In short, you're gonna find a lot more Dems in NC than you will in any of its neighboring states. If you're gonna leave NC, you might as well leave the US, since the rest of the nation is controlled by Repugs more than NC is. I've been thinking of moving to Mexico for a couple of years, personally.