Where to live in the US?

[fugue]

Hi, all!

A few months ago, I posted regarding where to live outside the US. Now I find myself in a different situation.

I telecommute. My boss is willing to hire me as regular staff (right now I'm technically self-employed, which *stinks* unless you make a bundle), but she (or rather her accountant) hates NY employment laws. She's willing to pay for my moving anywhere in the US that isn't NYS. It must be the US, though. Moving outside would cause too many problems, too.

I'm trying to talk her out of this, but I can't argue she's got a point. For instance, although she'll have to accomodate my disability (Asperger's syndrome) for as long as I work for her, she only gets a tax break the first year. So I'm starting to seek alternatives.

Here's what I would need:

1. A liberal community: I'd prefer a blue state, but I am willing to move somewhere red if my immediate community was blue.


2. Dog-friendliness: My family is a five-year-old impossibly cute cocker spaniel (see my avatar). I don't want to end up somewhere that treats him like he's a vicious monster, just because he's got big teeth. (He's never used them harmfully on anything alive, despite intense provocation--actual physical abuse by some kids, at whom I was so angry that I almost bit!)


3. Small town: I am unable to cope with big-city life. The chief difficulty of Asperger's syndrome is making sense of the sensory chaos hitting my brain, and big cities go over my threshold. I can't go too rural, however, because I cannot drive a car. (I can't make sense of the chaos fast enough to have a safe response time at car speeds.) I currently live in Ithaca, NY, for those of you who know it. Something like that would be nice.

Here's what I would like in addition, if possible:

• Easy vegetarian living: Omnivores always look at me and say "Can't you cook for yourself?" Vegetarians know what I mean. I nearly starved the week I spent in Texas, and I was staying with a friend.

I think that's everything. Suggestions would be very welcome!

[democrank]

1. Where to live? Easy....

Come to Vermont. Absolutely no place like it on earth.

[mdmc]

4. good place, good representation...

And they premiered for HO Ho!

[mike_c]

2. two words....

Northern California. Top of the scale on every one of your criteria, IMO.

[mdmc]

6. true...

but living under the Govinator... beat...

[mike_c]

13. hell, ahnold hasn't been any worse than Gray Davis was...

...and up here behind the redwood curtain we don't ever really notice anyway.

[mdmc]

3. Anywhere in NYSCD 22

I would look in to Woodstock, Poughkeepsie, Ithaca, and all of the small towns that are represented by Maurice Hinchey. You would also get to be within 1-5 hours of NYC, which is cool, too.

[fugue]

15. Uh, I'm *in* Ithaca now

She wants me to move out of NYS, not move in!

[mdmc]

36. I'm sorry

I didn't read carefully.
Go to Vermont if your serious (moving for a boss that wants to avoid labor laws?).

[Celeborn Skywalker]

5. I was gonna recommend somewhere in New Mexico

until you mentioned the restaurant thing. This is major carnivore country, so it would be hard to find a vegetarian restaurant except in Albuquerque or maybe Las Cruces. I think your best bet is somewhere either in Vermont or possibly Maine.

[rndmprsn]

7. pacific NW n/t

[all.of.me]

8. new mexico

taos is wonderful, IF you don't have to work here! wages here are out of proportion to the cost of living. most people hold down 2-3 or 4 jobs to make ends meet.

but it is quiet, blue (10K votes for JK, 3K for GW), alternative, spiritual, and VERY dog friendly. in my neighborhood alone, there are 15 dogs in 8 houses.

lots of vegetarians here - one 'gourmet health food store,' one buying club/co-op, and one herb store.

public transportation sucks, but if you lived in town, you could walk everywhere.

there are other good towns in NM, but i couldn't give you details about them. this is where i live.

[catmandu57]

41. That's my reccomendation

Taos or somewhere close to it. We went through there in september and I loved it. If possible I'd pull up stakes tomorrow and go there, anywhere in the northern part of new mexico would be good, but, Taos has culture and is very blue.

[Droopy]

9. The suburbs of Dayton, Ohio are pretty nice

We have public transportation and are dog friendly with plenty of resaurants that serve vegetarian dishes. I live in West Carrollton and you can get a nice three bedroom house for about 90k here, cheaper in Dayton. You can get a nice two bedroom apartment for about $500. While the suburbs tend to be conservative, Dayton is quite liberal. You're dog would be cool here in the 'burbs, but you might have trouble finding an apartment that will allow him.

[fugue]

19. Oo, couldn't live in Dayton!

Grew up there. Grew up in Centerville, to be specific. I could never move back. The person I most hope to never see again in my life is there, as are some others I would prefer to avoid.

I do have some friends still there (one who should be near you--Pepper Hill Drive), of course. But the possibility of being found by the others . . . I'd never sleep at night. Not to mention the flashbacks I'd have. . . .

I don't doubt it might be good in general, but if my choices were Dayton or death, it would not be the first!

[Droopy]

21. What a coincidence

Sorry you can't live here. I understand, though. I would want to go back to a place with a lot of bad memories, either.

[rockymountaindem]

10. Boulder, Colorado

If you bring your dog you'll be a "pet guardian" as opposed to an "owner" according to city law. Very liberal, not too big, and I'm sure quite vegetarian friendly.

[forgethell]

11. Tuscaloosa,

Alabama meets your needs. As a college town, it is a mixture of town & gown, hence liberal and conservative. You can pick your own neighborhood.

I've got four BIG dogs, and no one has given me any trouble. One of them is mainly cocker, although he was a street stray.

It's a pretty small size town.

It can always use more liberals.

There is a vegetarian-type store called "Manna" that has been around for a long time.

Many of the neighborhoods are well-integrated. My own, for instance, is about 50% black.

On the negative side, it is usually hot in summer and cold in winter, although not so much this year. Damn that global warming. Humidity is bad.

And while you can find plenty of liberals and progressives, my own neighborhood was about 90% Kerry signs, you cannot avoid running into a lot of Republicans.

Still, all in all, I spent a lot of years trying to get back to Tuscaloosa once I left it, and I plan to spend the rest of my life here even if I have to change careers. So I like it. But there are people who don't. Screw 'em.

[Telly Savalas]

12. A typical midwest university town would probably flip the bill.

In particular, the last place I lived was Lawrence, Kansas. It's about twice as big as Ithaca, but if you live in the core of the town, you could do alright without a car. It's in a very red state, but the town itself is pretty liberal. (Douglas County is one of the 2 blue specks in Kansas on a county-by-county election map.) If I ever fancied moving back to a town with a population of less than 100,000, Lawrence would be near the top of my list.

For more info, check out this piece about the town from Friday's NY Times.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Extremely liberal. Small town feel.

Countryside within 10 miles. Best medical center at the U of M that I know of. Good luck in your search.

[snacker]

16. Madison, WI n/t

[mikita]

17. some great suggestions above, but I'd add Asheville, NC

Great small city, with LOTS of diversity. We moved here from another mountain town in NC, as we also telecommute and wanted to get away from the overwhelming Shrub-based mentality there. We're only about 2 hours away now physically, but light-years in attitude. Asheville is also dog-heaven, making me miss my sweet Boots who died a year ago. As for vegetarians (which I am), this place is HEAVEN. In most cities, we usually read menus in a nano-second because there's only one or two items to choose from. For whatever reason, Asheville is a mecca for vegetarians. And if you like and can do yoga, it's here too. Did I mention the music venues??

Good luck in your search!

:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

25. Asheville is another great choice. And the weather is much better than

The Northeast. Except, when they do have snow, they can be maniacs on the road! Or they just panic and close everything down! My grandmother lived in Black Mountain, so I've spent a lot of time in the area. I loved it, as well!:-)

And what is that great vegetarian restaurant in Asheville? There was one in Black Mountain that I particularly liked, but I looked for it on their website, and it must have closed.:-(

[HeyManThatsCool]

35. Rocky Mount, North Carolina

so beautitful! & very friendly people. Laid back town

[Rhiannon12866]

42. I actually did visit that town twice. When I was seven or eight, I spent

Spring break, in Florida, with my aunt, my uncle and my cousin. We drove and we stopped and spent the night, both going and coming, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Obviously, I don't remember it well, but it was a nice trip and I've always been exceptionally fond of North Carolina. The scenery's just beautiful and the people are the nicest.:-)

[all.of.me]

18. asheville, north carolina

is another good choice. boone, nc, too.

[fugue]

20. Thanks much for the suggestions, all!

I'll be checking back of course, but this does give me some places to start with.

[MuseRider]

22. Lawrence, Kansas

We NEED more liberals in Kansas. Lawrence is liberal, a college town and part of it is still really funky and fun. It is growing very fast and I am afraid the liberals will be outnumbered soon so they really need you. I live in the next town over and have always thought Lawrence was just loads of fun with lots of good people. We really do need lots and lots of liberals around here. It is sometimes a little difficult living in a farm/ranch state and not eat meat but if you can stand people looking at you like you are crazy when you tell them you don't eat meat then you would be OK.

[Rhiannon12866]

23. How about Vermont?

That is, if you don't mind the cold. It is becoming increasingly liberal. It is a beautiful state. They certainly seem to like dogs there. (I've also had four cockers in my life!) And those I've met from there are sympathetic to vegetarians. I used to go to summer camp in Colchester, on Lake Champlain, near South Burlington. I love going back to visit. They also offer amenities like alternative healing, probably because the university is located there. It's a great place to live, if you can deal with the snow.:shrug:

On edit: I just saw your dog! What a cutie! My Barney, the best dog I will ever know, was also a blond cocker. I lost him two years ago, at age 18.:-(

[woofless]

24. Check out Bellingham, WA.

We live 30 miles east in the foothills of Mt. Baker. The best of all worlds with easy access to Seattle and even easier to Vancouver, B.C.
I have lived in nearly every region of this country and none compares on any level.

Woof

[tinfoilinfor2005]

26. Key West

Ultra liberal community. Animals totally welcome. Average year around temp is 78 degrees. Very healthy climate: ocean breezes blow away any pollution and there is basically none to begin with. Several vegetarian restaurants and health food stores in town. Everything is walking distance. Plus...it is Paradise. Downside...not cheap.

[yellowdogintexas]

27. Bloomington Indiana, a university town

red state but Bloomington is all about IU. Great town/gown relationship, lots of variety, etc.

Nashville could also be good, if you get in the university area there near Vandy, Belmont, etc. , and they still have a bus system. It is a blue city, too.

Key West was a great suggestion by the way, if you are being paid enough. It is so laid back and small enough to walk most places. Lots of tourists, so there is a little bit of everything

[RagingInMiami]

28. And you get a great sunset every night

[Nay]

29. Missoula, Montana. Only liberal town in the state. Umiversity town.

[SmokingJacket]

30. Missoula, Montana, is the Ithaca of the west.

Well... it's more relaxed, actually. It's officially larger than Ithaca but it feels emptier -- that Big Sky thing. It is very, VERY blue, has a health food store nearly identical to the one in Ithaca, and is also very doggy. Great coffee shops, wonderful sandwich shops with tons of veggie options.

What was hard for me, living there, was that it was so far from a big city. But if you don't like cities, all the better.

The outdoors stuff is even better than Ithaca, too: gorgeous river running through town, lots of hiking areas, mountains all around. You can get pretty much everywhere on bike (except for the mountain-side neighborhoods, it's FLAT, unlike Ithaca) or bus, the winters are similar to Ithacas, and rents are slightly cheaper.

Consider it!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

31. Burlington, VT; Madison, WI; Amherst/Northampton, MA

Amherst/Noho is very veg friendly, and the area (Berkshires) is gorgeous.

[Betty]

33. I second the Western MA idea

it's wonderful out there. (I'm in Boston but go out there pretty regularly)

[saltpoint]

32. A lot of great suggestions by posters here.

From your criteria, a list of places might include:

Boulder, CO
Madison, WI
Bloomington, IN
Chapel Hill, NC
Burlington, VT
Yellow Springs, OH
Blacksburg, VA
Austin, TX
Tucson, AZ
Chico, CA
Gainesville, FL


--and others.

[all.of.me]

34. what were some of the ideas for outside the us? n/t

[xmas74]

37. Don't move to MO

Seems our governor has stated that Dems only live in places that no one else wants to.

[GreenPartyVoter]

38. You need to come to Maine. We have everything you are

looking for, provided that you don't mind long winters. :)

[Stop_the_War]

39. Asheville, NC?

I'm not sure. PETA has a list of vegetarian-friendly cities http://www.peta.org/feat/vegcities/crop9.html and Asheville is on there. Asheville's not very urban and the city voted for Kerry. And I was born there. :P

[Rhiannon12866]

43. I didn't specifically know about Asheville, but I would have guessed.

That's a pretty cool area. And they also get a lot of transplants and retirees. My grandmother retired to Black Mountain, just outside of Asheville, and she ended up voting for Bill Clinton, after voting Republican all her life! It's either the political atmosphere or they put something in the water!:D

[Kazak]

40. Move to a "purple" state, where your vote is most effective...

Ohio, Iowa, New Mexico, etc...

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

44. VERMONT

Burlington or Manchester

You will LOVE it there based on the things you've said. I live close by in New York and absolutely love traveling to Vermont. It's peaceful, beautiful, but there's still things to do within walking distance. And it's not overwhelming.

It's small, liberal, animal-friendly... and very easy for vegetarians in Vermont. Sounds like a perfect place for you to live, no? :)