Where should I move?

[Khephra]

My life had become REAL open recently. My job is working for Truthout, so I can do it anywhere there's a good computer connection.

[flamingyouth]

1. Come west, young man

Just a thought. :-)

[Kamika]

2. NYC, LA or Las Vegas

Only places I'd ever move to

[Khephra]

3. Vegas

is at the top of my list

[MacCovern]

5. Vegas is on my list also...

cost of housing is cheap. If you're thinking of checking out homes in Vegas try: www.c21moneyworld.com AND www.americanagroup.com AND www.homebuilders.com

I might be moving there in just a few more months.

[cally]

23. Do you know any lefties who live in Vegas?

I know there are a few DUers but I've never seen them post about Vegas. Very close friends lived there for many years. They often felt like the lone environmentalists and liberals. Housing is very cheap, though.

[stopbush]

46. I moved to Vegas last June

There's a fairly active group of lefties here. Bush's appearance at the Venetian drew like 1400 protesters. Not bad at all.

If you already have a job that allows you to live anywhere, great. But the Vegas employment scene can be tough for newcomers (like moi). It helps to know someone...the job market can be a very closed shop. Salaries here are fairly low when compared to the rest of the country, and the casino/hotel/service industry is what it's all about. Sure, there are other jobs available, but they seem to be few and far between.

The big plus is the weather. I was born in Ohio along the lake and spent 1977-2003 living in NYC/NJ. I was so sick of the wet weather and the short summer season that I find LV to be like heaven, though I miss being close to a big body of water (Lake Mead seems rather puny compared to Erie or the Atlantic!). There's also lots to do here. Mt Charleston has an elevation of 8,000 feet. I've taken the kids up there to sled with a foot of snow on the ground while it's 65º in the valley! Of course, the summer can be oppressive. We had 3 straight weeks of temps above 110º (but it's a dry heat...like an oven!).

If you jog or do outside sports, you can do them year-round. They've got baseball leagues going at night here right now!

Like any other place, there are trade-offs. There's very little culture here, though the powers that be are committed to building a performing arts center down on the Strip. The local orchestra is surprisingly good as is the ballet company...and The Strip hotels feature art galleries and plenty of shows. The schools are also good - better than what we had in NJ with our outrageous property taxes! And, the cuisine is spectacular, as good as NYC in its diversity and quality.

I don't know how long we'll be here. I haven't been able to land anything that matches my skill set...I'm over-qualified 98% of the time. In fact, a big company in the SF bay area is flying me up next week for a face-to-face interview on an upper-management position. I may well be out of LV by February...which sort of sucks as I like it here. But I badly need a job, so the die may be cast.

I'd still recommend this place, at least for a while.

[Shakespeare]

43. You might have second thoughts about Vegas if...

...you've ever read the EXCELLENT book Cadillac Desert.

With our country's current climate (on a number of levels), I wouldn't move anywhere the water supply was that iffy. Sounds tinfoil-hattish, yes, but I'm quite serious.

[stopbush]

48. We drink bottled water out here, mostly from CA

and many homes have elaborate purification systems to deal with the local supply.

[Beaker]

49. exactly.

we're contemplating relocating, but living as close as we do to the Great Lakes, we may decide to stand pat.

[rogerashton]

7. Sound like good places to move away from, IMHO.

Philly, where I live, is nice for a big eastern city. You need to be, um, assertive though.

Move to Victoria, BC. If you have to live in the states, Whitney-Fidalgo Islands across the sound in the Soviet of Washington.

[Capn Sunshine]

25. I second Victoria

Coolest Canadian city. No snow to speak of.Anywhere on VI.
I'm shopping for a house there half heartedly. Maybe Campbell.

[private_ryan]

15. tired of Bush country?

n/t

[Kamika]

16. huh no

texas is the best place ever.. people are so nice and all..

But if I'd EVER move.. it would be one of those places

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. Los Angeles? I cant stand SoCal and i have lived lots of places.....

Vegas...ok...but you had better not mind 110 degree heat in the summer. NYC, i agree. Never a shortage of things to do and you can get around pretty easy without a car.

You can move anywhere? The Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Or Coeur D' Alene, Idaho or anywhere up in the ID panhandle on a lake.

I would be in either place in a heartbeat if i could

[MacCovern]

4. Depends on so many things

What kind of weather do you like?.... Do you like living near the beach?....
Like a lot of home for your money?..... Like living somewhere with no state taxes?..... Would you enjoy living in a small town or a large urban area?.... and the list goes on and on.

[Khephra]

6. I live in Indianapolis

draw your own conclusions about my exodus ;-)

[Pobeka]

36. Grew up in Indianoplace, moved to Puget Sound 18 years ago

If you don't mind mild winters, and mild summers, consider the PNW -- west of the cascade mtns that is!

[DrWeird]

8. How about the PNW

I can't imagine wanting to live anywhere else.

[hamerfan]

11. Stay away from...

Kansas and Missouri! Transplanted Northwesterer here (Oregon, Montana, Alaska). I noticed you're from Indianapolis so you know why. Bible Belt Buckle here! Intelligent design in public schools, man I never thought I'd see the day...
One day it's back to the Oregon coast for me, and that's my advice to no one else. (I want it affordable and empty when I finally get out there)...

[DrWeird]

18. Was just at the coast

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=625405>

[ronnykmarshall]

9. Los Angeles

it's still afordable in some areas. Lots of like minded folks.

[tinrobot]

52. Barely affordable...

Houses here in Silverlake have tripled in price since I moved here. In general, housing in LA has gone up 10-20% a year for the past 4-5 years. Glad I bought when I did, but I couldn't afford to live here if I hadn't.

Then again, my favorite city is San Francisco. Lived there for four years. Expensive, but I love the city, people, and the cooler weather.

[Tempest]

10. Vancouver, B.C.

Rated the best place to live in North America.

[Bruce McAuley]

12. Republic, Wa., The End of the Universe(but with broadband!)

Cheap housing, beautiful mountain country, clean air and water, varied climate, no fast food, no stoplights, 4 people per square mile.
It's Heaven here in northern Eastern Washington, 20 miles from Canada.
:hi:

Bruce

[SOteric]

13. All these people glowing about the PNW are not wrong.

Think seriously about it.

[IADEMO2004]

17. Don't use this weeks weather in your evaluation of the PNW

[Pobeka]

37. Because it really can, and does rain a lot

There's a reason Tacoma has one of the highest suicide rates in the country.

If you think you can handle shorter days in the winter, and lots and lots of cloudy days (like, maybe only seeing the sun 1 in every 10 or 20 days during winter), then think it over.

I'd say traffic is not much worse than Indy at rush hour -- at least around the airport on 465 at rush hour that is...

[BritishHuman]

50. When I've been in Seattle, the weather has been fine

I think it's all a conspiracy to stop people moving there.

[HEyHEY]

14. Cairo

CHeap living and I hear high speed internet is ther.e

[radwriter0555]

19. VIVA LA MEXICO!

Why not? Palm trees, swaying in the breeze.... sand, sun, surf, reef, seafood...

[GOPisEvil]

20. May I suggest Austin?

1. good weather (a mite hot, but you'd live)
2. Fairly liberal.
3. Big DU presence

Plus, it just rocks here.

[jonnyblitz]

21. northeast. (NYC/Boston)

lotsa good music and good cultural stuff up here plus many cool cool DUers in the general area although the cost of living can be high. :hi:

[Terwilliger]

22. to the sound of the beat

(somewhere in DC or California)

[Capn Sunshine]

24. I suggest Big Sur.

Lots of liberals, far lefter than YOU :) Lots of conservative anti-govvie types. Rich MJ growers. Resort guys, Crystal gazers. Park Rangers. Third generation hipie chicks.Nudists. Serious Artists. World class musicians.

And the most awesome and beautiful old growth forest and beaches in California.

Other than that, where I live is pretty cool too. Ventura County.:hi:

[LynneSin]

26. You know all your girlfriends are in the Midatlantic states:

You have me in Delaware, RBNYC in NYC, and Ramsey in Philadelphia

YOu come out here and live with us!!! We'll timeshare you in 3 states!!

[Khephra]

53. You know that all of you have weighed on my mind

There's nothing like moving to a city where you have girl Friends ;-)

[XNASA]

28. If you'd like to live in an affordable world-class city.......

With fantastic food, great museums, excellent mass transit, and architecture second to no place else.....

We're right down the road.

Perhaps I should mention that we Dems run the whole shebang here. City, county and state. The city of which I speak doesn't even have a Republican Party organization.

You know where I'm talkin' 'bout.

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. Should I give a clue?

[XNASA]

30. No way. You know how this works................

If they're not smart enough to figure it out, we don't want 'em.

Besides, I'm sure that keph is well aware of the place of which I speak.

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. Well, he should be....

..even if the weather sucks (to you going to Texas to warm up next month).

[XNASA]

34. The weather sucks more in other places I've lived.

I actually like the weather here. I went for a walk a few nights ago. Fresh snow. Full moon. Very still. It was just gorgeous.

Seriously, the weather here doesn't bother me at all. Lot's of very pleasant days between April until November. It was 62 on January 2nd this year. Besides, it weeds out the hardy souls from the rest.

[greatauntoftriplets]

35. I am usually cold.

Wear two heavy sweaters in my office. January 2 was beautiful, the last week has been not so good. I am hot a hardy soul, though I have lived here for more than 54 years.

[GOPisEvil]

32. I should move there!

:-)

[BigMcLargehuge]

33. come to New Hampshire

we're nice here regardless of our reputation. Mild summers, long and lovely autumns, refreshing snowy winters. and amazing springtime weather.

Come to New Hampshire. We'd love to have you.

[maxanne]

39. amen BigMcLargehuge

we need some more Democrats here, Kef!!

It's nice up here near Mt. Washington. I drive over a covered bridge every day - it's quaint, clean, and not too overpopulated yet. Some good restaurants - and plenty of latte drinking, body pierced, Volvo drivers around.

:evilgrin:

[arcane1]

38. why, the San Francisco Bay Area, of course!

why pay less? :silly:

:hi:

besides, bay area DUers kick ass! :D

[Cheswick2.0]

40. someplace where your money goes a long way

Pick someplace appealing to you that is also not expensive. do you want warm pr cold weather, or change of seasons? Do you like mountains or seashore. Do you like city or country?

[supernova]

41. Durham/Chapel Hill/Raleigh NC

Pluses -

- You have access to and opportunites with count 'em at least 8 world-class universities with all the intellectual stimulation you could possibly want. I haven't counted the lesser-known unis that are just as good.

- Excellent nightlife, everthing from Jazz clubs to wine bars and 5-star dining.

- Excellent, concentrated DU company.

- The never ending hijinks of the Durham City Council. :P

- The fun that is Orange County. :D

- Slightly rural, slightly big city. The contrast is always fascinating.

- 2.5 hours away from the beach. About 3.5 hours away from the mountains -- Asheville (where, according to Matcom "50,000 lesbians can't be wrong.") ;-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

45. I never knew you were in the research triangle

next time I'm out there...we're gonna go to those jazz clubs!
:yourock: too!

[supernova]

57. NSMA, I didn't know

you visited here in the Triangle! Kewel! Yes, we'd love to have to come for a visit. :hi:

We don't have quite as much as SoCal in the way of entertainment, but what we do have we cherish. :D

[Corgigal]

58. I agree

not to mention PLENTY of concerts and other fun activities. I'm trying to get the family motivated to move and Chappel Hill area is tops on my list.
When you're living off of a retirement you have to make sure your money stretches.

[arcane1]

42. actually, they could really use you in Richmond, VA, too

my friends there are surrounded!

it's affordable too.

[Shakespeare]

44. What are your parameters?

Do you want peace and quiet?

Do you want to be in a politically lively area?

Do you crave the cultural benefits of an urben setting?

I've lived all over this big, messy country...if I have a better idea of what makes you happy, I'll chime in with more free advice. ;-)

[hellhathnofury]

47. May I suggest the Heart of Darkness, Crawford,Texas.

[UrbScotty]

51. MICHIGAN!

Yeah, the winters are a little cool, but hey, our Governor makes up for it!

[Insider]

54. come to maryland

central to boston, new york, philadelphia, baltimore, washington, richmond, and even hampton roads. all within a day's drive.

we have delicious seafood, fresh farm vegetables, 4 seasons, ocean, mountains, nature, history, and United States Senator Barbra Mikulski!

[AngryAmish]

55. Rockford, IL

There are no jobs, so since you already have one you are set. The housing is dirt cheap. Many fine restaurants like Denny's, Illinois Machine Shed, TGIFridays, Applebees. A few nudie bars. Lots of crystal meth. Plenty of scraggy streetwalkers. Cold as hell in the winter, hot as hell in the summer.

[AngryAmish]

56. Truth or Consequences, NM