Question Where should I move to?

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I need some advice.

I have been living in Seattle for around 8 years. But Seattle is not the same city as it was 8 years ago. As some of you may know, Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and as a result we have big issues related to rapid growth: The city is gentrifying at an alarming rate, traffic is horrendous, and the cost of living has sky-rocketed. Also, the almost constant overcast/rainy weather was something I once loved, but have grown tired and depressed as a result.

So, I've made the decision to move at the end of the year. I've done a lot of research and am strongly considering Arizona or Texas. Anyone who lives there, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

So what I'm asking of you all: could you tell me where you live and if you like it or not?

I'm flexible but these are my requirements for where I move to next: it's sunny a lot, it's affordable, and it's not super crowded. Also, a mid-size city or a commutable distance from one. I need to be able to find work.

Also worth noting is that I grew up in Chicago. I love the city, but the winters are brutal.

Thanks everyone!

 

[brinkster130]

Have you spent much time in Arizona or Texas? Weather-wise they're significantly hotter than Seattle. Austin, Texas is a really neat place that I've enjoyed visiting but I'm guessing it's seeing similar growth to Seattle.

I'm from LA...but if your tired of gentrification, high cost of living and bad traffic this is t the place for you. Job market also isn't great.

 

[thrasherpix]

What research have you done besides general weather and population?

Offhand, San Diego sounds like it could work. I'm not the one doing the research though and don't know how it compares/contrasts with Seattle. Lots of sun, though, with cool temperatures, and misses most of the horrid weather the rest of the nation endures. Jobs and rent vary widely as I think it would in any city.

Klamath Falls, Oregon, sounds surprisingly sunny enough, and prices sounded reasonable, but I don't know the job market.

Should you move to Houston, do NOT rent or buy a home that's at the bottom of a hill, otherwise you'll probably see why it's so cheap the next time it floods. Oh, and I'll be you'd hate traffic (probably when it's going fast more than when it's going slow) in that city as well (though the outskirts aren't so bad...at least not the last time I was there, which was over 10 years ago).

 

[Ethan Reigns]

There is always Canada, but Vancouver and Victoria are very expensive places and everywhere else is colder. Looking at your presidential choices for November, you may want to consider it.

I used to handle a contract with McDonnell Helicopter in Mesa AZ and I still remember 115°F in a 3-piece suit. But it cools off at night. The have a saying there: whiskey's for drinking and water's for fighting. The water table isn't getting any higher with all the new housing going in. I used to stay in Chandler across from the Intel plant there. There is just something about the place that turns you into a Republican or Libertarian on contact. Maybe it was just the people I met, but there seem to a smaller proportion of rednecks in AZ than in Texas. Expect more Hispanics than you are used to.

I have had a lot of trips to Texas in Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Round Rock and Plano and you get heat plus something AZ doesn't have: humidity. Houston is like being a life prisoner in a steam laundry. One thing to watch for: everyone encounters drunk drivers there because to be arrested for drunk driving, you have to be seen to swerve or otherwise not be in control of your car. You can toast the officer as you drive by. Everyone accepts that so if you cut someone off, you don't get shootings on the freeways like you do in L.A. There is a lot of industry in Texas, so jobs are there. If you like guns and pickup trucks, you will feel right at home.

BTW I live in Mississauga, a city of 720,000 people adjacent to Toronto's west side. The cost of living is high but medical is largely paid for by each province, so that is one cost I don't have. Comparing the US and Canada, there is more wealth in the US but it is spread among fewer people. Canada is more easygoing, has more freedom (I have been on vacation to Cuba - that may come for you and I have always been able to own gold and women are allowed to go topless (although you never see it here, but I did see it in Cuba). The religious right is not in control to the extent it is in the US and LGBT is not an issue.

 

[cryptwarmer]

I grew up in Chicago too, yeah, not so good.

Out of all the places I've lived, climate wise AZ wins hands down. Northern AZ has amazing weather. It's beautiful beyond description and if you like to hike and camp, it's heaven. I love Sunshine, and it was perfect. If you don't like to drive though, it can be pretty inconvenient. On the other hand you can go 80 on the highway! The temps in Northern AZ, (high altitude) are very agreeable.

The ruins, found all over the state, are amazing. And the sky...never seen anything like it anywhere else. The stars are magnificent!

I live in South Carolina now. Cost of living is cheap. Depending on your work...you couldt find a good job out here. Summers are no worse than Chicago and it's much prettier than the midwest. Mild winters, peaches! Pecan trees....there are a lot of lovely things about the South. I live near the mountains, but it's a fairly easy drive to the beach (I'm not much of a beach person). Greenville and Charlotte (the two nearest large cities) are growing rapidly but there is a LOT of country life to be had and still be very close to the city.

I've lived in Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky too. They all have their charms. VA has nice weather and is very pretty, but it lacks some of the charms of the deeper South. If you've never seen and smelled mimosa trees in full bloom, you're missing something!

 

[white avenger]

could you tell me where you live and if you like it or not?

My home is Georgia. My ancestors are buried here, the history of my family lived here, and I could never imagine being anywhere else except for a brief visit. This is my home, and I love it. Having said that, I will freely admit that my home state isn't for everyone. I don't know just what you want in a new home, but you can find just about any kind of landscape, from the mountains to the seashore, here, and a full range of choices from big city to little country village. Whatever you want, you could probably find here, plus Georgia has one unique thing you will never find anywhere else in the world.

Me

And, darlin' if you should ever choose to live here, or even visit, the ol' White Avenger will be here with open arms to welcome you. Y'all come on down anytime.

I'll leave the porch light on for you.

 

[DarkLordsHaunt]

I'm in Tennessee. Been here my whole life.
Do I like it here? Sure.
Would I wanna stay here for the rest of my life? Not really. I wanna leave and live in other places, but in the end I do wanna be here again.

In Tennessee it really just depends on where you live. Some good places: Nashville, Knoxville, Murfreesboro.
They're pretty good sized cities. I've been to Nashville and Murfreesboro more times than I can count. Nashville has towns outside of it that are really great (like Mt Juliet) - Murfreesboro is near Nashville too, and even though it's a city, it's quite smaller than both Nashville and Knoxville. Much less crowded.

I can't speak for Arizona or Texas, honestly. Sorry hahaha, but I've known a few people who have lived in Texas and none of them really liked it.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

What research have you done besides general weather and population?

Well, I've been looking into economy, job market and climate, mostly. but I'm also interested in how people are. People aren't so friendly here in Seattle. Not a requirement but I'd love to move somewhere where people are a bit nicer.

My ideal? A mid-sized city, with a decent arts scene, friendly people, sunny, affordable rent and not too crowded. Tucson seems to fit the bill perfectly.

I like the heat, dry is preferred. I would rather it be too hot then rainy, overcast or too cold.

I do drive and no have issue with a city that is spread-out.

I'm in Tennessee. Been here my whole life.
...Some good places: Nashville, Knoxville, Murfreesboro.

What about Memphis?

Yah, so I agree that I probably wouldn't "fit" in in Texas - however, I'm adaptable, and I'm more considering it for the climate and cost of living, honestly.
I've been to Austin and liked it, however it's gentrifying at a rapid rate as well.
 

My home is Georgia. My ancestors are buried here, the history of my family lived here, and I could never imagine being anywhere else except for a brief visit. This is my home, and I love it. Having said that, I will freely admit that my home state isn't for everyone. I don't know just what you want in a new home, but you can find just about any kind of landscape, from the mountains to the seashore, here, and a full range of choices from big city to little country village...

I'm actually considering Georgia as well. Beautiful state! Cheap and people are nice. But it'd have to be Atlanta.
What are your thoughts on that?

 

[DarkLordsHaunt]

What about Memphis?

Yea... I wouldn't recommend Memphis lol. Crime rate's really high there and from what I've heard it's just not really a good place overall.

 

[white avenger]

I'm actually considering Georgia as well. Beautiful state! Cheap and people are nice. But it'd have to be Atlanta.
What are your thoughts on that?

Georgia has everything. Atlanta is the "New York City of the South." If you like the hustle and bustle (I'm a small town boy, myself, but Atlanta is a good convenient place to go for my big city needs) it's great. Museum, baseball, football, the Aquarium, Fernbank, the Cyclorama, just about every kind of culture and cuisine that you can imagine, the Stone Mountain Memorial, and the list goes on. Literally, something for everyone.