Where is your dream place...

[Pax]

If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why??


I'd live in Key West, my lifes goal is to live where I never have to wear pants EVER again. :D I'd own no car, very little stuff, and I'd ride my bike everywhere.

[mimitabby]

I'd probably live in a town named Sequim, WA, and there would be no cars there.

or I'd live in Southern Italy; and the dollar would be strong and the Euro weak.

or I'd live right where I am but 90% of my neighbors would move to California
where there's plenty of room :D

[Kitsune06]

I'd live somewhere that wasn't too terribly far from nature- raw nature, not little fenced-in dedication to what once was...
a little, solid, rustic wood and stone a-frame on a lake, gravel roads (or not :p :o ) lots of hunting and fishing, where summers weren't too hot and winters kept idiot people away. :p Maybe near a college campus to get the more liberal feel to it.
...and I concur with everything Queen said except the pants part, b/c I like snow.

[rocknrollgirl]

The town of Portree on the Isle of Skye, or Grafton Vermont.

[pepe6599]

I'm living in my dream place but if I wasn't living in Hawaii I prob. would move to Nashwille, Tenn.

[Bad JuJu]

Maine or Alaska in the summer, Key West in the winter. Yep, I'd be a snowbird.

[Meaux]

Cork, Ireland. I went to Ireland almost 4 years ago and I still get sort of homesick for it. I loved it there. However, I would, of course, be able to afford to live there in a very nice home.

[Xrayted]

Well, I agree with Queen. I can live in shorts, bikini top and sandals all year 'round. I'm not much for snow but I can live with rain. I'd have a stone and wood cabin in the mountains among the trees, with a lake nearby to kayak in. Nice long winding roads and trails to ride my bikes on. Far enough away from the neighbors so I could walk around nekkid but near enough to town so I wouldn't need my car. I would want to be within an hour or so drive to the ocean. Is there such a place? I'm currently searching... :D

[Bikingmomof3]

A small town, quaint and quiet, in either UP Michigan or Maine.

[pyxichick]

I second both the previous posts. Somewhere woodsy for sure, and cold in the winter, preferably with snow (unlike MN this year:mad: )

My sister lives in Key West. She loves it there because of the weather, but she's had to endure hurricanes and I don't think it would be a good place for a road cyclist, since there's only one very busy road out of town. I guess you could take up kayaking instead.:)

[bcipam]

Either Boulder, Colorado (bike heaven) or someplace in Maine. Also wouldn't mind somewhere around Ketchum, Idaho or maybe St. George, Utah. All places I'm considering once I retire.

[Pax]

...My sister lives in Key West. She loves it there because of the weather, but she's had to endure hurricanes and I don't think it would be a good place for a road cyclist, since there's only one very busy road out of town. I guess you could take up kayaking instead.:)

Tell your sister I am SOOOOO jealous! I visit Key West as often as money allows and since my other sporting passions are scuba and kayaking I think it would be nirvana. If I were unattached I'd move there tomorrow.

[emily_in_nc]

I'd want to live in a quaint cottage somewhere warm all the time, like Queen, but not scorching, drippingly humid/hot (as NC can be in mid-July), car-free, where I could ride or walk or sail or kayak everywhere. I'm thinking Hopetown, Bahamas might be the only place that fits the bill -- there aren't many car-free places around, I've looked. I could handle Mackinac Island, MI in the summer for a change of scenery.

I've never been to Hopetown, or even the Bahamas. Love the BVIs, but there are maniac drivers there. Jost Van D--yke (edited) would work as there are very few vehicles on the very few roads, but it's not very bikeable; it's mountainous, and there is pretty much just one road back and forth (though DH and I did hike around the island once, which was the toughest 7 miles of my life!)

We're toying with the idea of a liveaboard sailing catamaran someday, so we could check out all the islands...taking sailing lessons now. Our Bike Fridays could go along for the ride and be taken onshore in bikeable places! :D

Emily

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

When I was little I lived in NYC, was happy there but dreamed of living in the country. At age 12 we moved to the country (the same little town I live now) and I was happy there but dreamed of moving back to the city. Then I moved back to the city, was happy there but wound up moving to Puerto Rico. I was happy there for years, then I dreamed of moving back to the little town in the country here. Then I moved back here and realized that there are a lot of places that seem like they would be the absolute best place to live, but in actuality might be better just to visit.
Nowadays, after 19 years of living back here in my little rural town, I like daydreaming about living in places like France, Quebec, Maine, Vermont, etc. But I know I'd want to be back here after a while....at last I am content where I am. -probably because I am (finally) happy on the INSIDE. :rolleyes:

But i'd love to visit France and Italy one day... ;)

[7rider]

A cottage on a lake in the mountains. Big mountains. Lots of pine trees.
But, we'd have to keep a sailboat somewhere - after we finish the Circle Route, it will be there for us when we need to smell salt air again.

[Trekhawk]

An old house on small acreage in Tasmania with a view of the mountains and perhaps the D'Entrecasteau Channel. Mild summers, cooler winters and the purest air in the world to breathe. :)

[CyclChyk]

I want - a 2200-2500 hundred sq ft house on the beach (perhaps Florida) with lots of glass windows (kinda like the house in the movie Sleeping with the Enemy) - and then I would want a cabin to vacation in on Sebec Lake in Maine..... (where I married my man).............

All with tons of land for my doggies to frolic of course............

[Tuckervill]

Even though it needs a new roof...

Karen, dying for Spring and blooming azaleas...

[snapdragen]

Someplace green, with a creek or river. Nothing too big, a cottage for me and Chloe, with a room for the occasional guest. Room for a small vege garden, oh, and a workshop so I can start making jewelry again. Near lots of good cycling roads/trails.

[emily_in_nc]

Karen, what a darling house! Just the cottage-y style I love. :)

I absolutely love our house in the woods, too, especially the secluded setting (11 acres), many birds, huge hardwood trees, deer, and trails all around us....but I have wanderlust as well. I'm kinda like Lisa says she used to be. Whatever lifestyle/setting I don't have, I crave. I live in a rural area now, so I crave city life, where I could walk everywhere and have coffee or a glass of wine in a quaint cafe along the street, or pop into a bookstore. I live in the woods, so I crave the beach, the islands, water all around me, blues instead of browns and greens. I'm content and happy where I am most of the time, but I don't want to die having lived in North Carolina for all of my days.

There's just too much more to see and experience, and a vacation isn't always enough time to really experience a place.

Emily

[Blueberry]

I absolutely love our house in the woods, too, especially the secluded setting (11 acres), many birds, huge hardwood trees, deer, and trails all around us....but I have wanderlust as well. I'm kinda like Lisa says she used to be. Whatever lifestyle/setting I don't have, I crave. I live in a rural area now, so I crave city life, where I could walk everywhere and have coffee or a glass of wine in a quaint cafe along the street, or pop into a bookstore. I live in the woods, so I crave the beach, the islands, water all around me, blues instead of browns and greens. I'm content and happy where I am most of the time, but I don't want to die having lived in North Carolina for all of my days.

There's just too much more to see and experience, and a vacation isn't always enough time to really experience a place.

Emily

Very well said Emily!

[Tuckervill]

Thanks! It's the house I used to draw when I was a little girl, lace curtains and everything. It was a long-suppressed urge to own an old dame, that I didn't know I had until I saw this one. It looks really nice in the spring, with lots of old roses planted by former owners, and honeysuckle and peonies and mums. Lots of mums. :O The garden needs a lot of work.

Yes, I've thought about what I'd do if it were only me. Would I live on the beach, in the city, or in some funky little area of some midsized place with lots of interesting people?

I've decided it's just too expensive to live in those trendy places, so I'll live where it's cheap and then I'll have the money to VISIT all those places as much as I want! That way I'd never get tired of one place, and can experience variety. I get a thrill just *thinking* about traveling. :)

Karen

[Trek420]

90% of my neighbors would move to California
where there's plenty of room :D

noooooo....there's room here? where?

Me, somewhere I can garden, ride of course, don't have to shovel snow, places I've liked have been Santa Cruz, Oregon, Central Coast but I still have not seen the East Coast in a while.

I'd rather have a small house and large'ish yard, like to live around quirky progressive people, artsy folk, music and art nearby.

[margo49]

Sea (ocean) view, hills behind (green), biking-close to a library, a bookshop, a pub/bar/cafe and a supermarket with good fresh-produce and natural/health/vego foods departments.
Weather is irrelevant - that is just a matter of clothing, and I can pick up any language in 3 months.

Thought-provoking thread, btw; as I am happy where I am (we are).

[Kimmyt]

Colorado.

Hopefully things will work to move there around 2010-ish... though I really will miss the East Coast.

Basically I'd love to live in a large town/small city that has a distinct main street/neighborhood feel to it. I'd like to be able to ride my bike everywhere in town, to have 'my local coffee shop' and 'my florist' and lots of mys. I'd like to live in a small quirky house with a little porch that has lots of windchimes hanging off of it.

I don't know if it exists, but I hope someday to find this town/house.... and hopefully find that it exists in Colorado or some other mountainous area!

K.

[guanajagirl]

My dream place... In the great country of Texas of course;) Maybe around the San Antonio area or Austin. Not city though, out in the hills. Pref on a lake with a ski boat parked and enough wakeboards and gas to keep me busy all summer.

[East Hill]

Back to home, England. Lancashire would be my first choice (although not necessarily where I was born, Swinton). Yorkshire for a second choice.

But England.

East Hill

[LadyinWhite]

Born and raised in Vermont, all I want is to live some place where winter means 65 at its coldest. Some place with a beach close by and amazing snorkling (my absolute favorite thing to do.). I'd never tire of it. A place to ride would be an added plus but if I had to choose between clear warm waters with reefs below and cycling, I'd take the water in a heart beat.

[Pax]

Born and raised in Vermont, all I want is to live some place where winter means 65 at its coldest. Some place with a beach close by and amazing snorkling (my absolute favorite thing to do.). I'd never tire of it. A place to ride would be an added plus but if I had to choose between clear warm waters with reefs below and cycling, I'd take the water in a heart beat.

Hear, hear! I was talking motorcycles with the captain of our scuba boat one time in Key West (he had a Ducati tattoo), I asked him how he could live in such a small place without having his bike and endless miles of roads to ride anymore...he pondered the question for a moment and turned his gaze to the ocean, he swept his arm towards the sea and just looked at me and smiled.

[Bikingmomof3]

a workshop so I can start making jewelry again. Near lots of good cycling roads/trails.

You make jewlery? I love handmade jewlery. Let us know when you get back to making it. :)

[Bikingmomof3]

I'd rather have a small house and large'ish yard, like to live around quirky progressive people, artsy folk, music and art nearby.

Trek,
You just described Yellow Springs, Ohio. :D

[Offthegrid]

Lance Armstrong's house. Any one of them. :D :) :p

[Duck on Wheels]

noooooo....there's room here? where?

Me, somewhere I can garden, ride of course, don't have to shovel snow, places I've liked have been Santa Cruz, Oregon, Central Coast but I still have not seen the East Coast in a while.

I'd rather have a small house and large'ish yard, like to live around quirky progressive people, artsy folk, music and art nearby.

That sounds like Mom's house :D

Sonoma's pretty cool, and it's a nice small house with a largish yard. But I'm happy where I am. Four seasons, all with lots of weather to talk about. Just the right size town -- there's theater and symphony and plenty of movies to choose from, but you can walk everywhere and there are woods and lakes and fjord all around. Pretty much perfect, long as I can travel and visit other places too. Still ... wherever you go, there you are.

[emily_in_nc]

Basically I'd love to live in a large town/small city that has a distinct main street/neighborhood feel to it. I'd like to be able to ride my bike everywhere in town, to have 'my local coffee shop' and 'my florist' and lots of mys. I'd like to live in a small quirky house with a little porch that has lots of windchimes hanging off of it.

+1

I always tell myself I will live in a place like this one day. But for me, it needs to be warm, most of the time at least. And I'm not sure where to go about finding such a place. I'm hoping we'll stumble across it in our travels and just know "this is it". :o

Emily

[emily_in_nc]

Trek,
You just described Yellow Springs, Ohio. :D

There are quirky, progressive people in Ohio? :D

My in-laws live there, and the parts I've seen/been to (many times) are quite traditional and conservative. They live outside Canton and in Highland Heights (DH's parents and brother, respectively), so admittedly, that's a very small slice of Ohio, but I do always think of it as conservative and traditional as a state... Then again, the county I live in in NC is a blue county in a red state, so I guess there can be pockets of progressive folks just about anywhere!

I've never heard of Yellow Springs -- it sounds neat. Is that where you live, Jennifer?

Emily

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Basically I'd love to live in a large town/small city that has a distinct main street/neighborhood feel to it. I'd like to be able to ride my bike everywhere in town, to have 'my local coffee shop' and 'my florist' and lots of mys. I'd like to live in a small quirky house with a little porch that has lots of windchimes hanging off of it.

I don't know if it exists, but I hope someday to find this town/house.... and hopefully find that it exists in Colorado or some other mountainous area!

K.

Kimmy, you just described our little house and our little town (except for the being in Colorado part). ;)

[Bikingmomof3]

There are quirky, progressive people in Ohio? :D

My in-laws live there, and the parts I've seen/been to (many times) are quite traditional and conservative. They live outside Canton and in Highland Heights (DH's parents and brother, respectively), so admittedly, that's a very small slice of Ohio, but I do always think of it as conservative and traditional as a state... Then again, the county I live in in NC is a blue county in a red state, so I guess there can be pockets of progressive folks just about anywhere!

I've never heard of Yellow Springs -- it sounds neat. Is that where you live, Jennifer?

Emily

Emily,
Yellow Springs is where my not so local bike shop is located. :) It is indeed an artsy, quirky town. :cool: I live about 20 miles south west of Yellow Springs, in a city which is unfortunately very conservative. *sigh*

[ladyfish]

I'm just hoping to one day get to choose where I live at all!!! I think Augusta, Ga is on the list as well as Middle Texas (Austin, San Antonio, etc). Being married to a career Army Officer, I haven't EVER gotten any choice in where I live. We've only owned our own home one time (and that was only for 3 years). Key for me--NO SNOW!!!

So pretty much, I'd be happy to be able to pick out where I live, and actually buy a house I want to live in, rather than settle for something that will "do for now".

Sigh---when will that happen??

[Trekhawk]

I'm just hoping to one day get to choose where I live at all!!! I think Augusta, Ga is on the list as well as Middle Texas (Austin, San Antonio, etc). Being married to a career Army Officer, I haven't EVER gotten any choice in where I live. We've only owned our own home one time (and that was only for 3 years). Key for me--NO SNOW!!!

So pretty much, I'd be happy to be able to pick out where I live, and actually buy a house I want to live in, rather than settle for something that will "do for now".

Sigh---when will that happen??

Oh my ladyfish I read this and thought that is me. Im married to an Airforce Officer so I know your pain. I just keep telling myself one day I will get to decide and it will be sweeeet.:)

[TrekJeni]

A small town, quaint and quiet, in either UP Michigan or Maine.

The house I grew up in is located 15 miles north of Mackinac Island in the UP. I would like to live on Mackinac year round. In the MIDDLE of the island where the locals live. I could ride in the summer (although I would have to get off the island to do any real riding and snowmobile and cross country ski in the winter.

Jeni

[Pax]

Trekhawk and Ladyfish - I feel for both of you, I grew up military and went to 14 schools before high school (ahh the joys of the military in the 60's). I think the rootlessness from my young life has carried over significantly into my adult life. I wish you both the joy of a home of your choosing.

[Trekhawk]

Trekhawk and Ladyfish - I feel for both of you, I grew up military and went to 14 schools before high school (ahh the joys of the military in the 60's). I think the rootlessness from my young life has carried over significantly into my adult life. I wish you both the joy of a home of your choosing.

Thanks Queen. Sounds like you know just what its like - thats a lot of schools.:eek:

[CyclChyk]

I'm just hoping to one day get to choose where I live at all!!! I think Augusta, Ga is on the list .......Sigh---when will that happen??

Um...... I was born at the old Eisenhower Hospital on Ft. Gordon - bred in sunny South Augusta - had the privilege of moving to beautiful New England for 6 years and now I am back in this cesspool of ignorance and repugnance called Augusta......

Why oh why would you think this is a primo place to live????

[Wahine]

DH and I just fufilled our dream of moving to the Gorge. Kayaking, biking, windsurfing, climbing... you get the idea. I love it here. The lack of sun in the winter leaves something to be desired. When I get tired of it, I'll go visit my SIL in California or Hawaii. Life is good.

This is my view in the AM when I drive to work. It will also be the view from my future living room.

[salsabike]

I think that...I'm already there. I love living here. Love the bike-all-year-round weather, the water and mountains everywhere, the ballet close by if I want it...I can think of lots of places I want to visit, but not honestly anyplace where I'd rather live.

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[crazycanuck]

I like Western Australia :) The heat :eek: can be a bit unbearable at times but the 2500km of beaches :) and the bike paths are just fine with me.

Well, there's one more thing that's not so great...the creatures :eek:

I'm not sure exactly where else i'd like to live. Many choices-NZ, Canada or Ausrtalia.

c

[margo49]

Wow, Salsa.
I was down at the lake (Sea of Galilee) this arvo and there was not a breath of wind and there was a whole pile of coots coot-ing tranquilly and a kingfisher screaming behind and 3 Great cormorants and a cattle egret...
and I thought of *you*. So it was nice to open up TE and see this pic.

[Pax]

I'm in awe of those of you who are right where you want to be. I've had a serious case of wanderlust my entire life and ALWAYS want to be someplace else...the fact that we're house hunting right now scares the crap out of me.

[Xrayted]

Wahine - What a gorgeous pic. Is that Mt. Hood in the distance? I was in Beaverton recently and when I saw Mt. Hood from afar, I felt a very strong pull in that direction. I know I'm making the right decision to move, I just need a specific town to settle down in for the long haul. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[LadyinWhite]

he pondered the question for a moment and turned his gaze to the ocean, he swept his arm towards the sea and just looked at me and smiled.

That makes sooo much sense to me. Growing up landlocked, when I first moved to the Jersey shore my nose wrinkled at the salt smell that hangs thick in the air on campus when it's misty. Give me the down home smell of manure. Now, 22 years later, I couldn't imagine living away from the water. We have a sailboat that we keep in Maine at the family summer place and between that and the shoreline here all year, I've become a beach girl. It's true the beauty of the green mountains or the fire red of the leaves in the fall, still takes my breath away but so does the bright afternoon sunshine dancing off the water, the sound of the waves and yes ladies, I've been known to lose my breath catching a glimpse of tan broad shoulders strolling here and there along the boardwalk on a lazy summer day. (Why do you think I wear those cool riding sunglasses? ;) )

Riding along ocean avenue is still my favorite place to ride. Windy as all get out half the time but car width shoulders (on the road!!) in both directions, flat and tracing the waters edge for miles makes it irresistable. Scores of roadies of all types, skill levels, sizes, and outfits joining me.

If only the ocean was WARM! :eek: and clean.. I'd settle for clean!! LOL
T.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm in awe of those of you who are right where you want to be. I've had a serious case of wanderlust my entire life and ALWAYS want to be someplace else...

Me too, Queen. Since my husband and I married in 1985, we've lived in North Carolina, (2 different houses/towns), then Florida (briefly), back to NC, then Ohio (briefly), Wisconsin (briefly), back to NC (two different houses/towns). We just aren't quite sure where we want to be next. Places that appeal are Key West and certain other parts of Florida (while other parts are very un-appealing, to be sure), New Mexico, Arizona, and some of the tropical isles....who knows where we'll end up next. And whether our road will always lead us back to NC! :confused: :D

Emily, a bit of a nomad at heart :p

[margo49]

I'm in awe of those of you who are right where you want to be. I've had a serious case of wanderlust my entire life


We moved a lot when I was a kid (not as much as you - only 8 schools) and being here 21 years and knowing it is/as "home' for the first time *ever*.
Best is seeing the 3 kids growing up in *one* place and being connected to it and the community, not just us as a nuclear family (boom!)

[salsabike]

Wow, Salsa.
I was down at the lake (Sea of Galilee) this arvo and there was not a breath of wind and there was a whole pile of coots coot-ing tranquilly and a kingfisher screaming behind and 3 Great cormorants and a cattle egret...
and I thought of *you*. So it was nice to open up TE and see this pic.

That is really nice to hear. I would have loved seeing it, too. Someday maybe we'll manage an exchange visit. I was just telling someone last week about you and your bee-eaters.


Wahine - What a gorgeous pic. Is that Mt. Hood in the distance? I was in Beaverton recently and when I saw Mt. Hood from afar, I felt a very strong pull in that direction. I know I'm making the right decision to move, I just need a specific town to settle down in for the long haul. Any suggestions? Thanks.

X, I know quite a lot of people who really love Portland.

[Crankin]

I have ignored this thread because I thought about it for a long time. I don't want to move anywhere else permanently! I think Lisa S.H. sort of described the way I feel. I am a born and bred New Englander. I lived in a large suburb next to Boston until I was almost 16. My growing up life was really perfect. We had enough woods and open space for me to wander by the brooks and wetlands and yet I was 6 miles from Boston. I was taking the train into the city when i was 12. Then I moved to Miami. Yuch. I hated the politics (this was the late 60s), the environment, the lack of culture. I lived there until I was 21 and then moved to Scottsdale AZ. where my parents had moved. I liked AZ better, but as the years went on, especially after I married and had kids, I yearned for the east coast again. My husband is from Philadelphia and we really wanted to bring our kids up the way we were. We had a great house and jobs in Tempe, but it felt sort of "plastic." When my friends started flying to LA to buy gold bracelets, I said, "that's it." Plus, you couldn't go outside for almost half the year and the air pollution was horrible as the valley grew. I have lived in 3 different towns since moving back to MA. I love Concord, even though I don't feel that much of an attachment, since we moved here last year and my kids went to high school in a neighboring town. I love the fact that we have two village centers. It's a bit far for a quick walk (3.7 miles), but it is a quick bike ride. One center is a little upscale and historic (lots of visitors all year round) and the other is more artsy and funky. We are only about 25 minutes from Boston and it's just much closer to a lot of the city type things than the other 2 places we lived in. My house is really different; it's a contemporary house, with 4 levels, in a very diverse neighborhood, with plenty of woods and a community pond. I hated living in the typical 8 room colonial in a development in my last house. There are tons of local hiking/snow shoeing trails and lots of cyclists. It's not quite as rural as the cycling in my last town, but we are close enough to that area that it's not an issue.
I love the changeable weather in southern New England. It's not brutally cold for long periods of time, like in the mid west and there is a diversity of scenery. I can be at the beach fairly quickly and in the mountains in about 2 hours. We moved here because we were enamored of being near the ocean, but since we started cycling we hardly ever go to the beach. The cycling in those areas is horrible. So, I guess what I am saying is that there is more to life than endless summer. I think I might get sick of cycling if I could do it 365 days a year. I like having a short winter sports season; it's just enough to give me a different perspective on things. I might like to take a longer "visit" to someplace warm for a few weeks in the winter when I get older, but definitely will not be moving to Florida or anywhere else where people follow the sun. I like to travel, but I always like returning home!

[ridethewind]

My dream is to live with my sweetie on Cape Cod in the spring, summer, and fall, then to Hawaii for the winter. If I can't have that, then I'll live anywhere, as long as we are together.

[Pax]

My dream is to live with my sweetie on Cape Cod in the spring, summer, and fall, then to Hawaii for the winter. If I can't have that, then I'll live anywhere, as long as we are together.

Where on the Cape? I was born there (in Bourne) and love going back to visit.

[ridethewind]

Where on the Cape? I was born there (in Bourne) and love going back to visit.

We love Provincetown and go there a couple of times a year, usually in the spring and again during Women's Week in October. So, we would want to be somewhere near there.

[Pax]

We love Provincetown and go there a couple of times a year, usually in the spring and again during Women's Week in October. So, we would want to be somewhere near there.

I love P-Town, my SO has never been so it's on the list of "places to go". I've spent many a day at Race Point Beach and hiking the dunes there.

[kelownagirl]

I have to say I want to be right where I am. Right-sized town (100,000), beautiful hills and lake, 4 distinct seasons with snow in the winter and hot, dry summers (super important to me). Safe place to live and raise children. And of course, all the bonuses that come with living in Canada (free health care, freedom to be yourself, yadda yadda). I would like to build my dream home on my dream property someday, but I hope it'll be right here in Kelowna.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

After a life of moving and things never staying the same, I love our little town and our little house just right for me and darling DH- I don't ever want to move again! Our cozy love shack:

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[Wahine]

Wahine - What a gorgeous pic. Is that Mt. Hood in the distance? I was in Beaverton recently and when I saw Mt. Hood from afar, I felt a very strong pull in that direction. I know I'm making the right decision to move, I just need a specific town to settle down in for the long haul. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Sorry X. I didn't catch this until today.

Yes, that is Mt Hood. I live in White Salmon and work in Hood River so I cross the toll bridge/state line every day. I get views of Hood on the way to work and Adams on the way home.

I love this area and would recommend it to anyone. It has gotten a little pricy though, realestate is as expensive as it is in Seattle. It is a very liberal community with a lot of artists and music. Tolerant of alternative lifestyles. But, it is still small town. Not much, well any really, night life. DH and I went for a walk last night through town and we saw 2 cars that were moving, in a 1 hour walk. Once you travel out of town into surrounding farming communities the tolerance level tends to drop.

Stevenson is a town in WA that I also considered moving to. The prices are still reasonable there and you're only 40 min from Downtown Portland. Downside - winter is a constant grey and it rains like crazy. they have a very high incidence of seasonal affective disorder in the community. Summer is spectacular.

There are lots of little towns all around here. I can give you a tour the next time you're in the area. We can even do it on bike (there's a great shop in Hood River that rents Specialized road bikes).

[wannaduacentury]

I like where I live right now for sentimental reasons. It's my old family farm--settled by my ancesters in the 1820's(I grew up here as well). It has a certain charm to it and I can walk to the river w/o a license and fish all I want b/c the game warden wouldn't fool w/ coming up the tangle of river to find me-good catfish too. There are several places I want to go of course- Italy, Norway, Maine, Alaska etc. There's a pretty little town in Oregon that was Peoria I think, where they filmed the movie Kindergarten cop, that's a charming little place on the west coast. I could live there. But I'm like many of you, be able to ride my bike everywhere and only use the car for long trips or hauling big things. The good thing is I can have a garden as big as I want where I'm at. Love fresh veggies in summer.

[emily_in_nc]

After a life of moving and things never staying the same, I love our little town and our little house just right for me and darling DH- I don't ever want to move again! Our cozy love shack:

2652

2653

Lisa, your Cape is darling! And that gorgeous maple in the front yard! I can see why you're happy right where you are. It's very cheerful. :)

Emily

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, your Cape is darling! And that gorgeous maple in the front yard! I can see why you're happy right where you are. It's very cheerful. :)

Emily

Thank you Emily!
We just came back from a road trip to Asheville area NC visiting friends by the way- beautiful mountain country. :)

[Trek420]

We love Provincetown and go there a couple of times a year, usually in the spring and again during Women's Week in October. So, we would want to be somewhere near there.

P-town is on my list of places to see. I haven't been to the East Coast since I was a pup. There's a Women's Week here in the Russian River area Guernville CA each year.

I've never been, such a party animal ;) ... not.

I love that area of Sonoma County, Redwoods, near the coast, lots of artists ... but another thing that happens yearly are floods. Seems people buying houses on the river never learn :o

[emily_in_nc]

Thank you Emily!
We just came back from a road trip to Asheville area NC visiting friends by the way- beautiful mountain country. :)

Yes, Asheville is gorgeous. Much more scenic than the central (Piedmont) part of NC where I live -- but a lot more serious hills too! :eek:

Emily

[Kimmyt]

I love that area of Sonoma County, Redwoods, near the coast, lots of artists ... but another thing that happens yearly are floods. Seems people buying houses on the river never learn :o

My dad lives in Yardley, PA which is right on the deleware river. He literally lives right behind the Canal and always gets flooded out. It's a shame, because Yardley is a great little town (sort of like the type that I would like to live in some day) but for the flooding which for the past 3 years has been reeeally bad.

Lisa S.H. your house is darling! But where are the windchimes?? :p

[enzed]

I like Sydney because of the beaches, sunshine and city vibe.

But whenever I'll get around to settling down, I might move to Nelson, NZ. I've been there on holiday a few times. The township has heaps of cute wooden villas and has a relaxed vibe. The area around Nelson as alot of beaches & bush.

As much as I like living in Sydney, it does lack the lush green grass of my childhood & the relaxed feeling of small town NZ life.

[IFjane]

Colorado.

Hopefully things will work to move there around 2010-ish... though I really will miss the East Coast.

Basically I'd love to live in a large town/small city that has a distinct main street/neighborhood feel to it. I'd like to be able to ride my bike everywhere in town, to have 'my local coffee shop' and 'my florist' and lots of mys. I'd like to live in a small quirky house with a little porch that has lots of windchimes hanging off of it.

I don't know if it exists, but I hope someday to find this town/house.... and hopefully find that it exists in Colorado or some other mountainous area!

K.

Kimmyt - that town does indeed exist in Colorado - I found it last summer and my dream is to live there someday. Very artsy/funky town, mountains, cycling & a river runs through it....it's gorgeous. Parks, (did I mention cycling??:) ) and it seems everyone in town owns a cruiser - up to 50 parked outside restaurant/bars at night!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa S.H. your house is darling! But where are the windchimes?? :p

Windchimes drive us nuts after a while. They seem to chime relentlessly, and our house is so small you wouldn't be able to get away from it no matter what room you go to. I guess we're a bit sound sensitive, we prefer to just hear the neighborhood birds. :) We had to turn off the cuckoo clock as well! We have some wonderful mockingbirds, wrens, and mourning doves that sing in the mornings in Spring and summer. In the winter we listen to the blue jays, chickadees, and crows. In the autumn sometimes we hear owls at night. I guess they are all our "bird chimes". ;)

[Pax]

Windchimes drive us nuts after a while. They seem to chime relentlessly, and our house is so small you wouldn't be able to get away from it no matter what room you go to...

From a very, very light sleeper...THANK YOU! I love the sound of windchimes but my old neighbor had large ones on her back porch and they chimed endlessly on windy nights (very common here) making it very difficult to sleep. :(

[Kimmyt]

Kimmyt - that town does indeed exist in Colorado - I found it last summer and my dream is to live there someday. Very artsy/funky town, mountains, cycling & a river runs through it....it's gorgeous. Parks, (did I mention cycling??:) ) and it seems everyone in town owns a cruiser - up to 50 parked outside restaurant/bars at night!

Oh now you simply MUST tell! Unless you're keeping it a secret! :) alas, I'm pretty sure it's not near Colorado Springs.. but that would just be too easy!

K.

[mimitabby]

. There's a pretty little town in Oregon that was Peoria I think, where they filmed the movie Kindergarten cop, that's a charming little place on the west coast. I could live there. But I'm like many of you, be able to ride my bike everywhere and only use the car for long trips or hauling big things. The good thing is I can have a garden as big as I want where I'm at. Love fresh veggies in summer.

Nope, that was Astoria, Oregon and my nephew was a movie extra, i guess scenes were filmed at his elementary school. TEEHEE!
Astoria is a nice place, but it's very very depressed, no jobs.

[mimitabby]

Windchimes drive us nuts after a while. They seem to chime relentlessly, and our house is so small you wouldn't be able to get away from it no matter what room you go to. I guess we're a bit sound sensitive, we prefer to just hear the neighborhood birds. :) We had to turn off the cuckoo clock as well! We have some wonderful mockingbirds, wrens, and mourning doves that sing in the mornings in Spring and summer. In the winter we listen to the blue jays, chickadees, and crows. In the autumn sometimes we hear owls at night. I guess they are all our "bird chimes". ;)

We live 1/2 mile (as the crow flies) from an airport, so we LIKE the sound of the wind chimes. The down side of living in a city; we have lots of car noise and airport noise all day and car noise all night.. and OTHER curious noises too.

[snapdragen]

Oh now you simply MUST tell! Unless you're keeping it a secret! :) alas, I'm pretty sure it's not near Colorado Springs.. but that would just be too easy!

K.

Boulder maybe?

[Trek420]

Is Astoria where the theatre festival is? If so I liked it a lot, rails to trails bike trail I think goes all the way up to Eugene, small farms and produce, close to mountains and ocean and there's a good Aikido dojo there. I could tell that it was a problem that jobs were seasonal.

I would like to bike the Blue Ridge Mountains too.

[five one]

Originally Posted by Kimmyt
Oh now you simply MUST tell! Unless you're keeping it a secret! alas, I'm pretty sure it's not near Colorado Springs.. but that would just be too easy!

K.

Sounds like Estes Park, possibly Steamboat Springs. Aspen WAS that way until the celebrities found it in the 70's. I worked there the summer of 1970. It was wonderful.

I grew up in Littleton in the mid-50's through the 60's. If I could have that place back again, I'd move in the heartbeat. It's grown too much, unfortunately. The core of the town I remember is still there, but it doesn't have the same feel anymore. Time marched on. I'd still move back, though. What's left of my family is there.

[IFjane]

Boulder maybe?

Sorry ladies - I've been offline since I posted earlier. The town is closer to the Springs than Boulder (both wonderful places, by the way - but not nearly in the mountains enough & too big a town for me).

ok....if I tell do you promise not to overpopulate the place before I get there? :eek:

[IFjane]

Sounds like Estes Park, possibly Steamboat Springs. Aspen WAS that way until the celebrities found it in the 70's. I worked there the summer of 1970. It was wonderful.

I grew up in Littleton in the mid-50's through the 60's. If I could have that place back again, I'd move in the heartbeat. It's grown too much, unfortunately. The core of the town I remember is still there, but it doesn't have the same feel anymore. Time marched on. I'd still move back, though. What's left of my family is there.

five one - the problem with ski resorts is you have to pay resort prices to live there. Steamboat is nice, so is Aspen - I've spent time in both. I absolutely love Breckenridge. In fact, my son has a house there - but it's too expensive & too touristy. No, this small town is even better as far as I'm concerned....
(is the suspense building??;) )

[five one]

The chances of me getting back to CO permanently are nil, so feel free to divulge your secret place :) .

[IFjane]

I would like to bike the Blue Ridge Mountains too.

Trek - this is where I live now - at the foot of the Blue Ridge - and I'll have to say it's my second favorite place to live. The only drawback is the miserable humidity in the summer...

[IFjane]

The chances of me getting back to CO permanently are nil, so feel free to divulge your secret place :) .

Ok....it's Salida. Small town, wonderful place, right on the Arkansas River...I have photos but not with me. I'll try to bring some & share tomorrow. There's' a stage race there in July - I was there last year and it was fantastic.

[Kimmyt]

Oh, yeah, do tell... odds are that it won't be a-happenin', since all the really great places are near no industry for either The Boy or I (I've noticed a trend that the more i like a place, the less industry there is go figure :rolleyes: )

But maybe I can drive through it when I'm out there some time!

[Kimmyt]

Oh, yeah, by Monarch. I'd heard good things about that place! And good things about Monarch as well, being rather underrated/laidback/oldschool.

More incentive to take a ski trip there and check out the town!

K.

[IFjane]

Kimmyt - It's definitely worth a look if you can drive through sometime. It is right off Rt. 50 - don't assume the view from 50 is "it" - you must drive into the town to truly see what I'm talking about.

http://www.fourteenernet.com/salida/

[five one]

Whoo Boy! You've got to REALLY love snow. And cold. And altitude.

I checked the Chamber of Commerce website, though, and it looks like a great place. Sort of like Estes or Telluride without the tourists. I hope you can make it happen someday!

[IFjane]

Oh, yeah, by Monarch. I'd heard good things about that place! And good things about Monarch as well, being rather underrated/laidback/oldschool.

More incentive to take a ski trip there and check out the town!

K.

Let me know when you're going and I'll tag along! :D

[mimitabby]

Is Astoria where the theatre festival is? If so I liked it a lot, rails to trails bike trail I think goes all the way up to Eugene, small farms and produce, close to mountains and ocean and there's a good Aikido dojo there. I could tell that it was a problem that jobs were seasonal.

I would like to bike the Blue Ridge Mountains too.

No, Trek, that's Ashland, a lot further south.

[Kitsune06]

I think I'll have my dream place soon. a cozy little place, nice kitchen, comfortable livingroom, intimate bedroom- somewhere good to have friends over, entertain and just kick back in the evening/weekends... with the right special someone and a kitty. The company is really what makes any place what it is, to me. It's nice being alone- it is- but when you have the right person there, all the positive attributes of everyday life are accentuated.

[mimitabby]

I think I'll have my dream place soon. a cozy little place, nice kitchen, comfortable livingroom, intimate bedroom- somewhere good to have friends over, entertain and just kick back in the evening/weekends... with the right special someone and a kitty. The company is really what makes any place what it is, to me. It's nice being alone- it is- but when you have the right person there, all the positive attributes of everyday life are accentuated.

Yes, I agree with you Kit; halfway. If we lived in some overhot sweaty humid place I don't care who I was sharing the place with; I'd be miserable.
and when we lost power in December, I quickly realized how UN romantic THAT could be.

[Dianyla]

Another blissful Portlander, chiming in! :D

The only situation I can envision that would be even better than what I've got is to have a chic condo in downtown Vancouver BC and then a horse ranch on the San Juan islands to spend my weekends.

/fantasyland

[Kitsune06]

I *said* positive attributes, Mimi! ;) :rolleyes:

and c'mon, being power free isn't that bad if you know how to keep warm. :D:p
And hot, sweaty humid places? Hit the pool.
Stuck at home? Break out the satin sheets and ice cubes. :D

There's *always* a way to make *everything* better. :D unfortunately neither of the above are anywhere near as much fun alone. :rolleyes:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

And hot, sweaty humid places? Hit the pool.
Stuck at home? Break out the satin sheets and ice cubes. :D


Yep. And if no pool...well that's what iced tea , cool showers, and fans are for. :cool:

Speaking of windchimes vs. birdchimes....
I went snowshoeing through the woods this morning near our house (in 10 degrees!, but managed to stay warm), and I got to watch a magnificent pileated woodpecker at work on a dead tree just a few yards away. Beautiful! He didn't seemed scared that I was there, nor was he bothered when I continued shushing on down the trail. A couple of years ago I heard a big bird commotion in my back yard, and went out to see FIVE of them having a big squabble in our pine tree!!! I can't imagine why 5 of them were all in one place. Never saw such a wonderful bird sighting before or since. They are so gorgeous, and so prehistoric looking- like teradactyls!

[mimitabby]

Yep. And if no pool...well that's what iced tea , cool showers, and fans are for. :cool:

when my aunt was stuck in Florida without power for 4 weeks + there
was no ice, cool showers or fans. It was really an ugly situation. My 82 year old aunt sat and fanned herself. That's all she could do.

When my coworkers were without power for 1 week in temps below 40 degrees, the "simple things" like bathing, being able to READ became difficult or impossible. You can't sit and read in 40 degree temps because you get cold, even under blankets and sleeping bags. The only way to stay warm in 40 degree temps without a fireplace is to KEEP MOVING.
Electric power and gas heat are some of the best inventions ever. To live just 24 hours without them I suddenly realized just how much I like them.


I got to watch a magnificent pileated woodpecker at work on a dead tree just a few yards away. Beautiful! He didn't seemed scared that I was there, nor was he bothered when I continued shushing on down the trail. A couple of years ago I heard a big bird commotion in my back yard, and went out to see FIVE of them having a big squabble in our pine tree!!! I can't imagine why 5 of them were all in one place. Never saw such a wonderful bird sighting before or since. They are so gorgeous, and so prehistoric looking- like teradactyls!

or woody woodpecker!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The only way to stay warm in 40 degree temps without a fireplace is to KEEP MOVING.

Preferably to the house of a friend who has a wood stove! :o
In cold climates, if you don't have one yourself, always have a friend or two who has a woodstove. ;)

[Kitsune06]

Or flee to some warmer clime temporarily. ;)

[Wahine]

I got to watch a magnificent pileated woodpecker at work on a dead tree just a few yards away. Beautiful! He didn't seemed scared that I was there, nor was he bothered when I continued shushing on down the trail. A couple of years ago I heard a big bird commotion in my back yard, and went out to see FIVE of them having a big squabble in our pine tree!!! I can't imagine why 5 of them were all in one place. Never saw such a wonderful bird sighting before or since. They are so gorgeous, and so prehistoric looking- like teradactyls!

Wow Lisa, that is a very lucky siting. Pileated woodpeckers are very shy and would rather not be seen. I love them. One of my favorite birds. I can't imagine how amazing it would have been to see 5 at once. I think I would have fainted from excitement. In case you haven't figured it out, I have a soft spot for birds.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wow Lisa, that is a very lucky siting. Pileated woodpeckers are very shy and would rather not be seen. I love them. One of my favorite birds. I can't imagine how amazing it would have been to see 5 at once. I think I would have fainted from excitement. In case you haven't figured it out, I have a soft spot for birds.

Yeah, I was really excited that time, what a fluke it was!
But today this one didn't seem shy much at all- I shuffled and sniffed and walked by in my snowshoes and he just kept pecking about 12 yards from me and didn't even care that I passed by!

[pooks]

Oh, I love all these terrific answers.

My fantasy dream place is just about anywhere in England. I love Cornwall and the West Country, and Wiltshire -- but this pic draws me back to the Lake District, specifically my favorite "stones," Castlerigg. It was taken at sunset, and the sky was ON FIRE. I can't describe it. This picture was taken aiming east, with the red sky reflecting in a rosy wash over the smoke rising from a farm and the rest of the landscape.

http://www.k5kj.net/ENGLAND/Castle_Rigg_02.jpg

However, my more realistic dream is Estes Park, Colorado, a short bike ride away from Rocky Mountain National Park. This is the view from my lawn chair when we were camping in August. See my foot? I was vegging out, feet propped up, and took the picture.

http://planetpooks.files.wordpress.com/2006/08/tent-with-a-view.jpg

[emily_in_nc]

Ok....it's Salida. Small town, wonderful place, right on the Arkansas River...I have photos but not with me. I'll try to bring some & share tomorrow. There's' a stage race there in July - I was there last year and it was fantastic.

That is SO interesting. While doing some internet research on "my perfect place" a couple of years ago, I fell in love with -- from very much afar -- Salida. On paper, it seemed to have everything. So when you wrote your first post about a town like that existing in Colorado, I thought "Hmmm...wonder if it could be Salida??" Everyone chimed in with their guesses...but who was right? Moi, the Carolina gal who has just barely been to Colorado (only to Cortez on the Grand Circle we did last spring). :D

Since my original research, DH and I have both decided that we require a warmer climate that Salida, but it sure did -- and does -- sound wonderful other than that, and I definitely plan a visit there one day. In the summer! ;)

Emily

[Pax]

Pooks, that top picture is breathtaking! Brava!!

[wannaduacentury]

Nope, that was Astoria, Oregon and my nephew was a movie extra, i guess scenes were filmed at his elementary school. TEEHEE!
Astoria is a nice place, but it's very very depressed, no jobs.

Thanks Mimi I knew it was (oria) something :) That's cool that your nephew got be an xtra. They do a lot of films in GA too. There's a little town not far from me called Senoia Ga and they have a movie scout/ production place there. Really neat. I visited several of the places where they filmed Fried Green Tomatoes in the early 90's. Jennifer

[snapdragen]

Here's a fun way to find suggestions for your dream spot:

http://www.findyourspot.com/

[Bikingmomof3]

Here's a fun way to find suggestions for your dream spot:

http://www.findyourspot.com/

Very cool Snap! I was placed in several UP Michigan areas as well as Maine. :D

[Xrayted]

That quiz was interesting Snap. It placed me in CA quite a few times, up and down the coast. But I'm not into earthquakes so much. I was also placed in Eugene, Salem and Portland OR, all in the top 10. Colorado came up twice. Oh, and once in Louisiana. I have nothing against Louisiana, it just seemed out of place compared to all of the west coast ones. Like I said, interesting. Ya know, I may just try out the Portland area for a while and see how it goes. Does anyone know how long it takes to drive from PA to OR? Hmmm... *trots off to mapquest* doodeedoodeedoo Ah, ya know, if you drive straight through, you can get there in under 48 hours. Of course, there are soooo many neat places to see along the way. And a person has to sleep, or so I'm told. So, maybe 5-6 days? Verrrrrryyyy interesting indeed... :rolleyes:

[Pax]

Funny, I took the quiz and ended up in...Key West!! :D
(and a few other coastal towns in LA/AL/FL)

[mimitabby]

Pooks, great photos, stunningly beautiful!

i took that quiz, oh, my dream city is PORTLAND, OR..
the quiz asks for an address and email (I'm Jo Blow, at 201 main street, mobile AL,
36601) but they give you the answers, so you can put in a phony email address too)

[IFjane]

That is SO interesting. While doing some internet research on "my perfect place" a couple of years ago, I fell in love with -- from very much afar -- Salida. On paper, it seemed to have everything. So when you wrote your first post about a town like that existing in Colorado, I thought "Hmmm...wonder if it could be Salida??" Everyone chimed in with their guesses...but who was right? Moi, the Carolina gal who has just barely been to Colorado (only to Cortez on the Grand Circle we did last spring). :D

Since my original research, DH and I have both decided that we require a warmer climate that Salida, but it sure did -- and does -- sound wonderful other than that, and I definitely plan a visit there one day. In the summer! ;)

Emily

Emily - great minds think alike! I took Snap's quiz & Salida came up in the list -but so did Charlottesville, VA (I'm 40 miles northeast of it) & Culpeper, VA (I am 15 miles from there!) & a few spots in NC - Hickory, Boone, etc.

If you get out to CO, Salida is definitely worth a visit. It's gorgeous & funky & beautiful (in the summer :) ). It does get a bit more snow than I would like, but hey, I'm willing to compromise. The low humidity more than makes up for it. Dream on....:rolleyes:

[Dianyla]

Here's a fun way to find suggestions for your dream spot:

http://www.findyourspot.com/
Cool site, snap!

I got Portland as my number 1 result! :D

The rest of my top ten made sense to me, except that I really don't know how Little Rock AR snuck in there! :eek:

[hellosunshine]

isles of scilly,its still british,the people smile,pace of life,climate excellent,everything is very small,the sea is breathtakingly clear ,little use for cars,and ..........heaven.

[Offthegrid]

OK, my top spots are:
1. Fredericksburg, Texas
2. San Marcos, Texas
3. Natchitoches, Louisiana
4. Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii
5. Mountain Home/Bull Shoals, Arkansas

Somehow I don't see myself ever living in any one of these. Although I did always think it might be nice to live in Texas, but I've never been there.

[Kitsune06]

Eugene and Corvallis were my top two. Funny.

All the while on that Redhook ride, I kept thinking "This is so much like the paths in Euge..." "I love how they make this little bridge- just like in Eugene..."

*siiiigh* If I click my heels enough, will I eventually get back to the emerald city?

[Xrayted]

*siiiigh* If I click my heels enough, will I eventually get back to the emerald city?

Yes.

[Kitsune06]

"I had a dream, I put Ito in my bike basket, clicked my ruby 'martins, went to the emerald city... and you were there- and we were all listening to Pink Floyd....?"

[Xrayted]

Floyd!!! hee hee hee

*drift over* :o

[emily_in_nc]

Emily - great minds think alike! I took Snap's quiz & Salida came up in the list -but so did Charlottesville, VA (I'm 40 miles northeast of it) & Culpeper, VA (I am 15 miles from there!) & a few spots in NC - Hickory, Boone, etc.

Yep, me too. My mom lives in Hickory, and it's okay, but too large a city for me. Lots of sprawl and shopping centers, though the downtown area is charming. Silver City, NM comes up tops for me, and I'm very attracted to it...and the low humidity! It's warmer than Salida, but has some similarities (arty community, small, funky town, etc.)

Emily

[Pika]

In canada I'm pretty much where I want to be- not my "dream house" but it is a dream location, close to lakes and provicial parks, so, many opportunites for cycling, hiking and watersports but.... if I were to move to the States the quiz gave me loads of ideas.
Lots in Washington and Oregon and Colorado..maybe I will just use it as a template to plan holidays:)
Thanks for the quiz! mind busy churning now....

[snapdragen]

My spots are:

Saint Helens, OR
Joseph, OR
Metaline Falls, WA (I've actually been here!)
Ketchikan, AK (been here too!)
Bremerton, WA
Astoria, OR

More places in Alaska, a couple in Arkansas and Louisiana, and Virginia.

I can see a road trip to Oregon and Washington is in order.

[Wahine]

It sound like a lot of us got similar answers. Mine were all in Oregon - Eugene , Corvallis, St Helens. But then I got a bunch for Hawaii too. Funny that all the places I hang out came up on the quiz. It's good to know that I'm not wasting my time in places that I don't want to be in. Did that make any sense at all?

[mimitabby]

It sound like a lot of us got similar answers. Mine were all in Oregon - Eugene , Corvallis, St Helens. But then I got a bunch for Hawaii too. Funny that all the places I hang out came up on the quiz. It's good to know that I'm not wasting my time in places that I don't want to be in. Did that make any sense at all?

Yes, it did. I think my answers were more confusing and so I got lots of cities all over the country; only the top one made sense.

[jobob]

For the longest time Lee & I were talking about relocating up to Washington or Oregon. The plan was for me to find a job up there, where we'd eventually retire. The pipe dream was (and still is) to wind up eventually on Whidbey or Bainbridge islands, or near Pt. Townsend.

Anyhow, I was routinely scanning the ads for biotech companies up around Seattle & Portland, and a couple of years ago I found it, a job with my name written all over it. I was so thrilled!

But I was starting to pull up my resume when it dawned on me ... I didn't want to move!

You see, by then we had started cycling, and we were coming to realize that we live in a great area for it, and our home is ideally situated. We're able to head out directly from home to all sorts of great locations in the East Bay, we can ride across the nearby bridge to the San Francisco peninsula and all the great riding out there, and we're not much of a drive to the wonderful cycling in Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz & Monterey ...

I talked it over with Lee and he said he wasn't in a hurry to move either now that we're enjoying cycling so much, so here we remain, for the time being. Maybe in a few years we'll move north, but, not right now.

[hellosunshine]

i think this thread points to the fact that the world is diverse and amazing.there is so much to do!

we are all lucky too that we do ride a bike and tend to get into the countryside,i am stunned by the fact so many of my neighbours etc etc do not travel even 30miles to local pockets of escapism,i see so much on my bike,the views from hills,differing landscapes etc etc,for many a day out means a trip top the cities to shop.


shopping does hit the spot,dont get me wrong,but the smells and visual stimulation out of town beats everything.

[Trekhawk]

we are all lucky too that we do ride a bike and tend to get into the countryside,i am stunned by the fact so many of my neighbours etc etc do not travel even 30miles to local pockets of escapism,i see so much on my bike,the views from hills,differing landscapes etc etc,for many a day out means a trip top the cities to shop.




LOL - I remember when I went to England and made a comment to some locals about how nice it must be to live so close to all these lovely areas and they said oh no dear we dont go there its too far away. Hee hee just goes to show how different we all are.

Sounds like you have some lovely rides.:)

[mimitabby]

LOL - I remember when I went to England and made a comment to some locals about how nice it must be to live so close to all these lovely areas and they said oh no dear we dont go there its too far away. Hee hee just goes to show how different we all are.

Sounds like you have some lovely rides.:)

Thanks to increasing size of automobiles, increasing traffic, and less $$ going to infrastructure, and more concerns about security... the world, which had been getting smaller (ie easier to go from say, London to Los Angeles) is now getting MUCH bigger.

Drives that used to be routine and comfortable now take a long time (but not always) so you would be less inclined to do them.

When I was a kid, I heard stories about how long it took to go places, now I can tell my own sons, yeah, when I was your age, i could walk into an airport and be in NYC 5 hours later. They sure can't do that.

[Trek420]

bump! :) The subject of "best places to live" came up and this thread is great :D

[snowtulip]

Thanks Trek, your "search" skills are excellent!

[silver]

the beach!:cool: Alabama or Floridapan handle.

[shootingstar]

Another blissful Portlander, chiming in! :D

The only situation I can envision that would be even better than what I've got is to have a chic condo in downtown Vancouver BC and then a horse ranch on the San Juan islands to spend my weekends.

/fantasyland

Hey, we live at the foot of a bikepath in downtown Vancouver. Right now, I see can a whole wall of snow-topped mountains in North Vancouver...and another direction the construction of Winter Olympics 2010 athletes' village. I could go snowshoeing today up at Grouse Mountain...and get there quickly in 45 min. or so by public transit. Where we are at the bottom, dry pavement and just above freezing. Yes, I cycled today..

We are car-less, no purchased parking spot in our condo building. It was deliberate.

And yes, we're just 15 min. walk to the light rapid train...there's going to be another line completed next year...that will take you from airport to downtown...so when it pours relentlessly rain....there's a way to throw bike on and get down faster.

[MillieNZ]

Funny......... i filled in the questionare and it brought up Portland as my ideal spot to live............................. which is where my SIL lives and where Tim is keen to live should we move back to the States :D:D

[Trek420]

Thanks Trek, your "search" skills are excellent!

Why thank you. :) Finally a use for my font of worthless trivia like "when we discussed this what were a couple of the words in the title?"

[Bad JuJu]

the beach!:cool: Alabama or Floridapan handle.
Well come on down! I live here (http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=30.481817,-87.094116&spn=1.827256,2.856445&z=8&om=0), on the bayshore at roughly the center of this map (northwest of Pensacola, halfway between Pensacola and Milton).

[IFjane]

Well come on down! I live here (http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=30.481817,-87.094116&spn=1.827256,2.856445&z=8&om=0), on the bayshore at roughly the center of this map (northwest of Pensacola, halfway between Pensacola and Milton).

I was in Destin for four days in October - absolutely gorgeous! Sun, sugar sand, sun....margaritas.....sun....

Silver, it's wonderful - the only drawbacks I see are 1. it is FLAT as a pancake and 2. there is lots of traffic....

Disclaimer: Observations are from a hill hater/lover and a mountain/rural area lover. Still....at 12 degrees outside right now, that warm sun is REALLY tempting!

[Bad JuJu]

I was in Destin for four days in October - absolutely gorgeous! Sun, sugar sand, sun....margaritas.....sun....

Silver, it's wonderful - the only drawbacks I see are 1. it is FLAT as a pancake and 2. there is lots of traffic....
And 3. Hurricane Season!

Actually the traffic decreases and the relaxed rural character of the area re-asserts itself when you escape the tourist-choked streets of Destin, and there's an occasional modest hill to be found if you head inland a bit. But even we get some chilly weather--31 degrees when we got up this morning! Still, I guess that beats 12 degrees! :eek:

[IFjane]

.....HOW COULD I FORGET?? :eek::eek:

And I was there right in the height of hurricane season - but the weather was calm and beautiful. :)

JuJu - I am sure it is a wonderful place to live. It certainly was wonderful to kick back for a few days with some GF's and act like none of us had a care in the world.

Also, believe me, at this point I will take 31 over 12 any day!

Spring.....please come!!!

[silver]

Well come on down! I live here (http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=30.481817,-87.094116&spn=1.827256,2.856445&z=8&om=0), on the bayshore at roughly the center of this map (northwest of Pensacola, halfway between Pensacola and Milton).

OMG! We were so close to you. I don't know how you got that map to work, but we were staying at a condo at approx. Sanchez Lane and Gulf Beach Highway. Are you doing the pensacola triathlon On April 27th (?) We've got the condo and I'm planning to do it. I'm getting pretty excited about it. I wonder if I'll need a wetsuit? I think I may have to find one.

My parents live in Gulf Shores and I love the area. Sure the tourists can be annoying. But I love it there!

[tulip]

Europe: Brittany, Bordeaux/La Rochelle or thereabouts (Charente-Maritimes), somewhere in Ireland, Portugal.

US: on the east coast, near the water, south of Maryland, north of Florida. Edisto Island, SC is awfully nice, as is the Chesapeake Bay.

From time to time, I think I'll go back to Nicaragua where I spent a week on a sustainable coffee plantation in the cloud forest. It's fantastic there.

[Bad JuJu]

OMG! We were so close to you. I don't know how you got that map to work, but we were staying at a condo at approx. Sanchez Lane and Gulf Beach Highway. Are you doing the pensacola triathlon On April 27th (?) We've got the condo and I'm planning to do it. I'm getting pretty excited about it. I wonder if I'll need a wetsuit? I think I may have to find one.

My parents live in Gulf Shores and I love the area. Sure the tourists can be annoying. But I love it there!
OMG back atcha, Silver! I'd love to meet you when you're here in April! I'm not a triathlete (never learned to love running), but I sometimes go as a spectator. And my cycling buddy often works the transition areas. I'd love to come and cheer you on. Go TE! :D

AintDoody, another TE-er, was here last year, and we were just able to squeeze in one casual afternoon ride together.

Definitely let's get in touch when it gets closer to the date. I'll PM you with my phone number.:)

Oh, and back on topic, MY choices of places to live include coastal Maine, coastal SC, and Portland, OR, for vastly different reasons. Where I'll end up--who knows? Looking to retire in maybe 5 years, then we'll see.

[Aggie_Ama]

I have discovered my Nirvana, unfortunately so have all the people getting rich off Dell. My husband's family owns a lot of property in Stonewall, TX. It is near Fredericksburg but so quiet. You sit in his Oma's living room and can see the farm road but then there is about a 1,000 acres behind the house. If you look towards the road there is a big picture window and you can watch the goats play.

Unfortunately, they have started selling "ranchettes" out there- 5-10 acres where some city folk can raise cattle and pretend to be ranchers. Just too many of those popping up for this native Texan. Love you all but please go home. :pThe cycling is great but the winters are a little bitter for me. So since I can do what I want.... I would have a beach house in Key West or the sleepy little Texas town of Port Aransas. :D

[Pax]

Thought I'd bump this up for the newbies. Where is your dream place??

[Jen-Jen]

Hubby says that our dream place would be in North Carolina! Hubby lived there for a while and said it was beautiful. I've never been, but am looking forward to a vacation there and see if I like it. A couple of friends we have, have been there and I have an Aunt and Uncle to live there and they love it!

We can ride all year round if we like!

[GLC1968]

Let's see...I've tried Boston (loved it), Maine (loved it), Pennsylvania (hated it), Florida (hated it), North Carolina (eh)...all as an adult. I also lived in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin as a child.

When I was in FL, I used the 'find your spot' website and it gave me some places in NC. I thought we'd give Greensboro a try. Funny thing is...even if you think it might be a good 'spot' for you, if your spouse is miserable, the place never seems all that great.

Portland is our latest attempt at finding our 'spot'. I wonder if I'll be able to 'settle' here or not? Perhaps I just have gypsy blood? :rolleyes:

This was a very fun thread to read (and I'm glad I had some time to kill today!)! :)

[Pax]

...This was a very fun thread to read (and I'm glad I had some time to kill today!)! :)
I think it'll be fun to read again in a few years to see who found their dream place.

[firenze11]

Thanks for bumping this thread, I had forgotten about it and it's really nice to learn where everyone's ideal spot would be. It would be fun to see how things change for people over the years.

I took the find your spot quiz and came out with Fountain Hills AZ as my spot. Sounds pretty nice to me! I've started to think about where I'd like to live graduate. I've always wanted to move back to the Southwest, or Rocky mtn. area, or somewhere on the West Coast. I need a place without much of a winter, I love hot dry sunny weather. I'd love to be by the ocean if possible. And close to the mountains. Probably relatively rural, but not too far from shopping and amenities. Lots of fun stuff to do outdoors. I'm not sure this place exists ;)

[bluebug32]

Hey, Firnze11, I also have a Jake! It's so much fun to ride:D

Somehow in the top spots quiz, I got Harford, CT. Not sure how that happened. Not to insult any Hartford residents, but I had hoped to set the bar a little higher!

Though I've never been to the west coast (according to my quiz, Bend and Portland are good matches), I love CO and many Northeast Coastal towns. I also wouldn't mind spending the summer in East Burke, VT where there are over 100 miles of groomed singletrack!

[Brandi]

I am in my dream place on the central coast of California! Ton's of outdoor things to do. Perfect weather! meaning sunny, foggy, rainy and windy i love all those! We have a view of the ocean and surrounding extinct volcanoes. We have lot's of wildlife, ton's of birds, bobcats, deer etc... And out of all the places I have been in the untied States I just love coming home! Now if the population was to get to much bigger I would consider moving.

[melissam]

Am I the only one who mis-read the title of this thread as ...


Where is your dream police... :eek:

I guess I listened to a little too much Cheap Trick in my past....

OK, back to your regularly scheduled thread.

-- Melissa

PS My dream place is probably right where I am: the San Francisco Bay Area.
PPS My dream police is ... I have no idea. :confused:

[SlowButSteady]

Dream place?

The East Africa of the early 20th Century. Isaac Dinison's Africa.

2nd - near San Ignacio, Belize.

In the US: near Fredericksburg, Kerrville or even Austin, TX.

I like it hot.

[cyclinnewbie]

Someplace woodsy, but much sunnier that where I live now. You'd think after being born and raised in Western WA, I could function without much sun, but I just can't. I can handle the cold, as long as there's sun. I would, however, like to be able to get out all year round. But not too far from mountains...I cannot be too far from mountains. Someplace where I can walk and ride a lot. Not sure where this place is, but someday I'll find it!

PS I have always wanted to go to Utah, New Mexico (high desert/mountainous parts), and Maine. Maybe one of those places is my dream.

PSS I just realized I'm limiting myself to the US...I would love to see the south of France, Greece, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Morrocco, Australia/New Zealand, Antarctica, Guatemala, Sweden, Ireland/Scotland (have family there), Africa...so many places! I wish my hubby liked to travel....I need a travel buddy. And a big inheritance!

[Pax]

Dream place?

The East Africa of the early 20th Century. Isaac Dinison's Africa...
Ooh, excellent choice!! Her accounts of Africa are mind blowing.

[Aggie_Ama]

When I graduated from college and got married, I thought it was Austin. Don't get me wrong, I love Austin but not what it is now. It is so huge now and the urban sprawl is out of control. I rarely meet people who know how to pronounce the roads, what roads are called or can relate to growing up here. It just isn't the home I left.

After riding in Stonewall last weekend, I will say Texas Hill Country. But I want to get even further away from the world, like Leakey or Concan. No one is around except three months of tubing season. Crazy hilly but quiet roads, yup that is heaven. Now if we could just get the windfall to open our adventure vacation company. :D

I really enjoyed the sleepy coastal towns north of San Francisco when we were out there in February.