Where should I move?

[KnottedYet]

Is there anywhere that isn't? Hey, I lived in Seattle for 10 years!

I grew up here, and actually like the rain. But my nearest-and-dearest isn't a rainy kind of critter. So I've a feeling I'll be living somewhere drier someday. but I'll manage.

[LBTC]

Vernon, BC

Okay, I know, that's not in the US, but it *is* gorgeous, pretty small, long dry summer, snow in winter, nestled between 3 lakes, large cycling community of every kind, world class x-c skiing, plus downhill skiing, and a great road climb in the summer to get up to the hill, easy access to high altitude training, nice flowers, nice people, and, holy cow, in the spring the city sends a chipper around to chip the branches you've pruned in your yard....and they even rake the grass!

It's a great place to live!

What do you do for work?

Hugs & butterflies,
~T~

[smilingcat]

Leucadia Ca.
Cardiff by the Sea, Ca.
Encinitas, Ca.
Carlsbad, Ca.

All in San Diego County. I luv Leucadia cause its bit funky old sorta like Santa Cruz minus all the Marijuna farms

Coastal route is really beautiful with long straightaways without lights. some rollers and at Torry Pine, there is a good climb. People are all friendly. Can't remember a time when someone didn't wave a hand or say something to you. Number of pro tri-athletes call the area home and cyclist there tend to be really good. Lots of clubs, cycling and other kinds too. Belly up tavern in Solona Beach, Croche's in gas light district of SD... About an hour away is Julien known for apples and apple pies. They even have a year round Christmas store. Last I heard, they managed to keep McDonald from setting up shop in downtown area.

Even the drivers are nice toward cyclist. Mostly sunny, occasional rain (others might call it misting). If you want to train on a hill you could do the Palomar Mountain ride. Oh Julien has a mtn bike event and a road event. Pretty hard core though... Lots to do besides the Zoo, Wild Animal park, sea world. They even have a Shakespearian playhouse. And its really good located in Bolboa Park. Lovely place.

And I've lived in lots of places. Overland Park, Ks; NY, NY; SLC, Ut; Carlsbad, Oceanside, Tustin, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and my current home Hermosa Beach Ca. I think SD is the best place... although we want to move to Oak Harbor or Coupville on Whidby Island Wa. My housemate owned her first home in Oak Harbor.

Oh you wanted dry. So far this rain season (starts in Oct. or there abouts.) we have had a total of 2 to 3 inches of rain. And the rain season will be over about now. No rain till next October.

Too much of good thing gets to be bland sunny today with high of 80. tomorrow sunny with high of 80. day in day out... well right now its bone chilly 65.

Shawn

[GLC1968]

Greensboro, NC

It's all rolling hills with mountains 2 hours west and the beach 3 hours east. Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte are each only 1 hour to 90 minutes away. The climate is temperate. Light snow in the winter, but we can definitely ride year round. Nice mountain biking, even better road biking, not too much traffic... We have multiple awesome bike shops and quite a decent-sized biking community. The Blue Ridge Parkway (recently written up as the best biking highway in the US) is less than an hour away.

Plus, it's WAY cheaper than anything you'll find in CA.

[pooks]

You can bike on that without getting run down by cars? Gorgeous.

[Trek420]

You can bike on that without getting run down by cars? Gorgeous.

I wanna ride that.

[GLC1968]

You can bike on that without getting run down by cars? Gorgeous.

Yes, indeed! But bring your climbing gears...it's rarely ever 'flat'.

Actually, I've found that a vast majority of the drivers in NC are very bike considerate. This seems to be even more true in the mountains.

[IFjane]

Yes, indeed! But bring your climbing gears...it's rarely ever 'flat'.

Actually, I've found that a vast majority of the drivers in NC are very bike considerate. This seems to be even more true in the mountains.

There is only one thing GLC forgot to mention......humidity.

But....the BRP is gorgeous, the speed limit is only 45 mph & it's a fun ride. Read about it in the Bicycling Mag. ("Best Road in America")

[michelem]

Folsom, CA. We moved here from the Phoenix area of AZ about a year-and-a-half ago and we love it. The American River Bike Trail boasts a 64 mile round-trip paved trail: http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail...lid=BGS057-026
We have Folsom Lake right here, and we are about 90 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Lots of bike clubs, such as Sacramento Bike Hikers and Folsom Peleton, even the Bodacious Biking Babes whom you may have read about in Bicycling Magazine (I've yet to meet any, but I may join if I do!). We moved here for my job, but my husband found work as a supervisor for a grant-funded after school program for at-risk youth (through a neighboring school district) - small world, huh? He was a licensed professional counselor in AZ, but the CA licensing requirements are completely different and a real bear. You did say that you want a dry climate though . . . it is rainy in the winter. Last winter I thought it would never stop raining and there was lots of flooding. This winter it was relatively dry and we are hearing the good ol' conserve water warnings because we aren't going to get the benefit of good snow run-off. Another drawback to this area is that it is BOOMING. Folsom is still a relatively small town, but developers are snatching up every bit of available land. We don't yet have a mall, but they've begun groundbreaking. I hate shopping and crowds, so this is not my idea of fun. But, if you live and work in Folsom as I do, you can bike to work on the many paved trails within the city limits. Oh, and the cost of living is outrageous. California property taxes are ridiculous! It was very hard for us to go from a $700 per month house payment (which included property tax, homeowner's insurance, etc.) to on 3x that amount for a smaller house with a much, much smaller lot (in AZ our house was 1350 sq. feet with a .20 lot). This is with a 50% down payment.

You can read more about Folsom here:

http://ci.folsom.ca.us/

[GLC1968]

There is only one thing GLC forgot to mention......humidity.

But....the BRP is gorgeous, the speed limit is only 45 mph & it's a fun ride. Read about it in the Bicycling Mag. ("Best Road in America")

I guess some would say that there is some humidity here... I moved here from Tampa, so this place seems pretty arid to me!

[Starfish]

You guys are SO great! I logged off last night, came back this evening, and WOW, lots of responses!

I have actually been through a lot of the towns and areas you have all mentioned, from CA to WY to CO to TX. Not SC or VT though! And, I have not yet tried the website to find my spot...I will do that! Some of you mentioned places that have been favorites of mine on travels, from Sonoma to Bend to Ft. Collins to Jackson to Durango, etc. I have to say, I am afraid they all might be a little pricey for me. Maybe it will be SC, here I come!

These responses are wonderful to read, and the pictures are so fun to look at. Keep 'em coming, women. I SO appreciate these forums!

Oh, and someone asked me what I do for work...well I've gone through a few iterations. Currently I am doing life coaching and workshops, as well as running a grant-funded after school program for at-risk kids. However, I also have a number of higher-ed HR & grant admin years under my belt, and some non-profit fund raising background. I love the coaching & kid work...might even consider a teaching certificate.

I'm really starting over after an unwanted divorce last year and the deaths of my parents this year. Everything is up for grabs as I move toward my dreams. The one thing I know is that I have always hated this climate (coastal western WA)!

Thanks for listening! And, keep the ideas coming!

[Starfish]

Oops, I meant NC, not SC!

[Wahine]

It's a secret, so don't tell anyone.

The Gorge. I'm in White Salmon Washington, 1 hour from Portland, 45 min from skiing Mt Hood, 30 min from x-country skiing at Mt. Adams. World class kayaking, windsurfing, mtbiking....

The Columbia is large enough for water sports and generally warm. April to October you're warm to hot and generally dry. Nov to May you have varying degrees of cloudiness and rain. Much less rain than Seattle or Portland tho. If you want dryer you just head east by 15 min to half hour and you get a much larger percentage of dry and sunny days.

Here's some climate data:

http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/Di...=none&IATA=DLS

You can come visit for a weekend sometime if you like. I'm only about 5 hours away.

[mountainchick]

You can always come to Japan

[Starfish]

Wow, Wahine, nice offer. Might do that...if so, will PM you. I went to school in Pullman, and loved that climate. I always had the stereotype that the gorge area is super windy all the time. That true?

I have driven up and down the gorge and environs on my way to Pendleton, Bend, etc, but confess I have not spent time there.