Where is your dream place...

[Dianyla]

Another blissful Portlander, chiming in!

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!

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

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

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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

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

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.

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!
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.



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.

[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).

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.

[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...