N1cky

I don't like guns though

markonline1

I too would stick where I am in Monterey. The job market is utter shite here, luckily my wife earns a good wage and I have just landed a job that I will actually enjoy doing similar to back in the UK. The house prices are ridiculous, California has rules and regulations coming out of its seams, house prices are frankly ridiculous and there's no water. But the scenery is stunning, the Mediterranean climate is superb, San Francisco is an hour or so up the road and the golf is world class.

joto

I'm quite happy where I'm living now, even though there's very little water to be had.

LotusEater33

I got sent to North Carolina; and I'm very happy with where I am.

Cheap housing, beautiful weather, friendly people, beautiful countryside, mountains and beach, mild/quick winters, great public schools, forests & lakes nearby.

Sorry if that sounds like a brag.

Hawkini

I started off in NC (North Raleigh) when first moved to US. Moved to CA just under 2 years later - and have since moved back with the blessing of my company to work remotely - didn't realize just how great NC was until we moved away.

For a start... our monthly water bill in Livermore CA during the summer would pay for 3 months of water AND gas here.

In a previous thread I asked people would they stay in CA... truly glad we moved and looking forward to long lazy summer weekends on the lake rather than way too short overly busy summer weekends in the East Bay.

English88

I'm not going to get my hopes up too much but starting to get excited about prospect of moving to NC instead of CA!

Hawkini

I think the Appalachians in NC will give most places good competition.

Yes, but you pay the "sunshine" tax. I left the East Bay with a drought and everyone trying to be the first to rip up their lawns and replace with rock and cactus.

San Francisco is a fantastic city and with BART makes it a no brainer to visit and have fun. Having IKEA close was great too...

Pah - I'm building a house on a Tom Fazio golf course near some absolutely stunning lakes and scenery, although not marked on the tax records I have it on authority that Will Ferrell has a golf villa down the street and he only goes where the golf is world class!!

Pulaski

Not from my perspective, it doesn't.

scrubbedexpat099

We had a power outage most of Tuesday due to the snow, wet sloppy stuff not the usual powder, had a blue tint to it, most weird. Snowing now.

Anyway I know a number of people who split their time between 2 locations as no one place is ideal year around.

HumphreyC

It would still be somewhere in New England - Portsmouth NH, Northampton MA, the Cape, Brattleboro VT - maybe Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket if I somehow had loads of cash.

Then again I could move to a nicer town and a bigger property but i've got great neigbors and friends on my street and that's a hard thing to give up.

SultanOfSwing

When I originally moved here, I'd have said Boston, or somewhere in that Massachusetts/Connecticut area but after ten years here, there's no way I'd move somewhere that gets more snow than we do

It's hard, because I haven't visited many states so I'm going completely hypothetical here, but if money was no object, I'd probably say California, up around San Francisco somewhere. We're planning to visit there this summer, so I'll be able to give you a more accurate answer later in the year all being well.

Other than that, I do like the idea of the northeasterly southern states; the Carolinas or Tennessee. The scenery is beautiful there, I am led to believe that the cost of living a little more favourable than where I am now and they are far enough south to have mild winters, but yet can still get cold but not so far south that their just hot all the time.

Not that a move is imminent, but if we had our choice, I'd be heading southwest, or southeast most likely.

English88

Thanks for the replies so far, keep them coming. I find it interesting.

The more I look at Asheville, the more I'm thinking I want to go there and if my current company do approve of me working remotely, it's definitely one of my top choices so far. I'll obviously visit first but it looks like it has everything I would want in a place to live long term.

username.exe

Over the years I've visited around 40 states (not been near the deep south) and all of the Canadian provinces.
I get the impression there's good and bad to everywhere. There are very few places in the states that I would absolutely refuse to live in. The south west and then pnw have my preferences for regions.

On balance, my favourite area is San Diego for climate, lifestyle, scenery and 'atmosphere'. Also, we have lots of family and friends there, and that can make a huge difference to happiness levels.

Hawaii is paradise but I found myself getting cabin fever after just a few days.

ChocolateBabz

Hawaii, Kauai to be exact, on the beach {sigh}...

laidback4

I've been in North Carolina for exactly a year, although my job takes me all over America. I love coming back to Charlotte though, just about perfect here!