Which state to choose to settle in?
Aug 22nd 2005, 7:18 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 77
Which state?
When my husband leaves the military we will have to choose where we want to live. It will be in the US and seeing as he has moved around for most of his life he doesn't have a place to move back to that he considers 'home'. I am from the UK so don't have any place in the US that I consider home either.
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
Last edited by yorkshire_lass; Aug 22nd 2005 at 7:51 am.
Aug 22nd 2005, 12:03 pm
#2
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: Which state to choose to settle in?
I think you might like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's a beautiful, vibrant city - modern but with lovely historical colonial buildings, lots of culture as it is a university city, lots of galleries, world-class museums, parks, theatre, sports, Chinatown and even daily flights to the UK with British Airways (and I think, US Airways).
It's an easy trip to New York City or to Baltimore and Washington DC, by car, bus or train (although you can fly too). Also not far from Philly (no more than a one hour drive) there is Amish country in the Lancaster area.
http://www.gophila.com
If you like skiing or just walking, cycling or driving through the mountains again it is an easy drive from Philly to the Poconos or the Appalachian trail:
http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/home.pa
I live about 70 miles north of Philly in the New Jersey suburbs (a bit like Tunbridge Wells...Stepford Wife country LOL!) and 18 miles west of NYC. If money was no object I'd move to San Francisco without a doubt, but unfortunately my husband's job is connected to the financial/banking sector so we are pretty much tied to living in NYC or major worldwide cities which are financial centres.
It's an easy trip to New York City or to Baltimore and Washington DC, by car, bus or train (although you can fly too). Also not far from Philly (no more than a one hour drive) there is Amish country in the Lancaster area.
http://www.gophila.com
If you like skiing or just walking, cycling or driving through the mountains again it is an easy drive from Philly to the Poconos or the Appalachian trail:
http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/home.pa
I live about 70 miles north of Philly in the New Jersey suburbs (a bit like Tunbridge Wells...Stepford Wife country LOL!) and 18 miles west of NYC. If money was no object I'd move to San Francisco without a doubt, but unfortunately my husband's job is connected to the financial/banking sector so we are pretty much tied to living in NYC or major worldwide cities which are financial centres.
Last edited by Englishmum; Aug 22nd 2005 at 1:54 pm.
Aug 22nd 2005, 12:45 pm
#3
strangely floppy..
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ohio - originally London
Posts: 1,719
Re: Which state?
Originally Posted by yorkshire_lass
When my husband leaves the military we will have to choose where we want to live. It will be in the US and seeing as he has moved around for most of his life he doesn't have a place to move back to that he considers 'home'. I am from the UK so don't have any place in the US that I consider home either.
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
Aug 22nd 2005, 12:50 pm
#4
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,005
Re: Which state?
Originally Posted by yorkshire_lass
When my husband leaves the military we will have to choose where we want to live. It will be in the US and seeing as he has moved around for most of his life he doesn't have a place to move back to that he considers 'home'. I am from the UK so don't have any place in the US that I consider home either.
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
Aug 22nd 2005, 1:28 pm
#5
Re vera, potas bene.
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod MA..Davenport FL
Posts: 2,405
Re: Which state?
Originally Posted by yorkshire_lass
When my husband leaves the military we will have to choose where we want to live. It will be in the US and seeing as he has moved around for most of his life he doesn't have a place to move back to that he considers 'home'. I am from the UK so don't have any place in the US that I consider home either.
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
Apart from the busy summers....Cape Cod in MA is just like living in Cornwall..!....no crime.....nice people......small town but with Boston only 70 miles away.....most of the time not to hot or cold.....
The down sides well the traffic in summer......but that was not so bad this year.....it can be very humid....the cost of housing but that not as bad as a lot of places now...not that many well paying jobs.........if I had to give the place marks out of 10 for bring up kids.....it would be a 10.....good schools your kids are safe out playing.....they have clean beaches for the weekend....
I will miss this place when and if I move more than anywhere else I've lived.......
Aug 22nd 2005, 5:18 pm
#6
Back Again
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Virtual Reality
Posts: 10,831
Re: Which state?
Originally Posted by yorkshire_lass
When my husband leaves the military we will have to choose where we want to live. It will be in the US and seeing as he has moved around for most of his life he doesn't have a place to move back to that he considers 'home'. I am from the UK so don't have any place in the US that I consider home either.
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
We don't want to stay here in Hawaii, (too resistant to outsiders, no seasons of the year, too far from the UK, no large cities and don't like the 'island fever') so how do we choose where to settle? We won't have any children at home by then, so schools are not a big consideration. We won't be rich but expect to be comfortable enough to choose somewhere that is not dictated by income (and we won't need a large house for just the two of us). I would like to be somewhere that is quite liberal (no bible belt areas!!), it would be nice to have warm summers and cold winters, and I whilst I don't want to live in the middle of nowhere I also want to be able to drive out of the city for day trips to countyside. Guess I am describing the UK to some extent!! Oh yes also want to be able to get cheap quick flights to the UK so east side of the county would be better.
My questions are:
Which state do you live in and what are the best/worse features?
Where, in the US, would you really like to live and why?
well if you don't want the heat I wouldn't go for the southern states...my husband is from Missouri and it's very pretty in the Fall..it actually has it's four seasons in the correct order
Aug 22nd 2005, 6:16 pm
#7
Senior Moment
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,008
Re: Which state?
I agree with Englishmum, Philadelphia is one of the best cities I've ever been to in the USA. Much better than dirty old NYC and because its so old (it was the nations capitol originally) there is a lot more historically of interest and doens't look like it was built out of vinyl siding 5 minutes ago like a lot of places.
have you seen that Nicholas Cage film 'National Treasure?' a large chunk of the film was set in Philly.
From your post it sounds like you want to be nearer to home than the West Coast is, otherwise I'd say check out San Fran, Seattle and Portland, Orgeon.
have you seen that Nicholas Cage film 'National Treasure?' a large chunk of the film was set in Philly.
From your post it sounds like you want to be nearer to home than the West Coast is, otherwise I'd say check out San Fran, Seattle and Portland, Orgeon.
Aug 22nd 2005, 6:35 pm
#8
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Which state to choose to settle in?
Depends how cold the winters, but maine could fit the bill....Freeport is nice, it's 10 mins away from Portland, which has an airport that's a skip to Boston, there's plenty to do in Portland, it's quiet, it's on the coast...and the shopping is great
Aug 22nd 2005, 6:55 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Leeds to Los Angeles
Posts: 287
Re: Which state to choose to settle in?
I realise that I'm in a pitiful minority here, but I LOVE Los Angeles. I'd happily spend the rest of my life here. The weather is perfect, it's spitting distance to the ocean, mountains and desert, it's politically and socially liberal, and has a good ethnic mix (always a plus in my book). The only down side is the cost of housing, which is, or course, an ENORMOUS downside and the only reason why I would ever consider leaving.
Aug 22nd 2005, 7:09 pm
#10
Mr. Grumpy
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 3,100
Re: Which state?
Originally Posted by dunroving
Nashville TN has a lot of what you are looking for. Yes, middle TN is in the Bible Belt, but my experience there was that people were genuinely very friendly, and that nashville was a lot more liberal than you'd expect for the BB. Also, cost of living is reasonable, you are close to some lovely countryside, plus close to much of the US (i.e., very central, population-wise). Nashville has most things you'd expect in a large city, but with a small-town feel.
I live in nashville and its great. With my current income (I get a north-eastern salary) I'm not sure I would move to anywhere else in the USA - things are just too easy here!
not too cold in the winter, very little snow - very liberal - reasonable cost of living
its a $100, 1 hour flight to atlanta or chicago
downside is crappy public schools
Aug 22nd 2005, 7:13 pm
#11
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Which state to choose to settle in?
Originally Posted by Dant3
I realise that I'm in a pitiful minority here, but I LOVE Los Angeles. I'd happily spend the rest of my life here. The weather is perfect, it's spitting distance to the ocean, mountains and desert, it's politically and socially liberal, and has a good ethnic mix (always a plus in my book). The only down side is the cost of housing, which is, or course, an ENORMOUS downside and the only reason why I would ever consider leaving.
http://www.scorecard.org/env-release...nty_code=06037
Aug 22nd 2005, 7:16 pm
#12
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Which state to choose to settle in?
Chicago. Multicultural, centrally located, and in a blue state.
Aug 22nd 2005, 7:22 pm
#13
Mr. Grumpy
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 3,100
Re: Which state to choose to settle in?
Originally Posted by snowbunny
Chicago. Multicultural, centrally located, and in a blue state.
Twinned with Vladivostock from a weather perspective
Great city though....
Aug 22nd 2005, 7:22 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Leeds to Los Angeles
Posts: 287
Re: Which state to choose to settle in?
Originally Posted by Ray
Aug 22nd 2005, 7:25 pm
#15
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Which state to choose to settle in?
Originally Posted by BritGuyTN
Twinned with Vladivostock from a weather perspective
Great city though....
Great city though....
LA has fake plastic trees and I'm dubious about being able to escape the Bible Belt whacking your butt in Nashville. But that's just me.