What City Would You Move to If You Could Live Anywhere?
We’re in that part of winter where I ask myself why I still live in Chicago — a city I truly love, but one whose corruption and continued allegiance to the far Left wears on me even more than the weather.
As a writer, I can work anywhere in the country since most of what I do is done from home. My boyfriend Justin’s dream job is to work for Disney as an imagineer, so I’d move with him to California if he ever got a job at Disney Studios like he hopes for (along with tens of thousands of other people worldwide).
I feel like I have a lot more to do professionally here in Chicago, but would be open to a move to another city in the future if it would further Justin’s career. I grew up in Cleveland but have lived in Chicago (duh), Pittsburgh, Rochester, Reykjavik, and Beijing — and have experienced brutal winters in all those cities. I think in 2013 or 2014 I might want to try living somewhere with zero chance of my blood freezing.
Some cities that Justin and I are talking about include Austin, Texas; San Diego and Los Angeles in California; and Atlanta and Savannah in Georgia.
I almost moved to New Orleans in May of 2005 — it was a coin toss between that and Chicago, and I only chose Chicago because I was dating a guy long-distance who lived here and he asked me to move in with him. If not for that intervention of Fate, I’d have been in the French Quarter when Katrina hit a few months later. I’m still rattled by the thought that if not for dating Harvey, I’d have been caught up in that disaster (which proves that no matter how much of a disaster a relationship could end up being, there’s still unintended good that can come out of it).
I kind of like the idea of living in the capital of a state, so Austin’s attractive in that way — and I also like that it’s a college town so there’d always be something interesting happening.
I’d like to live somewhere with as little crime as possible. Growing up in a part of Cleveland I affectionately refer to as Thunderdome and having to stay forever on my toes in Chicago (where violent crime is much more common than you might realize if you just read the white-washed media reports), I think it would be nice to live somewhere that burglaries, muggings, and murders happen more infrequently.
I think it might be nice — though it’s not mandatory — to also live in a city that’s not controlled by the Left, so I’ve not experienced that living in America yet.
Everything depends on Justin, though, and where he can find a job. He finished his degree in architecture last year and is now working on a certificate in planning and design and his goal is to be one of the people who design theme parks or other fantastical architecture. He’d also really like to be involved in video game design, where he’d build the digital buildings where video game characters visit and fight in. Clearly, there’s not much market for either of these types of work, but I’m 100% behind Justin in trying to find a way for him to do this (if you have any ideas, ever, please share them).
If not for Justin, I think I would have moved to DC after Chicago. I would like to know what it would be like to live and work in the Capital and cover politics in the belly of the beast. I also wonder if I could ever tire of seeing all of our national monuments every single day — because the dozen or so times I’ve been to Washington I have discovered something new and profoundly meaningful to me. I bet if I lived there, this would happen every day, in ways I can’t even imagine.
If you love the town you live in and think it would be a good fit for Justin and me, I’d love your thoughts on this in comments below. Or, if you prefer, shoot us an email if you want to tell me things in private, off the record.
What city would YOU move to if you could live absolutely anywhere in the US?
© 2012, Kevin DuJan. All rights reserved.
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I would say it's a toss-up among Seattle, DC, and Honolulu, notwithstanding the political climate of each. I would always choose to live outside the city, but with easy access. Of course, my first choice is to live in a rural area within close vicinity to a medium-sized city and a good airport!
A city that's not controlled by the left? If it isn't controlled by the left, that means it's probably not urban enough to actually be a city, since the population would be mostly white and middle class.
If money wasn't a problem and if I didn't hate how bad traffic is there, I'd be living somewhere in Los Angeles. It's beautiful out there, always sunny, and I love the So Cal mediterranean climate.
If I win Megamillions (no more chances of powerball now that its doubled in price) I’d go with San Diego. I’m sold on their climate. Not necessarily their politics or governance. Second to that, Santa Fe NM.
Anyplace you go there will be good things and bad things. The biggest cause of unhappiness I’ve seen is “well it was better back at xxx” syndrome. Identify the things you can’t stand and manage them, then focus on the good things.
Austin’s lovely. I like the hill country.
I’ve heard the tenor of Atlanta is different from the rest of the state of Georgia, but don’t know the details.
I haven’t shopped it in a long time, but there used to be a “places rated” book that was updated annually. It helps identify what are priorities for you and show you possibilities.
As an army brat I dread the thought of moving but my husband loves to. The one time I had the choice I chose Atlanta which supposedly has a great gay community and those I worked with were pretty conservative. But they do have the crime despite the charm. I moved to San Diego after I got married and it was way too expensive for me and I found that while the people were nice they were not open as they are in Atlanta. I now live in the south. My husband lived in Austin and there is supposed to be a large video game industry there. You cant beat the state taxes at zero. When we left California we took a job for less money but our paychecks are bigger. That reminder has kept us from moving a few times!
If you end up in Los Angeles, remember to invite me to the housewarming.
Prescott, AZ has four distinct, lovely seasons, but all very mild. No severe winter, no severe summer. It's close enough to Phoenix to travel there easily for the 'big city' feel (or for work) but far enough away and small enough to have the advantages of small-town living. It's slogan is "Everybody's hometown." It's much like the America in which we boomers grew up. People are friendly, but not nosy. They take pride in their homes, families and community, as well as in their work. Phoenix has a thriving gay community as well as great cultural and popular arts offerings and shopping. The state has a great governor in Jan Brewer!
LOVE Savannah!!! Also consider Charleston, which is lovely.
I live there already – Newport Beach, CA. But a second home in Vancouver would be nice. Loved that city the one time I was there.
I adore Newport but the thundering sound of the jets taking off from John Wayne is horrible.
Not quite on the same scale as Disney, but in a really cool town, Dolly Parton has a new venture in Nashville: http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/01/19/gaylord-dolly-parton-to-partner-on.html
I would avoid California. Just like in Illinois, when the Left gets in fiscal trouble (as the tax and spend crowd usually does) they will invariably adopt the "your wallet is my wallet" attitude. Check out Sedona , AZ. A creative community would be great for the both of you. I am in banking and I am really surprised how many people do telecommute now.
I live in South East Texas – about 3 hours from Austin….I love winters here because we do not have much of one….if it snows here — we wake children up in the middle of the night to see it…………very rare. We would love to have ya'll here.
Ljubljana, Slovenija – Beautiful city of just under 300,000 – close to everything in Europe – Wonderful people and beautiful.
While I've had the pleasure of moving around the country as many times as the Navy saw fit, I have to admit that I've still never fallen in love with anywhere. Every city we've been to has its plusses and minuses. With that being said…I did live in San Diego for a year. In fact we lived just outside of Hillcrest, the local gay community. It was nice, but I found California to be overrated. Everything is super expensive and I didn't really love the weather as much as everyone else seemed to. It's 70 degrees year round, which means it doesn't get cold, but it doesn't really ever get warm either. I found myself constantly wearing a sweatshirt and shorts. Not really my kind of thing. You could go running through the park any time of year, though, which was nice. If you like to swim at the beach, forget it. The water is always ice-cold. We drove up to LA a couple of times. I absolutely hated it! Horrible traffic, rude people…overrated. Never lived there. Wouldn't want to.
I haven't lived in Austin, but I've visited. Nice city. I don't think I've been to a city in Texas that I didn't like. May favorite city in Texas, though, was Houston. Absolutely beautiful…lush, green, open air. If you're someone who's always lived near the coast, moving inland can be a bit of a shock at first. So, that's something to consider, as well. I'm lost if there's not a beach nearby that I can drive to.
As ridiculous as it is, having lived in Jacksonville, FL for the last 10+ years, I haven't ever spent any time in Savannah or Atlanta (more affectionately referred to as "HOT-lanta" down here). I've heard really great things and driven through a few times, but that's about it.
We've been thinking about trying to get to DC for the past few years, as well. I've talked to a lot of people who've lived there. While DC itself may not be that great of a place, the surrounding areas are supposed to be really nice. We've also talked about retiring to the mountains of North Carolina, though it would have to be near a lake for me.
My favorite place that we've lived so far was Pensacola, FL. It's not a large city, but there's a surprising amount of things to do there and it's much more laid back and beachy. Plus, anywhere on the gulf coast is generally nice. There are so many interesting places to choose from, I'm sure it will be a difficult decision for you. Good Luck!
P.S. I guess Alaska's out, huh?
You know what….if things took off for me as an author someday I think it would be great to live in Alaska for part of the year…but I just don’t have it in me to deal with the winter. It’s really hard on my health. The Sarah Palin’s Alaska TV show sure made it seem like a gorgeous place to spend all summer, though.
My daughter lives in Anchorage. They really only have two months per year that are really nice – June & July. I was there in June and the temperature hovered around 72-75 degree. August was rainy and in the high 60's – way too much snow for my taste and everything costs more up there – gas, food, and rent. If you go farther north, to say, Fairbanks, the temperature gets into the 80's, but then the winters there are brutal.
The ocean temp in Hawaii is great. You're isolated, but what a place to be "stuck."
I've vacationed in HI. I'd love to go live there for a few years, but probably wouldn't want to stay for too long. I'm thinking if you want to be able to travel to various political events, though…
Hawaii's a great place if you love the outdoors!
I completely agree. I froze the first year in San diego. No wonder people in la are environmentalists, its like one huge parking lot or freeway. After living in Dc I couldn't believe how green Atlanta is. So many trees. My 3 year old thought it looked like a jungle.
Some places to look into: Boise, Savannah, Vancouver (Washington), Albuquerque, Santa Fe. I wrote more earlier and my comment was deleted. Trying again….
Deirdre
I'm from Chicago and have lived in Los Angeles 10 years. I don't want to move back to Chicago but am very sick of Los Angeles. So, if you're sick of corruption & the Left in Chicago, you'll feel the same in L.A. The weather is nice, but it is spread out and very transitory so you don't get to know people very well. California has a major illegal immigration problem that is only going to get worse, people are moving out of California because of taxes and unemployment. STAY AWAY FROM CALIFORNIA. After being here 10 years I'd move to the South, somewhere if there is winter, it is not too long and as harsh as Chicago, and it being a conservative state is a high priority.
I love living in L.A., and if Justin has a dream to work at Disney, y'all should come here and give that a go for a couple of years. Follow your dreams, too, Kevin, wherever they may lead.
Orlando is nice and there is a lot of Disney here. Plus no state taxes!
Crossville, TN
Take a look at Carlsbad ca. Gorgeous quiet little town one hour south of Disneyland and 45 minutes north of San Diego. Conservative part of california and a really mellow city on the coast. Near to great tourist spots like Vegas, Yosemite, San Fran etc. I have lived here for 25 years and it is most beautiful place in world with most beautiful weather. Come check it out!
Nashville, TN seems like the kind of city for you It has a music industry that requires a lot of publicity help. This should provide much work for both of you.
It also is very much like a small town, although it is the capital of the state. Because there is a large creative community they are much more accepting than most people would think.
Hong Kong. I have spent a lot of time there. Nowhere else have I felt so free and comfortable. You can be anything you want to be in Hong Kong if you are willing to work hard. It is more free than the US or anywheres else.
My career has taken me a LOT of places, but if I could live anywhere, I'd move to Charlotte, NC and have a beach house in Hilton Head. Currently I live in Atlanta. While it has a thriving gay community, which you might like, in the downtown area and Buckhead there is a LOT of crime. Traffic is a nightmare. Charlotte is a smaller city, with most of the amenities of Atlanta, but a more manageable size. It is NOT the capital, but it is an important city politically in NC. I've spent time in Savannah and, while the waterfront is beautiful, people who live there tell me there is nothing to do. Nothing.
I live in Los Angeles. There's a lot to love (the weather! the mountains! the beach!) and a lot to hate (Traffic. Jerry Brown. Pelosi/Feinstein/Boxer…..). I've been here 16 years and still can't think of anywhere else I would want to live. We would benefit tremendously if you and Justin moved here, Kevin, although I can't imagine West Hollywood will be any more welcoming than Boystown, unfortunately.
Where in the Cleveland area are you from? My mom grew up just south of the city in Independence and her side of the family mostly lives in that area!! I've been in Virginia Beach almost my entire life because my dad was in the Navy and I love it here but I don't think you'd like it as much as I do….there's really no local gay scene and as far as nightlife, it's more of a place where you'd find neighborhood bars but not dance clubs. I was going to suggest south/south-east Texas, just not the Houston area (have friends who have said how the crime rates have gone up and the overall quality has gone down since Katrina because they got a lot of people relocate there)….other than that though, I hear nothing but good things about Texas from friends and family that live there and they never plan on leaving so they must be doing something right!!
Unfortunately, that's true all across the southern US. Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, etc…everyone got their fair share of hurricane evacuees.
I can only imagine how much New Orleans and everyone in that area have been forever changed since Katrina….I've never been to NO so it's hard to completely understand without being able to visualize the magnitude I guess….I do wish I would have visited there, though, to see NO and that area before the hurricane.
I haven't been back since Katrina, but we used to go quite frequently when we lived in Pensacola. It's really a unique culture.
As much as I gripe about Boston, New England I find pretty tough to beat. However, it would probably seem a bit sleepy after Chicago. Still… if you live in the suburbs you can be in town in 20-30 minutes. Go the other direction and you start hitting farms & cows. Head north and you are skiing, further north is Montreal & Quebec City. Head east and you are on the coast, head west and you hit New York. All except Montreal within a few hours drive. Crime is low overall and you know where it is bad and won't go there. Quality of life is very high, I love New England and have lived all over the USA. And, the stranglehold on politics by libtard moonbats is getting removed one finger at a time. Come on over, we could use some more vocal & committed fighters!
(1) Pray
(2) Listen to your partner and consider his career
(3) consider the present, and best-guess the future
(4) Consider the local cost-of-living
(5) dream big dreams
(6) put off the decision as long as reasonably possible
(6) make the best decision you can on the information at hand
(7) if new info makes the choice "not so good," don't regret: you made the best choice you could at the time with the information available.
(8) know we love you and Justin!
Austin is cool but it is definitely controlled by the Left. Don't go there except to visit.
Late to the party here, as usual.
Kevin, I don't think city guys like you and Justin would be happy here in my neck of the woods unless you like living in the middle of the corn fields.
But have you considered Saint Louis?
New Orleans would still be my first choice.