You have to live in the United States. Which area do you choose?

[Left Is Write]

I know that many people know my automatic answer would be Minnesota, but imagining for a minute that I did not have roots there, I think I would choose Maplewood, New Jersey.

[silverweb]

1. Right where I am.

California.

[shanti]

94. me too

i like it fine right here in norcal.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Northern California

Santa Cruz would be nice.

[grace0418]

115. That is my exact answer- Santa Cruz! But I'd take just about

anywhere in northern California, as long as I could afford it (which is why I'm not there right now). I also love Portland, OR and Seattle, WA. I'm so sick of Chicago! WAAAA!

[undeterred]

3. Wisconsin

or Minnesota
or Oregon
or Washington

[Goldmund]

4. I live in New York

but if I could choose ANYWHERE, I'd choose Hoboken, of course. :silly:

[Shoeempress]

5. Right where I am, New England.

[mac56]

6. Minnesota.

Second choice: Missouri.

[Kathleen04]

7. Long Island

Originally from California, I go to college in Long Island and I like it here. :)

[DIKB]

8. Washington state

Somewhere in the Seattle area, I want to live near that big gorgeous Puget Sound.

[MuseRider]

9. Believe it or not

right where I am. There is much work to do here and it keeps me on my toes just trying to keep us from slipping further down the rabbit hole.

I used to want to live in Hawaii but since it has become what it has I think the native Hawaiians would prefer I did not, in fact I KNOW they would not.

[Kellanved]

10. Somewhere in New England

Or maybe northern California. ;-)

[maveric]

16. I grew up in NE and the weather is the WORST!

Now NoCal has decent weather. Not as decent as SoCal but far better than New England.

[all.of.me]

58. i agree!

i think we had this discussion the other day....

i've been in nm for almost 20 years, some of that time spent in tucson for the winter. when people ask me why i left my house on the river in nh, 15 minutes from the ocean, 1.5 hours from the mountains, i tell them about the nasty weather. the last winter i was there, it snowed a FOOT every other day! a grader had to come and clear our road. that was the last straw for me. i spent a winter in tucson and went home and sold my house. never looked back.

[Joey Liberal]

63. The bad weather makes it great!

You have to have a nice fire place and a New England honey by your side:)..........

[mcscajun]

11. Central New York State

Or Coastal Maine.

[maveric]

12. San Diego!

I've been here for 25 years and cant see myself living anywhere else.
Great weather, restaurants, hospitals,good public transportation system, universities, beaches, very diverse in SD proper, close to Mexico, mountains (snows there in winter if you like that stuff), near desert, 2, 1/2 hr drive to LA, two professional sports teams. And oh yeah, did I mention the great weather?
"America's Finest City"

[silverweb]

30. Hi, neighbor!

I almost said San Diego, too, because I do love it here and have ever since I first moved here 24 years ago.

However, ever since I visited the gorgeous central coast, I've loved that area too -- so I'm leaving future options open.

Meanwhile, here's to beautiful San Diego!

:toast:

[maveric]

32. Even though its a "red" area people here are very generous..

and tolerant. You dont see a lot of hatred, gay bashing or racism. When disasters hit area of the world people here take out there wallets and donate time to aid the victims.
If there were jobs in the central coast area I may consider moving there, but for now I'll stay here in paradise.

[silverweb]

38. I agree.

The attitude you encounter depends a great deal on what area you're in. I'm in Normal Heights, which along with adjoining North Park, University Heights, and Hillcrest are very liberal compared to other areas. I think being a major tourist/convention destination makes the city generally more friendly, as well. People are conscious of their manners.

My job goes where I go as long as I have broadband internet access, so when my daughter moves up to Santa Cruz in a year or two, I might head up that way, as well. I did kind of fall in love with Sonoma County when we visited there, too. We'll see what happens. In any case, I agree that San Diego is about as close to paradise as can be found anywhere!

[Zuni]

51. it is only red

because a lot of the military guys seem to think that the GOP will be better for them (the young guys...think that the Dems are anti-military because of GOP propaganda, etc.)---when they become vets and get older they wise and a large percentage switch to blue because they reazlize who is looking out for their interests (I work in a law office that does a lot of work on veterans issues---many have become quite liberal and most were against the war in Iraq from the beginning actually. A lot of my politics were shaped by talking to WWII vets (who idolize FDR and Truman) and Vietnam Vets who are still upset about that mess.

It isn't like the deep south---the conservatism isn't ingrained nor based on any serious prejuidices. I have noticed there are the hardcore GOP folks (freeper types) and then there are people who vote GOP out of misplaced fears or being led to believe that it is in their best interests (normal people who arent very politically savvy who have been sold lemons politically)

[Seabiscuit]

98. Shhhhh, neighbors - tell them San Diego is the armpit of the world!

We've been tooting our horn for too long and look at all the traffic congestion that's resulted from all those yahoos out there taking our word for how wonderful it is here. Too many people have moved here in the past 10... hell, make that 5 years.

Let's nip the problem in the bud - San Diego - the world's best kept secret - tell the world SAN DIEGO SUCKS!

[Arianrhod]

113. I may be moving to SD in the next year.

What are apartment prices like at the moment? (Say, 2-bedroom 1 bath.)

[unhappycamper]

13. Usta date a gal from Maplewood a few years ago.

Planes, trains, automobiles were a large part of my life then. It is a very pretty town with very friendly folks....

[Left Is Write]

108. That's what I understand from my friend who lives there.

She loves it. She and her husband both commute to Manhattan for work.

[RC]

14. If I could afford it,

Oahu.
I could be happy along the North Shore being a local character & eccentric, taking pictures of the tourists taking pictures of me.
Otherwise here will do.

[EstimatedProphet]

15. The Pacific Northwest or Alaska

all other things being equal...

[WhollyHeretic]

17. I'd stay in New England

but farther north than I am now

[yorkiemommie1]

18. santa barbara

... or back to my home state of hawaii

[Justin54B20L]

22. 2nd for Santa Barbara, I hope to move out there after I get my degree.

[obxhead]

19. Montana

until I get old and can't fight the bears off by myself anymore. :)

[hyphenate]

20. Depends on the season

If, by chance it were still winter and I was freezing my ass off right about now, I would probably say someplace just a little further south of Massachusetts.

Now that it's almost summer, I would say instead someplace a little further north, like Buffalo or Niagara Falls.

Spring and fall, I would choose to be exactly where I am now.

[MazeRat7]

21. Austin, Texas until I retire in the mountains of northern NM.

[all.of.me]

47. where in nm?

i'm in taos.

[MazeRat7]

54. Taos proper if I cant find land more north.

Great place Taos. I visit often... I just hope I can get there soon.

MZr7

[all.of.me]

55. there is lots of good cheap land north of here.

it's beautiful up there, too. my daughter is in school in lama, and i LOVE going up there!

i was in tres piedras this afternoon. have not been there for a few years. it is gorgeous, too. gotta say, we have breath taking views no matter where you are!

what do you do in austin?

[MazeRat7]

67. Yeah. I spent a couple of weeks in Carson last spring....

Then spent a few nights in Taos at the Adobe & Stars B&B... it reminds me a lot of how Austin used to be about 25 years ago.

My fiance' still has the pics on her web site http://homepage.mac.com/rcball ... I suspect it will all look pretty familiar to you. *grin

As for my "occupation"... well my day gig is as a software architect for a really large computer manufacturer. I have a consulting company on the side and I moonlight doing studio sessions (keyboard player) for local bands and sometime live shows.

MZr7

[all.of.me]

69. nice photos!

man, it was really green! it is super green this year with all the snow we had. it's amazing. what a gorgeous place, i gotta say.

we fight really hard to keep development out. the houses go up, but as far as strip malls and such, we fight them. the latest thing people are building is office space. go figure. we really depend too much on tourism, but i don't think offices will bring 'em in. people can work at home as easily as in an office. there is a LOT of self-employment here.

[MazeRat7]

70. As it should be.

I only go into the office a few times/week these days. All my work is done from right here... with my helpers of course as you saw in the pics *grin.

Hopefully in 3-5yrs I'll be your neighbor and we can all sit around the pit talking about just how horrid the past 8 years were.

Until then, take care of yourself and take care of Taos for me.....

MZr7

Oh, BTW... when I was in Taos the GOTV effort was outstanding. I can't tell you how many times I was ask if I was registered while just walking around the streets.

[all.of.me]

81. sounds like you guys will fit right in!

it's a very progressive place. 10,000 registered dems, 3,000 repubs. gotta love that!

[FunkyLeprechaun]

23. I've lived in

Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Minnesota.

Minnesota for my hometown (I miss it!), and it's so nice and quiet and peaceful.

Massachusetts for the Red Sox: I used to live on Bay State Road near the Fens. It was so exciting when they won the World Series.

Rhode Island because my sister and I lived together (I'm still living here until August). It's so comfortable here and the people in the bar downstairs are so nice.

But I have to live in Minnesota before moving out of the US (not because of Bush mind you!).

[Pool Hall Ace]

24. Western North Carolina, Western shore of Chesapeake Bay, or

Southern New Jersey.

[progmom]

25. Why Maplewood NJ?

Oddly, that would be a destination for us too.

[Left Is Write]

65. I know someone who lives there.

She's a living, breathing advertisement for the place. From everything I've seen and read, it's a beautiful town, a charming town.

Unfortunately, I can't afford the real estate there.

[progmom]

68. progdad's brother and sis-in-law live there

it does sound lovely!

[name not needed]

93. My cousin owns a jewelery store in Maplewood

At least I think it's in Maplewood.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

26. Vermont, NYC, or Boston. (nt)

[JohnKleeb]

27. Oh I have no idea

preferably near the ocean though.

[bicentennial_baby]

28. Right where I am, Western MA

It's bee-yoo-tee-full!!!

[Kerrytravelers]

29. The bluest area possible.

Weather is never a concern for me.

I'd find beauty no matter where I am.

But I can't stand being around a concentrated area of rethugs. That is my weakness.

[goju]

31. New England

Wife loves the change of seasons, and I love the fishing. NO contest.

[maveric]

33. Being from New England I've noticed that those who like the "change of...

seasons" are the first ones to complain about how crappy the weather is. My parents always boasted that claim and when it was snowing, cold, hot & humid, rainy... they would call me out here and bitch about how bad the weather is and they wish they were in someplace nicer.
Denial?

[goju]

35. Sounds exactly like my wife :)

3 weeks is all she will put up with, then we're back to fairer climates.

[Catchawave]

34. Lake Placid, New York

It's the abso-freaking-lutely most perfect and beautiful "small town" on earth!

[BreweryYardRat]

36. Washington State, Oregon, or Montana.

[roguevalley]

39. Oregon. But I live in ALaska. Oregon is my heart's home.

[benny05]

37. Colorado

Between the Springs and Denver

Otherwise, I'm fond of Marin County, CA

[hickman1937]

40. Michigan. I love this state.

Lived and vacationed here all my life. My only other choices would be Upstate New york, or maybe northern Minnesota, or Wisconsin. I've always wondered about Maine too.

[China_cat]

41. So far back in the hills the Unitarians handle snakes.

[benny05]

42. which is where?

Eastern Europe, New England, etc?

[datasuspect]

43. cut and shoot, texas

in a trailer park off of FM 105

[Zomby Woof]

44. Southern California

Where I am from originally, and ever since I had to move away as a kid, and repeated visits quite often after that, I have dreamed of going back.

I never dreamed it would be the way it is happening though! :D :bounce:

[maveric]

48. SoCal ROCKS!

I came here 25 years ago and never looked back.
Love it here!

[Zomby Woof]

52. San Diego is my home town!

Moving to the LA area though!

GO BOLTS!

[maveric]

57. And the Padres are good for a change!

4 games up in first place, NL West!
Have you been to Petco Park yet? The place is awesome! You'll love it!

[Zomby Woof]

60. I like the Pads

But I grew up a Dodger fan (The Pads were a AAA team when I was born), my Dad having been a Brooklyn Dodger fan when he was a kid, and sticking with them (he was from TN, and southern kids of his generation were either Dodger or Yankee fans).

When he did boot camp in San Diego, it was the year Dodger Stadium opened, and he and his buddies would go up there for a game.

But I would not mind the Pads doing well. They are the only two teams in the NL West I can pull for!

[all.of.me]

45. new mexico

great climate, spiritual atmosphere, lots of eccentrics, just like me, beautiful views and light, and clean air. tough place to make a living, though.

[Darth_Kitten]

46. New England, or New York......

or maybe the Hamptons. :)

[MissMillie]

114. New England for sure

We get all 4 seasons, and we have the Red Sox

[Redstone]

49. Right here.

Redstone

[HEyHEY]

50. Boston

[Zuni]

53. Annapolis, MD

I likes it right here. I would like NYC or Chicago too, but I have no rush to leave MD

[Debbi801]

103. Me too! I'm in Baltimore, and if I had to go someplace else...

It would be Annapolis or a little water-front town on the Eastern Shore.

[opiate69]

56. The Oregon coast, or Nantucket

[CaliforniaPeggy]

59. Right where I am....

The beautiful little town of Manhattan Beach, in gorgeous SoCal!

:toast: :toast: :toast:

[Joey Liberal]

61. Block Island, R. I.

Block Island is the best kept secret in the northeast.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

62. Right here in MA, or Northern Cal

Northern Cal for the climate. Massachusetts is beautiful when the weather doesn't suck.

[CTLawGuy]

64. Boston, MA

defintely not in a red state


well except for Lousiana, they have new orleans.

[peacebuzzard]

66. I'm an Easterner! (east of the Mississippi)

I always feel my best living and working in E.S.T.. We wake up first, get off first, go to sleep whenever.

[Lindsey]

71. Southern California....been here 18 years and

have never felt more at home. I absolutely LOVE it here!

[Left Is Write]

74. I have lived in the central and mountain time zones.

I vastly prefer central time; I could easily get used to the eastern time zone.

[njdemocrat106]

72. Probably Long Island

Preferably Nassau County. If I was restricted to New Jersey, I'd pick Bergen County. Proximity to New York City is very important to me. I currently live in Ocean County, which isn't that close to NYC, and it's NJ's Freeper county, so I want out sometime in the near future.

[tarkus]

78. Isn't Monmouth County Kevin Smith territory?

I think Highlands, Leonardo, Middletown, and Red Bank are all there...

[njdemocrat106]

86. Sure is

I've been to the Quick Stop in Leonardo on a few occassions.

[Arkana]

73. New England

For a few reasons:

1. I've lived here all my life.
2. The winters are not as bad as they sound--once you get used to them.
3. It's a blue paradise.

[Dukkha]

75. New Orleans, LA

oh how I wish

[barb162]

83. could you handle the heat in summer? I love N. O. but only in

certain months

[Dukkha]

91. hell yeah!

I was just complaining here last week that it's NOT hot enough for me here in Ohio.

Constant heat, Awesome food, lush vegetation, great music & history, just kick back drinking beer and relax. That's the life for me.

[tarkus]

76. Only place outside of New England would be NYC perhaps. NM

[ovidsen]

77. Chicago

Nobody else has said it, so I will. Yeah, the winters suck, but spring, summer and fall can be grand. There's lots to do, and it's all close. And it's one of the few cities in the US where you don't need a car! I moved away 26 years ago, but I'd go back. On my own terms, of course. :)

I'd settle for New York, Boston, or SF.

London wound be nice. Paris too, except my French is awful.

[grace0418]

116. Spring, summer and fall can be grand but usually aren't.

At best you get about 10-15 gorgeous days (warm and sunny with low humidity) in the spring/summer and the same in the fall. After living here for 35 years, I want a better percentage than that. But I have a great condo if you're interested in buying it when you move! ;)

[ovidsen]

118. I'll think about the condo

But only if it overlooks Lincoln Park! :) Especially because summers are so grand near the Lake. It may be 90 degrees at O'Hare, but you STILL need a jacket at Belmont Harbor! Or Wrigley Field. I loved it! :loveya:

We expatriates can be SO damn picky!

[Robeson]

79. U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or Pacific Northwest.

[really annoyed]

80. Michigan Is Fine

I would prefer to live on one the Great Lakes though.

Detroit isn't the greatest place to live...

[UrbScotty]

90. West Michigan is nice

...once you get past the right-wing "religious" slant.

[barb162]

82. Seattle area

[graywarrior]

84. Boston. Where I grew up.

[Terran]

85. My adopted home is mid-Missouri, but

in theory, I would choose the North Coast of California, around the town of Gualala.

edit: sorry, can't spell "California"

[enigmatic]

87. The Southwest

Bisbee or Jerome, AZ, and North Central New Mexico; maybe Las Vegas.

[CanuckAmok]

88. Near the Zodiac Killer.

I have a crippling fear of inflatable watercraft.

[slutticus]

89. Northern Cali. Or Boston.

:D

[Bravo411]

92. Alaska

I lived there for three years in the early '90s.
Lots of space and abundant natural resources. When everything goes to shit in this country, you'll at least have land that you can live off of.

[Bullwinkle925]

95. I've been kicking around the idea of Bend, Oregon.

[NawlinsNed]

96. Nawlins

Preferably in the Garden District or in a converted warehouse.

Second would be Dallas, but only because I lived there for a short while and I have a bunch of friends who live there. Home is where your next pint is pulled!

[Gemini Cat]

97. Either Ohio or DC nt

[RebelOne]

99. Any area that stays cold. Preferably Alaska. n/t

[NMMNG]

100. Somewhere in the Southwest

I like it hot and dry, with lots of red-rock desert and cacti.

[tjwmason]

101. Need some help here.

I don't know all of the ins and outs of the U.S.

I'm very delicate, and need somewhere warm - temperatures of 100 won't even make me take my jacket off, but cold weather makes me very grumpy.

I love the almost musical sound of the southern accents.

A strong cultural presence is a MAJOR bonus, classical music, art galleries &c.

Failing that, poodle-boy has made us the de facto 51st state, so I can stay living here.

[Left Is Write]

105. You'd be a natural for the south then, though someone else

will have to help out with the culture portion to give you the best options.

[Bridget Burke]

106. If you really like it hot, consider Texas....

Houston has symphony, opera, ballet & major theater. Plus smaller cultural groups & a thriving art scene. Lots of Southern accents--but a growing international contingent, as well.

Austin is nice but not what it once was. Good music & they're trying to catch up on the culture thing. San Antonio is the favorite vacation spot for Texans who can't afford to get out of the state. Considerable artistic activity & some charming neighborhoods. These (almost) Hill Country cities have prettier surroundings that Houston, on our flat Coastal plain.

The Metroplex (Dallas, Fort Worth, etc.) is improving on the culture front; surprisingly, Fort Worth had a head start on big-sister Dallas. But it's far inland--colder winters & hotter summers.

[WePurrsevere]

102. We love the North Country of NY

Although we'd love to be ON the St. Lawrence and closer to the 1000 Islands we're very close so probably this area BUT if we had the money to live anywhere in the US we'd have enough to have a second house too eh? ;) Soooo... that would be Coastal Maine/NH or UP Michigan on the Lake... we both love being on the water. :)

I think there are pluses and minuses of every area. Hurricanes, Tornadoes and Calif Earthquakes make me a lot more nervous then an ice or snow storm but I grew up in the north country and we have always tried to be prepared for such things. My DH is a polar bear and with the MS I can't deal with the heat and humidity of the south... although I truly envy some of the amazing flowers they can grow. :D

Of course I must admit that neither my DH or I have been to some of the places we've heard are glorious that don't seem to have quite so much wild azz weather, etc like the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii or Alaska so our choices may change a bit once we do. :)

[Magrittes Pipe]

104. Cleveland.

[Shell Beau]

107. Well I am quite happy in Mississippi b/c I've been to

other places that made me realize how much I love the hospitality and kindness Mississippi offers. If I had to choose elsewhere, I think I'd choose Vermont. I hear there are some beautiful places up there.

[Reverend_Smitty]

109. If money was no factor I'd live in NYC

with a vacation home in New England, but I do enjoy where I am now, NJ. Basically I have to stay along the Northeast corridor for my sanity.

[Felix Mala]

110. Savannah, Or Nantucket for the Summer

[XNASA]

111. The Northside of Chicago

East of Western, South of Addison. Anyplace in that area.

[Strawman]

112. Vermont n/t

[malmapus]

117. Washington State

Just have a great love for the Pacific Northwest, and living in Southern California currently is making me want to make that move all the more everyday.

So yeah thinkin Everett, WA

[SKKY]

119. Louisville, Kentucky is the best kept secret in America...

...good schools, lots to do, still very, very affordable to live.

[neweurope]

120. A nice quiet sheltered mental asylum.

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