I've only lived in the US for some years now - most of it around Boston, and I love it here. Well, except the winter could be a tad bit shorter... I've lived in rural Western Pennsylvania, about an hour from Pittsburgh, for a year. I wouldn't really want to go back there... although Pittsburgh itself does have its unexpected charms. There's a lot of places that I would love to live in for a while - Berkeley, Austin, Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Charlotte - but alas, it doesn't look like it's meant to be, at least not in the near future. So I'm going to wait for one more glorious summer of lazy Sunday afternoons on the Charles, ice cream at J.P. Licks and bike tours on the Cape...

Originally Posted by zenor77:
Albuquerque has so much going on, so many things to do. I was kinda surprised at that when we moved here. It's really got the best of both worlds (small town and big city) in some ways.

Being from CA originally, the only thing that drives me crazy here is the whole "Land of Manana" thing. You have to stay on top of people if you want to get things done! By that I mean, you have to BUG them like crazy. I'm getting used to it though and other than that I love it here.
....

I wouldn't mind living in CA again. I love San Luis Obispo! I'd like to try living on the east coast at some point too. Although if I could pick anywhere in North America, I'd want to live in Vancouver, BC. I loved it when we were there, it's my favorite city.

I forgot about the slower pace of NM. When we went to visit, I was amazed at how many things closed early which drives me crazy. If I want to go somewhere at 8pm at night, I'd like things to be open :)

I remember visiting Monterey when I was a teenager and really liking it. Maybe if we did move back to CA, I'd be more open to Northern California. I didn't care for San Francisco when I visited but I'm not sure I gave it much of a chance :)

I've been to Vegas a few times and never really cared for it. I doubt I'd ever see it again.

I've visited Chicago and its a nice place to visit, I wouldn't want to live there.

I've visited Florida (Miami, West Palm Beach and the Keys), I really liked visiting the keys and wouldn't mind going back to visit. Miami was another story.

I've visited Manhattan but not the rest of New York. It made me feel claustrophobic.

I visited Philadelphia and surrounding areas and thought it was ok but I like where I live more.

I've visited Texas (Dallas/Ft Worth) and was pretty excited to get back home :) Although I have a friend who moved to Houston and loves it there.

I've visited Minneapolis and it was a nice visit but didn't care for it too much.

Oh actually one place I forgot to mention that I really liked well because its only about an hour away from here is Harpers Ferry, WV. I normally don't like touristy towns but I really liked it there. I recommend anyone visiting the area to visit it. I could almost see myself having a second home there if I moved elsewhere.

I'm split between DC area - because of the public transportation, and so much to do and Charlotte NC - again, so much to do - I just know the humidity would kill me!!

I have lived in Florida most of my life - and would love to move to Tennessee or North Carolina in the moutains. Now, if I could 'afford' to Colorado would be ideal!!!! ;-)

I lived in Austin for years and loved it, absolutely loved it. I would go back in a heartbeat.
I want to live by water again, more than anything. The ocean, lots of lakes or rivers, anything but dry and windy and dirty.

I'd go to Seattle or Portland or Denver or San Francisco too. Those places sound like Austiny style people that I'd get along with.

I'm having an anywhere but here kinda year.

I like AK and I like Molokai'.

Sorry--neither are Continental.

I do like Santa Fe, NM though.

I want to live anywhere but here! I'm about 10 minutes outside of New Orleans and I'm so tired of it. Between the crime and the hurricanes, I'm done.
I'm still in school right now, but hopefully, in the next 2 years, I'll be able to move somewhere else. Where? Not too sure :)

I've been looking at Tennessee and Texas. I'm still not 100% sold on either one of them though.

I like the pacific northwest a lot. I think if I had my pick I'd go back up to Washington state. I really like the Bellingham area- just a couple hours away from Seattle, like 20 minutes away from Canada- not to mention it's totally beautiful and there is a bay and you're close to the ocean too. It's got the best of everything- forests, cities, beaches - the only thing it's really missing is sun. lol.

I'm learning to appreciate Eugene a little bit more after living here for almost 10 years but it's not really my ideal place. I haven't seen much of this world though so maybe there's somewhere out there that I'd love to live and just don't know it yet.

I would live right exactly where I am. Surrounded by the people I love. :)

Originally Posted by lalique:
I would live right exactly where I am. Surrounded by the people I love. :)

I'm a bit of a wanderer, it drives my mom crazy because she wishes I was more like her and would prefer to live near her family more than anything.

Thighs,

There was a bit of a bias in my question obviously being US only and continental :) If I was given a choice of anywhere in the world to live, my answers would be a bit different but I know a lot of people would choose Hawaii just because although I couldn't imagine living there myself. AK seems like a nice place to visit and I'd like to but not sure I could live there.

Originally Posted by lalique:
I would live right exactly where I am. Surrounded by the people I love. :)

Which is exactly why I decided not to live in the house Angie and I built to retire in. It was in Kennewick, Washington and even though I only stayed there for one summer, and loved the area because of the difference between north San Diego area, I knew I could never live anywhere far from my kids (if I didn't have to ;)) It was a nice place to visit from time to time....great house...sold it and no regrets.

I will say we have spent time in Bend, Oregon and Sequim, Washington where we have friends...both beautiful places. Always loved to visit Bloomington, IL. but then my grandparents spoiled us ;)

Well let's see...I've lived in Dallas, ugh! HATE that place! Loved Joplin, MO but not a lot to do there and had no family there. Lived in Southern CA more than half my life and while I loved it I'm not sure I would want to go back except to visit. I fell in love with Portland and Seattle when I visited friends there and those two places are some I would consider...not sure I could stand the rain though...guess you get used to it like anything else. Denver was another place I wanted to live...I love the mountains! But mostly, I would want to live in AR to be closer to family. For me it's not about what there is to do because you can always find something...but more, being around family. I don't need to have something to do all the time...that is what vacations are for :)

I've been in Northern Michigan my whole life. I am so over it. :no:

DH keeps mentioning Arizona because he is tired of No. MI winters. I really don't think I would like it there though. I would love to be either in the Pacific Northwest or the southeast near northern GA or the Carolina's. Somewhere that they have a seasonal change but winter isn't 6 months long.

zinkemomx2 - your post made me laugh!

For me - spring, summer, fall - Northern MI can't be beat. I love it here!

For winter - every year is less exciting. I'm sooo tired of shoveling snow! Although, in my youth I laughed at "snowbirds". I'm looking forward to becoming one soon.

I'm not much of a hot weather person, so I'm thinking middle-eastern states for the winter months. Though, as many of you have said - being near family ROCKS! Thus Northern California is definitely on my radar after retirement.

I live in Vancouver, Canada, it's amazingly beautiful and I love living here, but I drove through Montana once and thought, I'd love to live there.