By logistics, I mean things like having a job, speaking the local language or whether your family would visit you in that location. You can't suddenly change Chicago to be a city on the beach in a temperate climate or reduce existing crime rates in a given place or anything like that.
I quite like Berlin and Lisbon and think both seem extremely livable. If only either my or DH's job skills were in demand in Germany or the Portuguese economy didn't suck.
We love France. Think we've holidayed there 3 or 4 times in the last 10 years (different parts). And I went to Paris for the rugby World Cup in 2007 too.
Bordeaux area because it is city but also close to the sea, rural areas, neither too far north or south (for the weather). So kind of best of both worlds. And the local wine of course :-)
Real world, it won't happen. I'm an accountant so that could work. But dh is in law and that wouldn't translate at all! I speak French so that's a start.
Post by crimsonandclover on Mar 8, 2014 14:20:37 GMT -5
I've always thought pictures of the Maldives look heavenly. Give me regular but occasional contact with other people and a whole lot of time in a beautiful place on the warm beach with my family.
But in reality, it's my big goal to go there sometime on vacation. Sans kids, I think.
BFP1: DD born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
BFP2: 3/18/12, blighted ovum, natural m/c @ 7w4d
BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w3d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence
Post by dorothyinAus on Mar 9, 2014 3:00:51 GMT -5
St. John's, Newfoundland or Halifax, Nova Scotia. I have never felt so at home anywhere as I have there.
I would have said Adelaide, but there is no way to make Adelaide decent in the summer. I just can't do a month of near 40 degree days with no relief or rain.
But really, my answer is where my family is. It's been three years since I left and I am still homesick for them everyday.
Rio for a while. And I would love to spend a few years in the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, etc).
Then I'd move back to Oslo.
Then I'd retire to a tropical island. Maybe the Seychelles. Assuming the logistics-free jobs up to that point allowed me sufficient funds to cover my healthcare.
We've had the same thought actually, we love it there. And Portugal and Italy are my favourite places to be. Logistically impossible at the moment but maybe one day...
The central coast of California. Or maybe Melbourne, Australia.
Ditto.
I am so done with crap weather.
That's interesting. I can't wait to get away from Melbourne summers.
Frankly, I can't wait to get away from summer in general no matter where it is, but this summer (Dec. 2013 -- current) has been particularly hard for me. Though there was just a report listed that it was consistently the hottest summer on record in Australia, so maybe I'm not the only one who noticed.
In the U.S. Lake Tahoe or Park City, Utah. I love the mountains and all the outdoor stuff that is close to these places - hiking, rock climbing, winter sports, etc. I'd take Singapore as well - it seems like a very easy place to live as an expat, it is very diverse, and there are lots of things within easy travel distance that I enjoy doing. I'm pretty sure DH and I would enjoy Melbourne, Australia as well - he went for a work trip and loved it and told me how much he thought I would enjoy it.
That's interesting. I can't wait to get away from Melbourne summers.
Frankly, I can't wait to get away from summer in general no matter where it is, but this summer (Dec. 2013 -- current) has been particularly hard for me. Though there was just a report listed that it was consistently the hottest summer on record in Australia, so maybe I'm not the only one who noticed.
I know, I know, hot climates aren't easy either. My sister lives in Brazil and complains a lot about the heat.
So I need somewhere temperate year round but that still gets a some heat, but not too much heat, in the summer. I guess my hometown (Vancouver) is the answer.
Post by Wanderista on Mar 11, 2014 13:36:41 GMT -5
There are a lot of places that I could live. I'm actually on of those people who would do well by moving every few years if I had to. I feel like there are a lot of places where I could live contentedly provided that I was able to travel regularly and to possibly switch cities every so often. Practically, I'd like to avoid heavy, cold winters but I could handle even that for a certain period of time if the buildings were cozy and I were prepared for it both mentally and practically.
Generally speaking, I like a temperate climate, friendly and educated people, a plethora of cultural activities, active political life, lots of green space or parks, and also the ability to travel with relative ease both near and far. I like a good infrastructure and a well-managed locality, ideally. I like to be able to reach interesting daytrips but also to have good options for flights from the local airport(s).
I will say that while I'm happy to visit remote locations and find them relaxing, I ultimately would rather not live in one. A big defining characteristic for me that differentiates a city I want to live in vs. a place that I just like to visit, is how "connected" it is to the wider world.
I like my creature comforts. Also, I could probably do a few weeks in a very remote place but then I would miss being in a bigger and more populous city. I guess that to live somewhere long-term, I want it to feel vibrant. I like there to be lots of things to do and new experiences to try.
Post by Wanderista on Mar 11, 2014 13:47:40 GMT -5
Some cities that I consider livable are: Washington, DC, London, Brussels, Paris, Copenhagen, Los Angeles (that one surprised me but I like it), Prague (haven't been but know enough to think that), Ljubljana, Portsmouth, NH so far. (Those last few are smaller cities but I like them. I also like some other smaller cities like Charlottesville, VA but I don't need live there because I can visit easily). I think that I lean more towards bigger cities than smaller cities but I could enjoy a decently connected smaller city in a beautiful area.
Edited to add: In the UK, I think I could happily live in Bath or Brighton/Hove.
I asked DH this question and he said Italy (his home country). That was a shock since his one passion in life is to travel and see new places. He's never satisfied with normal, routine, or easy. And he's not especially nostalgic or sentimental.
Anyway, it was kind of a pleasant surprise that he's somewhat closer to my ideals than I thought (we're usually opposites in everything!).