This is a good question. My situation is somewhat similar to the OP since I always expected I'd move back "home" to be near family - Chicago - but now my sister and parents are talking about moving to Houston so Chicago loses its appeal without my close family there.
I do love Chicago, but hate the weather. I'd like to move somewhere warmer, but preferably not HOT - so I have Denver top on my list since it doesn't stay hot or freezing cold for months on end, and it's beautiful. Southern CA is another option, specifically LA, but I am concerned about price. I also think I'd love Seattle or Portland, but I haven't actually visited either yet so I'd need to do that before putting them solidly on the list.
And I guess I should say Chicago isn't OFF the list, because I do love that city, have extended family there, and it feels like home. At the very bottom of the list is Houston if my family is there, it doesn't appeal to me on a gut level but depending on a lot of things (including whether or not like I like it when I visit) I could potentially consider it. It really makes me sad to imagine not living close enough to drive to see my parents or my sister and her kid(s).
Oh, I suppose London and/or somewhere else in Europe is on the list as a possibility too. This is dependent at least partly on marrying BF or finding a job that would allow that, and I'm not sure I'd want to do that for more than a couple of years, but I think for a couple of years it would be awesome to live in another country.
Adorable little city, good for families, great beach, phenomenal restaurants, reasonable cost of living, great weather, and cool, but not rifuckingdiculously cold in the winter. So you get a little taste of winter, but not enough to kill flowers/crush your soul for 4 months.
I love it so much, I've told H to check for jobs there on a regular basis. If a job for H opened up there, and he got it tomorrow, I am 95% certain I'd call my realtor without a second thought. Sadly, since it's so awesome, no one ever leaves/retires from the major practice he'd join there (they haven't hired anyone in the past 7-8 years).
I would live here, in Portland, Maine. I finally moved back last year after 25 years away and I just love it. Four seasons, laid back people, very cool local culture, amazing dining, beach every day in the summer. And, most importantly, near my parents/the kids' grandparents.
One of the nice things about living here is that we could rent our house (if and when we ever find our house, lol) in the summer for $$$ and use that money to travel to distant lands. Right now that is kind of a pipe dream; I'm not sure if I would actually want people pawing over our stuff.
Post by mrsukyankee on Mar 6, 2015 12:21:27 GMT -5
I love living in London and probably will stay here for now due to my H's elderly parents. We may try to get a transfer to either Singapore or Tokyo at some point and we'd love to retire to southern France (which we could easily do).
I will never live in the States again (the only place would be NYC because of H's job - but that's unlikely).
We plan to move back to the PNW after DH finishes school. Ideally, I'd like to move somewhere warmish and relatively isolated. Alaska is still high on DHs list. I have family there who have offered us a house if we want it.
So many places to choose from! Copenhagen, Oxfordshire or Cornwall, Vancouver, San Francisco, Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez, Coastal Maine, New Orleans and the list goes on. lol
New Mexico or certain parts of Colorado. I love the mountains, the climate, the access to outdoor things that I love to do, and the laid back lifestyle.
Post by youhadmycuriosity on Mar 6, 2015 19:04:25 GMT -5
San Diego, at least for a few years. If this hypothetical scenario had me winning the lottery, I'd want to have a place in Poland, a place in TX, San Diego, and somewhere in Florida and rotate as I please though.
Northern California. We have the best weather, it was 70 today. There is also a ton of stuff to do. Lakes, hiking, shopping, and in my area there are a lot of family activities and farmer markets. We are close enough to the Bay Area that it's an easy day trip, and Tahoe is close too. I've even done a drive to Yosemite for a day. Plus no humidity or crazy bugs.
If I win the lottery I'd probably move to London for awhile.
I don't know, but I'd move out of the south. I'd like to be in a less conservative area.
We'll never move, though. H has numerous job opportunities here, all our family is here, and I have a team of doctors that would be a pain in the ass to replace.