Where Would You Live?
 

Chris got a call from a headhunter the other day about a job in Phoenix. He passed bassed on the location and I agreed with him. That got me listing the places I WOULD consider living IF a headhunter would call with something juicy.

I listed off the top of my head:

Chicago
Boston
San Francisco
Paris
Berlin
Seattle

I'm sure there are a few more places I'd consider but I'll add them later.

What are the places you'd consider of a headhunter came calling?

Doesn't he currently work in nuclear energy? Was the position at Palo Verde nuke plant?

I'll try not to take offense at the "not based on location" thing. Phoenix rocks!

He works for an energy company but as a records manager.

Phoenix is hot. I don't do hot.

I'm actually not much of a fan of the desert.

You live in a desert. Though not so hot a one as Phoenix. Stop stealing all your water from people who have plenty and see how dry LA gets.

For five years I would be willing to live anywhere in the world just to experience a different place.

Vegas
GA
NC
San Diego

I just learned from my dad hat I almost lived in Saudi Arabia for three years (I would have been two when we were to go), but my mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor two weeks before we were to leave so he was given a different assignment.

Regarding Phoenix - I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, really. Love the climate (three months of hot, nine months of picture perfect). Sub zero winter temperatures (or 75 degree summer temps) two hours north, one of the seven natural wonders of the world 3.5 hours north, largest pine forest on the planet 90 minutes north, 5 or 6 hour drive from the CA coast....I don't think it can be topped.

Yes, I know we live in a desert, but I have ocean breezes, fog and moisture - in addition to all of the water we steal from other places.

I would like to experience living in a small town or rural community but I'm not sure I could stand it for very long.

Boston
Washington DC
London
Honolulu
Pasadena
Vancouver BC

I don't mind the desert, but I have to live near the ocean.

By my definition you get 7 months of hot (average daily high over 80), several months of too warm (average daily high over 70) and three months of just about right (daily high in the 60s).

You also don't get enough rain for an ideal climate.

In the perfect world it would ony get above 75 for a couple days every couple months, rain heavily one day out of three, and have a week of snow every year.

But climate is the least important factor for me in thinking about where to live.

In order of preference:

• London
• San Francisco
• Seattle

Pretty much anywhere that is a major cosmopolitan metropolis whose weather is typically 55° F and overcast.

I used to think that way, too, Alex, as far as it being too hot. I moved here from Flagstaff, AZ, and didn't wear anyhing except shorts for about two years. Now I've adjusted and have become a cold weather wimp.

I also lived in Vancouver, WA for one year while I was in 4th grade. Rained every flippin' day and I learned to despise rain. I still do, so the rainfall is perfect for me.

What are your important factors?

Mine would include climate (I'm thermally challenged) as well as cultural amenities, political openness, water adjacent, access to rural areas, and transportation.

You'd last about a week.

Personally, it would be hard because I really love where I live. Still, for purposes of this thread.

Monterey/Carmel
San Francisco
Seattle

If I had the means to have a second home somewhere, it would probably be Long Island. I really really miss the food and I also wouldn't mind seeing the seasons change once in a while. I just don't miss it near enough to only live there. A vacation house though? Certainly.

That I've never been there before, mostly.

I don't really care about people or civic/social institutions (the former are essentially the same everywhere and I don't use the latter very much). My not-so-secret love is geography. I just love being somewhere I haven't been before and three or four years is about right for somewhat fully exploring an area before I'm ready to move on. That is how long it took for me to get tired of living in the Bay Area. If it weren't for Lani's good job that she really, really likes I would have forced us to move long ago.

Living in Chicago, Cincinnati, Kabul, Cairo, etc., are all pretty much equally attractive to me because they are all in areas I've never had much opportunity to explore.

Abroad: Barcelona
States: Austin or San Diego

Tokyo
Rome
Paris
London
Barcelona
New York
Long Beach
Pasadena
Chicago
Vancouver
Seattle
and San Francisco (at least I will be there soon) :D

I lived in Phoenix for 2 years. No thanks! I don't relish spending my days feeling like a baked chicken.

If money was no object, San Francisco.

I would move nearly anywhere where the proposed salary to cost-of-living ratio was in my favor. I would prefer not to live in places where I would need an escort or a particular outfit to venture out of doors, but other than that I can’t think of any places I'd not want to live.

Oddly enough - the same places as Not Afraid. For me it's the cultural elements that are most important, I want to be in a creative destination, Art, Music, etc a must.

That said, I'm a bit intimidated by places like New York and Tokyo, and I think I might crave having a bit more private space, though I have to say being in a city like Chicago realy m akes me appreciate what city can do with its public spaces.

There are places I still want to "check out" - London and Barcalona appeared on a number of your lists and those are places that intrigue me, but I have yet to visit.

Austin's an interesting choice - I was there for a only a couple nights for a conference so didn't get to reaaly feel the vibe, but I understand it is definately the place to be in the Lone Star State.

I'd also like to revisit Berlin to see if its vibe has remained - we visited right after the wall came down but there were still two Germany's which still gave Berlin this sense of being this crazy out-of-place island of liberal extravagance, which of course appealed to me very much. I need a city that is pro-hedon.

Sydney - I absolutely loved every minute of my all too short visit there in 94, and still keep in touch with people I met on that trip.

Barcelona - Great weather, a very nice theme park (Port Aventura) and not too bad of a trip to MANY wonderful parks, including a decent Disney one...

Chino

If/when I move from here - somewhere where there is rarely snow or ice (Seattle and Portland are ok on that front); and where I don't have to evacuate for a Category 2.

And where I could work at something I enjoy (which could be with my current employer, given the right circumstances)

So many list Seattle and yet so few come to visit.

^That's because they fall in love with Portland on the way;)

Well, it would have to be someplace Tom and I both could find work. And since we're a film editor and a writer, it's not entirely clear where else we could go in the States. New York, but I'd only want to live there on a temporary basis because it's just a little too crowded for my tastes.

In this area, we'd like a now-that-our-careers-are-great home in Topanga Canyon, and maybe a retirement home in Santa Barbara.

If we were independantly wealthy, I would only want to live in cities with vast cultural blends and resources. Theatre, art, art film, literature, music. Thai food, Indian food, Organic food, vegetarian food.

We'd probably consider London, too. And Tuscany, for a summer, maybe.

Nowhere.

I've almost moved to a different place a few times in my life. Never went through with it. A place is just a place. Home is where friends and family are.

I suppose I could start anew and make a bunch of new friends. But why? I love the layers and layers of friends I've become connected with during my long stay in L.A. I wouldn't part with that for any juicy headhunter siren call.




I wouldn't mind vacation homes in Paris, Sedona, and upon a tiny Greek isle.

Exactly

I've lived in New Orleans, Atlanta, Newburyport MA, Virginia Beach and Dallas, yet I moved back to Vicksburg.

ISM understands.

Susanville, CA (hey it's home, I'm something like 6th generation)
Portland
Chicago
Omaha
Frankfurt
Paris
London
Berlin
Munich
San Francisco

I'd live in Napa again. Great place to grow up.

This is starting to sound like a Johnny Cash song ;)

Red Rock, New Mexico. I'd open a bakery.

Ew! No Walla Walla!

I agree with ISM 100% on this. While I have enjoyed my visits to other cities, the thought of leaving friends and family is strong to counter a possibly better locale.

No one mentioned anal sex


















Reference to Ring of Fire in case ya didn't get it

I'd live in:
London
Prague
St. Petersburg
Edinburough
Dublin
Vienna
Auxerre (my family ancestral home)
Isle of Mann
Victoria, BC
Sydney
Wellington

So many possible punchlines to the above. I think it best just to leave it alone


:D

Bite me.

Whoops! Was distracted by the kid and thought KB's post was directed at me. So, next time he zings me, I'm covered.

A preemptive nibble if you will.

Once again, KB and I have had the same sick twisted thought-

I'd be up for all kinds of moving adventure if GD got a crazy transfer opportunity. I haven't been many places so it's tough for me to know where I'd go. Seattle and San Diego come to mind.

It's funny, we're looking to buy a place here in OC soon, but since we visited Alaska I'm now thinking of where else we could go. Not that I would move to Alaska, it's a nutty place.