Why We Live Where We Do

[Kiry]

Born in S. Cal, raised in S. Oregon, and now live in W. Washington. I've also lived in D.C. for a number of years in my past due to (ex) in military. I've traveled various areas of the world and US for work and play. I enjoy the differences in culture, food and seeing new things. Particularly have enjoyed in the US Utah, Montana, WY, Colorado.
I like where I live now, good job, mild winters (no ice!)...all be it damp/chilly/cloudy. When I retire in the years ahead, I will not stay here. Too $ and too many people.

[bhern]

My father was in the Navy, so... my mom, two sisters and I were in the Navy, too. Born in Charleston, SC, and in rapid succession lived in Newport, RI; Norfolk, VA; Pascagoula, MS; Norfolk again; Charleston again; Rota, Spain; Monterey, CA; Athens, GA; Yokosuka, Japan; Norfolk again, Virginia Beach, VA, Yokosuka again, Virginia Beach again, then off to Houston, TX for college. Lived in Houston for most of my adult life because of the mild winters and generally warm economy, with stints in Chicago (where I met my back seat ryder), New Orleans (pre-Katrina) and Austin (tech industry). We did a mid-life detour into the mission field in Little Rock, AR and Budapest, Hungary, both of which are places we continue to visit every chance we get, and have settled back in Austin owing to children migrating here and a job that alternately drives me crazy and gives me great joy.

All that moving around made me pretty passive about location -- hard to explain, but the notion that one could exert a preference as to where one lived was just a very foreign concept to me. Having had some wonderful experiences in places actually pursued/chosen over the past few years, I'm getting more comfortable with the idea, however. Grandchildren will hopefully influence our future wanderings, but I always enjoy reading about how various folks on here snowbird or at least migrate periodically, and anticipate doing something like that while we can still can.

Great topic idea, and appreciate everyone who has shared their travelogue.

[DaveZinAz]

...All that moving around made me pretty passive about location -- hard to explain, but the notion that one could exert a preference as to where one lived was just a very foreign concept to me. Having had some wonderful experiences in places actually pursued/chosen over the past few years, I'm getting more comfortable with the idea, however. Grandchildren will hopefully influence our future wanderings, but I always enjoy reading about how various folks on here snowbird or at least migrate periodically, and anticipate doing something like that while we can still can.

Great topic idea, and appreciate everyone who has shared their travelogue.

While I was in California, I moved something like 9 times in 11 years. I understand exactly what you are saying.

Now we stay put for the kids and grand-kids.

[Pirate looks at --]

Didn’t have a choice. My parents were both from the Mid-West and got married in California. They settled in Santa Rosa, California in the “North Bay”. My Grandfather owned a Turkey Ranch in the Valley of the Moon. We stayed there until I was in the 5th grade. My Dad had gone into banking and was relocated to Fresno. Spent just a few months and we moved to Reedley, the self proclaimed “Fruit Basket” of the World. If you have eaten fresh peaches, or nectarines, or plumbs, or raisins, they very likely came from Reedley. Left home to go to College in Irvine California at UC Irvine! Home of the fighting Anteaters! If you saw the first “Planet of the Apes” movie, that was filmed on our campus. After college I started selling Pharmaceuticals for Upjohn Phamaceuticals in Whittier California, birthplace of Tricky Dick Nixon! From there it was off to the San Joaquin Valley and Visalia California the “Gateway to The Sequoias”. Then off to the coast and Santa Barbara. Loved it there! Very expensive and oil spills left tar on the beach and on your feet and shoes, but it was 72 degrees every day of the year. Then to Long Beach, and lastly for the last 30 years in the Capital Sacramento! The great thing about California if there is a certain type of terrain or climate you love in your state, we have it in California! Oh, with the possible exception of extreme overwhelming humidity. We have rugged Coastline, beautiful warm tropical beaches, rolling foothills, the Majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, deserts for miles and miles, flat and fertile farm land forever. We have great cities like San Francisco, and Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and Sacramento. I certainly don’t agree with all of the politics out here, but man we have the best of all worlds out here, and I didn’t even talk about the weather, but we do ride 12 months a year! I have traveled to 29 other states and have yet to find one that has the diversity of terrain and climates. I think I am going to stay put! But I can also say that I loved all of the other states that I have traveled too, and always enjoy the visit!

[asp125]

The year that we spent on the road, traveling with the Spyder in our toyhauler, we saw a lot of great places to live.
Our original open ended plan was to scope out possible retirement locations; possibly even keep traveling in the RV. But in the end we ended up returning to CO, because I think while there are great places to visit, you live where your tribe is. By that I mean your support network, friends, roots. I grew up on the west coast of Canada, where my relatives and most of my childhood friends are, but it's not "home". Home is where you develop your adult life relationships, your career, your social circle .. your tribe.

[Mazo EMS2]

Born and raised in southern WI. Love it here. I did spend 7 years in N.C. for my job. I was offered a great opportunity to move there at 20 yrs old and it worked out great. AS far as living there....mehh...I honestly missed the winters of WI. After 7 yrs of it I moved back to WI and remain here to present. I still work for the same company 31 yrs later. I really love the terrain here. Rolling hills, open fields and dairy farms all over. Northern WI has more forestry and less crop lands and dairy. It makes for some beautiful riding up there in the fall. I still have about 12 yrs to work before I can retire....after that, who knows?

[ARtraveler]

Born and raised in southern WI. Love it here. I did spend 7 years in N.C. for my job. I was offered a great opportunity to move there at 20 yrs old and it worked out great. AS far as living there....mehh...I honestly missed the winters of WI. After 7 yrs of it I moved back to WI and remain here to present. I still work for the same company 31 yrs later. I really love the terrain here. Rolling hills, open fields and dairy farms all over. Northern WI has more forestry and less crop lands and dairy. It makes for some beautiful riding up there in the fall. I still have about 12 yrs to work before I can retire....after that, who knows?

Spent four years in Madison. Your just down the road. Prefer the northern WI forests--but southern was okay too.

[Spyder 42]

Grew up on a farm in SW OH. Moved to Columbus for college. 18 years later, moved to Atlanta for work. Still there

Love the mild winters but hate the traffic. Cost of living isn’t too bad compared to other cities of similar size but did I say I hate the traffic? SWMBO wants to move closer to the grandkids but that means Seattle and lots of people (and traffic) so I drag my feet, hoping that reality kicks in because the house in Atlanta costs half of what a similar house in the far eastern Seattle burbs will cost. And then there’s the traffic again.

[Mazo EMS2]

Spent four years in Madison. Your just down the road. Prefer the northern WI forests--but southern was okay too.

We're about 30 miles west of Madison, in an armpit town of 800 called Arena. Wife works in Madison at the UW Hospital, I work in Cross Plains for a company called Plastic Ingenuity Inc....Someday I'll go "up the road" to AK.

[ARtraveler]

We're about 30 miles west of Madison, in an armpit town of 800 called Arena. Wife works in Madison at the UW Hospital, I work in Cross Plains for a company called Plastic Ingenuity Inc....Someday I'll go "up the road" to AK.

Based on your screen name, I was thinking Mazomanie. Look me up if you head our way.

[HayRog]

Born and raised in Merseyside, UK. I miss the sense of humor and family, but not the endless grey days.
At 33 years of age I emigrated to CA, US of A in 1979 ( emigration best done in your 20's - just sayin' )and settled in the Sacramento area.

I have the occasional complaints (don't we all ?) about the endless summers, pot holed freeways and politicians - but - after many years riding a huge chunk of the USA, Canada, and visits to the motherland, I still enjoy returning home to CA.
Summers are long, only blistering hot for 2-3 weeks, and we don't encounter many of the natural disasters that plague other States.

Oh - retired 17 years ago and still lovin' it

[Mazo EMS2]

Based on your screen name, I was thinking Mazomanie. Look me up if you head our way.

Well, actually our plant is in Mazomanie, and I'm an EMT and Asst Fire Chief in Mazomanie. It's about 6 miles from Arena. I'd love to think I'll be heading your way.....not looking too likely though...LOL

[RapidSpyder]

About 35 minutes to either Sturgis or Mt. Rushmore from my house. 10 minutes and I’m riding in the Hills. Enough said...

[dondje]

Anyway, I just thought it might be fun to get other peoples perspectives on where they live.

Dave from "up over"...

If I told you, I would have to k*## you! Everyone would want to move here.

Regards,

Don

[ByeSpyder]

My wife is a native of Arizona and has never been to a place with 4 seasons. I will be taking her to the Finger Lakes and Rochester and the whole upstate area in the next few years.

I am also an Arizona native but have lived in many other places including Rochester. I have some observations:

She will probably love the Summer. Much cooler than Phoenix, a bit of rain in the afternoons and many very pretty places to visit within a couple of hours drive (Finger Lakes, wineries, farms of all kinds and roadside stands everywhere selling antiques and everything edible). I spent several hours almost every evening water skiing on Long Pond and canoeing on the old canals can be very relaxing.

She will probably hate everything else. Winters are terribly cold and snowy (especially if you go east or west). There isn't much to do during winter unless you like hockey or ice fishing. Phoenix has a world-class variety of restaurants - Rochester.....not so much although the "garbage plate" is reputed to be gastronomically exceptional according to my son's hockey team. Rochester, like the rest of Noo Yawk is expensive. Their native beer is terrible and their roads suck. You have a choice in Noo Yawk: two-lanes or toll roads. Neither are well maintained. There are more railroad tracks in the City of Rochester than anywhere on Earth (think Grand Avenue times 100). Both major employers have collapsed in the past decade (Kodak and Xerox) leaving Rochester financially destitute and with some severe "diversity" issues. Rochester's crime rates an 'F' by several agencies and appears to be worsening.

Just my 2 cents. Your mileage may vary.

[DaveZinAz]

I am also an Arizona native but have lived in many other places including Rochester. I have some observations:

She will probably love the Summer. Much cooler than Phoenix, a bit of rain in the afternoons and many very pretty places to visit within a couple of hours drive (Finger Lakes, wineries, farms of all kinds and roadside stands everywhere selling antiques and everything edible). I spent several hours almost every evening water skiing on Long Pond and canoeing on the old canals can be very relaxing.

She will probably hate everything else. Winters are terribly cold and snowy (especially if you go east or west). There isn't much to do during winter unless you like hockey or ice fishing. Phoenix has a world-class variety of restaurants - Rochester.....not so much although the "garbage plate" is reputed to be gastronomically exceptional according to my son's hockey team. Rochester, like the rest of Noo Yawk is expensive. Their native beer is terrible and their roads suck. You have a choice in Noo Yawk: two-lanes or toll roads. Neither are well maintained. There are more railroad tracks in the City of Rochester than anywhere on Earth (think Grand Avenue times 100). Both major employers have collapsed in the past decade (Kodak and Xerox) leaving Rochester financially destitute and with some severe "diversity" issues. Rochester's crime rates an 'F' by several agencies and appears to be worsening.

Just my 2 cents. Your mileage may vary.

My Dad worked for Kodak until we moved to Arizona.

My wife has absolutely zero interest in living anywhere it snows and it sticks for more than a day!
Even a visit is iffy!
I meant to say I was going to take her back there for a visit for all the summer reasons you mentioned. It is spot on.

[Lew L]

Born in San Francisco ( at the time, a most beautiful city ). Parents had recently moved from NYC and 10 months later I popped out. Worked my way down the peninsula to finally hit college in San Jose. Met first wife there and later had our only son. ( BTW--- he now lives near Tucson,Az.) After 20 years of teaching Metal shop and driving 4 to 5 hours to ski----- My second wife ( best decision I ever made ) we moved to the mountains outside Reno ,Nv. Built a couple of houses ( my own included) worked for 4 years in the casino sign industry, then went back to teaching Metal shop in a newish high school for 17 yrs.
Why here:

4 actual seasons, no state income tax, much less traffic, great ryding roads ( Sierra Nevada with all it's passes is my back yard). No tornadoes, hurricanes, ya we will get a small earthquake once in a while. Oh, did I mention skiing------ I skied over 50 days last year. 11 minutes to Mt Rose/ Ski Tahoe *( my fav )and 8 other ski mountains with in an hours drive.

I love it here.

Lew L

[UtahPete]

I've lived all over, including Canada and England, but I'm now in Utah due to life circumstances. I expected it to be temporary because I couldn't imagine not living on the coast, but 14 years later here we are in Utah. For Jane, proximity to her married son and family is the prime motivator. For me, I want to be with Jane so was ready to 'put up' with Utah and all its quirks. Our primary residence is in northern Utah, just outside of Park City, at 6700'. It is snowing as I write this (early October) and I hate winter.

As a compromise, we bought a small house in southern Utah a couple of years ago and now we spend our winters there. This gives us a 12-month riding season and that works for me.

I have since come to really like Utah since we have the best of all its varied scenery for most of the year. And, located where we are in summer and winter, the day trips and longer are spectacular with little to no traffic to ruin it.

[ARtraveler]

I've lived all over, including Canada and England, but I'm now in Utah due to life circumstances. I expected it to be temporary because I couldn't imagine not living on the coast, but 14 years later here we are in Utah. For Jane, proximity to her married son and family is the prime motivator. For me, I want to be with Jane so was ready to 'put up' with Utah and all its quirks. Our primary residence is in northern Utah, just outside of Park City, at 6700'. It is snowing as I write this (early October) and I hate winter.

As a compromise, we bought a small house in southern Utah a couple of years ago and now we spend our winters there. This gives us a 12-month riding season and that works for me.

I have since come to really like Utah since we have the best of all its varied scenery for most of the year. And, located where we are in summer and winter, the day trips and longer are spectacular with little to no traffic to ruin it.

One of my favorite places to visit and enjoy the scenery. Every time we hit Vegas we rent a car and head North. I love Zion, Bryce Canyon and similar. Love how the desert transitions from brown (Nevada) to red in Utah.

I am going to do that on two or three wheels in the next couple years.

[johnsimion]

I was born and raised in Jefferson City, Missouri, went to Mizzou for college and law school and kept coming back to Missouri over and over until I retired in 2013 (three years in Jefferson City, nine years at Fort Leonard Wood, and seven years in Kansas City, but none of them consecutively). At other times my military career took me to Altus AFB, Oklahoma, Clark Air Base, Philippines, and West Palm Beach, Florida. We loved Florida and would have loved to stay there, but I had to transfer back to Kansas City so I (as an only child) could care for aged parents who refused to move to Florida like every other retiree in the world. Kansas City (Lee's Summit, specifically) was undoubtedly the worst place I ever lived - lots of taxes, expensive cost of living, and horrific weather (in addition to constant tornado scares, we got a foot of snow the last week of April 2013 and another foot the first week of May 2013). It's the only place I've ever lived where NOBODY in the neighborhood knew or spoke to each other. When I was finally able to retire, there was no question that I was getting out of Missouri for good. We knew there were better places. We strongly considered moving back to Florida, but in the end we chose not to because we'd gone through three hurricanes during our time there.

So why Las Vegas? Partly because my wife's brother is here and I have no family I'm close to anywhere else. Like many, we had thought of Vegas only in terms of the Strip and were surprised to learn that there's an entirely normal city once you get outside the Strip. Our house has a beautiful pool and the yard has so many trees and shrubs, it looks like California. Not only do we enjoy "no income tax" but we also enjoy lower property taxes, lower cost of homeowner's insurance, no snow and rare freezes. Sure, it's super hot three months out of the year, but that's why God invented air conditioning. For the other nine months of the year, the weather is superb and during the hot months, we can travel as we please without fear of hurricanes -- and we usually go to Florida a couple of times a year. In Vegas, we have all the shopping and all the entertainment we could ever want and it's only a couple of miles away. And for some weird reason, food is much cheaper here -- a gallon of milk here in the middle of the desert is $2.40 but in Kansas City where there are dairy farms all around it's $4.00. And no, we don't gamble. There are too many shows and national parks around here to bother wasting time and money in the casinos. As far as I'm concerned, the casinos are there so the tourists can pay our income taxes. Personally I don't get the appeal -- I find Vegas a nice place to live but would never come here on vacation.