want to move from south Florida to a liberal, progressive area in the south (live in, moving to)

[Upstate Nancy]

I've heard quite a bit that Austin is not as liberal/open as the hype around it from those who don't live there. Maybe, comparitively speaking to the rest of Texas.

[Double-G]

Originally Posted by Upstate Nancy

I've heard quite a bit that Austin is not as liberal/open as the hype around it from those who don't live there. Maybe, comparitively speaking to the rest of Texas.

As a Texan I can tell you Austin is incredibly liberal bordering on communist.

And Rick Perry is a hate figure, in town at least.

You'd probably be fine there but don't do it. The other suggestions are better.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

What about Wilmington NC?

Nah. Charleston and Savannah are more liberal than Wlimington, but I think even they are a little more conservative for what the OP is looking for.

[creeksitter]

Don't forget the op loves the ocean A LOT. That may mean a progressive AREA within a city. Maybe Tallahassee? is Durham close enough for day trips? It may come down to Savannah, Charleston or St Pete.

[KodeBlue]

Somewhere in Maryland.

[Upstate Nancy]

Originally Posted by Double-G

As a Texan I can tell you Austin is incredibly liberal bordering on communist.

And Rick Perry is a hate figure, in town at least.

You'd probably be fine there but don't do it. The other suggestions are better.

I'm not planning on moving anywheres, just commenting on the post.

[Natural510]

These criteria seem to come up quite often on this forum, and the general response is you'll have to make a concession somewhere. Either you give up having your neighbors be as progressive-minded as yourself, or you live in a smaller (or in your case, landlocked) city, or you learn to live through (even *gasp* embrace!) winter. If you give up one of those criteria, you can still live a full life in your chosen destination.

[Pear Martini]

let me get this straight...we are trying to narrow down a place/city that is:

* Progressive and Liberal
* Coastal
* Southern


I don't know if I can help, but it sure sounds like a paradise to me

[ckhthankgod]

I want to say Virginia Beach, but I'm not so sure about that.

[eschaton]

I'd actually say, save for the lack of a coast, Asheville would be perfect. Unlike the other progressive bastions in the South, it's not anchored by a major college, meaning the crowd is a bit older. That said, it isn't huge, and due to the altitude, it has a notable winter (around a foot of snow per year, drops below freezing on and off most winters).

On the whole, I'd say New Orleans fits the OP's desires most. I know there are non-black neighborhoods within the city which are highly progressive (unlike the norm for the South) although I don't know enough about the city itself to say which ones would be the best bet however. It also has an urban architecture unlike anywhere else in the South that I think would be appealing to someone who is from the northeast and loves NYC.