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You may read the title and immediately say Seattle, and that's what I'm thinking too...but I'd like to consider the options carefully. I'm in college and will be graduating with a computer science degree.
The things I look for in a city are:
- Software jobs, especially small start-ups
- Clean, relaxed
- Close to scenic areas. Mountains, forests, lakes...
- Not too hot and/or humid. Moderate summer and some degree of cold in the winter
- Some alternative culture is a plus. Music scene is a plus. I play music...I like classical, metal, industrial, etc.
- Quaint, not overly industrialized/urbanized elements
- Preferably far enough north, and not landlocked - so New England or Pacific Northwest.
Things I don't care for:
- Sports(not to be confused to health and fitness)
- Aggressive/rude people
- Wild nightlife
- Diversity - *not* to say it's a bad thing at all, just not a priority. This could apply to people, food, etc...
I live in an NJ suburb of New York(or Philly? Princeton is where I live). It's far too hot/humid, and I find a lot of NJ/NY people to be too fast-paced/stimulation-driven for me. I enjoy driving to places and being not too distant from mountains for hiking/skiing, as well as the presence of some rural areas. I don't enjoy New York for the most part - I find it to me somewhat overbearing, overstimulating, fast-paced, dirty, stuck-up...I am very driven and can be fast-paced myself, but in a very different way from most New Yorkers.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Given your criteria I can't think of any other area that would match more than Seattle or Portland.
Burlington, VT also comes to mind though job opportunties may be limited it's though in that element. IBM is in that area though I think they've scaled back a bit in the area. Though it might be worth a look. Your earning potential is best in Seattle for sure.
I agree. Based on what you posted, most cities from SF to Seattle would be good for you. Though I think you would like Oregon or Washington cities better than those in northern California. If you do not like Seattle or Portland, try the smaller cities such as Bellingham, Olympic, Takoma, Eugene, Salem etc.
Given your criteria I can't think of any other area that would match more than Seattle or Portland.
Burlington, VT also comes to mind though job opportunties may be limited it's though in that element. IBM is in that area though I think they've scaled back a bit in the area. Though it might be worth a look. Your earning potential is best in Seattle for sure.
I was thinking about Ithaca too, but I agree that Seattle sounds like a perfect fit.
Wow, you basically just described me (minus the cold weather stuff, and I don't play music but would like to, and even where you live is similar)! Though I've never been there, I'd have to say Seattle sounds about right, as would Portland. Their music scenes are fairly large from what I gather and you're in close proximity to hiking and skiing as well as all other kinds of adventures within a drive (ocean, mountains, etc.).
I don't want to hijack the threat, but do people think Northern California would be good for a similar person that enjoys slightly warmer weather and doesn't put an emphasis so much on the software jobs?
- Software jobs, especially small start-ups
- Clean, relaxed
- Close to scenic areas. Mountains, forests, lakes...
- Not too hot and/or humid. Moderate summer and some degree of cold in the winter
- Some alternative culture is a plus. Music scene is a plus. I play music...I like classical, metal, industrial, etc.
- Quaint, not overly industrialized/urbanized elements
- Preferably far enough north, and not landlocked - so New England or Pacific Northwest.
Things I don't care for:
- Sports(not to be confused to health and fitness)
- Aggressive/rude people
- Wild nightlife
- Diversity - *not* to say it's a bad thing at all, just not a priority. This could apply to people, food, etc...
Seattle is probably the best place you could choose.
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