Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
-I am a 42m young-hearted and active single gay male.
-I have lived in Florida 18 years, raised in Pennsylvania. I'm familiar with both hot/cold, snow or no snow.
-I'm done with the 6 months of humidity Floridians endure.
-I'm not interested in SF, LA, NY, or Chicago. (too big for me)
-I like biking, music, movies, and enjoying the outdoors. (I own an RV)
What I'm looking for:
-an active urban community or gay village that appreciates and supports the arts, live music, indie films, and has character, plus knows how to party but doesn't take themselves too seriously.
-a high number of long term residents I'm so tired of overly transient cities and states.
-a friendly, intelligent population that is open to new residents.
-low cost of living factoring in what you are getting. - in other words, a good return on investment.
-strong economic prospects in the new area.
Here's what I currently "perceive" to be the breakdown of each choice.. My perception could be way off however, please let me know:
SAN DIEGO -best weather of the pack, however I'm unsure if LA's shallowness is prevalent. I can't live in another Fort Laud/Miami Beach. - that was too plastic for me. -seemed to only care about looking good and external things.
DENVER -the most curious on my short list. I don't know much about Denver. It seems to be a good gay community. Pros: Mountains, but what about the culture? any thoughts?
AUSTIN -seems perfect for the music lover in me..but Texas? <a sigh of concern> I've dealt with so many "deep south" rednecks here in Florida that I cringe at another city in the South..but.. maybe Austin is an exception?
SEATTLE-visited recently, very impressed with both Portland and Seattle's more hippie/hipster 'we are weird and we don't care what you think mentality'. Austin and Portland seem to be fighting over that Keep it Weird' slogan. As to the gay neighborhoods, I liked Capitol Hill but didn't have a chance to go out in Seattle. I just walked the streets of Capitol Hill. Portland's gay clubs seemed very hopping. I'm not sure if that is any reflection of Seattle's scene...
Of what you mentioned, Seattle is - hands down - the way to go.
But you may consider Minneapolis. As I wrote in another thread, "It has a relatively low cost of living and offers so much in terms of the arts. It has the second largest theatre scene in the country (behind NYC), but MPLS does a lot more experimental stuff. The Walker is my favorite contemporary art museum in the world. MPLS has the largest fringe festival in the country, the largest organic foods co-op in the country (The Wedge), and the fourth largest LGBT population (so, it's liberal and diverse)."
Don't go to San Diego! Not only is it just as superficial as LA, but it's a lot more conservative and it has a surprisingly large Mormon population. It's actually more conservative than Dallas, Houston, and Indianapolis.
Between Denver and Austin, both have quite a bit of suburban sprawl, which is a turn-off for me. You'll absolutely be car-dependent in both cities (San Diego,too). Between the two, Denver is better in terms of the fine arts, shopping, and outdoorsy stuff. Austin is better in terms of restaurants, bars, and music. There's great beer in both.
Seattle seems to be the only place that has everything you're looking for, but the cost of living is a little high, traffic can be bad, and as more Californians move north, it is becoming more superficial and shallow.
-I am a 42m young-hearted and active single gay male.
-I have lived in Florida 18 years, raised in Pennsylvania. I'm familiar with both hot/cold, snow or no snow.
-I'm done with the 6 months of humidity Floridians endure.
-I'm not interested in SF, LA, NY, or Chicago. (too big for me)
-I like biking, music, movies, and enjoying the outdoors. (I own an RV)
What I'm looking for:
-an active urban community or gay village that appreciates and supports the arts, live music, indie films, and has character, plus knows how to party but doesn't take themselves too seriously.
-a high number of long term residents I'm so tired of overly transient cities and states.
-a friendly, intelligent population that is open to new residents.
-low cost of living factoring in what you are getting. - in other words, a good return on investment.
-strong economic prospects in the new area.
Here's what I currently "perceive" to be the breakdown of each choice.. My perception could be way off however, please let me know:
SAN DIEGO -best weather of the pack, however I'm unsure if LA's shallowness is prevalent. I can't live in another Fort Laud/Miami Beach. - that was too plastic for me. -seemed to only care about looking good and external things.
DENVER -the most curious on my short list. I don't know much about Denver. It seems to be a good gay community. Pros: Mountains, but what about the culture? any thoughts?
AUSTIN -seems perfect for the music lover in me..but Texas? <a sigh of concern> I've dealt with so many "deep south" rednecks here in Florida that I cringe at another city in the South..but.. maybe Austin is an exception?
SEATTLE-visited recently, very impressed with both Portland and Seattle's more hippie/hipster 'we are weird and we don't care what you think mentality'. Austin and Portland seem to be fighting over that Keep it Weird' slogan. As to the gay neighborhoods, I liked Capitol Hill but didn't have a chance to go out in Seattle. I just walked the streets of Capitol Hill. Portland's gay clubs seemed very hopping. I'm not sure if that is any reflection of Seattle's scene...
PS, I'm also throwing up a poll.
The only place you'll ever encounter a lack of acceptance for being gay in Texas is outside of the major metropolitan areas (D/FW, Houston, Austin, San Antonio). The smaller cities (Waco, Tyler, Beaumont, Midland, etc.) may tolerate it, but not openly embrace the gay lifestyle, which is to be expected.
Of what you mentioned, Seattle is - hands down - the way to go.
But you may consider Minneapolis. As I wrote in another thread, "It has a relatively low cost of living and offers so much in terms of the arts. It has the second largest theatre scene in the country (behind NYC), but MPLS does a lot more experimental stuff. The Walker is my favorite contemporary art museum in the world. MPLS has the largest fringe festival in the country, the largest organic foods co-op in the country (The Wedge), and the fourth largest LGBT population (so, it's liberal and diverse)."
Don't go to San Diego! Not only is it just as superficial as LA, but it's a lot more conservative and it has a surprisingly large Mormon population. It's actually more conservative than Dallas, Houston, and Indianapolis.
Between Denver and Austin, both have quite a bit of suburban sprawl, which is a turn-off for me. You'll absolutely be car-dependent in both cities (San Diego,too). Between the two, Denver is better in terms of the fine arts, shopping, and outdoorsy stuff. Austin is better in terms of restaurants, bars, and music. There's great beer in both.
Seattle seems to be the only place that has everything you're looking for, but the cost of living is a little high, traffic can be bad, and as more Californians move north, it is becoming more superficial and shallow.
My vote is still for Minneapolis.
I agree with you recommendation about Minneapolis, very fine city, but your assessment of San Diego is completely off base- in fact so much so I'd be surprised that you've spent any real time here. Not only is the city quite progressive in many ways but the whole county leans left now and I've never even heard about Mormons here in 25 years (obviously we have them). While I guess you can find superficial wherever you look for it, again, it sounds like the typical anti-California dribble to me.
For the original OP, while you can easily find the fun, friendly, artsy urban village here- my area, uptown, especially so (http://southparkscene.com/index.html) and amazing outdoor activity opportunities, the high cost of living (especially housing- and finding a place to keep your RV most likely puts you out in the boring 'burbs here) and relatively lackluster employment opportunities to pay for it should knock San Diego out of your top contenders.
It's a fine city in many ways and being established here you couldn't drag me from it but unless you are wealthy or have amazing job prospects already lined up you can find plenty of places that give you a great lifestyle that don't cost nearly as much.
...but your assessment of San Diego is completely off base- in fact so much so I'd be surprised that you've spent any real time here. Not only is the city quite progressive in many ways but the whole county leans left now and I've never even heard about Mormons here in 25 years (obviously we have them). While I guess you can find superficial wherever you look for it, again, it sounds like the typical anti-California dribble to me.
To be fair, I've never lived in San Diego proper and I've haven't lived in California as an adult, but I went to high school is San Marcos. Perhaps it was wrong of me to judge all of San Diego from my experience living in its northern suburbs for three years, as a teenager, thirteen years ago, but I did live there nonetheless, and I didn't find it to be particularly gay friendly or progressive. I hope things have changed.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
