Exploring Illinois for potential relocation (Phoenix: summers, offer, compared)

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by yakimono

Well, Peoria certainly sounds worth a good look!

PNW is not on the list for the reasons of being mostly just as far north, so winter days are not longer and low ranking of sunshine. I feel a bout of SAD coming on just imaging living there! Plus, I believe the COL is higher than where I am now.

The big difficulty is I don't know how the trade-off between slightly better winter temps vs. just as short days and even less sunshine would work out for me. And who can afford to move someplace for just a year or two to see what the Real Life experience is like? Oh, the imperfect world with its imperfect information!

How about Albuquerque New Mexico? Although warm in summer, it is not humid and nowhere as hot as Phoenix and areas farther SW. They do have some winter weather but much milder and shorter winters than in the Midwest.

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by yakimono

Greetings, my forum fellows!

This winter/spring is a turning point of sorts for me, and I’m busily researching the info on this website to find a place that better fits my current and future needs.

I’d like to balance all the data/facts/statistics here with personal perspectives and subjective opinions—hence this post.

Here’s some info about me and my preferences; I’d like to hear about any cities you think might be a good fit, esp. if you have first-hand experience living in them.

• Lived most of my life in Mpls (with a few stints abroad). Never really felt like I fit in here, but that’s not entirely due to the city and people here, of course. I’m direct, but friendly and polite/respectful and am looking for a similar social atmosphere.
• 60 degrees year-round would be lovely. More realistically, as little snow as possible; temps down to freezing for a couple months are acceptable; up to 80 is okay if it’s only for a month or two.
• Lots of trees and nature nearby, and a neighborhood with pleasant walking (parks, green space).
• Secular/humanist community. A ‘world citizen’ rather than isolationist/provincial outlook. Open-minded. As international as possible.
• Would like to downsize from Twin Cities size, though not by too much; I like having ethnic restaurants/grocery stores available. I enjoy community events like farmer’s market, art fairs, music in the parks, informal classes.
• Decent economic climate; I offer professional services and need clients with disposable income.
• Moderate cost of living.
• Relatively high percentage of inhabitants with bachelor or higher degrees.
• Good medical facilities and colleges/universities.

Many thanks!

You don't want to live in Illinois then simply because of the weather.

[linicx]

Gallup is too cold, Las Cruces is too hot, ABQ is too large, Santa Fe may be too cold and maybe too big. Roswell isn't large enough. Elephant Butte is a beautiful, very interesting, small community that is mid-state that has is a very busy tourist season. NM is not a wealthy state but you can find plenty of reasons to live there and be happy. .

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

How about Albuquerque New Mexico? Although warm in summer, it is not humid and nowhere as hot as Phoenix and areas farther SW. They do have some winter weather but much milder and shorter winters than in the Midwest.

[Traveller49]

Although it might be a bit small for you, Carbondale in Southern Illinois sounds like what you are looking for. It hits most of the points on your list (besides the heat, it stays in the 90s in summer). Its 28,000 and growing, over 70,000 in the immediate area, with a very sizable international population fueled by SIU. St. Louis is within an hour and a half. Hope you consider!

[linicx]

Peoria has an interesting social environment with performing arts, and disposable income, but you won't like the weather. Fall started very, very, early this year despite the summer daylight.

[Zoness]

Originally Posted by linicx

Peoria has an interesting social environment with performing arts, and disposable income, but you won't like the weather. Fall started very, very, early this year despite the summer daylight.

No kidding, the temperature has been on a sharp decline since I started Bradley this year, though I welcome it. We do have pretty wild weather over here.

[linicx]

Yes we do! Welcome to Peoria.

We may be in for a surprise. In the fall of 1981 It started to snow in Peoria in September. There were some days the wild chil1 hovered around -80F. Buses didn't run. Taxis didn't run. Most cars did not start. And Spring came late. The only good news was the snow was more powder than water so there was not a lot of ice to deal with --- just snow and a lot of it. I believe this was one of the years the river flooded. Not to worry. Don't drive East of Adams Street unless you are going across the bridge.

The Illinois River is the longest river in the state; it is a commercial shipping lane. When it floods it is usually from Chicago to St.Louis. The water is deep, wide, with a very swift current and it's very treacherous. It's not make-believe, and when it floods someone foolish dies because they try to drive thru it.

[summer22]

linicx is doing a good job marketing Peoria. As a new resident to Central Illinois I will have to visit Peoria one day. I knew none of that information about the city. I always assumed that Bloomington/Normal (with ISU) was the beacon of diversity and progressivism in that part of the state.

Yakimono, I think you would like Champaign, but the only exception is that it gets much hotter than 80 degrees here. For much of July into August, it was 90+ day after day, with a hot sun that made it feel like 100. If you were in Chicago, you would have the lake breeze to cool you off. Here in Central Illinois, there's no relief.

To hit that temperature range that you want, the only place I can suggest is Michigan. The Detroit suburban area has a population with among the highest wealth in America. I have always found that people who grew up in that area to be good-hearted, down-to-earth, social and friendly, expressive. I think the depressing inner-city reality helps people stay grounded. That being said, the suburbs are so massive that you probably could live a lifetime without having to enter Detroit proper.

You're also just 30-45 minutes from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor campus (another thriving city; Washtenaw County usually has the lowest unemployment in Michigan.)

Ann Arbor would give you the "world/global citizen" outlook you're looking for. Suburban Detroit also assimilates a number of cultures. You will also have access to the Detroit international airport and the Bridge to Canada. Remember that a lot of Detroit's infrastructure was constructed so that auto industry executives could live comfortably and easily conduct business. Schools in the suburban area and in Washtenaw County are above average, if that matters so you.

You'll still have midwestern winters, but I think it wouldn't be as harsh as Minnesota's.

Look into Troy, Livonia, Ferndale, Birmingham, Royal Oak, or even Plymouth. I would happily live in Royal Oak or Ferndale if the opportunity came about.

[plates]

Originally Posted by yakimono

Greetings, my forum fellows!

This winter/spring is a turning point of sorts for me, and I’m busily researching the info on this website to find a place that better fits my current and future needs.

I’d like to balance all the data/facts/statistics here with personal perspectives and subjective opinions—hence this post.

Here’s some info about me and my preferences; I’d like to hear about any cities you think might be a good fit, esp. if you have first-hand experience living in them.

• Lived most of my life in Mpls (with a few stints abroad). Never really felt like I fit in here, but that’s not entirely due to the city and people here, of course. I’m direct, but friendly and polite/respectful and am looking for a similar social atmosphere.
• 60 degrees year-round would be lovely. More realistically, as little snow as possible; temps down to freezing for a couple months are acceptable; up to 80 is okay if it’s only for a month or two.
• Lots of trees and nature nearby, and a neighborhood with pleasant walking (parks, green space).
• Secular/humanist community. A ‘world citizen’ rather than isolationist/provincial outlook. Open-minded. As international as possible.
• Would like to downsize from Twin Cities size, though not by too much; I like having ethnic restaurants/grocery stores available. I enjoy community events like farmer’s market, art fairs, music in the parks, informal classes.
• Decent economic climate; I offer professional services and need clients with disposable income.
• Moderate cost of living.
• Relatively high percentage of inhabitants with bachelor or higher degrees.
• Good medical facilities and colleges/universities.

Many thanks!

You will not find a city with that weather pattern in Illinois. If you could be more realistic it would open up places. In fact, that weather is only available in a few places in America.

[linicx]

Hawaii, California and maybe Florida. AZ, NM. TX, LA, and GA have snow and blistering summers. You are looking at a several poor states.