I just adore SLC but... (Salt Lake City, Provo: fit in, house, neighborhood)

[SJbust]

Prior to this year, I had never visited the state of Utah. At the beginning of Feb. I was assigned to work in Provo for the month and traveled up to SLC to meet work colleagues. This month I'm in SLC the whole time, and I have to say I'm falling in love with it to the point that I'm seriously considering moving here.

I've been in LA for the past six years and I want out. That's all I will say.

I'm literally coming from couch surfing and homelessness issues to getting certified in a new career and making the best money I've ever made so I can afford to live almost anyway.

I travel for work so I've been researching and thinking of possibilities. The things that I look for: four seasons without extremity, outdoor sports and nature options, reasonable rush hour traffic, kind & genuine people, moderate cost of living, low stress. SLC seems to provide me with these.

However, there are concerns that brought me here. I'm a mixed race (blk, native amer, british) gay male. What is the tolerance level in SLC for someone like me?

I'm in my mid-forties, very career-focused, and quality-focused so I don't play games with folks. I'm a very spiritual man who embraces everyone and tries to demonstrate universal love daily so I treat people as I wish to be treated. I don't like riff-raff. Low stress very important to me.

Eventually I would like to date and find a suitable partner that I can enjoy hiking, skiing, sports, etc. with. Will I be okay here?

[Lmejh]

Originally Posted by SJbust

Prior to this year, I had never visited the state of Utah. At the beginning of Feb. I was assigned to work in Provo for the month and traveled up to SLC to meet work colleagues. This month I'm in SLC the whole time, and I have to say I'm falling in love with it to the point that I'm seriously considering moving here.

I've been in LA for the past six years and I want out. That's all I will say.

I'm literally coming from couch surfing and homelessness issues to getting certified in a new career and making the best money I've ever made so I can afford to live almost anyway.

I travel for work so I've been researching and thinking of possibilities. The things that I look for: four seasons without extremity, outdoor sports and nature options, reasonable rush hour traffic, kind & genuine people, moderate cost of living, low stress. SLC seems to provide me with these.

However, there are concerns that brought me here. I'm a mixed race (blk, native amer, british) gay male. What is the tolerance level in SLC for someone like me?

I'm in my mid-forties, very career-focused, and quality-focused so I don't play games with folks. I'm a very spiritual man who embraces everyone and tries to demonstrate universal love daily so I treat people as I wish to be treated. I don't like riff-raff. Low stress very important to me.

Eventually I would like to date and find a suitable partner that I can enjoy hiking, skiing, sports, etc. with. Will I be okay here?

If you're gay then consider moving to Downtown Salt Lake. Or if that's not your vibe, the neighborhood of Sugarhouse is considered gay-friendly as well. Otherwise, you won't find many other gays outside of those areas.

[stycotl]

i'm seconding lmejh's post, and adding a congrats for starting a new career and overcoming problems. slc is a good place for diversity. with the rest of the state, usually you will be fine, but you won't necessarily fit in, and there will be more of those that wish to make sure that you aren't welcome.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

As strange as it may seem, Salt Lake City has one of the higher per-capita GLBT populations in the country. Note I said "SLC" not the outer suburban cities. Downtown, Sugar House, the Avenues, especially the Marmalade District, would be good choices. I think you would have no probelms here at all. I used to work with a gay man and have been to parties at his house where there were 30 or more gay men.

[SJbust]

Hi posters, and thanks for your input. I just looked at places today in the area around the Capitol and the Avenues. I loved it. Where is the Marmalades?

Also, do you know of any outdoors, hiking social groups?

[mktavish]

Im not gay , but I tried it once.
The thing about salt lake , is the polarized opinions about the prop 8/hate stuff. And it is over populated or soon to be for the valley size ,,, hence alot of stress ... especially how people drive ... so far>.. I guess its the place to be , but I had to get out of there after living there 20 years. Im luving New Orleans

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by SJbust

Hi posters, and thanks for your input. I just looked at places today in the area around the Capitol and the Avenues. I loved it. Where is the Marmalades?

You may have actually been in the Marmalade District and not known it. The Marmalade Hill Historic District got its name because the early street names were called by the names of the many fruit trees the Mormon Pioneers bright to the Valley when they settled here in the mid-19th century. It's a small triangular shaped area between 3rd and 5th North, Center Street and Quince Street. So it's behind and to the northwest of the State Capitol. You'll find steep and narrow streets and some incredibly interesting architectural styles and an eclectic, mostly younger population.

Also, do you know of any outdoors, hiking social groups?

Sorry, I can't help you on this one, but I'm certain such groups exist.

[SJbust]

Originally Posted by mktavish

Im not gay , but I tried it once.
The thing about salt lake , is the polarized opinions about the prop 8/hate stuff. And it is over populated or soon to be for the valley size ,,, hence alot of stress ... especially how people drive ... so far>.. I guess its the place to be , but I had to get out of there after living there 20 years. Im luving New Orleans

Stress? Driving habits? This is nothing. Do you see where I'm moving from?

[Lmejh]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

You may have actually been in the Marmalade District and not known it.

That's true. Many people out in the suburbs have never even heard of the Marmalade District. All I know about it is that it used to be a pretty seedy area a while back but it's completely turned around.

[Tim Tim Tim]

Originally Posted by SJbust

Stress? Driving habits? This is nothing. Do you see where I'm moving from?

Ha ha, alot of the people here think its too crowded and people drive bad, I just moved here from tampa, fl and I find it quite funny to hear those complaints. I find it pleasent to drive. I Drive ALOT too, installing satellite systems here driving all over the valley every day and rarely have any issues