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Which of these 7 cities/towns would you most want to live in?
Astoria, Oregon
Carlsbad, California
Palm Springs, California
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sarasota, Florida
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portland, Maine
Here is some criteria :
Which has the best weather?
Which is the most laid back?
Which one is the most unique?
Which has the most character and charm?
Which one has the best location?
Which one is the most walkable?
1.Carlsbad, California
2.Sarasota, Florida
3.Palm Springs, California
4.Astoria, Oregon
5.Portland, Maine
6.Portsmouth, New Hampshire
7.Santa Fe, New Mexico
Carlsbad, CA. It's a pretty boring suburb and farther away from Central San Diego than I like but is great for families and the beaches are pretty nice. I worked there for 4 years and commuted from Central SD (Pacific Beach), but would live there now if I worked in the area since I have kids. Legoland, the beach, and an hour from Disneyland...not a bad place for kids to grow up.
Sarasota looks nice too for the beach and climate but I've never been. My concern is how over run it might be with retirees. I don't have any interest in the rest of the locations for various reasons.
I've never really been to Carlsbad much though I like the area. Palm Springs--no thanks, not my scene. Sarasota seems okay but there's other places in Florida I'd rather live. Never been to Portsmouth.
Astoria, Oregon is a nice town that could feel a little busier some day, but it's still way too quiet most of the year. Downtown is nice, but there's still vacant storefronts, and it rains a ton there(way more than the more inland Pacific NW).
Santa Fe, Carlsbad, and maybe Astoria in that order. Portland, ME seems really cool but I can't see myself moving somewhere with colder/longer Winters.
It was a toss up between Carlsbad and Santa Fe for me. Probably more culture within Santa Fe, but Carlsbad has fairly easy access to both Los Angeles and San Diego (can also take the train to either areas, so you can avoid the traffic). I think it would be interesting to try out living in a desert climate (or whatever micro-climate it is that Santa Fe has).
Main reason i don't want to live in Santa Fe is the isolation...
There is not even one 1+million metro within a 6 hour car drive.
Denver is 6 hours, Phoenix 7.5 hours, Oklahoma City 8 hours and Dallas 9.5 hours.
All other 1+ million metro's are at least 10 hours away from Santa Fe.
Astoria, Oregon may seem more isolated but you still have Portland within 2 hours, Seattle 3 hours, Vancouver 5.5 hours and the Pacific Ocean right at your feet.
or Portland, Maine... only 2 hours to Boston, Providence 3 hours, Hartford, 3.5 hours, Montreal 5 hours, New York 5.5 hours, Philadelphia 7 hours, Ottawa 7 hours, Rochester 7.5 hours, Baltimore 8 hours, Washington D.C. 9 hours and the Atlantic Ocean within a couple minutes!
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