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Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mxcolin
Try living in Orange County, CA. It takes rudeness to a level I never thought possible.
This is all over America though. I think when you're in rat racey, congested, and busy areas like OC, LA, South Florida, or on the Bos-Wash corridor a lot of people tend to encounter shortness, rudeness, and an overall aloof attitude. Sometimes there are cliques and inner circles that don't notice it or just don't know any different. But I've encountered a lot friendly people friendly people too in the areas mentioned. You just gotta break the ice, but that takes work and a thick skin.
On a side note, I drove the 405 and the 5 through OC, and it was the absolute worst white knuckle driving experience I've ever had west of the Mississippi. Jockying for a position a the El Torro Y . Lord have mercy! I never want to drive the freeway again, and I'm not a timid driver. LOL.
On a side note, I drove the 405 and the 5 through OC, and it was the absolute worst white knuckle driving I've ever done west of the Mississippi. Jockying for a position a the El Torro Y . Lord have mercy! I never want to drive the freeway again, and I'm not a timid driver. LOL.
Really? I just drove it a couple days ago at 4am and was surprised by how slow everyone was going at that hour until I hit San Diego County (from LA to San Diego).
My only ticket ever when I lived in SoCal for speeding was the 405 in OC. I was clocked going 85 or something like that, while speeding, I felt he was being ridiculous since I wasn't going 90 or above.
I know what you mean about the driving but I'm used to it now. Orang County has the heady mix of fast paced LA suburb combined with a level of self obsession that's almost staggering. Having said that I'd stay if I could afford it :-)
I live in ABQ now, moved here last summer. I also considered Sacramento. I have spent enough time in Portland ME to have an opinion on it.
Caveat: I am retired, my kids are grown, so I have none of the school issues to be concerned with.
I really like ABQ. Of all the cities on your list, the weather here is the clear winner. The cost of living, too - your money will go farther in housing than in any of the other cities on your list.
As for a "liberal" place, be careful what you wish for. What you really want is a place where nobody cares what you do, or who you are. "Liberal" enclaves like Boulder CO and Charlottesville VA, 2 places I know quite well, are full of people who want to dictate everything you can do with your property, etc, for the "good" of the community, when in reality they are just world's biggest NIMBY's. I have a friend who works once a month at a homeless kitchen in Boulder, and it drives her nuts that the patrons ask if the food is "gluten free" or sustainably sourced...
Maine, in general, is a wonderful state, my favorite in the northeast. When my children were younger, I entertained a job offer in Portland. The winters there are miserable, and that killed the deal for us.
I really liked Sacramento, too, but the cost of housing is much higher there than ABQ - maybe 50 percent higher on an apples to apples comparison. But if I had to pick a second city on your list, I would go with Sacramento, but mainly for its convenience to SF and so many other great places within a half day. Again, I am retired, and would have loved to have that city as a home base, but ABQ wins on weather and housing costs, and if I want to visit the west coast, I hop on a plane...
Not picking on you Madalorian. Don't know where you live. I live in Maine. We just had a RECORD-BREAKING cold and snowy winter. Coldest average temperature on record for February. Record snowfall for the state. Today it is struggling to make 50 degrees and is overcast with a northern wind howling outside right now. If you move to Maine, you'd better L-O-V-E winter!!!
As for a "liberal" place, be careful what you wish for. What you really want is a place where nobody cares what you do, or who you are. "Liberal" enclaves like Boulder CO and Charlottesville VA, 2 places I know quite well, are full of people who want to dictate everything you can do with your property, etc, for the "good" of the community, when in reality they are just world's biggest NIMBY's. I have a friend who works once a month at a homeless kitchen in Boulder, and it drives her nuts that the patrons ask if the food is "gluten free" or sustainably sourced...
Good luck.
Yeah I'm not that kind of liberal. I don't want to live next to people who believe that what my children or I do or do not do in our private lives is in any way something they should be concerned with.
I relocated to Miami from Washington D.C. and the longer my girlfriend and I spend here the less we care about leaving it to see anywhere else in the country (save for New York and one or two places where we have family).
Portland is a great city in Oregon. I really like it but unfortunately if it isn't Miami then it should be New York, otherwise I don't want to live in anything else America supposedly has to "offer."
Only because you are entertaining Portland ME and if you loosen up on the winters, an area like Rochester NY would fit everything else. If you are open to it, I'd suggest looking in school districts like Brighton and West Irondequoit due to both being high performing districts with a range of people. Both have more established neighborhoods with less newer construction though. For newer construction, Victor and Pittsford come to mind. Pittsford and Brighton are a couple of the best school districts in the state and have had national acclaim as well. There are other options as well.
If you don't mind the city, look into SE Rochester and for public schools, try to get Francis Parker and School of the Arts. Otherwise, look into charter or private options.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 04-12-2015 at 07:50 PM..
There is only one right answer on that list, and it is Portland, OR.
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. Lord have mercy! I never want to drive the freeway again, and I'm not a timid driver. LOL.
