Landed safely in Cleveland

[citymama]

Originally Posted by Unicorn hunter

Well, if you really want to know....looked at a whole lot of places. Knew I wanted to get out of the Seattle area in retirement....too crowded, too expensive. Don't like the climate in the south, both political and otherwise. Don't like drab, brown deserts. Didn't want to be in tornado alley...really, it was sort of a process of elimination. Love the Northeast and Maine was actually my first choice, and if it were just up to me, that's where I'd be! Started to look around the Great Lakes region as a more affordable alternative to the coast. Considered several areas, but wanted to be close to a large city, so as to have amenities, sports teams, music, etc. Read posts from another poster who relocated in retirement from Portland, Ore and seemed reasonably happy with the choice.

People were/are still kind of in shock at my choice, but we'll see how it all plays out....maybe they're right and I'm wrong. I sort of like Cleveland's "underdog" image...I don't like pretense or phoniness of any type...more a down to earth sort of person. The area I first lived in in Seattle 20 some years ago was a bit like the area I'm in here...sort of artsy and funky....until it was "discovered" and basically its spirit was destroyed. Already a bit worried that might be happening here in Shaker Square....hope I am not a "gentrifier".....or maybe it's already too late, or maybe that doesn't actually happen here.

Wonderful! I'm so enjoying this thread, seeing Cleveland through your eyes. We are West Coast transplants as well. We've been on the westside of Cleveland since 2008, with a short stint in Nashville where I cried everyday wishing we could move back to Ohio. I hated Tornado warnings and disliked living in a more politically homogenous area. We have also said many times that we are attracted to underdog cities. We moved from Oakland, CA, which has a very similar vibe, with Cleveland's cultural and academic institutions blowing Oakland's away.

The years have flown by. I can't believe we have been away from CA for over 10 years. There is so much to do in every season that time just flies. I think the only time I was really depressed about winter was my first winter here in 2008 when I had a newborn. Other than that, we have really learned to embrace all the changes each season brings.


Cleveland has such a strong sense of identity and the pride among natives is growing, I feel. No longer do I hear as much bashing from natives as I used to. Thank goodness.

[WRnative]

FreshWater is a Cleveland online news source. Note neighborhoods at the top of the page. Here's the line for Shaker Square-Larchmere, Shaker Hts., Cleveland Hts., and University Circle.

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/c...larchmere.aspx

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/c...s/default.aspx

Cleveland Heights

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/c...e/default.aspx

There is some redundancy.

[Unicorn hunter]

Thanks again for all the info...just beginning to get familiar with a few neighborhoods....mostly close by...Shaker Heights, University and Cleveland Heights mainly...We really like Cleveland Heights for its walkability and community center. I was shocked to learn one couldn't utilize the center unless a resident! With the indoor pool and ice rinks it's definitely a major draw! Still have a lot of exploring to do, though!