[Stylo]

Yes but you can't be so picky. The type of indigenous trees should not be a driving factor in where you live.

[adamz]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Yes but you can't be so picky. The type of indigenous trees should not be a driving factor in where you live.

I dunno, NEP may come across as picky, but I will say that the relative lack of tall dense trees was something that began to wear on me after a while in Denver. Whenever I would come back here, the sheer extent and variety of the greenery would blow my mind.

I also missed being near the ocean. A lot.

[DarkWolf]

A Few Gay areas you might want to look into...


Hoboken,NJ
Princeton,NJ
Lambertville,NJ
Asbury Park,NJ
New Hope,PA
Cheshunut Hill - Philadelphia,PA
Old City - Philadelphia,PA
Haddonfield,NJ
Hudson,NY
Cape Cod,MA
Providence,RI
Cambridge,MA

[Stylo]

I was going to say Burlington earlier but the winters are very cold.

[Zuriel]

Originally Posted by nep321

My lease ends in two months, giving me yet another opportunity to pull the trigger and buy a home. However, my intuition just doesn't feel comfortable with doing it. Sure, I have the job security, income and ability to buy a home up to $230K (or $200K for a condo), but for some reason I'm not excited about buying a home in CT, or at least the Hartford area. Heck, my younger brother just bought a starter home in Windsor Locks and is happy with his decision. I don't know, but ever since I moved back here from NYC in 2008, I just was never really excited about living in CT and had constantly dreamed of living somewhere else, but I just can't pinpoint where that place is, and now I'm turning 28 years old this week and only getting older. Can someone please help me find that perfect place? My wants change over the years, but now, here is what I am looking for in my ideal place:

• Significant gay population, but doesn't have to be huge
• Significant Italian population is a plus, but not required
• Moderate/liberal with politics and general atmosphere
• NOT overly religious, since I'm an atheist
• Not too densely populated; less traffic please
• Prefer all four seasons and great variety in weather, but not overly harsh or long winters
• Would love to have a small house with ample privacy and quiet
• NOT family oriented; I don't want to feel like the gay guy in town
• Middle class or affluent; not ghetto, poor or high crime
• Moderate or slow paced
• Somewhat simpler lifestyle; not sophisticated or money-driven
• Ability to find an accounting/finance job with relative ease
• Prefer doing things outdoors but the occasional restaurant or shopping is fun, too.
• I can live without nightlife, bars and clubs

So help me please. I really do want to buy a home one day, but I just can't get myself to do it in CT because I don't want to feel settled here. I mean, being near family is nice, but I really need a fresh experience.

Based on my criteria above, what would you suggest? I am open to any place in the U.S.

I don't have any experience living in this place, but from family info I hear Knoxville, TN. is good. Or possibly a suburb...Weather-wise, it's similar to what you're looking for. It's southern so life is slower pace. Can't say too much about the gay community, but I know it has plenty of young people (so probably more tolerant, and less churchy). I'd look into it.

Also, take a chance and just move somewhere...even if it's only an experiment. I did that with Florida...I'm back in CT...lol.

[basehead617]

What about the Northampton, MA area?

[dazzleman]

Originally Posted by nep321

My lease ends in two months, giving me yet another opportunity to pull the trigger and buy a home. However, my intuition just doesn't feel comfortable with doing it. Sure, I have the job security, income and ability to buy a home up to $230K (or $200K for a condo), but for some reason I'm not excited about buying a home in CT, or at least the Hartford area. Heck, my younger brother just bought a starter home in Windsor Locks and is happy with his decision. I don't know, but ever since I moved back here from NYC in 2008, I just was never really excited about living in CT and had constantly dreamed of living somewhere else, but I just can't pinpoint where that place is, and now I'm turning 28 years old this week and only getting older. Can someone please help me find that perfect place? My wants change over the years, but now, here is what I am looking for in my ideal place:

• Significant gay population, but doesn't have to be huge
• Significant Italian population is a plus, but not required
• Moderate/liberal with politics and general atmosphere
• NOT overly religious, since I'm an atheist
• Not too densely populated; less traffic please
• Prefer all four seasons and great variety in weather, but not overly harsh or long winters
• Would love to have a small house with ample privacy and quiet
• NOT family oriented; I don't want to feel like the gay guy in town
• Middle class or affluent; not ghetto, poor or high crime
• Moderate or slow paced
• Somewhat simpler lifestyle; not sophisticated or money-driven
• Ability to find an accounting/finance job with relative ease
• Prefer doing things outdoors but the occasional restaurant or shopping is fun, too.
• I can live without nightlife, bars and clubs

So help me please. I really do want to buy a home one day, but I just can't get myself to do it in CT because I don't want to feel settled here. I mean, being near family is nice, but I really need a fresh experience.

Based on my criteria above, what would you suggest? I am open to any place in the U.S.

Right off the bat, I would say it's difficult to find finance/accounting jobs in areas with simpler lifestyles that aren't affluent.

I think you're making the mistake of externalizing your inner preferences onto the community as a whole. Yes, it's great to live in a place where people are similar enough to you that it's a compatible fit. But I think you're taking it too far. Everybody in the area you live in doesn't have to share your values or lifestyle, just be within a tolerable range. And if you apply that set of criteria, there are any number of places, in Connecticut and elsewhere, that you could live in.

I'd say that you need to figure out what can make you happy before you sign onto owning property and a mortgage. If you're not excited about buying, don't do it. It's a bit like marrying somebody because you feel you're at an age where you should be married, but you're not excited about the person. Maybe you need to try out a near area to see that things are pretty much the same all over.

[Missing_The_Greatland]

Portland, Oregon.

[Kristin85]

Portland, Maine suburban area. The weather from Portland on South has very similiar weather/temperatures to Connecticut (hard to believe, but check it out for yourself) and it definitely has the social environment you are looking for without being too busy. No major Italian population, but that's okay. There are significant gay populations in Ogunquit and Portland. The only issue with moving would be finding a job up there. Finding a good job in Maine (ex being a nurse, doctor) is like finding a needle in a haystack. You either need to move without having a job set up so you have a Maine address on your resume or you need to know someone who is willing to pull some strings.

[sobo16]

Do not buy a house just yet. You're young and you have plenty of time and opportunities to try out different areas around the country before you decide you might want to settle somewhere. Even if you found a house in a different city you think you might like, what if you get the itch to move again in a couple of years? It's so much easier to move around if you're just renting.