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As I sit here day after day, week after week, month after month I daydream and search for my dream location. I read, research, look at pictures, and angst over where my new location will be...my head is spinning, my gut is churning, and my life is passing me by...I’m not looking for utopia, just a place to call home and to feel connected with likeminded people. One day I’m sure I’ll get to that special place…
My daydreams:
Four seasons
A vibrant walk-able town/city that is self-sufficient and has great shops, bookstores, cafes, etc.
Diversity
Low-moderate cost of living
People friendly town/city
Dog Friendly town/city
Local Community Arts/Theatre
Artsy city/town
Local College with a good mix of students of a certain age (50+)
A job within walking distance or a very short drive
no crime
live in a loft or over a store
Affordable healthcare
Strong, involved and thriving community
Great views
Easy access to nature (i.e. water, camping, fishing, etc.)
(Anyone know this place? Willing to share? )
My nightmare:
Endless summers (no change of seasons)
high crime
no community togetherness
no diversity
suburbia
High cost of living
overwhelming traffic and crowds
big box stores (I absolutely hate Wal-Mart )
dependence on big box stores
endless strip malls
cranky or stuck-up people
no jobs
poor healthcare
you have to drive EVERYWHERE You get the picture
Grand Rapids Mi (particularly Heritage Hill) is looking good...it looks like it may have a lot on my list... I went to the Walk Score website for further research and it has a really high walk-able score...
I'm from Grand Rapids (soon to be Asheville NC area!) and GR does have much on your list.
We don't have much in the way of 'views' to speak of but we are 35 minutes or so from beautiful Lake Michigan beaches and have tons of lakes, rivers, hiking, camping, canoeing...etc.
And we do have crime here. Not an abundance of it, but one must always be careful.
You would enjoy Heritage Hill, Eastown, or even downtown.
Art Prize is held here every year and is a big deal. People come from all over the country to see it. We have amazing hospitals, a low cost of living, and there are jobs to be had. Not a ton of them, but you can find them.
Thank you...I've looked at Tennessee (Tri-City area), Greenville SC, Upstate, NY and other areas in Michigan, but I keep coming back to GR for all the reasons you've mentioned... It does appear to have much of what's on my list...
May I ask why you're moving to Asheville?
Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinablue4u
I'm from Grand Rapids (soon to be Asheville NC area!) and GR does have much on your list.
We don't have much in the way of 'views' to speak of but we are 35 minutes or so from beautiful Lake Michigan beaches and have tons of lakes, rivers, hiking, camping, canoeing...etc.
And we do have crime here. Not an abundance of it, but one must always be careful.
You would enjoy Heritage Hill, Eastown, or even downtown.
Art Prize is held here every year and is a big deal. People come from all over the country to see it. We have amazing hospitals, a low cost of living, and there are jobs to be had. Not a ton of them, but you can find them.
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