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I think it's great that folks in the Northeast want to stay out there...it's a great region, I love visiting family in the DC and NYC areas. But a large amount of the appeal of the "west", I guess excluding coastal CA, is the vast open spaces and comparatively small amount of people. My cousins in the bustling DC metro came out to our place in small-town CO and were amazed at the lack of people and wide open wilderness. I see the appeal of both. I have no problem if a select number of eastern seaboard residents want to think that their region is the best in the USA, as long as they stay up there so the west can stay wild
I’ve been up and down the East Coast. The East Coast seems to have a tight collection of very diverse and opposite images - lol.
Looking out the window of a car on I-95, 301, ...etc - one might see 90 stories buildings…farm tractors…alligators in a marsh…20 foot snow drifts….mountains….sailboats….the coastal plain….a 300 year old school house….coconut palms….old sharecroppers shacks from the 1920’s….massive cruise ships….orange, peach, or apple orchids….dairy farms….international airports….iguanas or deer crossing the roads….buildings might have Spanish, Colonial, Mediterranean, or Art Deco architecture...and churches might be built last month or 400 years ago.
Here are some diverse pics I collected in the Atlantic states that might be interesting for this thread:
Historic St. Augustine:
Wine Country, Long Island, NY:
Heading into tropical Miami:
The Delaware Watergap:
From the swamps of southern Georgia - lol:
NYC:
The Beaches of Coco and Daytona:
New Haven and Yale Campus:
The Outer Banks of North Carolina:
Fire Island National Seashore, NY:
Northern New Jersey :
The coast of Maryland/Virginia (wild horses?):
Historic Charleston, South Carolina:
Native oranges for sale in central Flordia:
Ski New Jersey!:
Baltimore Harbour:
Wild palms and pines from I-95 in southern South Carolina
New Hampshire:
South of the Boarder South Carolina:
Port of Miami:
Newport/East Beach, Rhode Island:
Lost in the Florida Keys:
Last edited by wavehunter007; 12-26-2011 at 10:55 PM..
I lived in Central Jersey for many years but I currently live in suburban Phoenix. The East is comfortable probably because it is predictable. While each city on the East Coast has its on feel, the landscape of the east is pretty homogenous, the climate is much less varied than you find in the west, cities have tended to maintain their character for decades upon decades upon decades, etc.
To live in the West requires a person to be adventurous. This side of the country is anything but predictable. We have everything from temperate rainforest in Washington, to glaciers in Montana, to Mediterranean climates of Southern California, to the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico The cities in the West are largely still developing as we have high population growth rates. The West is where the pioneers of this country explored and that pioneering spirit carries on today. Our politics and lifestyles are based more on libertarian values.
I can see how it is easy to live on the East Coast and become very smug and comfortable with its predictability. Some of the questions that I am asked about the West from friends and family back East are downright hilarious. These questions range from whether people still ride horses to commute back and forth to work to whether there are still bar fights in "saloons." I guess it's easier to have a wandering imagination than it is to travel here and see for yourself that the West has a lot to offer.
I don't know, but it just seems that the East Coast is the place to be. It's like the epicenter of the US. I can never fathom on living in Cali. It just seems too far.
Its not better than the West in my experience having lived over there(and technically er, I still do even tho Im not back there), but its not bad at all.
To each their own, that's the beauty of the US is that there is some city, state or region for everyone. Having lived my whole life in the midwest it will always be where I call home but I can't wait to go any direction: north, south east OR west.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Go West
I like the East Coast and all its attributes and I'm grateful to have grown up here but I'm craving wide open spaces, more natural superlatives, less of a rat race, bigger mountains, more colorful landscapes, more of a laid back vibe, less tree cover and bigger skies with a more visible horizon, less humidity and more varied climates, big cities juxtaposed with big spaces and more elbow room, better sunsets, less focus on ancestry, tradition, and heritage and more embrace of individual spirit. I think I'm more than ready to go back out West again and I'm very excited.
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon from the North Rim (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ezeiza/5986087468/ - broken link) by ezeiza (http://www.flickr.com/people/ezeiza/ - broken link), on Flickr
Sedona, AZ
Sedona 10-13-05 _02small (http://www.flickr.com/photos/55445556@N00/53099266/ - broken link) by lojikdiskunekt (http://www.flickr.com/people/55445556@N00/ - broken link), on Flickr
Saguaro National Park, AZ
Saguaro National Park 01 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/giopac/3258785132/ - broken link) by giovanni paccaloni (http://www.flickr.com/people/giopac/ - broken link), on Flickr
White Sands, NM
White Sands Sunset (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26583416@N05/5284791902/ - broken link) by seconomist (http://www.flickr.com/people/26583416@N05/ - broken link), on Flickr
Las Cruces, NM
Organ Mountains at Sunset (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33443072@N04/4446484893/ - broken link) by Mike Hardiman (http://www.flickr.com/people/33443072@N04/ - broken link), on Flickr
Taos Ski Valley, NM
Taos Ski Valley (http://www.flickr.com/photos/yotut/310869762/ - broken link) by YoTuT (http://www.flickr.com/people/yotut/ - broken link), on Flickr
Santa Fe, NM
ROUTE66_2010_1201 - SANTA FE NM (http://www.flickr.com/photos/route66_aout-sept2010/5292465587/ - broken link) by Tsinoul (http://www.flickr.com/people/route66_aout-sept2010/ - broken link), on Flickr
Telluride, CO
Telluride, CO (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kanescheidegger/3047104538/ - broken link) by kane scheidegger (http://www.flickr.com/people/kanescheidegger/ - broken link), on Flickr
Aspen, CO
Downtown Aspen (Colorado) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakedsky/330373791/ - broken link) by nakedsky (http://www.flickr.com/people/nakedsky/ - broken link), on Flickr
Denver, CO
Denver Skyline at Night, 18 Aug 2009 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rock_chalk_jhawk_ku/4126075741/ - broken link) by photography.by.ROEVER (http://www.flickr.com/people/rock_chalk_jhawk_ku/ - broken link), on Flickr
Arches NP, UT
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park (http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardignatius/3492077372/ - broken link) by howardignatius (http://www.flickr.com/people/howardignatius/ - broken link), on Flickr
Bryce Canyon, UT
Hoodoos at Sunrise (http://www.flickr.com/photos/knikolaev/5212308692/ - broken link) by KNikolaev (http://www.flickr.com/people/knikolaev/ - broken link), on Flickr
Crater Lake, OR
Wizard Island (http://www.flickr.com/photos/imrickndakota/4824943005/ - broken link) by im pastor rick (http://www.flickr.com/people/imrickndakota/ - broken link), on Flickr
Cannon Beach, OR
Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach from Ecola State Park (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanpmurphy/5918356563/ - broken link) by ryotnlpm (http://www.flickr.com/people/ryanpmurphy/ - broken link), on Flickr
Portland, OR
Mt Hood from Japanese Garden (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76636917@N00/485316718/ - broken link) by mtypinski (http://www.flickr.com/people/76636917@N00/ - broken link), on Flickr
Seattle, WA
Seattle Skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottnorsworthy/6307509421/ - broken link) by Scott Norsworthy (http://www.flickr.com/people/scottnorsworthy/ - broken link), on Flickr
Mt. Baker/San Juan Islands, WA
Mount Baker - North Cascades - view from San Juan Islands (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtref/2258175197/ - broken link) by JoshTrefethen.com (http://www.flickr.com/people/jtref/ - broken link), on Flickr
Glacier NP, MT
Glacier MT (33) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/66272437/ - broken link) by Ken Lund (http://www.flickr.com/people/kenlund/ - broken link), on Flickr
Grand Tetons, WY
grand teton bison (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevecourson/4333282457/ - broken link) by Steve Courson (http://www.flickr.com/people/stevecourson/ - broken link), on Flickr
Priest Lake, ID
beautiful beach - Priest Lake, Idaho (http://www.flickr.com/photos/puddlejumper/20277998/ - broken link) by Darin Livdahl (http://www.flickr.com/people/puddlejumper/ - broken link), on Flickr
Catalina Island, CA
DSC_0134 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ethanjs/6078723766/ - broken link) by ethanjs69 (http://www.flickr.com/people/ethanjs/ - broken link), on Flickr
La Jolla, CA
La Jolla (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wickdgin/1718342750/ - broken link) by <wikd> (http://www.flickr.com/people/wickdgin/ - broken link), on Flickr
Palm Springs, CA
Golf Course Views-Palm Springs-12 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryshea1/3330869176/ - broken link) by Jerry Shea (http://www.flickr.com/people/jerryshea1/ - broken link), on Flickr
San Diego, CA
San Diego Skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/abirkill/5398906665/ - broken link) by Fragments of Eternity (http://www.flickr.com/people/abirkill/ - broken link), on Flickr
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Skyline (2010) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30041264@N04/4244881845/ - broken link) by Californyeah (http://www.flickr.com/people/30041264@N04/ - broken link), on Flickr
Beverly Hills, CA
Beverly Hills Palm Trees (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshmcconnell/3608806553/ - broken link) by JoshMcConnell (http://www.flickr.com/people/joshmcconnell/ - broken link), on Flickr
San Francisco, CA
Golden Gate Bridge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/seryani/5154897569/ - broken link) by seryani (http://www.flickr.com/people/seryani/ - broken link), on Flickr
Big Sur, CA
big sur ! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/checkbugs/2430737232/ - broken link) by checkbugs (http://www.flickr.com/people/checkbugs/ - broken link), on Flickr
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 12-27-2011 at 05:36 AM..
The city-data forums (including the World forum) are strictly American-centric. There is no way around that. At the very least it's English-centric (most people couldn't fathom living in Paris because of inability with French).
It's not weird to find it uncomfortable living elsewhere from where you're used to--it's almost always harder to be adventurous than to stay within your comfort zone. This proves true for most people no matter what region we're talking about (the Eastern Seaboard, Southern California, small towns, in the Appalachians, the US, Northern America, whatever region/subregion/criteria/etc.)
I call the world forum somewhat Euro-centric because of the frequent and strong anti-American comments on there, the likes of which I haven't seen on any other c-d forum. A lot of posters there also consider Europe to be superior in many ways compared to North America.
But anyway, I am quite adventurous and well-traveled - both in the U.S. and internationally. However, I do have my comfort zone in terms of what kind of place I prefer to live in - mainly in the most urban, affluent and populated region of a country. That's why if I ever moved to Canada, it would be to southern Ontario. Or if I ever moved to Europe, it would be to places like southern England or northern France (near Paris). Great scenery is nice, but I have plenty of time to enjoy that for vacations.
Last edited by BigCityDreamer; 12-27-2011 at 08:02 AM..
I like the East Coast and all its attributes and I'm grateful to have grown up here but I'm craving wide open spaces, more natural superlatives, less of a rat race, bigger mountains, more colorful landscapes, more of a laid back vibe, less tree cover and bigger skies with a more visible horizon, less humidity and more varied climates, big cities juxtaposed with big spaces and more elbow room, better sunsets, less focus on ancestry, tradition, and heritage and more embrace of individual spirit. I think I'm more than ready to go back out West again and I'm very excited.
Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon from the North Rim (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ezeiza/5986087468/ - broken link) by ezeiza (http://www.flickr.com/people/ezeiza/ - broken link), on Flickr
Sedona, AZ
Sedona 10-13-05 _02small (http://www.flickr.com/photos/55445556@N00/53099266/ - broken link) by lojikdiskunekt (http://www.flickr.com/people/55445556@N00/ - broken link), on Flickr
Saguaro National Park, AZ
Saguaro National Park 01 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/giopac/3258785132/ - broken link) by giovanni paccaloni (http://www.flickr.com/people/giopac/ - broken link), on Flickr
White Sands, NM
White Sands Sunset (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26583416@N05/5284791902/ - broken link) by seconomist (http://www.flickr.com/people/26583416@N05/ - broken link), on Flickr
Las Cruces, NM
Organ Mountains at Sunset (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33443072@N04/4446484893/ - broken link) by Mike Hardiman (http://www.flickr.com/people/33443072@N04/ - broken link), on Flickr
Taos Ski Valley, NM
Taos Ski Valley (http://www.flickr.com/photos/yotut/310869762/ - broken link) by YoTuT (http://www.flickr.com/people/yotut/ - broken link), on Flickr
Santa Fe, NM
ROUTE66_2010_1201 - SANTA FE NM (http://www.flickr.com/photos/route66_aout-sept2010/5292465587/ - broken link) by Tsinoul (http://www.flickr.com/people/route66_aout-sept2010/ - broken link), on Flickr
Telluride, CO
Telluride, CO (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kanescheidegger/3047104538/ - broken link) by kane scheidegger (http://www.flickr.com/people/kanescheidegger/ - broken link), on Flickr
Aspen, CO
Downtown Aspen (Colorado) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakedsky/330373791/ - broken link) by nakedsky (http://www.flickr.com/people/nakedsky/ - broken link), on Flickr
Denver, CO
Denver Skyline at Night, 18 Aug 2009 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rock_chalk_jhawk_ku/4126075741/ - broken link) by photography.by.ROEVER (http://www.flickr.com/people/rock_chalk_jhawk_ku/ - broken link), on Flickr
Arches NP, UT
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park (http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardignatius/3492077372/ - broken link) by howardignatius (http://www.flickr.com/people/howardignatius/ - broken link), on Flickr
Bryce Canyon, UT
Hoodoos at Sunrise (http://www.flickr.com/photos/knikolaev/5212308692/ - broken link) by KNikolaev (http://www.flickr.com/people/knikolaev/ - broken link), on Flickr
Crater Lake, OR
Wizard Island (http://www.flickr.com/photos/imrickndakota/4824943005/ - broken link) by im pastor rick (http://www.flickr.com/people/imrickndakota/ - broken link), on Flickr
Cannon Beach, OR
Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach from Ecola State Park (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanpmurphy/5918356563/ - broken link) by ryotnlpm (http://www.flickr.com/people/ryanpmurphy/ - broken link), on Flickr
Portland, OR
Mt Hood from Japanese Garden (http://www.flickr.com/photos/76636917@N00/485316718/ - broken link) by mtypinski (http://www.flickr.com/people/76636917@N00/ - broken link), on Flickr
Seattle, WA
Seattle Skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottnorsworthy/6307509421/ - broken link)by Scott Norsworthy (http://www.flickr.com/people/scottnorsworthy/ - broken link), on Flickr
Mt. Baker/San Juan Islands, WA
Mount Baker - North Cascades - view from San Juan Islands (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtref/2258175197/ - broken link) by JoshTrefethen.com (http://www.flickr.com/people/jtref/ - broken link), on Flickr
Glacier NP, MT
Glacier MT (33) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/66272437/ - broken link) by Ken Lund (http://www.flickr.com/people/kenlund/ - broken link), on Flickr
Grand Tetons, WY
grand teton bison (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevecourson/4333282457/ - broken link) by Steve Courson (http://www.flickr.com/people/stevecourson/ - broken link), on Flickr
Priest Lake, ID
beautiful beach - Priest Lake, Idaho (http://www.flickr.com/photos/puddlejumper/20277998/ - broken link) by Darin Livdahl (http://www.flickr.com/people/puddlejumper/ - broken link), on Flickr
Catalina Island, CA
DSC_0134 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ethanjs/6078723766/ - broken link) by ethanjs69 (http://www.flickr.com/people/ethanjs/ - broken link), on Flickr
La Jolla, CA
La Jolla (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wickdgin/1718342750/ - broken link) by <wikd> (http://www.flickr.com/people/wickdgin/ - broken link), on Flickr
Palm Springs, CA
Golf Course Views-Palm Springs-12 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryshea1/3330869176/ - broken link) by Jerry Shea (http://www.flickr.com/people/jerryshea1/ - broken link), on Flickr
San Diego, CA
San Diego Skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/abirkill/5398906665/ - broken link) by Fragments of Eternity (http://www.flickr.com/people/abirkill/ - broken link), on Flickr
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Skyline (2010) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30041264@N04/4244881845/ - broken link) by Californyeah (http://www.flickr.com/people/30041264@N04/ - broken link), on Flickr
Beverly Hills, CA
Beverly Hills Palm Trees (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshmcconnell/3608806553/ - broken link) by JoshMcConnell (http://www.flickr.com/people/joshmcconnell/ - broken link), on Flickr
San Francisco, CA
Golden Gate Bridge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/seryani/5154897569/ - broken link) by seryani (http://www.flickr.com/people/seryani/ - broken link), on Flickr
Big Sur, CA
big sur ! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/checkbugs/2430737232/ - broken link) by checkbugs (http://www.flickr.com/people/checkbugs/ - broken link), on Flickr
Sweet Jesus......
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Go West
