Looking for relocation possibilities similar in culture to Northern California

[SLA74]

Thought I'd check back in since it's been a little while...nice to see some more input! Things have taken a turn for the dire and my husband is being laid off from his position due to lack of funding at the end of this week. There's another position at a different hospital in town open, but we're still waiting to see how that pans out. In the meanwhile we're ramping up efforts to find alternatives in other places if this doesn't work out.

italiangirl and portlanderinOC - the Portland climate still gives me pause. But have been looking more into Medford-Ashland and that seems promising! Also closer to California and our families. I've heard it's better to live in Medford and commute to Ashland, since the cost of living is higher in Ashland. Ashland is culturally more our speed but if Medford is similar, than it's all good!

Woof - I hadn't considered Mt. Shasta, maybe that might be a bit small for us, but I'll look into it.

creeksitter - thanks for the Asheville mention! I've heard from others that could be a great place for us. My husband has actually applied for a job in Chapel Hill, so we'll see if anything happens there.

ckhthankgod - My friends actually have a booth at the Sterling Festival and totally love it! I'll check out New Paltz, too. I'm hesitating on New York for the weather issue too. Having never lived in a place where it snows, ever, it would be extremely challenging to go somewhere where winters tend to be on the more brutal side. We're trying to focus on areas that don't have overly extreme seasons, although we may not have that luxury much longer.

Thanks again everyone for the input and here's hoping something good comes our way soon!

[SLA74]

Just thought I'd stop back in and say it looks like it's coming down to Portland or Sacramento as far as jobs go. He has an offer on the table in Sacramento, and is waiting to hear about the Portland job (he went to interview yesterday).

I'm a bit torn as Sacramento would be closer to our families and we're familiar with the area. Portland sounds more interesting however. My husband is also leaning more towards the Portland job if he is offered it. I think I could deal with the weather for a good, stable job in a reputable organization and the ability to have a lower cost of living while still enjoying some wonderful amenities.

[cagoodbye]

My husband and I just moved here (Cary) from Santa Rosa, CA in August and absolutely LOVE it!! We were sooo ready to leave CA for a number of reasons, not the least of which was that because the state is bankrupt the infrastructure is crumbling - as you know. Closing libraries, shutting off street lights, maintaining only certain roads in the county... the list goes on and on. I researched places to live and the Triangle area kept coming up on many different lists of best places to live, best places for medical care, best places to do business, etc. We visited twice, in Aug and Feb, (trying to get a taste of what we perceived might be the worst months in terms of weather) and even liked that. Compared to CA, everything here is so upbeat. There is actually construction going on - can you imagine?? I don't think I'd seen construction in the last decade in CA. Building houses, office buildings, shopping centers, everything, here. And if your husband is in the medical field, this in one of the best places in the country he could be. Recreation - so many parks and trails, playgrounds, soccer fields, ball fields. Entertainment venues that we'd have to go to SF for. Good restaurants, farmers markets, airport 20 minutes away from anywhere you live. And the weather has been great. I really don't have a bad thing to say about it. I was the driving force for moving in our family and now, my husband thanks me every day. We couldn't imagine a better move.