Picky Person Pondering Possible Places -- What Place Meets My Criteria? (university, living)

[RatherNotSay]

I am very picky person. My wife, not so much.

In any event, I'm not happy where we are living now (in a hot, dry, dusty, isolated town), and I'm trying to see if there is anywhere in the United States that meets all, or at least the majority, of my criteria.

Any help, guidance, suggestions, or advice that you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

So this is what I'm looking for:

Climate criteria:

• Sunny (needs to have more sun than clouds and gray and gloom on either a daily or monthly basis);
• 4-seasons;
• Low to below-moderate humidity (say, average humidity levels at 50% or less);
• Dry snowfalls (so that when it snows, the snow is often dry and puffy and not wet and heavy);
• Clean air;
• Summer temperatures seldom get above 80 or 85 degrees;
• Average windspeeds below 7 mph a day;and
• Ability to grow a garden (vegetables or otherwise).

City criteria:

• Outdoor oriented populace (i.e., hikers, bicyclers, skiers, etc);
• Walkable, car-optional, town with parks and a downtown core;
• College/University in or close to the city;
• Mountains and/or National Parks nearby;
• Moderate housing costs (i.e., $300K could get you a decent 3 bedroom/2 bath house);
• Educated population;
• Near to an airport that either is a hub airport or that offers service to at least two hub airports;
• Population of less than 100,000;
• Has at least one of each of the major big-box stores (if it also had a Costco and an REI, or something of the sort, that would be ideal); and
• In the Mountain time zone.


I understand that I'm probably going to have to compromise on a few of the criteria.

But maybe there is a place that meets most of our requirements--maybe it is in the Central time zone, or maybe it isn't a college town, or whatever. And maybe you know where that place is.

Or maybe there really is a place that satisfies all of our requirements, and you know where that place is.

Either way, could you please tell me if you know of anywhere in the United States that you think, given the criteria set forth above, might be a good fit for me?

Thank you.

[bus man]

I love the alliteration of your thread title!

As I read through your criteria, one city kept on calling its name: DENVER! It has absolutely everything of what you're looking for, except for the part about the population being under 100,000. (Really, though, you can't expect a small town to have a major hub airport, can you?) If you don't want to be in the city proper, try one of its suburbs, maybe Broomfield or Thornton or Boulder.

If you haven't been there before, you should start planning your next vacation. I honestly believe you'll love it.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by RatherNotSay

Climate criteria:

• Sunny (needs to have more sun than clouds and gray and gloom on either a daily or monthly basis);
• 4-seasons;
• Low to below-moderate humidity (say, average humidity levels at 50% or less);
• Dry snowfalls (so that when it snows, the snow is often dry and puffy and not wet and heavy);
• Clean air;
• Summer temperatures seldom get above 80 or 85 degrees;
• Average windspeeds below 7 mph a day;and
• Ability to grow a garden (vegetables or otherwise).

City criteria:

• Outdoor oriented populace (i.e., hikers, bicyclers, skiers, etc);
• Walkable, car-optional, town with parks and a downtown core;
• College/University in or close to the city;
• Mountains and/or National Parks nearby;
• Moderate housing costs (i.e., $300K could get you a decent 3 bedroom/2 bath house);
• Educated population;
• Near to an airport that either is a hub airport or that offers service to at least two hub airports;
• Population of less than 100,000;
• Has at least one of each of the major big-box stores (if it also had a Costco and an REI, or something of the sort, that would be ideal); and
• In the Mountain time zone.

Outside of the Mountain time zone, I'd say Asheville fits your criteria otherwise. Perhaps you could just set your clocks back two hours and deal with it?

[xGrendelx]

I agree with bus man. Look in the Denver area.

Other possibilities may be Missoula or Bozeman. They don't have major airports, so you'll most likely have a layover in Seattle, SLC, Minneapolis, or Denver.

But they definitely fit most everything else:

Sunny, four seasons, low humidity, dry snow (as far as I know), clean air, mild summers, outdoor oriented residents, college towns, walkable, near mountains, low cost of living, populations less than 100K, and in the Mountain time zone.

I know Missoula has big box stores, but no REI. However, smaller, independent outdoor stores can be found in both Missoula and Bozeman.

[jtur88]

Perhaps Pottstown or Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, present possibilities.

[bus man]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Perhaps Pottstown or Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, present possibilities.

Perplexed by posited potentialities, but praise for perfect presentation!

[ajonesaz]

Flagstaff AZ meets mostly all of your criteria, although its cheaper to drive to the Airport in Phoenix than to fly out of the Flagstaff airport. Towns of less than 100k are not going to have a decent airport.

[thedonwind]

Denver or Salt Lake City easily.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Nope it don't exist.

Compromise: Reno/Lake Tahoe