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I've seen that the people who either ridiculously praise or constantly bad-mouth a place where they live often have not experienced other places. Traveling and seeing other places will put things in a proper perspective at home. Then there are people who simply love to complain. Most places have negatives that need to be recognized and addressed rather than apathetically accepted as just the way things are.
Many people of all ages and professions live here and do just fine.
If you ask 20 people in NYC, you might get 20 different answers. I know that it's not all young people. One might live good while another might be living paycheck to paycheck just like any other person in this country.
I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for though. Usually low COL areas lack amenities, jobs etc etc and that's why the cost is so low.
Something like NYC or SF, COL is high there b/c look @ what these cities have. It's all relative.
Big city life doesn't appeal to lots of people though, so the COL isn't worth it to them.
For instance, I live an hour and a half from Dallas and three hours or so from Austin. Occasionally we go to these metro areas, but I am ALWAYS ALWAYS glad to get back home to a smaller metro area, and always, always grateful that I don't have to live in a big metro area.
My husband and I are world travelers and regularly visit London, Berlin, Vienna, Brussels, etc. We are very familiar with the whole "big city" thing - and frankly, we consider them interesting places to visit but we wouldn't want to live there.
A couple of years ago we went to Boston for the first (and last) time. We were there for several days, and enjoyed some of the ambiance, but we had a MUCH better time once we left that metro area and headed for the coastal villages of Maine, which we loved every minute we were there.
Both of us have traveled extensively for work and pleasure over our lifetimes. We know what we like and what we don't like. I hope you don't assume that people who choose to live outside of big metro, high COL areas just don't know what they're missing. Frankly, my husband's income would allow us to live anywhere - literally anywhere - in the world as long as we had easy access to an international airport. We've actually visited all sorts of areas with an open mind of "Should we live here?" and scoped out real estate, amenities, vibe, etc. and we just keep coming back to our smaller metro area in NE Texas. We just love it here.
The COL IS lower here than in some other areas, but that's not the deciding factor for us. Like I said, we could afford a lot of different situations and areas and even countries. But you know what - we can also afford a spacious, comfortable home in a beautiful neighborhood outside "the rat race" - with plenty of money to travel and visit anywhere we like. In fact, we're in the process of planning a vacation later this year to Berlin. But we LIKE working in our yard, being able to drive anywhere we like rather than relying on public transportation, having plenty of space, being able to just open the back door and let our two big dogs outside into the spacious back yard, maybe opening the back of the SUV for them to jump into, and taking a road trip somewhere, biking around the neighborhood and stopping to talk with neighbors as they work in their yards or just sit on their porches, or as they're walking or biking or skateboarding around the neighborhood themselves, etc. We enjoy eating out throughout the week, at great, locally owned restaurants with a "farm to table" mindset, we go to concerts regularly (both locally and in Dallas), and our two youngest sons live in Austin so we get a taste of that life whenever we want it. We could move there - but we don't want to. We don't want to deal with the traffic and the COL - in any big metro area. None of them is worth what we'd have to give up, frankly.
But I'm glad other people enjoy living in these metro areas. I really am. It's nice to have options, isn't it?
If you don't love where you live, change your life. But remember, you always take yourself with you no matter where you live. Happiness comes from inside, not outside, yourself. So does confidence. Live where you love to live and enjoy the life you choose, and you don't owe anyone else an explanation or excuse - that's my advice to the OP. If you find yourself perpetually unhappy no matter where you are, the problem lies inside your own psyche. Fix that.
Big city life doesn't appeal to lots of people though, so the COL isn't worth it to them.
For instance, I live an hour and a half from Dallas and three hours or so from Austin. Occasionally we go to these metro areas, but I am ALWAYS ALWAYS glad to get back home to a smaller metro area, and always, always grateful that I don't have to live in a big metro area.
My husband and I are world travelers and regularly visit London, Berlin, Vienna, Brussels, etc. We are very familiar with the whole "big city" thing - and frankly, we consider them interesting places to visit but we wouldn't want to live there.
A couple of years ago we went to Boston for the first (and last) time. We were there for several days, and enjoyed some of the ambiance, but we had a MUCH better time once we left that metro area and headed for the coastal villages of Maine, which we loved every minute we were there.
Both of us have traveled extensively for work and pleasure over our lifetimes. We know what we like and what we don't like. I hope you don't assume that people who choose to live outside of big metro, high COL areas just don't know what they're missing. Frankly, my husband's income would allow us to live anywhere - literally anywhere - in the world as long as we had easy access to an international airport. We've actually visited all sorts of areas with an open mind of "Should we live here?" and scoped out real estate, amenities, vibe, etc. and we just keep coming back to our smaller metro area in NE Texas. We just love it here.
The COL IS lower here than in some other areas, but that's not the deciding factor for us. Like I said, we could afford a lot of different situations and areas and even countries. But you know what - we can also afford a spacious, comfortable home in a beautiful neighborhood outside "the rat race" - with plenty of money to travel and visit anywhere we like. In fact, we're in the process of planning a vacation later this year to Berlin. But we LIKE working in our yard, being able to drive anywhere we like rather than relying on public transportation, having plenty of space, being able to just open the back door and let our two big dogs outside into the spacious back yard, maybe opening the back of the SUV for them to jump into, and taking a road trip somewhere, biking around the neighborhood and stopping to talk with neighbors as they work in their yards or just sit on their porches, or as they're walking or biking or skateboarding around the neighborhood themselves, etc. We enjoy eating out throughout the week, at great, locally owned restaurants with a "farm to table" mindset, we go to concerts regularly (both locally and in Dallas), and our two youngest sons live in Austin so we get a taste of that life whenever we want it. We could move there - but we don't want to. We don't want to deal with the traffic and the COL - in any big metro area. None of them is worth what we'd have to give up, frankly.
But I'm glad other people enjoy living in these metro areas. I really am. It's nice to have options, isn't it?
If you don't love where you live, change your life. But remember, you always take yourself with you no matter where you live. Happiness comes from inside, not outside, yourself. So does confidence. Live where you love to live and enjoy the life you choose, and you don't owe anyone else an explanation or excuse - that's my advice to the OP. If you find yourself perpetually unhappy no matter where you are, the problem lies inside your own psyche. Fix that.
This mindset more applies to younger people. They think "oh they wish they lived in NYC, LA...Chicago"
I'd say try to move to one of those cities to see what it is like.
Also, try to travel elsewhere to gain perspective.
Grass is not always greener. Though I do agree it sure seems tough to be young and in a smaller city (less life options).
But you have to be a yuppie or a tech nerd to live comfortably in those cities.
Lol what??? Do you think we have a gatekeeper that only lets certain people pass through? Go out and travel more. That’s another piece of advice I would give.
What you need to be is a person who enjoys living in an urban environment. Not everyone enjoys living in an urban environment. Where we choose to live includes so many different variables - it's not one size fits all, and that's fine.
Why are you suddenly so concerned about "other people?" Your many, many previous posts have been all about how Cleveland is such an inferior city that, to quote you verbatim," Doesn't deserve to have nice things " and how you've made so many comparisons between Cleveland and other cities with Cleveland always coming out way short.
If you've have an epiphany to the contrary wonderful, I mean it. I'm also sure those who frequent the Cleveland forum would be very happy to know you've changed your mind after you've dissed this city for so long a time.
Why are you suddenly so concerned about "other people?" Your many, many previous posts have been all about how Cleveland is such an inferior city that, to quote you verbatim," Doesn't deserve to have nice things " and how you've made so many comparisons between Cleveland and other cities with Cleveland always coming out way short.
If you've have an epiphany to the contrary wonderful, I mean it. I'm also sure those who frequent the Cleveland forum would be very happy to know you've changed your mind after you've dissed this city for so long a time.
I just want people out there who share the same feelings I had to get the advice sooner rather than later like I did. After reading your posts and replies and many others, I had to sit back and realize that there are pros and cons to every city; whether if those cities get relentless national media hype or if they're constantly trashed by the national media. There's rich people, mid-class people and poor people in every city, and there are cool people and a-holes in every city. That lower COL can be a treasure for some people while it can be seen as a turnoff for some people. High COL may be paradise for some people while it may be Hell for others. I just learned that I have to balance about Cleveland, and realize that you can judge a city by movie/TV, social media, politics or the news; you have to find out for yourself.
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