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Arapahoe County, Colorado--Mostly happy. I've an easy commute to work, plenty of amenities nearby, neighborhood a little more 'tucked away' so we're not quite in the thick of things, lots of parks and trails nearby. I'm not finding the COL a problem personally (though I know it is), but I'd been a homeowner before the housing market here lost its mind, so I know it's a case of I'm luckier than most. There's a variety of things to do in the Denver Metro area, depending on what you're interested in.
Cons: I swear a few years ago somebody figured out there was a bit of 'not so built up' area here, and promptly started building--in the past three years, 700 new houses went up in my immediate area. And I worry about the overall water situation of the American southwest in general.
I do sometimes think of moving elsewhere--I love Colorado, have been here 25 years, but in a way, I feel like I just need a change. I've considered the PNW--I went on vacation there a few years ago. A friend of mine and I arrived in Seattle, visited a friend there, then drove along Highway 101. Seeing the ocean along the highway just felt like being at the edge of the world. I loved the coolness of the climate, even in the summertime. (I'm an odd duck, I've always loved rain.) We stopped in Aberdeen, Coos Bay, then Grants Pass to visit another friend, then drove up the interstate to Portland, then back to Seattle. Ever since, I've found myself craving being near the ocean. But OTOH, I don't dislike Colorado, and I've a strong social network here, so there's the 'do I want to start all over somewhere else at this point' question.
Pros Relative low crime here in the burbs, beautiful beaches and parks
Cons high price, high taxes and no state political representation as NYC dominates politically with their crazy ideas that undermine your quality of life
Extremely friendly and nonintrusive neighbors, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes, no income or sales tax, no HOA's or overbearing rules and four seasons with a real winter with snow.
Con: Rude tourist in the summer. This was a weekend thing in the past, but since Covid they seem to stay all week long now.
Very happy. It's a diverse, bustling city and I never get tired of walking around. I rarely need to use my car and Center City is a top 3 downtown in the country. Moving here from DC was a great decision - the food scene is better, the city is bigger, and I've been able to buy a condo/rent it out, and also buy a great house in a walkable area.
Cons: It's dirty. Center City is pretty clean as well as most of the affluent neighborhoods, but generally speaking people have a real littering problem here. City leadership - This isn't a democrat/republican thing, I nearly always vote D. But the mayor is chronically absent and doesn't want the job, council people are corrupt at the expense of their districts, the DA doesn't prosecute much and has a terrible relationship with the PD.
Regardless, I'm happy here with no plans of leaving.
Very happy. It's a diverse, bustling city and I never get tired of walking around. I rarely need to use my car and Center City is a top 3 downtown in the country. Moving here from DC was a great decision - the food scene is better, the city is bigger, and I've been able to buy a condo/rent it out, and also buy a great house in a walkable area.
Cons: It's dirty. Center City is pretty clean as well as most of the affluent neighborhoods, but generally speaking people have a real littering problem here. City leadership - This isn't a democrat/republican thing, I nearly always vote D. But the mayor is chronically absent and doesn't want the job, council people are corrupt at the expense of their districts, the DA doesn't prosecute much and has a terrible relationship with the PD.
Regardless, I'm happy here with no plans of leaving.
I've always enjoyed trips to Philly in the past, but some neighborhoods in Philly are absolutely shocking in terms of dirtiness and overall signs of decay. It's like what I imagine New York looked like in the 70s.
I've always enjoyed trips to Philly in the past, but some neighborhoods in Philly are absolutely shocking in terms of dirtiness and overall signs of decay. It's like what I imagine New York looked like in the 70s.
Yeah. The interesting thing about Philly is that unlike other cities with blight, these areas are still densely populated because the city is only about 25% below its peak population of 1950.
In places like Baltimore, Detroit, STL, etc, there are huge swaths of blight/decay but they are vacant as these cities have lost 50% or more of their peak population.
"My Happy Place is the Beach" as all those tacky signs you see at Goodwill and The Dollar Tree and in VRBOs say... But it really is! So as much as I enjoy the mountains and hiking, I'm only truly happy and at peace at the oceanside. Thus, it's been my lifelong dream to move there one day. I am also living in a really small town, and that's not my cup of tea, either (reconciling the two desires and finding a seaside near the city will be a challenge).
Yeah. The interesting thing about Philly is that unlike other cities with blight, these areas are still densely populated because the city is only about 25% below its peak population of 1950.
In places like Baltimore, Detroit, STL, etc, there are huge swaths of blight/decay but they are vacant as these cities have lost 50% or more of their peak population.
I would bet most of the losses are due to deaths or exodus...
I don't put much stock in "Best places to --" polls because different people have different ideas as far as what is a good place to live. So, this post is just to get an idea of how people who actually live in a place feel/think about that place.
So, for anyone who wants to chime in --
Where do you live -- and are you: Very Happy, Mostly Happy, Mostly Unhappy, Very Unhappy, or 'Half and Half'? If you want to offer any explanation for your answer, please do so -- but please remember that these are all nothing but opinions, and that what one person finds to be a definite plus, someone else might consider that to be a definite minus.
I will start:
Door County, Wisconsin -- Very Happy
Beautiful scenery, four seasons climate, many walking trails, mostly affluent rural community, and clean (virtually no trash or graffiti)
Next?
Four seasons seems a stretch being in WI. Winters have to be long, Spring and Fall relatively short.
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