Finding the best place to live in America

[maliakei]

If you were planning to start all over again, what areas would you move to & why?

[marko486]

Having been in the military, I have lived or been to most parts of the states, except the northeast region. there are always pluses and minuses for every place but since I don't really care for where I am at now (greater Dallas area)I too been thinking about moving sometime in the near future. Pensacola/Mobile has appeal for us as we enjoy the ocean but there is the whole Hurricane thing, and that is not expected to get better with global warming and all. I kinda rule out the whole southwest region because of the global warming thing but also have no ties to the area. I grew up in the Ozarks of Missouri which I would still rate highly though it is rural. I would prefer rural if wasn’t for the whole job thing. Right now we are leaning towards Austin TX, Culturally and terrain wise, we like, though the last few years it appears quite a few other got the idea as its population has swelled considerably.

[nimrod]

I do like Southern California, but I am baised since it is where I grew up.

Like any other area it does have its good and bad you just have to weigh them out to see if it is right for you. I do have to say I do not recomend it to any who are thinking of moving here, too many people already straining a dwindling water supply.

[maliakei]

Thanks for the feedback. So far I've narrowed it down to this:

Love rain, ocean, mountains, but no snow. Small city preferable to a big city, but not hours away from the closest airport, hospital, schools. Enjoy earth sciences and hiking trails very much. Kauai is my favorite of the island chain, yet finding more cons vs. pros living here. Still need to research.

[atalanta]

Never having lived in the States I would not venture to give an opinion but I would consider very carefully an area's susceptibility to earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes. Obviously also depends whether one is looking for a retirement home or a base for work. The original post asks "if you were planning to start over", which clearly none of us can do and 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Interesting though to consider which past moves have been good and which, perhaps, wrong. As Maliakei recognizes, not much is black and white in such decisions - there are many shades of grey. Personally, I do not think there is much I would do differently. Economically I made a mistake buying my first home, and also the one before my present one but in that case the pleasure of living there largely compensated. For the record, I have lived (as an adult) in some 15 homes (owned or rented) in 4 different countries.

Of course, what will sway the balance for many people is the location of friends and family.

[GrayWolf]

Western Washington State

[Navigator]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned this yet....and I don't want to be too depressing so I'll be short.

But I would suggest that one of your major concerns would be to decide where it's best to be living to successfully get through a bone crushing deflationary depression. A depression so bad that jobs are much scarcer than in the Great Depression of the 1930's. A depression so bad that there is a good chance of local or regional stopages of police and fire protection and spot shortages of utilities like water, sewer, electric, phone and natural gas as well as shortages of deliveries of food and gasoline to local providers.

I'm not saying that will happen by next week or next month or even next winter. But if you believe the pundits who are saying the recession is about over...ask them where the jobs will come from to make it so.

[marko486]

I did live in the Bremerton/Tacoma area in Washington for a time. other then being a bit rainy for me, It was great place. I like the terrain and the people of the area. Alot of great communities around there.

[Naturist Mark]

I've always dreamed of living in Hawaii, but lately the US Virgin Islands have intrigued me.

[naturalmanwa]

I have lived the greater part of my life in the Pierce county area of Wa. state, and love it. I am planning a move to Tenn. or Miss., due to the taxes and the expense of living here, thanks to our politicians. This is not a place for retired people to live well.

[MoonShadow]

There are so many wonderful places. I have lived and been to a lot of states and one I can say is we have one beautiful country no matter if you at the coasts or in the middle of country.

I plan to move back east and the more I keep hearing from others, I will probably move to one of the Carolinas, maybe North Carolina which is a gorgeous state with mountains and seashore and green as Ireland. I also have talked to friends who are either from there or currently live there and all love the state.

If I had to leave the states, somewhere in the islands would be great for me. :D