Where would you move?

[azwildcat96]

I've decided that my current job is just not fun anymore. So, I've started looking at other opportunities around the country (and possibly the world). My question to you all is: Where would you move to and why?

I won't quit my current job wotout a replacement, so I don't plan to move anytime soon, but the research has to start somewhere.

I am currently looking at Eastern Washington State, Oregon, parts of Texas (San Antonio, Austin, Dallas), and North Carolina. I welcome more reasons to go to any of these places, but I am interested in other places that I may be overlooking as well.

Maybe not why I should move there, but why are you there, or why would you move there?

Weather? Job opportunities? Social or cultural activities? Open spaces? Big city or small town?

[artificer]

Belize, Ambergris Caye, San Pedro town.

I'd buy a dozen jet skis and rent them out to tourists. Bare feet, great weather, ocean breezes, fruit grows on the trees and fish swim round right off shore.

Probably not much help for you and your situation. But when my wife has finally had enough, that's what I want to do.

[flyingshamrock]

I'm an east coast guy born and raised. I have to have all 4 seasons and a plethora of fresh seafood. Steamahs and bake stuffed lobstahs! And Nothing beats an ice cold beer with a fenway frank watching the game from the Monstah!

[chrisupyonder]

I have not travelled the world but I have worked all over the UK. I have been on holidays to Spain, Madeira island, Mallorca, Minorca, Spain, Austria, Germany, Belgium and France.
We moved to the North of Scotland 15 years ago. Almost no crime. Not much traffic, wonderful scenery and beaches. But no big cities, nearest is Inverness, 3 hours drive away.
I would not live anywhere else and I do not like a hot climate.

Chris.

[ForresterModern]

Although raised a midwesterner and back in the area (Louisville) I don't think I would stay here if not for the great job and being close to family in their twilight years.
As my other passions are snowboarding, flyfishing, cycling, hiking, travel and photography I think my "where would I live if I won the lottery" place would probably be the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, or Utah, possibly as far north as southwestern Montana or as far west as the Reno-Tahoe area. But the only way I could make a decent living in any of those places would be to work by computer remotely and on off hours---not the most pleasant of employments IMHO.

If money and employment were absolutely NO factor I might seriously consider moving to the Fife region of Scotland---great golf, beautiful scenery, and only a couple hours away from the opportunities o do all those other things I love, as well as wear a kilt without sticking out like a sore thumb.

[AKScott]

I travelled professionally from North Carolina for about ten years. Mostly I did laps by car between Los Angeles, Atlanta and NYC/Boston. Houston. Seattle. Orlando.

I love Fairbanks because I don't have to lock my house or my cars, we have parking spaces big enough to open the car door without scrathing or denting the fella next door, world class hiking, hunting and fishing. There was one time last fall I had to wait for a second green light to get my turn across the busiest intersection in town. It was -48 when I got up this morning, I think we might have gotten up to the minus 30s for a bit today, but what with only four hours of daylight each day in the winter it was kind of hard to tell.

What I have noticed is every place has some wonderful qualities about it, but those qualities always come at a price. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, something. You'll have to decide for yourself, helps to have a short list of poisions you can't stand, and world class qualities you do want.

There is no bad weather, but there are inappropriate clothing choices.

[madmacs]

I hear Nice is nice...

Or I could kick the encumbents out of duart castle... Or rebuild a lamont stronghold in dunoon... or a nice beach shack and a surfboard on the north shore of scotland (thurso)... Or...

[Father Bill]

Come on up to Canada! We like people, and we're polite!

[LitTrog]

Denver/Colorado front range

Weather: 300 days of sunshine, 60 degrees F in January sometimes! (Also -5 F, just so you're aware)

Jobs: Depends upon your skills, I suppose.

Social/Cultural: Big. Not as big as some other metro areas, but very nice if you look for it. Many street fests, good concert venues. See also ForresterModern's post!

Open Spaces: Oh, yeah.

Big city/small town: Yes

Plus, (selfishly) we Denverites would get to hang out with you at kilt nights! Come and look. I'll put you up at our house for a few nights. Seriously!

[Steve of Lansing]

If I'm still working, I'll stay in Michigan, but my lottery house is in someplace with huge forests, good fishing and hunting, nice warm summers, and good snowy winters. Think Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, or someplace in Montana or Colorado.