Confessions of an addict

[urbpan]

I left my coffee on the counter this morning, so I went without until our break. I did manage to eat breakfast this morning, so I wasn't completely without energy. But my mood was in the toilet. I was glumly contemplating the "where are we going to move?" conversation cottonmanifesto and I had last night (see behind the cut if you are interested--most of you have read it before, but if you would like to help us out, by all means go ahead). I was despondent. Also my coworker, a competent but high strung person, was emanating so much anxiety about various issues at work, that I was near an anxiety attack. Until I had coffee I just shut down into myself.

Then I had coffee! Things aren't so bad! A move will be an adventure! We can work through our problems!
It's so weird to observe my mood, and how dependent it is on a chemical.



We want to move after my stepdaughter graduates high school. We have some very specific requirements that we aren't willing to budge on. Most of these we agree on. How reasonable these requirements are is up for debate: some are probably harder to acheive than others; some may be impossible, who knows? We don't fully agree on all of these requirements, which we obviously need to settle before trying to find a place.

cottonmanifesto requires: Near to the ocean (within a hours drive or so); Relatively warm (Rarely freezes, rarely snows, if ever); house not attached to other houses; at least a small yard (1/4 acre at least?, more preferable); job access: hospital/medical school

urbpan requires: Relatively warm (Rarely freezes, rarely snows, if ever); Near to city (what's my username again?); Community of like-minded people nearby (I'm scared of rednecks + bible thumpers); job access: zoo/wildlife center.

The issue we discussed last night is my fear that the area we were looking at (at that moment--it changes frequently), Humboldt county California, was not sufficiently urban for my comfort. Her worry was that any place urban enough for my comfort, that had a yard, would be out of our price range (300k or lower).

But as I said, now that I have some caffeine in me, I'm not letting uncertainty ruin my life. We'll figure it out.

Suggestions are welcome.

Comments

I vote for Austin, TX

[ndozo.livejournal.com]

It sounds like Austin Texas might suit you both. I know it's in Texas but it's a blue city in a red state. Sophisticated, livable, liberal, some city-ishness, nice nature nearby. Wonderfully diverse and tolerant. Great restaurants. Better cheaper ethnic food than New York City I think. Sweet little houses with yards, especially affordable if school district is not an issue. Do a search of real estate in East Austin. A little far from the ocean (they go for a weekend, not for the day) but the Gulf Coast accessible. Padre Island is lovely. Back in Austin there are lots of free natural and manmade swimming places all around the city including a natural hot spring that is made to flow through a pool, and the wonderful Barton Springs. Don't know about a zoo, but lots of wildlife that needs managing. Main downside is that you really have to drive almost anywhere and the roads are kind of confusing. Jet Blue just started service from Boston to Austin.
I enjoy your posts. Thanks.

Re: I vote for Austin, TX

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Austin is WAY cheapo! :)

Re: I vote for Austin, TX

[morrigandaughtr.livejournal.com]

Austin: home of a whole lot of Witches I know. It's a good place.

[miz-geek.livejournal.com]

Hey, by the time it's really an issue, global warming will have raised sea levels enough that everywhere will be a couple hours from the ocean.

[grrlpup]

Portland area? Hillsboro is an hour, maybe hour and a half from the Oregon coast, and the Oregon coast is all public and therefore the best coast in the nation. :)

My dad grew up in Hillsboro when it was a little farm town, but now the light-rail goes right to downtown Portland. Hospital/med school would be Oregon Health Sciences University, zoo would be Oregon Zoo, right on Highway 26 between Hillsboro and downtown.

Caveats: prices are going up and up for housing, and the job market is still tight. Craigslist would give you a pretty good snapshot of what's available. Most of all, the grayness and rain are too much for some people, and it's hard to tell how much it will get to you until you try it for a few years.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

I can tell right now that I will want to slit my wrists after 5 days of rain.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

Come check out southern England! We don't have a zoo in this town but Marwell's not far away...

...well, it's a nice thought, anyway. I have too many friends I'll probably never meet in the flesh.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

The weather is crap hon, no offense. :)

[droserary.livejournal.com]

Have you considered the Pacific Northwest?

I just moved here from Pennsylvania. I too appreciate places that don't get that cold. It rarely dips below freezing and thus people's idea of "cold" here is practically nothing! I haven't even had to bundle up with my scarf yet this year. The winters can be very rainy (35 consecutive days of rain this year), but it's worth it for the low-80s, low humidity (locals will tell you 50% humidity is high for this area), gorgeous summers I keep hearing about. Spring comes early--crocuses, daffodils, and cherry trees are already blooming.

On clear days, I can see Mount Rainier and Mount Olympus in the distance. And here in Olympia, I'm about an hour and a half away from the ocean, though I'm much closer to the Puget Sound.

Olympia is a small city, Seattle is a nice-sized city, or you could go for my favorite city in America--Portland! The mass transit system is superb, public space (Pioneer Square--"Portland's living room") is incredible, and most importantly, there is the Portland Zoo and I'm sure many other job opportunities.

My only concern is that it would be out of your price range, though I'm sure there are places that could meet your requirements that are just outside of the city. Best of all, the community seems to be mostly progressive. The people you fear are also the people I fear, but I've found a few of them so far. There is a large military presence here near Olympia, so much of the balancing act is between the military mindset and the uber-liberal academic factions.

From what I've seen, this area is only going to grow in the next ten years. Good luck figuring out the move!

[hhw]

again - that consecutive rain stuff is misleading, because it really means "there was some form of precipitation for 35 days in a row." Part of that was hours of steady rain, but it did not pour continuously for an entire month.

also, Portland is a bit drier than the Puget Sound area.

[hhw]

droserary - I didn't mean to sound like I thought you were saying it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. I was responding to cottonmanifesto's concerns about rain above.

more about Portland

[hhw]

300K is still an option in the greater Portland area. It can even be done within city limits, although the yard requirement makes it a little harder. but not at all impossible (and I know a great realtor). The Portland Audubon Society has a small wildlife center (mostly for injured animals, afaik). The Metro regional government has several staff naturalist positions.

If the medical school requirement is related to being a medical student, OHSU is it. but there's also a nursing program at Linfield College's Portland center. And there are a couple of Chinese medicine programs as well as the National College of Naturopathic Medicine.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Just a note from me to the commenters.

This is a major life move. Literally, the main reason we're moving is to get the hell away from the climate here. There's no point in moving if it's just going to be to a climate that's equally (even if it's for some other reason) distasteful. Really, Boston is great for a million and one reasons but damn, I just can't take the crappy weather any more.

[hhw]

I understand - climate was a big reason I moved TO Portland from the northeast corridor. And obviously one person's crap is another person's paradise. I hated hot steamy summers much more than I dislike cool cloudy winters (which I generally enjoy, actually), and so Cascadia works for me. I hope you can find your paradise!

[by-steph.livejournal.com]

I second Austin, TX. We are in the midst of our own agony in contemplating a move - nay, PLANNING a move! Anyhow, my favoritest town is Austin. It is bikeable compared to any other place in Texas. Lance Armstrong has really made an impact on cycling issues in Austin. The city is also making a huge effort on their jogging/cycling trails. They also have Critical Mass events and the Yellow Bike Project. Our other option is Houston but that's only because our job prospects are better there than in Austin. It's not the 'droid you are looking for. Galveston, TX might work though! It's got Moody Gardens which might have work for you. It's another little liberal enclave in TX, the housing prices are starting to rise but they aren't silly yet. It is an island so you can't get much closer to the ocean. Galveston has lots of cultural events but it's also close to Houston if you need The Big City (which is "purple" in a red state).

[by-steph.livejournal.com]

http://www.moodygardens.com/rainforest-pyramid.html

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

This idea has come up before, and it sounds pretty good. We have at least one friend there (kkbb), and she likes it, but is (ironically) planning to move to Portland.

My main worry is, if we drive an hour in any direction, won't we wind up in Texas? Scary.

[ndozo.livejournal.com]

Cheap fares to austin, go check it out. Costa Rica?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Costa Rica would be a good place to retire to! I went there with my dad a couple years ago and loved it. I don't think we could work there, though. (Neither of us is good with Spanish, and I don't think they pay what we're used to.)

I'd love to check out Austin. I am worried that I would feel like I lived on an island however.

[maybethecat.livejournal.com]

come to northern NY, home of more crazy people than you can shake a stick at, the place were the military sends troops from Alaska for winter training, one of the highest tax zones in america, place of the blizzard of 77, and ice storm of 99, a land of people with thick blood and grumpy faces
come stay a while;-P

[http://users.livejournal.com/purplebunnie_/]

I'm still a proponant of Humboldt. Of course, I'm from an extremly small town, so it's more than urban enough for me.

Can you describe in more detail what you mean by "urban enough"?

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd like to know what that means too. :)

san diego or north carolina

[belen1974.livejournal.com]

are my suggestions.

san diego - b/c i might move there at some point (if not northern CA or portland or overseas)

and north carolina for the weather. hot and steamy.

Re: san diego or north carolina

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

You should move with us when we move!!

Fear of TX outside Austin

[ndozo.livejournal.com]

You know, I understand your fear of Texas outside of Austin. I'm a new england raised yankee, now a new yorker, super liberal, grew up on Easy Rider/ Okie from Muskogee ideas of what Rednecks do to hippies etc. But having been to Austin and other parts of Tx. it turns out it's really not true. You probably won't get beaten up if you have long hair or vote democratic unless you want to. Rednecks can be really nice and funny and smart. If you think about how you feel about them, you might find that it's a kind of prejudice based on a lack of first-hand information. (I'm hoping you weren't stomped by a pack of crazy rednecks as a kid or something.) I think it's kind of like the way people feel about New York City. From a distance it seems dangerous, but when you get there you realize that it's mostly a nice safe city and the danger is identified and avoidable for the most part. There's random stuff everywhere. And the thing about Texas is that it's the south, so they mostly have really good manners. Even if they hate you, they most likely won't tell you. I visited Beaumont, close to Vidor, birthplace of the KKK. I was worried that everyone would be racist pinheads.The people I met there were wonderful. Also, more in TX than anywhere else I've been, people who disagree on politics can be friends and still talk about politics. It's a more tolerant culture in some ways. That said, I don't know what the experience outside of Austin would be like for a person of color. Also, the best vegan restaurant anywhere is in Austin. I'm not even vegan and I love it.

Re: Fear of TX outside Austin

[ms-cantrell.livejournal.com]

they are VERY nice. i have a huge pack of in-laws in rural texas, and they and their community are very welcoming to me when i visit. however, they also tell my children about jesus, ask me if being a vegetarian has to do with my religious beliefs and then choke a little when i tell them i have no religious beliefs. one of them, who made me a great veggie quiche the next day, told me that she'd pray for my family. thankfully, she took it well when i laughed at her, but it was honestly that funny and weird.

[ms-cantrell.livejournal.com]

i'm from the desert, even though i live outside seattle. but if you like desert, tucson has some cool areas, you could get a good-sized house with a good yard for 300k or less, and they have a medical school at UA. and there are a lot of tree-huggers, lots of xeriscaping, and many many different kinds of animals and plants all still living in many parts of the city. admittedly, it's not urban like boston, seattle, or sf, but it is a city, and it's actually the longest continually inhabited city in the US (about 2000 years).

[ms-cantrell.livejournal.com]

well, i read your definition of 'urban enough' and tucson qualifies. but, again, it's desert.

[meryddian.livejournal.com]

cottonmanifesto requires: Near to the ocean (within a hours drive or so); Relatively warm (Rarely freezes, rarely snows, if ever); house not attached to other houses; at least a small yard (1/4 acre at least?, more preferable); job access: hospital/medical school

urbpan requires: Relatively warm (Rarely freezes, rarely snows, if ever); Near to city (what's my username again?); Community of like-minded people nearby (I'm scared of rednecks + bible thumpers); job access: zoo/wildlife center.
___________________

I would happily recommend Chicago to you, except the air quality here blows, and it's cold about half the year. (But only 2/3 the snow of CT - in fact, in the 7 years I've lived here, I've seen relatively little snow. But the COLD just kills me.)

I would also recommend Boulder, CO, which is an awesome place to live, but again: the cold factor. The again, due to elevation, Boulder gets 70+ degree days in the middle of January...

I lived 4 years in Raleigh, NC. I worked in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, and used to drive down to Wilmington, NC, quite often. (nearest ocean beaches to Raleigh are about 2 hours; but there's some sizeable lakes within an hour). Personally, I loved it, although *most* of the bar culture in both cities is of course, student-based. Still, Chapel Hill has the largest concentration of PhDs in the country, the weather's awesome, the cost of living is reasonable. Not sure about houses as I've always lived in apartments. Also not sure about zoo/wildlife centers as I've never looked into that. :) NC was awesome. :)

I also love the entire SF Bay area ranging from Monterey/Carmel all the way up to Mendocino. Had I the means, I'd happily move to Santa Rosa (about 1 hour north of San Francisco; sufficiently suburban to satisfy my inner Yankee; about an hour from various beaches; and of course, easy access to wine country, oo la la). However - anywhere within 90 min. of commute to SF is not cheap, but with the softening of the real estate market, there may be some improvements in costs. (When I spent a month working in Palo Alto in 2000, the costs were already insane and they continued to go up; but CA real estate is crazy pretty much... anywhere).

[meryddian.livejournal.com]

OH yeah one other thing about Raleigh is that there are a *lot* of Yankee transplants so it's not all redneck. ;)

In fact one of the jokes there is that Cary, the suburb on the west side of the city, stands for "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees".