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.

[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.

[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]

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

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

The weather is crap hon, no offense. :)

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

ah well. was a nice thought. :)

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

You know I'd love to live near you, but we're totally not environmentally compatible. :)

[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!

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

Spike and I still want to move to the Falkland Islands, so... no, probably not...

[hhw]

it's rarely non-stop pouring rain but rather misty drizzle that comes and goes throughout the day. Most days have some sort of cloud break through which blue sky is visible. And then it rarely rains at all from July - September.

[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.

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]

Yeah. Definitely not for me. :)

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Brrrrrrrr!!!!!

[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.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

It's not really *that* misleading. If it's cloudy here (not even necessarily raining) for more than 3 days, I get all funky.

[hhw]

doesn't Humboldt country have similiar weather?

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Also, our dog Charlie hates the rain even more than he hates the cold. :(

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Not according to the Chambers of Commerce in towns around there.

[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]

ah well; I'll stop pushing PDX. :-)

Re: I vote for Austin, TX

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Austin is WAY cheapo! :)

[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).

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your input though. I don't mean to seem so negative, but when a major complicated move is in the works, I want to move to a place I'm going to love.