Does a place like this exist?

Post Reply New Topic

Oh yeah, Tennessee. If you don't mind the Jesus people, Tennessee is beautiful. There are like a zillion caves, lots of waterfalls, absolutely beautiful nature. I visited there a few years ago and almost wanted to move there (if it weren't for the Jesus people - they were really nice, though). I'm sure there's a college town around somewhere that would be tolerable. Maybe even Nashville?

Albuquerque, New Mexico

very low cost of living
politically moderate-to-liberal
socially liberal
no natural disasters

Austin, Texas. Degree is preferable. Cuts down on living expenses cuz in reality you're actually making more.

What about the costs of air conditioning and heating? If you take those utilities into account some places are pretty expensive.

Nope--expensive here and a Repub county. It's the damn commuters. Live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and work in Sac.

Yeah, I've heard that is a fab place to live....

What about the upper west coast? I know Seattle is expensive but maybe somewhere near, wait they probably get natural disasters.
Australia, ask what the "Aussie Wave" is.
I really wouldn't want to go back there and I toured everywher but thr nothern part. Functional alcoholics and swearing was too much for me.
If you want liberal stay out of Cincinnati.
Theres a number of non western places Ive been but being a westerner targets you as a cash cow.
I'm really curious about Canada, but I know its got to be cold.

screw america, come over to the UK, virtually no natural disasters, reasonably cheap housing in alot of places, and the political alinement of the place shifts constantly

Seattle was the place I was considering, but yes, it is expensive. (actually it was my third choice, because my first two choices--San Francisco and New York--were too expensive. Yes, I know NYC isn't southern or western, but I do hear it's a cool place!)

My focus had been on the Pacific Northwest. Pretty much anywhere north of the SF Bay Area is immune from wildfires, and there is only a very tiny risk of tsunamis. I don't know how expensive the rest of Washington State or Oregon are, and I know Idaho is dirt cheap (but also extremely conservative).

Tim

Bar Harbor, Maine used to fit that description . . . until the affordable housing disappeared along with the jobs.

I know Vermont is left-leaning, but amenities (chain restaurants and stores) are very rare outside of Burlington. And no jobs in my field (geology--which is why I am focusing on the southern and western states).

I would freak out without my Chili's and my Best Buy.

Tim

Asheville, NC is known for being like a smaller version of Austin, TX. I've visited both places, and I think I would rather live in Asheville. Austin is experiencing alarmingly rapid growth due to its reputation as a fun place to live. Therefore, traffic is horrific and there aren't always a lot of jobs. People who have lived there a long time are growing resentful of all the newcomers. Also, in the punk rock scene (which I know you're not into), there are a lot of trendy people who care about the look more than the music. But there are plenty of nice people too; otherwise I wouldn't go there to visit people at least once a month.

I think Ukiah, CA (sp?) might fit your description. I've visited there and the people I met seemed to love their town. It's in hilly Northern CA. It has a thriving music scene, an organic food co-op, and a Buddhist monastery with a vegan restaurant. There are lots of weird people and windy roads going up steep, densely wooded hills. I got the impression that it was not expensive to live there, unlike other parts of Northern CA.

And, of course, a lot of people like Eugene, OR, but I've also heard that it has a high unemployment rate.

A: The four corners states, around the corners where they join aren't very disasterous. No tornadoes nessisarily, because of the mountains, though strong winds do come through now and then. Flooding might happen if there is enough rain to start with. No active volcanoes that I know about. EArthquakes have been pretty few, and quite minor, because they started elsewhere in the state.

B: I don't know a thing about it. I doubt they are very liberal. Does it really matter?

C: I don't know, but it's probably better than Houston Texas or California. You can either pay rent or own a home. Six rooms in the suberbs to trailors in the country side. Take your pick.

And yes, these four states, Utah, New Mexico, Colarado, and Arizona, are very middle and westurn United States. South NM. sometimes has tornadoes, and there is one volcano, but that's about it for N.M. besides it's dry climate which most plants just don't like much.

a. Only real worry around here is falling into a sinkhole (most areas are undermined) or if you choose riverfront property...flooding.

b. Most have seen it, done it, or have been related to someone that has...maybe not liberal, but fairly tolerant and keep their mouths shut for the most part.

c. Living is fairly cheap, but the poverty level is pretty high in places.

Eugene, Oregon is an autistic friendly town and, while western Oregon isn't the cheapest place around, a lot of Eugene people are into coops and other ways to live cheaply. Lots of idealistic people live there.

Tim, we have had major wildfires here in Oregon, as well as earthquakes. In fact, we're due for a 9.0. Oh yeah, and flooding. Big time. Lost my house in 1996. It happened to folks again, this December.