Hey, anyone remember November, 2004? Really depressing, I know. Like a lot of people my wife and I seriously considered moving to other countries. She has an EU passport so that would have made things simpler.
As it turned out in the summer of 2005 we sold our house in the NoCal Bay Area, relocated for 7 months to the Kansas City area in a corporate apartment, then at my wife’s request relocated to Colorado.
As it turned out, to an extremely wingnut part of Colorado – north of Colorado Springs. Now, my personal plan was to never move again and I approached things in that manner. But we are reconsidering. Our high school-aged kids are complaining that all of their friends are nuts – you know, earth is 6k years old, Obama is a secret muslim, etc. And in terms of benefits, well, the US sucks. College “benefits” have been reduced to loans that benefit the loan shark industry. Health care, while a lot better with ACA, still pales compared to every other first world country that we lived in. And the people here in redneck land are nucking futs.
So, we’ve opened the door to moving again – something I said I’d never do. Personally, I like Hawaii, especially Kauai or Maui. But wife is concerned that this is too isolated (she may be influenced by having two brothers who moved to New Zealand). I have great opportunities to move to Ireland, which I love (including the north), but which has horrible weather and austerian governments. One of my kids is suggesting something close like Boulder. I want some place that will be able to weather the coming climate disaster reasonably well. Another suggestion was Quebec.
Any suggestions anyone? This is not an urgency – maybe 2-3-4 years from now.
Good question. I haven’t a clue. But sounds as if your kids are smart; so, I’d start with where they see themselves living when they’re adults and all the reasons why.
I like this idea. I would say in addition that as long as the family buys in to the concept of relocating (whether within the US or expatriating), you’ll be in good shape. I’m in the process of considering the next set of possible career moves, so that is something I am confronting.
Thanks for suggestion. I suspect they will live in 4 very different places. One loves the ocean, a second the mountains. A third is focused on aerospace engineering and the fourth the harp, so they will probably move to chase jobs.
I agree with Marie2, this sounds like a viable solution to the problem.
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Rc helicopter with camera
This NRA guy from Texas moved with his family to The Netherlands because of his job. He lives in a beautiful village near Leiden and the North Sea coast. The culture shock was too much for him …
He exclaimed he had never before felt a sense of personal security as he now experiences in his neighborhood. He is astonished as his spouse can take the bus in the evening and walk home 300 yards just before midnight. No need for a gun for one’s safety. He says he will change his view about the NRA lobby.
He still can’t grasp the idea that this is possible in today’s world.
That story is amazing. I’m surprised he can look past the little differences that tend to annoy people about living abroad and see the great positives. Most conservatives really struggle with that.
Sounds like you have a lot of money, so I’d suggest California. If my assumptions are wrong, look hard at Oregon or Washington (state).
“Lot” is relative. We can’t send all 4 kids to whatever college they want and at our current rate I won’t retire until my latter 70s.
But I spend a lot of time in NoCal Bay Area for work and can’t see returning there. The state financial situation is horrible – death by referenda, plus the fact that having only two Senators means being severely shortchanged in terms of federal dollars.
We’d strongly considered Oregon before moving here.
I’m considering climate, both weather and political.
Living 63 out of 69 years in Illinois, I don’t want to see another snowflake in my life. Yet, I can’t stand the stupid in the South or Arizona. Colorado is mixed, but the altitude is bad for my lungs. The places I can afford in California are either high crime, in the Mojave desert, or prone to disastrous flooding. For both climates the Portland or Seattle areas look good. Not sure if the gray skies are a psychic bummer, though.
Well, for your search I’d recommend Nevada County, California and perhaps Ashland, Oregon, if you don’t mind small-but-enlightened towns.
I know Illinois all too well, and back in 1987 after a particularly hard winter in Michigan I vowed never to do that kind of winter again, and I haven’t. Colorado has snow, yes, but when the snow stops the blue skies emerge and the mood is positive – nothing like the midwest 6-months-of-grey-and-slush. Another positive is that in the dry climate the heat doesn’t seem as hot nor the cold as cold as in a humid climate like the midwest.
But you said you have altitude issues, and I get that. Hence Ashland and Nevada County. Ashland is in the south of Oregon and has far more sunny days than the cities to the north. The 10s-months-per-year Shakespeare festival, which is more than a century old IIRC, has made it a really cool town with lots of progressives. The boring big box stores are all 10 miles to the north in Medford. It’s only 2000 ft elevation, but driving distance to ski slopes and lots of great outdoors.
Nevada City, California is a cute little town, paired with Grass Valley, in the center of California. It may be too high for you, though, but it is high enough to avoid the worst of the central valley heat. Alas, winter snow is real, although much less in the lower elevations within the county.
Have you considered Boise, ID? Not a pocket of blue in a very red state but more pink. Cost of living is lower than that on the coast. It’s not without snow but with global warming should become rarer.
Out of curiosity, how did Colorado Springs win out over Portland or Ashland, OR?
(Plenty of reasons not to consider CA but those you list are out-of-date and not long term considerations.)
It’s complicated – but the main point is that I have parents in the Chicago area and while Colorado is somewhat accessible to Chicago the other locations weren’t. And for many years this worked out – my father actually moved out here after many trips and my mother and her second husband (of 40+ years) bought a townhouse and spent 6 months per year here. (We had really tried to deal with a Chicago location like St Charles but just couldn’t.) Alas, one parent is now in a memory care ward and the other can’t travel any more.
Why El Paso County instead of somewhere else in state? Well, it was my wife’s choice (per long agreement) and in late 2005 the crazy hadn’t started yet. Except for the occasional whacked out comment about 9-11 being caused by Iraq (from a school principal!) or similar no one really cared about politics or your religion. The economy was good and the GOP ran the government. Everything changed in early 2009.
Suggest more research before your next move. With Focus on the Family and the AF Academy headquartered there even I knew long ago that Colorado Springs was whacked out: Republican evangelical country. GWB won twice with 63% and 66%. Romney took 60%. Although familial considerations should always trump that. Which is what I was getting at with my first comment. Even if your children end up chasing jobs all over the place, if you and your wife live somewhere they like to consider home, you may see them more often.
I think what happened was that we didn’t consider the local political culture that important in our decision. Colorado Springs has a terrific Symphony and Arts Center, lots of great arts programs for kids, and of course Denver isn’t that far away. So having a lot of right wingers nearby didn’t seem like a problem.
It really took many years of living here to realize that this would have been an important criteria in choosing a place to live. Furthermore, I’m not sure that in 2005-2008 it was that big of a deal – it’s become much, much worse since a black man became President.
I have traveled the world as a musician for nearly 50 years.
My own wish list…in no particular order:
Holland.
Denmark.
(Both beautiful, well-balanced countries. If all or most of Europe doesn’t fall into a right-wing hell, they’ll be great places to live for decades.)
Vancouver, British Columbia. (The most well-balanced great city in North America as far as i am concerned.)
Ireland…the weather’s not that bad and the people are marvelous.
Portland, ME
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA.
Montreal, Quebec and Toronto, Canada
(All close to as well-balanced as is Vancouver, BC)
Anywhere in Vermont. Burlington is wonderful!!!
Ithaca, N.Y The most culturally advanced small city in the U.S.
Hawaii (Of course)
Scotland if it secedes. (Great Britain is nasty. Makes the U.S. look like Shangri-La in many respects. Surveillance up the yin-yang!!!
Outside shots?
Johannesburg. Sure, the country has problems and most of the rest of Africa is totally fucked on any number of levels. However, the times that I have spent in South Africa have been nothing less than magical. Don’t believe the U.S. media hype.
Cuba…it is going to rise from the ashes left by the U.S. blockade/embargo. Soon. Bet on it. The jewel of the Caribbean. By far!!!
Good luck…
AG
P.S. If you make a good choice, can I come visit? I’m afraid that I am destined to be a NYC lifer. So it goes.
You got the right state (that is if you’re planning to stay in the US), just one of the strangest parts! There is a world within Colorado, just do your research a little bit deeper!
A better question: What are you looking for or what are your likes and dislikes?
Longer term, the outlook for Colorado is a whole lot nicer than many places. Remember…. Colorado is the high ground in the continental US.
Good points. Before agreeing to move here I did look at the climate change forecasts for this area and realized it will do better than most.
I am also interested in people’s answers because my job is so flexible. I can’t leave the continental US, however.
Hawaii might be good, but terrible traffic and it’s pretty expensive. I’ve got my own eyes on Denver or Seattle.
If you don’t want to do the car thingy, Portland might be better than either Denver or Seattle.
Eh if I moved out there I’d probably succumb to a car. However, Portland is a third choice!
It’s been thirty years since I was in Denver and forty since Seattle. I was impressed with Seattle but Denver seemed to be one giant slum. I was afraid of being jumped the whole time I was there. Near constant police sirens didn’t help. Reminded me of Norfolk VA. Colorado Springs was better, but I think it’s very right wing and religious.
Denver is nothing like that today. Keep in mind that the peak of the crime waves was in the 1980s – and that current research suggests the biggest cause was air-based lead poisoning from leaded gasoline.
The neighborhoods in which you used to fear for your life in are now the hippest parts of town. The whole place is walkable + bikeable, with rented bikes available everywhere and light rail for longer trips. There has been incredible investment into museums and entertainment.
https://www.google.com/search?q=confluence+park+denver&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS576US576&espv=2&t
bm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=aIKYU5nmLYKtyASxhoCwAw&ved=0CBwQsAQ&biw=16
00&bih=815
Part of why Hickenlooper got the Governor position was that he was so respected as mayor for all the improvements he made.
Glad to hear it. It was 1983 when I was there.
Meanwhile, in that same 30 years Colorado Springs has just sprawled – with no clear direction or vision and people who care about community stuff like orchestras or trails have had to fight for it with little government support (as the local right wing council has mostly been about helping developers). The nice pockets near Colorado College, old Colorado City, and Manitou Springs have thrived with a lot of effort, but otherwise it’s a stark example of auto-centric American sprawl.
I’m in New York’s Hudson Valley, about 40 or so miles north of NYC. Lots of pretty scenery and access to many educational/cultural opportunities, both here and in NYC. Not the bluest part of the state but you won’t feel alone here.
Lot’s of snow?
Yes, but it can’t be too much worse than Colorado.
heh — was one of my first thoughts after seeing the interests/aspirations of GreenCaboose’s children. Based on proximity to city, mountains, and music, and more easily accessible to public transportation and airports than many other places.
Thanks for the suggestion but I don’t think I could stand being that close to NYC. I fly through Newark a lot on the way to Europe, usually with the window seat, and can’t imagine that kind of traffic just to get to an airport.
Upper New England and New York are attractive – but if going in that direction I’d opt for Montreal.
Newark. Maybe it’s changed but I remember looking out the airplane window at Newark Airport in the ’70s (It was a layover) and thinking, “If this was my city, I’d burn it down too.”
Add “easy access” to major airport for travel to NorCal and Europe to your list of criteria. Newport Beach/Irvine is an easy commute to NorCal. Wouldn’t know about Europe.