I could handle the size if there was anything else nearby, and if it weren't so hard/expensive/long to get out somewhere else.
For example, allow me to tell you about a town called Ozark, Alabama. If you drive down US 231 through my fair state, you'll eventually pass a Wal-Mart across the street from an Arby's. That's Ozark.
I'm exaggerating a bit, but I have described in full Ozark's nightlife and the overwhelming majority of other activities in the town when it's not High School Football season. In the long run, it doesn't take much to appear more glamorous than that. Though, i've got to say, there's one thing small towns have that cities don't: a sky. You never know how much you can miss the stars until you can't see them anymore.
I love the city and my girlfriend loves the country, so we settle for the suburbs, although I wouldn't mind moving up to Edinburgh, beautiful combination of city and country.
Living in the south sucks right now. Especially southern small cities like where I live.
Flip side being, there's no gaming community here. Like, at all. There's a hobby store that rocks, but it's fallen on hard times since a GW opened next door, thus robbing it of its 40k sales (the by far most popular game around here). And for RPGs, nada. The few gamers there are play Das Schwarze Auge, a German D&D clone, and nobody's up for classical D&D, WoD, CoC, Star Wars, or any of that fun stuff.
Plus, political opinion is divided between utter cynics and unrealistic neo-liberal (in the German sense, nothing to do with the American Democrats) moral relativists. Drives you nuts on election days.
Anyhow, once I get the means, I consider going either to Canada or the US. I spent a year over there, and never have I so fallen in love with a country as that year.
I'd really like to live in Canada. It's a nice place. Cold weather. Good gaming community. Fewer people with "truck nuts."
It's not that. It's just that I notice a lot of people want to move out of the country/small towns and into the big city (which, for some reason, is always described as being glamorous).
Then you most talk to a lot of weird people... that or just to many of one kind of people.
I like things quieter, slower moving and with less people. I live in a now city that is growing quickly. It still has a small town feel but it is growing quickly. It basically has the population of a city but with less to do than a small town. I don't really like it hear but it wouldn't bother me too much to stay here if need be. If I did move to where I wanted then it would probably be a small town near a city or large town. I don't want to be too far away from the electronics that I enjoy.
It's not that. It's just that I notice a lot of people want to move out of the country/small towns and into the big city (which, for some reason, is always described as being glamorous).
Um ... maybe I should be a little clearer. I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 8 years before moving up to Anchorage, Alaska in 2006.
I have no illusions about the city being "glamorous", I just prefer it to living in a small town.
I also noted that I would be OK with the size of Anchorage if it wasn't so isolated. Most people don't realize how far away Alaska is, and it's very hard to visit family (which is important now that I have a son), or how little there is around it. I'm not a "nature" person - I don't really like camping/hunting/fishing/etc, so a lot of what Alaska has to offer isn't my style.
So, um, watch your assumptions about why someone prefers something, OK?
I live in AR right now, but I'm moving back to PA in about two weeks. I'm really looking forward to that, since most of my close friends and family are in PA.
Whereabouts in PA are you from? I lived in PA until I was 18, and most of my family is there.
That, and Phoenix was really cool. My husband, baby, and I went back for a few days in January, and I realized how much I missed it!
Luckily, I don't live there anymore, so I can resist the urge. :D
Ah. I grew up in King of Prussia, then moved out to Doylestown/Perkasie area (about 2 hours NE of Philly). It was a ... change. I think, actually, that move is part of what made me prefer cities. The people out in the country where I was were very insular, and I didn't like that (especially as the "new kid").
That, and Phoenix was really cool. My husband, baby, and I went back for a few days in January, and I realized how much I missed it!
There is an actual settlement named King of Prussia? F****ng awesome...
Also, Re: Big Cities, I fail to see the appeal.
There is an actual settlement named King of Prussia? F****ng awesome...
Yup. I grew up with it, and I still thought it was cool. ;)
I went to college close to Pittsburgh, and I recall most people having a very strong hatred for Philly. I'm not a huge sports fan, so I never really cared one way or the other, but it seems the east and west are destined to destroy each other.
Yeah, I'm not that big of a sports fan (though I will always root for my Philly teams), but having just visited, many of my family are huge fans. My younger sister and her husband get into fights over the Flyers and the Devils (Philly and Jersey hockey).
Um ... maybe I should be a little clearer. I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for 8 years before moving up to Anchorage, Alaska in 2006.
I have no illusions about the city being "glamorous", I just prefer it to living in a small town.
I also noted that I would be OK with the size of Anchorage if it wasn't so isolated. Most people don't realize how far away Alaska is, and it's very hard to visit family (which is important now that I have a son), or how little there is around it. I'm not a "nature" person - I don't really like camping/hunting/fishing/etc, so a lot of what Alaska has to offer isn't my style.
So, um, watch your assumptions about why someone prefers something, OK?
I did not realize my thought, in this case, was so acerbic.
if you look at the numbers, my province has 140,402 people in it and i grew up in a small side street outside a village with a population of 380 people. the nearest town is 20 minutes from Wellington an has 14,500. it's the 2nd largest city in the province. i live in the largest city, charlottown, which has a pop of 32,100.
rural is an understatement from where i live.
i did move to Moncton, new brunswick, for a year due to studies an it was four times the population of ch'town. it was different, to say the least to be in an actual "City". i liked it but moved back home due to personal reasons.
if i could, i would probably move to a larger city. larger cities generally have a larger variety of things to do and is usually more exciting to live in. you also have access to things that smaller cities don't, which is convenient. i'm happy here and i really don't feel like moving at the moment, but if the opportunity presented itself, i probably would move.
I used to hate Cincy, especially having to hopscotch across Ohio, namely due to mom's divorce, schooling, financial, and vocational endeavors. But, wound up here for the long term '88 or so. That said, just been jumping from one residency to another in the city at large. Currently, where 74 meets 275 in my little sh-tball townhouse sorta' in the country; lots of deer, wild turkeys, 1 fox, racoons, stray cats, rabbits, tons of frogs, and about 15 different species of birds since g/f put in the feeder...which also brought the hawks that love the birds who love our feeder, heh. Circle of life.
Cincy has good character (very old, traditional), but it stagnates often. King's Island, Reds, Bengals (not for me), Cyclones (awesome year), symphony is good, 2 good art haus theatres, plenty of NA & AMC ones too. Big arenas for huge shows, Bogart's and other clubs for smaller fare (seen many bands there). Nightlife is fair. Club scene is getting better, slowly. Most of those attractions are downtown, so 20-30min from the outter belt.
Across the river though (Newport, KY), it's all the rage. Packed, every fri/sat night, thousands of ppl. This is cuz' our city leaders/politicians suck badly (supposed to be on the Ohio side of the river). Cincy politics is a joke; laughing stock of other, more prestigious cities. Crime is manageable, but stay out of "OTR" at all costs. Some predation around UC and other lower income areas, but not nearly as bad as student housing areas around OSU in Columbus.
Massive college population (UC and Xavier namely) which has fostered a good gaming community. Plenty of gamers and game/comic shops, not all I would associate with though. The bohemian intelligencia as I call them, seem to be the gaming nexus in Clifton, the UC district where most hipsters traffic. Lots of bars, shops, conert venues. Typical for that area. Out here in the perimeter where I live, not so much. Kinda' rural, 20 minute (highway) commute to downtown where I work. It's worth the perks where I live to be a bit removed, but not so far out.
Parks and libraries are outstanding, weather can suck. Ohio can get hammered w/ blizzards and scorching summers (particularly in the Miami Valley or 7 Hills of Cincy [traps air]). Tornados, occaisional flood, etc. You gotta' have a car though. Mass transit sucks here. Funny, considering the old subway network that never got off the ground here; huge money pit (see city govt. again and their bungeling).
.In terms of weather, I don't think i'm brave or tolerant enough to live in the Midwest
To be fair, my former gamer Trent, moved to Portland and I saw his pics of your Winter '08-'09 on LJ...damn. Hoth has nothing on you guys. Rains a lot there, no?
Midwest: it's not as bad as most expect. 3 heavy snow falls this cycle, manageable, couple days off work, not so bad. Last "nastiness" was Sept 14th's windstorm. F'ed up several hundred thousand homes; mostly power out for about a week due to limbs, no appreciable dmg beyond that. I got off easy though, but I did survive a viscious tornado in '89 though. These ppl about a 1/4 mile away of me, not so lucky. Behold Talos' wrath
:
Yeah, they just moved into the neighborhood that night, and blam-o! Bad luck. What you can't see on the deadzone is a stuffed U-Haul (full size, very heavy) completely overturned w/ all their worldly possessions strewn about. Never forget that; freaking housewife, crying kids, husband damned near catatonic on the front lawn ealier (don't think they were insured yet).
The irony is we (very close by) only lost a couple trees, downed power line, nothing major. Friend's house across the street though, completely annhilated.
I guess it's not so bad. No Katrinas or subarctic Hells to endure, but I'll be damned if the valley/hills didn't foster worse allergies. At least we're close to Indie (Gencon).
Yes!
To be fair, my former gamer Trent, moved to Portland and I saw his pics of your Winter '08-'09 on LJ...damn. Hoth has nothing on you guys. Rains a lot there, no?
Yeah, it does rain a lot. The last snow storm was bad, but consistent snow fall is pretty rare around here.
---
I spent a summer in Omaha: it was very muggy and the insects...oh god the insects. Nothing like driving down a country road only to have to squeegee guts off the windshield and front grill at the nearest gas station, which had a large cloud of insects too (I think the former were dragonflies, the latter were just flies).
It sucks. I just moved to Phoenix from the SF Bay Area because rent is about half as much while incomes are only a little lower. But man, when you're here you see why Phoenix is cheap. There are some OK parts, but for the most part it's a dump, like being in Sacramento. And the public transportation sucks. And hotness, f-ing hotness!
Yeah, I said that at first too. Moving there from PA was ... harsh! I kept asking where the trees were! But it grew on me and I ended up really liking it. I hope the same happens to you (because it's miserable living in a place you can't stand, not because I want everyone to love Phoenix)! :D
But I do like the SF area. I'd move there in a heartbeat if I could.
It sucks. I just moved to Phoenix from the SF Bay Area because rent is about half as much while incomes are only a little lower. But man, when you're here you see why Phoenix is cheap. There are some OK parts, but for the most part it's a dump, like being in Sacramento. And the public transportation sucks. And hotness, f-ing hotness!
That seems a bit harsh comparing it to Sacramento like that. That's like saying it's as bad as living in the 9th layer of hell as a slave or some such. Also, while dissing Phoenix like that you are kind of raising Sacramento higher than what it should be. That ain't cool. That ain't cool at all.
I will have to agree that SF is one of the better places to be. It's definitely better than Sacramento.
ass slave
Wut? :P
Wut? :P
You know what I mean you deviant. :P
You know what I mean you deviant. :P
Yes I do. That's why I'm all stiff an' stuff. ;) :P
Yeah, I said that at first too. Moving there from PA was ... harsh! I kept asking where the trees were! But it grew on me and I ended up really liking it. I hope the same happens to you (because it's miserable living in a place you can't stand, not because I want everyone to love Phoenix)! :D
But I do like the SF area. I'd move there in a heartbeat if I could.
I haven't given up on it, but the first impression isn't great. It doesn't help that I'm currently in Laveen, which is in the middle of nowhere while being only a stone's throw from the city (if you have a car.) I'm gonna move to a more central location (maybe Peoria) before passing final judgement.
I haven't given up on it, but the first impression isn't great. It doesn't help that I'm currently in Laveen, which is in the middle of nowhere while being only a stone's throw from the city (if you have a car.) I'm gonna move to a more central location (maybe Peoria) before passing final judgement.
OMG, that's where I bought my house!!
Yeah, it is in the middle of nowhere. I really liked the drive home on Baseline, though - I passed a goat farm with cute little goats and then a beautiful-smelling Japanese flower shop.
I didn't mind driving everywhere - I like to drive. And I got a great deal on the house; it was great for a while. I miss it.
Chandler is a nice area, as well - I lived there in an apartment before the mall was built, and enjoyed it.
Good luck!
That seems a bit harsh comparing it to Sacramento like that. That's like saying it's as bad as living in the 9th layer of hell as a slave or some such. Also, while dissing Phoenix like that you are kind of raising Sacramento higher than what it should be. That ain't cool. That ain't cool at all.
I will have to agree that SF is one of the better places to be. It's definitely better than Sacramento.
I've lived in a lot of places (Bay Area, Sacramento, California Central Valley, San Diego, Georgia, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago), and Sacramento is easily the closest comparison. The nicer areas of Phoenix are nicer than Sacramento's, but the run down areas are just as bad. It's nowhere near as bad as the Central Valley though.
I've lived in a lot of places (Bay Area, Sacramento, California Central Valley, San Diego, Georgia, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago), and Sacramento is easily the closest comparison. The nicer areas of Phoenix are nicer than Sacramento's, but the run down areas are just as bad. It's nowhere near as bad as the Central Valley though.
I lived in Manteca for 3 years. I'm guessing you've never been to Turlock, Ceres, Madera, or any other poop hole in the Central Valley. I lived outside of Sacramento, in Rocklin and still didn't like it... so I moved back to San Diego.
<3 San Diego Hills (Rancho Penasquitos)
Right now I'm in San Francisco, and it's a toss up. Certain times I feel good about living in the whole "big city" atmosphere... but it's really chaotic, expensive, dirty, too many crackheads walking the streets at night. I feel like I'm in Resident Evil sometimes, because they see a lonely white male, and automatically assume I have money to give to them.
I plan to finish school, and maybe live in a suburb. Raising a kid in a city is not a good idea in my book, so I'd prefer to live outside of it.... but still close by. Fremont has a special place in my heart. Last I knew, Fremont had over 200k population.
It's not that. It's just that I notice a lot of people want to move out of the country/small towns and into the big city (which, for some reason, is always described as being glamorous).
Well, it's nice to be able to go to the store whenever you want, instead of having to drive for two hours. It's nice to be around some people, and some places that have interesting things to do.
Get my point? The small towns are crap. There is one that is close by. It is nothing but an overgrown junkyard that some rednecks live in.
There is another one that has nothing but stoners in it.
And ALL of the stores overcharge, because they're the only ones there, and their selection is ******.
And that's just *barely* the beginning of my issues with where I live.
Yeah, it is in the middle of nowhere. I really liked the drive home on Baseline, though - I passed a goat farm with cute little goats and then a beautiful-smelling Japanese flower shop.
Is this why you once considered having a goat for a pet?
I've lived in a lot of places (Bay Area, Sacramento, California Central Valley, San Diego, Georgia, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago), and Sacramento is easily the closest comparison. The nicer areas of Phoenix are nicer than Sacramento's, but the run down areas are just as bad. It's nowhere near as bad as the Central Valley though.
Really? Fresno could use the saying, "At least we're not Sacramento". ;)
I'd say that the worst things about Sacramento is that there really is nothing to do here even though it is one of the larger cities in California. I think it is number 4 or 5 in size. The other thing is that everyone seems to be, for the most part, very negative and rude. It is almost as if there is a huge negative aura over the Sacramento area.
There are worse places to live I'm sure. I fell like I am in a cultural battlefield.
I have the blue state city and government, but I live in the red state suburbs, the state is right below the Mason/Dixon line, so I have the North and south cultures battling each other. I have the inner city culture battling with rich suburbia culture.
Hell even the weather is argumentative. It's sunny! Now it's rainy! Now it's snowing! Now it's 65 degrees! Now it's 90! Now it's 32! Now the sun is shining AND IT'S RAINING AT THE SAME TIME! Whats next, frogs and locusts?
The old saying is, if you don't like the weather in Baltimore, wait 5 minutes.
Actually, I have a list of locations that I won't move to unless I have some very good incentives. Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and just about all of the deep south are on the list.
Won't you be my neighbor?
I'm sure you guys will see what I'm saying.
Does anyone remember the "Country mouse, city mouse" story? Living in a big city is not all the hype it's meant to be. It just means that everything is centralized, but costs a lot more as well. Not to mention the big headache of traffic, homeless people, high rent, crime, etc. etc.
I'm sure you guys will see what I'm saying.
I know what it's like to live in a big city.
Try living in near-complete isolation for 4 years. You'll change your mind FAST.
I one day hope to live somewhere that's between a big city and small town.
Those places are generally the best to live in.
Does anyone remember the "Country mouse, city mouse" story? Living in a big city is not all the hype it's meant to be. It just means that everything is centralized, but costs a lot more as well. Not to mention the big headache of traffic, homeless people, high rent, crime, etc. etc.
I'm sure you guys will see what I'm saying.
Both have their appeal to different personality types and life situations.
Why can't people just respect other people's preferences? Why must they try to disprove what people like?
I can say I like the city without bashing on the country. You can say you prefer the country without bashing on the city, can't you?
Now, in reference to the OP, I spoke to what I disliked about Anchorage in particular, but it is by no means saying bad stuff about living in a place that isn't a city. Anchorage is a city - Alaska's largest, in fact. It's just not the place that I'd like to live and the biggest reason is the isolation - it's prohibitive to go anywhere in the lower 48.
Besides, if people didn't want to move out of the country and into the city, then the country would become the city because of the population! You should be thankful that people want to move away! ;)
My dad, who lives in the country, is always complaining about how people are moving out to get away from the city. :P
Sorry if that was ranty, it just seems really strange why people need to get defensive about other people liking to live in cities rather than the country.
I can think of a lot of people who wanted nothing more than to move out of the small city (approx. 30 000) when young because their was nothing to do but who later have come to cherish that life.
I can't respond to personally knowing the reverse (growing up hating the big city and now like it...) because I did not personally know anyone from the big city when I was younger. So, I can not attest to how accurate their current portrayal is when compared to their portrayal when younger.
However, I know my Mother did not wish to live on a farm despite growing up on one. But, she was born in '31 and her Mother died at a very early age and so what she remembers most is hard work. Very hard work with hand worked butter churns and ploughs pulled by mules. She was probably twelve before she saw her first car.
Anyway...
I kind of like eastern Virginia. The problem is that I live in what is referred to as the Tidewater area which is flatlands. I love the hills I grew up with in eastern Kentucky and miss them.
Even so, except for the casinos, there's still not much to do around here after dark during the week, and even on the weekends the only things that stay open past midnight are the strip clubs. The local area isn't heavily populated enough to support a big gaming scene, or really any other kind of scene, although there is a lot of culture going on. Music, theatre, art galleries, that kind of stuff. I enjoy travelling to other places - I used to go all over the country when I was doing Rocky Horror - and I'd really love to be able to pack up my stuff and just go someplace else for awhile. Although I don't mind the chaotic weather (I've seen it snow in June and hit 70 degrees in December) and the people are generally okay, this area has some of the highest taxes on the east coast outside of New York City...Both have their appeal to different personality types and life situations.
I fully understand where you're coming from. I've lived in both, and have enjoyed both. As of right now I'm 26 years old, a struggling student/worker, and live in the ghetto. I guess I could say that if I were living in a nice house, had money in my pocket, nice car, and so forth.... then things would be a different story. Those people live on the other side of town from me. I talk to these people quite often, and even sometimes THEY get stressed out from living in a city like this.
In order to give you a little background of myself, I am in a trade job. I go to different houses, and I see what different people have. The reason I'm tolerating living here is because I'm so close to my school. It takes me 20 minutes on the bus to get to the City College of San Francisco. Other than that, I see myself in the next few years graduating, and booking it out of this city. I like to be able to live in a calm environment, and not have to worry about the day to day grind. That, and if I want to raise a family... it will most definitely be in a suburban area.
Now, don't get me wrong. SF has a lot to offer. I'm always able to find something to do, granted if I have the cash in my pocket to spend. At least here, tourists get more enjoyment than anyone else.
Rome is a beautiful place to live in. Italy too, too bad Italian Government sucks so much
i love my place
i live 25 minutes north of Allentown PA and about 1 1/2 from Jersey. i live in the mountains near a river for rafting down, and a ski resort. i work in the hotel between the two landmarks. theres a concert hall 5 minutes from my house and i have an acre on top of a hill with a canal at the end of the yard and the river next to that.
i love my place
I'm so jealous. I think what I need right now is a hike in the wilderness, mainly to relax and calm down.
I'm so jealous. I think what I need right now is a hike in the wilderness, mainly to relax and calm down.
your always welcome here...heck if you decide a trip to the poconos is feesible, ill give you a discount at the hotel i work in.
country inns and suites in lehighton, ask for michelle.
country inns and suites in lehighton, ask for michelle.
I've driven past your job on several occasions, lol. :D
I used to drive down to PA to hang out with the Allentown Rocky Horror Picture Show cast...
I have a question, why do you have the saying below your name that you do?
I know full well what the 5.7 is and what it goes in, as I have a PS90.
as to the where I live thing, do I like it.
YES and NO
I like the open spaces. I can go a couple of miles out of town and do what ever I like to do. I just would like it a lot better if it was not 100+ miles in any direction to a town of larger size. I live in a town of around 9,000
Ragitsu
I have a question, why do you have the saying below your name that you do?
I know full well what the 5.7 is and what it goes in, as I have a PS90.
Click on the link in my signature titled Why the FN 5-7 is poorly statted and you will see why I was given the saying (I actually didn't choose it, but I don't mind it either
).I lived in this area for most of my life and don't fell the need to move elsewhere, unless my job will force me to.
The only thing I don't like about Seattle is how many other people have moved here in the last 20 years. Homes cost a fortune. Condos are springing up in so many neighborhoods, delivering an unwanted facelift. The atmosphere in those neighborhoods that makes people want to live here is trickling away. I live in one that hasn't been so affected, and I count that as a blessing. And half my family and nearly all my friends live here.
If I was ever going to move, I'd pack up and go to Belfast.
Honestly, Yes.
Rome is a beautiful place to live in. Italy too, too bad Italian Government sucks so much
I think that having access to fresh anchovies would make up for a lot of bad Governmnet.
I think that having access to fresh anchovies would make up for a lot of bad Governmnet.
... not to forget the wine... Still, when you're government is truly horrible (as opposed to merely so-so), I'm afraid there's little that can make up for it.
Unfortunately, I'm going to study in the biggest city in Finland (with half a million inhabitants), and probably end up working there, too.
... not to forget the wine... Still, when you're government is truly horrible (as opposed to merely so-so), I'm afraid there's little that can make up for it.
Wine is very good. But wine travels better than fresh anchovies. I once had fresh anchovies when I was in Germany, and I still dream of those little fishies. And that was over 20 years ago! I can buy really good Italian wine here in Chicago. I cannot get really fresh anchovies here.
Wine is very good. But wine travels better than fresh anchovies. I once had fresh anchovies when I was in Germany, and I still dream of those little fishies. And that was over 20 years ago! I can buy really good Italian wine here in Chicago. I cannot get really fresh anchovies here.
Hmm, point taken. Completely forget what luxury those are when you can have them as a matter of course...