Linda Davis

Oh my, does anybody have ANYTHING nice to say about Atlanta? I currently live in Chicago (downtown) and love it, have lived here for about 10 years. My husband just took a huge job in Atlanta. We just bought a house in Morningside...I know it's not Chicago but does anyone have positive things to say about the city???? ughhh

Noah

'Chicago, Chicago..that wonderful town.."

Brian

Chicago is a wonderful town, Noah, but it's actually "....that toddlin' town".

For Linda Davis...I, personally, like Atlanta very much (having lived in Chicago as well). It has lots of pluses, not the least of which are a vibrant, booming economy; considerable diversity in its 'people mix' as many corporations have HQ's or major sites there; better weather than Chicago (despite the fact that I HATE humidity); great airport connectability (much like ORD, not quite as nice); close to coastal destinations like Gulf, Miami, Charleston; close to Virginia/NC/DC for weekend getaways; plenty o' major sports and national entertainment. OVerall, I think it's a good place to be, and certainly has some advantages over Chicago....(but doesn't have quite the same character as Chicago, can't compete restaurant-wise). Always keep in mind: life is a series of small moves....I doubt this will be the last move in your life if you've been in Chicago 10 yrs and your husband is in transfer mode.
Enjoy it for its good points and look at it as a 'step along the way' not like it has to be the perfect final destination!

Kuma Moto

Bellingham, Washington, of course. Nothing ever happens here, and you can grow palm trees outside all year (Med. fan, and Chinese windmill).
And you can dig clams in the mud and pick oysters off the rocks.

coho

Dillingham? isn't that in Alaska? palm trees? no way! grisslies, maybe. too cold and wet in winter, two many muskitoes in summer.

LK

Best places I've lived are: Colorado, Hawaii and the Bay Area (actually east bay with better weather than SF). I agreed with a previous post, Chicago is the pits. I'm here now and I find few redeeming qualities. Drive for 8 hours in any direction and it's still flat, barren and no forests, mountains or ocean of course. Dreary cold in the winter and stinking hot & humid in the summer. This is definitely an indoor city where eating is paramount. Good restaurants. But if you want to walk anyplace, it's you risk your life crossing the street, as drivers won't stop at stop signs and barely slow down at lights. Honking here is a proud pass-time. So, move here if you like flat, noisy, dirty, extreme heat and cold.

Noah

..and to think that Oprah, with all that money, still lives in Chicago!

I also can't understand why Bill Gates stays in Seattle! If I had that kind of money I'd just pay all of my employees enough to relocate to Hawaii with their families. If I had to, I could pay the schools where the employees kid attended to relocate as well.

With over 100 Billion, I think it could be done.

Then again, maybe he likes a place where it's always raining. Who knows?

Jo Ann

I found this question by accident, doing a search on Oklahoma. Thought to myself, "Who on earth would rank any place in Oklahoma as one of the best places to live?" Turns out this came up because a couple of people typed OK. Mystery solved! Thank you for playing!

Places I would like to live (in no particular order):
Bloomington, IN
somewhere in North Carolina
Portland, OR or thereabouts
Vancouver
Austin, TX

Dave

I live here because I was looking for that rare combination of high property taxes, legal medical marijuana, assisted suicide and no self-serve gas. The fact that I haven't seen the sun in 12 years is just an added plus. That should assure that you "enjoy your visit, but please don't move here".

John

Now, who is spreading the rumour that it always rains in Seattle and the rest of western Washington? Nuts! Seattle gets less annual precipitation that NYC (and a LOT LESS snow).
Right now, the sun is shining, the camellias, plums, forsythias, daffodils, and crocuses are blooming. The figs and kiwis are budding out. It's the best climate in the U.S. for gardening--the only climate anywhere in North America similar to that of southern England!

MossyInSeattle

Don't be fooled by some of our overzealous promoters of Seattle's weather. Comparing annual rainfall with other areas is very misleading. There are actually folks that try to imply that Seattle is sunnier than Miami because the annual rainfall is less. Do NOT fall for this baloney. There is a big difference in how the rain falls. Here it drizzles, rains, drizzles, rains, etc for days on end. It is very depressing not to see the sun for several days. Miami in the other hand doesn't foll around. When it rains it pours but it is very rare not to have the sun shine almost every day. By the way, this is not an endorsement of Miami or Florida. I have lived there also and do NOT recommend it.

As far as gardening goes, California is far better as it's climate allows one to grow a much greater variety of plant life.

I am anxiously awaiting the day that we leave this soggy part of the world and return to California. Only 3 weeks more and counting.

My preferences for living are:

1. San Francisco Bay Area

2. San Diego, CA

3. No other place compares to the first two.

John

Comment on No. 3: WRONG.
Bellingham, WA does.
As to gardening, I've gardened in both Southern and Northern California, and I know from experience that you cannot beat Western Washington for gardening. Heck, I even grow PALM TREES, pomegranates, almonds, peaches, apricots, grapes, passionfruit, figs, and kiwi fruit. I admit my orange tree has to go inside during cold winter days and nights, but it's thriving anyway. Right now, it has flower buds that are about to bloom.

KAL

IF I CAN'T LIVE AT ANNINI BEACH ON KAUAI THEN WATTSAMATTA WITH SACRAMENTO? RIVERLIFE...1HR TO NAPA/SONOMA...2 TO S.F...1 TO THE SIERRAS..2 To TAHOE RENO...4 TO MONTERAY OR YOSEMITE...HOT IN THE SUMMER BUT LOW HUMIDITY AND COOL EVENING DELTA BREEZES...STILL CHEAP HOUSING...DECENT AIRPORT AND THE SACTO KINGS.....DOWNSIDE..TOO MANY STATEWORKERS, IE THE LEGISLATURE AND GRAY DAVIS ! S.F. SUCKS SINCE HIZ disHONOR DA MAYOR WILLIE BROWN TOOK OVER...TOO MANY BUMS AND THAT SMELL..OOOO WEEEEEEEEEEEE...AU DE TOILETTE !

julie

We who live in SEattle do NOT promote it (the Lesser Seattle Society) for fear of the word getting out and it becoming even more crowded that it is. As with every city, the more it expands, the less the quality of life, if you like the forest and out of doors. Still, this is the city of my choice, and I have lived in many cities, both in USA and abroad.

al

christy I personally like the whole ozark mountain area of southern missouri & northern arkansas in particular the mountain home area where I hope to retire someday (I now live in the chicago suburbs & its ok but is getting worse all the time as far as the city itself you can have it)

Rod Hoots

I live in Arlington, Virginia, and find it to be a great place. Always something to do, within range of New England and the South for driving vacations, plenty of job opportunities. One thing that surprised me reading the above was people touting beaches in Oregon and Washington - walking, yes - swimming nooo! Too cold!

Glenn Glass

christy
The prettiest place in Alabama is the Daphne/Fairhope area! This place is the best I have ever seen. Friendly people, clean streets, hardly any crime, beautiful views of Mobile Bay, and only one hour from the gulf coast. Average income over 60K. Check it out, I bet you will want to go!

Arabella

FLORIDA..anywhere North of Palm Beach up to St. Augustine on the East Coast.
Tampa is nice, as is St. Pete. Naples and Ft. Myers peaceful. S. Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, nice people. friendly and helpful.
Salt Lake City, UT...gorgeous.

NYC...the best..
Boston....gorgeous especially in the fall.

good luck!

jennifer

since everyone is giving recommendations, i have a question. i am looking for a quaint, country-like town to call home for about 6 months. i'm looking into towns in vermont, maine, northern calif., oregon, montana and wyoming. any suggestions are quite welcome. many thanks.

i live in chicago now and love it. totally disagree with a previous message. it is flat and cold, but the people are friendly. it's relatively safe if your wise.

jennifer

lee rose

christy, it all really depends on the person where they should live. but i live in west virginia and i think its the most beautiful place i have ever lived, first off the mountains at anytime of the years is breath taking. from the time the leaves turn green til they turn all shdes of reds oranges and browns. the rafting here is awsome and there is at least 10 companys to go with with different price ranges for all kinds of people. and the people, i meet more people from other places here then any other place i have lived. now the only down point to living here is the snow! but even that is breath taking when you stand in the middle of a back road and it look like it goes forever. very serene, peaceful place . as you can tell i live in a small town. but im from the city and there is nothing quite like it.