My vote is Chicago. We've lived in Houston, L.A. and the last 18 years here in northern Illinois. Chicago is a 1 hour train ride from our home. Chicago offers everything NYC does, only cleaner, nicer and less crazed than back home! Great restaurants, theater, culture and u can't beat the view of Lake Michigan. And, our weather seems to be better than NYC has been for the past few years. Come visit for a w/end and you'll underestand what we're talkin' about!

I grew up in NY, but just moved to Rome with the family. (I'm fourteen now.) As much I as I love Rome and find it beautiful/gorgeous, New York is an amazing experience in terms of sheer "things-to-do"-ness and the diversity of neighborhoods and options. I, the one who was thrilled about moving to Rome (I'd lived in Paris before, and Rome even before when I was very young) missed New York very quickly.

I'm not moving back, but I am going to boarding school in NH and stay in NYC with my grandmother most non-summer holidays. There's something magical about NY that can never be replaced.

I'd recommend not leaving, but if there is somewhere else you love, then go for it.

NYC has 11 million people too crowded to me. There use to be time you could only go to NYC to get shopping but now since shopping options have broaden you should have no trouble finding it everywhere. Another perception is that everyplace else except NYC has culture. At least in my city of Pittsburgh there are plenty of ethic groups, restaurants, festivals, museums, theatre, symphony all that some place like NYC has minus the huge population.

If I had a choice like you I'd head South to the Carolinas or Georgia. Florida is getting extremely overpopulated.

I see that this is old. But, if are are used to the NYC life style. There is no place that compares to it!! There is only one NYC, there ain't no substitutes!!!!!!! I'm born and raised in NYC but for the last 6 years I've been living in the SW and there is NO place like NYC. I wish I was back there right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!