mlgb

Spent two years in Grad School in Chapel Hill. Couldn't wait to get the heck out of there. One of my classmates (another Californian) hated it so much he left after a month into school! Just a whole different way of life.

starrs

Given your description, I'd choose something other than Raleigh or Charlotte. I don't think either offer what you are looking for.

Bowsprit

New York City is great for young professionals! Anyway, one can work there but not live right in the City.

I agree with those who are saying stay out of Raleigh, Charlotte (yikes) and Chapel Hill...

suze

Well IF you can afford New York City, then you can afford San Francisco. And I'd by far pick the later. NYC is simply too intense for my taste. I have friends there. And you have to want to live there REAL bad, because it's a LOT of work to do so (finding an apartment let's just start with).

lgnutah

I don't know Raleigh, so can't comment.
I have always HATED Charlotte-too flat, too hot and humid, too boring (just my opinion--I have a thirty something friend who thinks the bar scene/lifestyle is incredible). The airport there is OK, easy to navigate, so that is a plus.

Suze raised the issue of citizenship re:Vancouver-so that is an issue. My brother lives there now and loves it (at the university). My dad lived in many parts of the world and it was one of his favorite cities (he was born in Berkeley, but lived most of his young life in OR). I would certainly give the west coast of the US a serious look as it sounds like what you are looking for.

Cranachin

I have friends who are moving to New York in a few weeks (she will be going to grad school in the city and he has a new job in educational administration) and they are having an awful time finding a place that is both decent and affordable.

Bowsprit

As I said: There's affordable housing just over the bridge from the UWS into New Jersey...it might be enough to work in the City and live within close proximity.

LSky

It depends upon how active you are and what activities you like to do.
If you like outdoors, San Diego is a great choice for meeting people and keeping busy. There are homes for every budget, home prices have been dropping and you'll have plenty of areas to choose from.

Travelgirl0909

Yea I'm not considering NYC, I've lived closeby most of my life. It would be the easier choice since my job has an office there and I have friends and family nearby but I know it's not for me. For that cost of living, I would personally rather have a car and live where I can spend more time outdoors. I can't deny the social aspect is ideal. A good night life is important but I'm also looking for a community feel with coffee shops, parks, etc.

Thank you for the info on Charlotte and Raleigh. I'm used to larger cities and I definitely don't want to feel bored. I also have to remember that the south is very different from what I'm used to.

Although Vancouver sounds very ideal, I don't want to have to deal with citizenship on top of finding a job so that's out.

Right now it's looking like San Diego, San Fran, Seattle, Austin, Denver/Boulder. It's a start!

Thanks again for all your advice

starrs

If you can afford it and can get a job, I vote for San Diego!

Bowsprit

Have you considered Atlanta? It's in the south but not really a 'Southern' city. It's kind of like NYC in that those who live there weren't actually born there.

Another great west coast city (san diego is so 1980's, isn't it??) is Portland Oregon.

Baltimore, Maryland isn't a bad place to be either.

Of all the cities listed, San Francisco is my new favorite. I'm sorry to say that I can't get the earthquake threat out of my mind. This is the only thing preventing me and my husband from relocating there from the east coast. I know there are plenty of random threats on the east coast that compromise my safety daily. It isn't a rational fear but it's a real one for me.

Good luck choosing the right place; remember the world is your oyster, so to speak.

bkluvsNola

My aunt just finished visiting Austin from the Northeast and she absolutely loved it. There's so much to see and do here, you'll love it!

suze

I love Seattle and I have lived her for years now (moved here in my late 20's). IF I could afford it San Francisco is the other city I'd love to live in, but it is *noticeably* higher priced that Seattle and the pay scale is similar. I could never afford my own Seattle condo, in SF, or at least not anywhere actually IN the city, I'd have to look out in Oakland or beyond.

I grew up in Los Angeles and San Diego doesn't do a thing for me. If I was moving back to southern California, I'd be looking at LA (Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, etc.)

LSky

San Francisco is a great city and if one liked the area, then there are plenty of other places around the Bay Area that are desirable. Since the OP wants to keep a car, not a good idea in SF.
Hoping that the OP will note that whenever anyone has referred to the city, it's either SF or San Francisco.

lgnutah

LSky--In the 1960's we called it "Frisco" (that is the "we" who lived in southern Calif. called it that, maybe the people who lived there didn't)
Travelgirl0909-you are mentining Austin. I have heard lots of people (in their 20-30's) rave about Austin. But, it is humid.

bachslunch

I was under the impression that humidity was a deal-breaker for the OP, and if that's the case, I can't think of anywhere in the South or much of the Midwest (depending on where you draw your regional boundaries) to recommend, as they all have hot and humid summers.

lgnutah

Anywhere east of the Rockies has humidity (to some degree)

Travelgirl0909

I mean humidity isn't ideal (who really likes it )but I know no place is perfect. Having no humidity is a nice to have but not a deal breaker.

Suze - I'm curious why say San Diego doesn't do anything for you? Could you explain?

Do the cities around San Fran still offer a lot to do and good communities? Are they that much more affordable then the city?

bkluvsNola

Ignutah,

Take it from someone who lives in Austin...

We really don't get bad humidity here. We do get heat, upper 90's mainly, but the humidity is usually quite low when that happens. Humid weather usually means rain and cooler temperatures. This is not like Florida nor like any part of the Southeast.

Lately the weather has been fantastic, blue skies, cool mornings (50's) and warm afternoons (80's) with very low humidity. Chamber of Commerce weather really.

I honestly believe that Austin is the best fit for Travelgirl0909.

sunbum1944

My daughter lived in SD area and although she thinks its a great city, the traffic made her nuts- now she is in San Jose area and likes it much better

She likes the northern Ca atmosphere - and has managed to live close enough to work that there is very little commute.

I also LOVE Portland!!