I posted this on the Europe board, but thought I should bring it here too, to get some more American suggestions:
I'm brainstorming possibilities for relocation, and I've come up with a list of some qualities I'd like. Can you think of any city that, in your opinion, matches the first 5 qualities? Bonus points if they meet all 10...

And the cities can be anywhere in the world, though I'd prefer the US and Western Europe (esp. Eng/Span/French-speaking)

Here are the qualities:

1) Population of 750,000 to 4 million people, give or take a few hundred thousand. (within city limits)

2) Tolerant, open, hopefully friendly people

3) Diverse population (ethnically)

4) Easy access to some natural space--near mountains, or forest, or something; also lots of green in the city

5) Walkable--don't have to drive to get everywhere; easy to walk around the city.
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6) A good amount of cultural institutions--libraries, museums, etc.

7) An international presence--not an isolated feeling

8) A pretty city--nice architecture, streets

9) Low(-ish) cost of living

10) Mild winters


Do these ring any bells? I'd love to hear your ideas! Also, if you think any of this is unrealistic or stupid, please set me straight.

Seattle comes close (maybe missing on 7 & 9 a bit). I don't think that list is unrealistic in the least. I do think if you are a U.S. citizen it is easier to relocate withint the U.S. Europe is much more complicated to pull off.

Chicago, Buenos Aires, and Sydney

In the US, the city that comes closest is San Francisco, but it is not a low cost city; 9/10 is not bad though. I hope you find a 10/10; then I'll move there and so will a million other Fodorites!

Los Angeles, though it misses on #5 and #9. You might not be able to walk the whole city, but certainly can walk in your neighborhood area.

I think you're fine except for the low(ish) cost of living - unless you're using that loosely.

The place you describe sounds like millions would want to live there - unless it was too expensive.

Also - don;t know your nationality - but are you just assuming you can simply live anywhere in the world you want - without any immigration/work/visa issues?

(Even if you don;t need to work to move permenently to most places you need official approval that is not easy to get unless you're independently wealthy - and can prove it.)

Definitely Sydney, but I think the population is 5,000,000+.

I also think Orlando, Florida scores well on #s 1-5. It probably scores fair-poor on #6, but O.K. on 7-10. International tourism is quite big here, so I'd have to say that #7 is at least above average.

Melbourne, Australia

I agree with Suze about Seattle, but think it has an international presence but is pricey.

NYTraveler--*sigh* You make some excellent points. As for easily moving to Europe, there's actually a good discussion about that on this thread on the Europe board; I do realize the realities.

What worries me more is that the list might just be generic, idyllic. I made it by listing all the things I disliked about previous places I've lived, taking the opposites, and prioritizing them.

I felt that NYC was too big, Paris not open or friendly enough, and few of the places close to some natural resource.

Sorry, I hit post before finishing:

"The place you describe sounds like millions would want to live there "--

If a lot of cities fit the description, that's alright. After all, plenty of people might love to live in Paris, but that doesn't mean they do. If I like it, and I can potentially move there...well, why not? Does that make sense? Or is the list still too general?

Having moved around quite a bit, I find your list to be terrific, imelda, it gives me food for thought. For us, proximity to family and friends is somewhat important--until money is truly no object and we own our own jet! So that criterion would help me narrow down the list of places I'd be willing to live. Otherwise, I think taking advantage of one's freedom to live anywhere one chooses is brilliant, and not enough people think this way.

So: I second the idea of San Francisco, though it does miss #9. I also thought of Minneapolis, but it totally misses #10, and scores only middling on #7. I haven't spent enough time outside the US, unfortunately for me, to comment on Europe.

We moved five years ago from France to Boise, Idaho and I'm so pleasantly surprised. Not big enough, but a lot of culture for the size, incredibly nice people and the surrounding area is wonderful. Relatively low cost, though not as inexpensive as we would have thought, but all in all I love it.

Antwerp Belgium.10/10 Paul

Try www.findyourspot.com

Wednesday's link is great for the USA. Without at all cheating, I did it several times over the years, and have changed some of my criteria. And it is spot on- and sent me to the place I knew I loved the best anyway. LOL!

Be honest. And also no place is absolute perfection and there is another factor that is hardly ever addressed on Fodors with relocating.

And that is a BIG one- that by the time people "know" what is the best and mass there- it is NOT any longer the same as it was. LOL! Places change constantly.

You seem to be looking for neighborhood warm "know your neighbor" places and are using size of population as a criteria for that. It sometimes is absolutely not. It depends if it is a city of "neighborhoods" or just one big entity in itself. Something the populace oftentimes "knows" but that newcomers see quite differently.

You just seem from your answers/responses that you are looking for smaller than you think you are, yet with great urban neighborhood sense. They do exist, and they won't be the big 5 or 6 constantly mentioned, IMHO.

Portland is just a wonderful city, but the weather gets to some people. It has almost everything you're looking for, while still maintaining a neighborhoody feel, and when the sun shines, there's no place prettier.

I have 2 suggestions - Sydney and Amsterdam

I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Sydney and lived on Bondi Beach for 6 months. I am unsure of its population, but it definitely meets your other top 5 requirements. Because I was an American student there, I did not have a car and found it very easy to get around on the subways and buses. Additionally, I went there right after 9-11 and we were warned people may be hostile to Americans. However, I had the exact opposite response and people were caring and thoughtful.
In regards to 6-10, I found the city had tons of cultural sites, was a decent price of living, contained people from all over the world and was aestically the most beautiful place. I was devasted when I had to leave. If it were not so far from my family, I would live there in a heartbeat.

As for Amsterdam, I was there this past summer, and it is just a quaint city, despite being known mostly for its "coffee shops" and "red light district"

Good luck making this decision! Keep us updated on what you choose!