I've done research, but there's only so much you can research without actually knowing what you're looking for. I've got somewhat of a checklist though. Hopefully I can get some ideas from this forum!

Top 10 List:

+++No more than 30 minutes away from the nearest emergency hospital.
(I was in the country visiting family and got bit by a wild dog, most terrifying 1 1/2 hour drive of my life).

+++I'm in my early 20's and am interested in a more "young professionals" crowd.
(Where I live now the citizens are mostly older and everything closes before 7-8pm. So boring here.)

+++That being said, I don't think I'll be able to afford living in a high cost area.
(I have a certification from my local college as a veterinary assistant, so maybe I could get a job faster.)

+++Standard cost of living doesn't mean bad neighborhoods are on the list. Low crime is important.
(I don't want to be afraid to walk out side with my dogs, when I do decide to adopt some.)

+++Liberal state/city please. Absolutely no hateful homophobic, racist, or transphobic environments.
(I don't like/care for marijuana, so that doesn't matter. I just want people to love people.)

+++I would like to be no more than 45-60 minutes away from events. Events like, festivals, concerts, shows, attractions, parks, recreations, yoga, art, gardens, sporting, karaoke, carnivals, etc..
(My city's economy thrives off the tourists coming to the beach. Theres' pretty much nothing else here.)

+++Speaking of events, I'm a pretty big nerd. Cosplay cons and gaming events are awesome! I love to cosplay and go to those events. I'd be willing to drive no more than an 2 hours to go to those events.

+++Areas with constant bumper to bumper traffic would drive me nuts. I don't mind a moderate amount of traffic. Maybe even a bike/walk/scooter friendly zone would be cool.
(Nothing like Washinton DC or New York City where I've been told the traffic is absolutely horrible.)

+++I'm in love with the mountains. I like weather to be between 40'F to 80'F.
I absolutely hate hate hate mosquitoes. I like the cold! Although nothing beats a 74'F sunny day with a slight wind, so wonderful. I love the mountains because of the views, the activities, the local petting farms, fishing in the lakes, kayaking in the rivers, the land, the fresh air. I should specify though. I love the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are so lush and green. Actually, they seem almost hill or valley like, but they are the Blue Ridge "Mountains" so I can't argue with that!

+++I'm just throwing this out there, but I love sushi. I was raised on the coast, so fish and most seafood is common and always fresh here. I'm not so much a beach person, but I like fish.


That's it! I hope that wasn't too overwhelming for you guys as it is for me!
Just to clarity the east coast is:
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

The Blue Ridge Mountains flows through a few of these states, and hitting those 10 bullet points and being in those mountains would be a dream. However I expanded it to all of the east coast. Just in case there's some real gems, I don't want to miss out on.

Thank you!!!

I meant to tag Virginia as well. Oops.

Well...I really think it depends on your job. The vet assistants locally don't seem make all that much- but I'm not sure if that's because of their wage or because rent is fairly high or because most positions are part time. Where else have you lived? I can't really tell how much life experience you've had- or what you really like to do. Some bits of your post just sound off to me, but it's possible I'm reading too much into it.

That said: I'd look at college towns. Even in really red states, they tend to be liberal. The cheap neighborhoods are student housing so they tend to be safer; you may need a roommate, and at your age those roommates are going to be on the same page as you. It's also fairly easy to get to know people because so many people are moving in and out. There tends to be cultural stuff and a lively (but sucky) bar scene. Other than large cities, the only places I've seen cosplay is in college towns. And I'd start nearby; I have no idea where you live, but as its a beach town, I have a difficult time believing that there isn't a major university within a few hours drive.



But I mean, there is negativity, racism, homophobia everywhere. There are also good people everywhere. You probably have more in common with people in your current place than you think- you might just need to make friends with different people. "Old" people can still be into karaoke, cosplay, etc. (take from me- I still have friends from college that go to anime conventions, and I'm pretty sure you'd consider us "old".)

Charlotte or environs.

You have ten items, some of which you know to be mutually exclusive: you can have cosplay events OR mountains OR lack of traffic. In the "2 out of 3" rule, you might get 2 of those.

Living wages for young people AND inexpensive non-slum housing AND cool stuff don't go together. Sorry.

Some things might go together. Being a veterinary technician in a vets office doesn't go with decent wages BUT being a veterinary technician in a lab full of rats at an Academic Medical Center like Mass General or the Brigham might.

You might clarify your list by assigning each of your ten desirables a score of 1-10 on a scale of importance to you. Then you can list them in order and use those criteria to evaluate places.

In reality, a job and a place to live are at the top of any scale. More education will increase your choices.

Sorry but you are not going to get all of those things in one place.

It seems to me you need to start off with those things you have limited control over (such as salary - but do checkout higher paying options versus working for a single vet) and cost of housing in decent areas. Also, consider additional education that would bring in a better salary. Then look at things that are fixed, like mountains and weather.

After that you are going to have to give on some things.

Thinking you can find anyplace that has no hateful, homophobic or racist people is just not possible. You can find places where people like that are in the minority and their behavior is not encouraged or even tolerated - but there are no places without people like that - even New York or San Francisco.

I think you should try to pick you top 5 and consider locations based on that - other wise you will be looking forever.

The Philadelphia area offers a lot of what you mention. The Pocono mountains are not that far so you could spend time there as well.

You left out my home state which offers many of the things you are seeking...New Jersey. Take at look at Lambertville, NJ...

You also missed Delaware. Joe and Dr. Jill Biden will keep living in Wilmington after Joe leaves office.
Dr. Jill Biden is a college prof.
You can be in Philadelphia or New Jersey quickly from there.
The Amtrak station in Wilmington is named for Joe.

I'd wait until North Carolina gets just a little LESS homophobic.

I was thinking the Research Triangle Area until I got to the requests for cooler weather and mountains. Take a look at Asheville. Or maybe Boone, it has a university and might be cheaper.

Not all of NC is homophobic although I WILL consent that our politics are strange. Charlotte is considered not to even be IN NC.
As Ack said, he/she isn't gonna get everything in one basket.

Massachusetts ?

Check out Tufts Vetirinay Hospital in Grafton, or their satellite site in Walpole. 24 hour seven service. From the money I've spent at both locations, I imagine their staff are paid fairly.

http://vet.tufts.edu/cvmc/

I would concentrate on what type of working environment and salary is available and then match a place to live.

Sorry vet techs do NOT earn a lot of money so anyplace with expensive housing - unless the OP is willing to share a small apartment with others - is probably not an option. (Average salaries nationwide are only about $28K per year which would allow a rental of less than $600 per month - presumably meaning a small town in areas with cheap real estate.)

I live in Saratoga Springs, which is about 30min from the Adirondacks and it seems to check off just about everything on your list

+ER is 5min away from my home.
+ Major concert venue (SPAC) is in town
+ Major state park is in town
+ > 1 dozen yoga studios
+ very active restaurant, cafe, live music and bar scene, wide variety of food choices.
+ Mountains are very close. Skiing within 1hr. Great hiking even closer.
+ Kayaking + SUP on Saratoga Lake

You gave a very good description of the Denver area. Especially the mosquitoes and the young professionals part. So why do you want to stick to the east coast?

Any choice will involve some compromise but from you list the Denver metro would have the least number of compromises.

Being a good Hokie, Blacksburg, VA is what came to mind for me.

I agree that the college town angle is a good one.

I don't know enough about it (especially cost of living) but I also thought of Asheville, NC.

Asheville NC.

There is a lot of crime and not a real scene for young people in Wilmington, DE. You can join the hordes of twenty-somethings moving to Philadelphia because there is a great art and music scene and cheap rents. You don't sound like a big city person to me though. I think the college town ides is good and you might want to check out State College, Pa, home of Penn State.

LavaPasta is not a veterinary technician, he/she is a veterinary assistant. There is a world of difference (degree, national test, state licensing, required ce, etc) between the two.

Because of that, any position in a research facility or teaching hospital will be limited to kennel positions. Better pay than private veterinary facilities and offering better benefits but pretty limited scope of duties performed.

LavaPasta, do you want to eventually go for vet tech certification? If so, full time schooling or distance? If not, there is some talk about creating certification for assistants. Keep an eye out for that.