I live in Williamsville, NY, just outside of Buffalo. My husband and I both grew up in the area and moved back here from Alexandria, VA two years ago. I loved living in Alexandria and working in Washington but the cost of housing was just too outrageous. When we were expecting our daughter, we decided that our townhouse was too small. At the same time, we couldn't afford to move up to a single family home. We chose to move back to Western NY to be near our family. And, we bought a wonderful colonial house for 1/3 of the cost of homes in the DC area.

Sometimes I am jealous of those living in warmer climates, particularly as winter drags on into April. But, I must say that I look forward to the change of seasons, especially now that I have a toddler. I also feel much more comfortable in a smaller city that still has plenty of culture.

DH's job and graduate work for me. Period. Never thought I'd end up south of the Mason-Dixon line, but have certainly learned a thing or two being here -- including appreciating both a beautiful state, a lovely climate, and a lifestyle that doesn't require standing in line for movies, commuting for 1 1/2 hrs., or owning a wardrobe of down coats!

But no one here thinks people like me who have "only" been here 12-15 yrs. are natives; and in my heart, I'm still not home -- home is Boston, even if I never live there again in my life.

MA-great schools, great proximity to RI beaches, great history and great bunch of like-minded individuals with whom I prefer to surround myself and children.

ahhnold, You must be living in your own personal Hell!!! There might be a Gay couple living next door or something! No wonder you are so angry. Get out with your life for the love of God.

I love gay people. They have expensive homes that pay lots of tax money and don't have kids to over burden the schools.

Came back to Ohio after 16 yrs away. It doesn't have the ocean we love but I do like the different seasons and all the green trees which turn in the fall. But the real reason we returned is because it's home and our families are here.

Job, plain & simple. Being a Mortgage Banker, Charlotte is the place to be. Being so close to the ocean & mts. doesn't hurt either. Originally an Ohio 'Yankee'.

An hour from the beach, an hour from Charleston, an hour from Savannah. That's why!

Grew up in Sweden, love (and not really learning) put me at Penn State for grad school, married and stayed in central PA for many years (raising kids dontchaknow, and needing a real job as a suddenly single parent). Decided to do antiques full time the day son graduated from college, traded in my high heels, staff meetings and beeper for a truck, sander, framing gun and road atlas.

Spent so much time traveling from PA (yeah, another love in Atlanta plus year round shows with AIR in the summer) that it seemed logical to move south. Had to be near beach, safe, low cost of living, affordable real estate, close to interstate, within 5 hours of Charlotte and Atlanta, good internet connection, within an hour from major city just in case the antiques didn't work out. Bought the second house I saw, drove home to PA and couldn't remember which town I was just in ... but I knew I could find it again.

No family left in Sweden, and my two kids both followed me -- to Charleston (from State College and Seattle).

My town is delightful, quiet, historic, in an area that is probably the last bastion of true Southern culture. It's a nurturing, kind, gentle and well mannered environment filled with wonderful surprises -- I even find it exotic. And if I get any more laid back from the lack of stress, I'll melt into a puddle.

B/

We live in San Antonio because my husband's job dictates this is where we must live but in 4 years, and counting, the choice will be ours. We love living in San Antonio but are not sure this is where we want to stay--not a big fan of the heat and this summer is particularly hot and dry. Neither of us is sure we want to move back to the east coast where we originated but job offers, not weather, most likely will influence where we go from here. I was born in Delaware; my husband W.Virgina. Most of our immediate family live in Maryland.

ahhnold, You just convinced me that we need more gay people in our county in Minnesota! You and your wife would be welcome here. You would love the hundreds of lakes, and the tolerance between conservative and liberal people. We all like to have a good life and invite each other over for a drink and some good times on the lake.

Sounds like my kind of place. A far cry from the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts.

Allow me to stereotype gay people and the benefits a bit more. The landscaping of their yard is impecable. They are amazingly quiet, and never work on cars and junk motorcycles in the backyard.

Can you tell I have some gay neighbors and love them?

Reston Virginia, because it's close to work. It's also one of the few left-leaning places in Northern Virginia (sorry Ahnold!).

I was born in Illinois, raised in Los Angeles and moved to the San Francisco bay area 20 years ago with a job transfer. Then I met and married DH and we stay here b/c he has a great job where he gets a decent salary and 7 weeks vacation per year (he's been with them 25+ years). That and the weather is nice most of the time, good friends, some family members and lots of great things to see or do around these parts. The downsides: cost of living, lots of crowds and too many cars on the road. As soon as the downsides outweigh the upsides we're outta here though.

Seattle. Moved here 20-some years ago on a whim & never left. Great city!

Sarasota, FL
My family moved here in the mid 50's when I was a very little kid and I have basically lived here ever since (other than a brief time after college when it seemed like a good idea to spend an autumn through winter in Maine). Ever since I can remember, perhaps going more than 40 years back people have been talking about how the growth here would ruin the area but in fact it is, in my most humble opinion, better than ever. We have gorgeous beaches, excellent restaurants as well as arts and cultural programs that very few towns of our size can offer.
Sarasota truly is a city that offers urban amenities with a small town feel.
Am I sounding like an advert. for the Chamber of Commerce?

We live in Maryland because we were both born here. I was raised about 60 miles from here & wouldn't be safe with a police escort in that area now. DH was raised where we live now. It was rural farm land then. Now it is a bedroom community & fast becoming a suburb of DC. We stay because our kids are in a wonderful school. We talk about moving daily. Currently Colorado seems to be high on our list of relo spots.

New York City, born and raised. I have tried living elsewhere (Seattle, Massachusetts, DC) but always came home to New York. I am now raising my daughter here - I am a temporarily retired lawyer, doing the stay at home Mom thing for a while (my daughter just turned 1).

Born in rural Wisconsin, moved to the Los Angeles area when I was 2. (Well, actually my parents moved me, I guess.) Have lived between the LA area and Orange County, currently in Orange County. Job here, friends here, mother here. The weather really can't be beat, and both LA and San Diego are close as well as the desert. Also, lots of nice road trips.

However, So Cal is becoming more and more tedious the older I get. Crowds, crime, uncaring people, and high prices of everything (without corresponding high wages!) is making this seeming "utopia" less so. I didn't think I would ever leave California. Now I think more and more of it. However, can't take snow, can't take extreme heat, and can't humidity so just have to figure out where to go!!

Grew up in NY, went to college in Florida and lived there for several years afterwards. Some friends had migrated to Atlanta and I came to visit, ending up here somehow...It turned out to be a good move for me.
I like my job and met my husband here. His family has been in Atlanta for 30yrs so it doesn't look like we're going anywhere--especially since we just bought a house!

What attracted me to Atlanta (besides my friends) was the geography--hills and green, a city that wasn't just cement, theater, good restaurants and shopping. Housing is more affordable than where I grew up in NY and winters are mild. It's a young city and had a lot to offer a single girl only a couple years out of college. I've been here 10yrs now and though my life has changed, my attitude hasn't. I will always miss the Florida beaches, the 24/7 of NY and of course my family, but this is home. It helps that I can on a plane and visit whenever I want.

Dallas.

A good job, plain and simple. (The warm weather is a benefit. I could never move back to Illinois where I spent my 1st 23 years.)