why do you live where you live? (Read 809 times)

OK, for some of us, this is not a choice. But, for those of you could and can do move around, why are you where you are now? This question occurred to me today as I was biking down the beautiful beach path in near perfect weather. I've been getting a bit sick of life in Los Angeles, but I know it would be very hard for me to give up the access to fun outside stuff that I have (biking whenever, year round outdoor pools, running in t(or no)shirt in January, access to amazing skiing, etc).

I moved to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area about 18 months ago. I could have moved anywhere in the US that I wanted as I was going to be telecommuting from home and my company was paying for my relocation. I wasn't a runner at the time, nor was I an outdoors person, so that wasn't a factor. The main factors in my decision were: - Reasonable housing cost. We bought a new 3,500 sq ft house for a lot less that a small 3-bedroom would have cost in S. FL. - We wanted a nice neighborhood with good schools as our daughter was getting close to entering the public school system. - Near a major airport (DFW) - Located in the middle of the US so we can fly anywhere in the US within 3 hrs There were other areas we considered, like the Carolinas, but we like to travel a lot and most of the places only had small municipal airports so if we wanted to travel overseas, it would have involved 2 and 3 stop-overs After 18 months, we are still happy with our decision.

Got stuck here due to injury during Christmas vacation in 2001. Helps that dh is from the East Coast. MTA: born and raised on the west coast.

My family is from Maine; my mother moved to CT when she graduated high school which is where I was born and raised some years later. I knew that I would want to move to Maine once I graduated from college, and within a few years after I graduated I knew that my mother and godmother would be retiring and moving back to Maine. Two of my uncles still live in Maine, and the other isn't too far away in Massachussetts (especially since I live in Southern Maine). The climate agrees with me; I don't get cold. I'll be staying here a long time most likely, since I met my wife here. She was born, raised, and schooled in Maine, went to Chicago for a few years, and then came back and met me. I went to school in Rochester, NY, and between my last class and finals I drove to Maine for an interview. Two weeks later I was moving in and starting work.

Born in Bristol PA. Living currently about 25 minutes from Philly. Have lived in about 15 cities/towns throughout PA in my life so far. Lived in Texas for about 5 months, I like it there but didn't care for the Scorpions or the Fire Ants. I don't see me ever not living in PA. I like how I can easily travel to the mountains or to the ocean in just a matter of an hour.

So where does Mississippi come in?

I just so happened to marry an ocean lifeguard and you pretty much can only do that if you are near an ocean.

We moved to Anchorage for DH's job - but we wanted to move here - the adventure of it. It was supposed to be a 5 year adventure.....that was 23 years ago....... Winters are tough here - particularly the dark, the icy roads, and the fact that once it snows - it sticks till "break up". Did I mention long, cold, dark winters...But the summers, there is no where else I would want to be - not even Hawaii We have mountains and ocean, well not like Jen's but still beautiful. Life is more laid back here. We are like a big small town. We have talked about the day we would leave Alaska for milder climates, but, I am so acclimated to the cooler temperatures, I'm having a hard time coming up with a better place for us. I don't think I want to move anymore. Let's see - 3.5 hours to Seattle, about 5 hrs to Hawaii....

One of my daughter's friends had trouble pronouncing my name...Mrs. Sipe, she said it "sippy". MRS-SIPPY.

I had often wondered this as well. Thanks for clearing it up Mrs. Sippy.

Man, I'd kill to live on the West Coast. I have a friend in LA and their weather always seems great for running...not too hot, not too cold, low humidity. Here on the "other" west coast of MI we have miserably humid Summers, cold, snowy winters (and this area along the Lake MI coastline has one of the highest percentages of cloudy days in the nation), pollen, mold, and all sorts of other things that set my allergies off much of the year. Ick. And MI currently has the highest unemployment...if DH found a job elsewhere I'd not be all that upset.

I left MI for about 6 years. Spent 3 in Florida, and 3 in Vegas. When I left, I never thought I would come back. But sure enough, here I am. Michigan currently sucks for a lot of things, no doubt, but I bet you will miss it once you leave.