The I don't like it here, stream of consciousness, where to live thread

**bagtagley** · 01-07-2013, 02:24 PM

We moved to Charlottesville site-unseen (long story), and weren't fans from the start. Fourish years later, we haven't fallen in love with it. I can rattle off a hundred reasons why it's a great place to live, but none of them make me like living here. Also, fuck ticks...fuck 'em.

I want to be able to buy a relatively affordable house in town. A nice little two-story place with a yard, sidewalks, within walking distance of a grocery store and stuff.

I'd be walking away from a pension. At 5 years I'll be vested, and can take the money with me. Not a total loss, but sucks to walk away from that security. Finances don't trump happiness, and the thought of 25 more years living here, in my current job doesn't make me happy.

Out West isn't happening. We moved here to raise our kids around family, and I like being near my family. That also rules out the northeast for the most part. Here's what we've been considering.

Asheville - Never been, but everybody loves it. Hmm, that sounds familiar.
Pittsburgh - Partied there in college, been a couple times, like it. Shitty weather, though.
Roanoke - Been a couple of times, and it seems nice. Great mountain biking, and I could potentially keep my pension. Backcountry.com opened a warehouse nearby, so it must be good!

What you got? Gimme suggestions, tell me why Cville is awesome and I'm not, talk about yourself in the first person, whatever.

**userA** · 01-07-2013, 02:33 PM

how big is your moms basement?

**bagtagley** · 01-07-2013, 02:39 PM

Haven't really given it a good look, but she's pretty skinny, so probably not very big.

**shirk** · 01-07-2013, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

Finances don't trump happiness

But living near family trumps happiness???

Move back out west and fly back to visit.

**irul&ublo** · 01-07-2013, 02:55 PM

But wait...there's NASCAR...

**iceman** · 01-07-2013, 02:56 PM

Santa Monica

Hugh Conway · 01-07-2013, 02:58 PM

and watch the world die?

if New York weren't a pit of retarded government, I'd say the Adks.

**liv2ski** · 01-07-2013, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by shirk

But living near family trumps happiness???

Move back out west and fly back to visit.

Yep, family is over rated. Live where you and your family are happy and visit the relatives every few years.

**stupendous man** · 01-07-2013, 03:18 PM

who are you? what the hell do you like to do?

asheville is a nice town. so is savannah. so is nashville and chattanooga. roanoke is in the mountains, but it is not the west.

they both will suck if you suck. or like skiing.

**MontuckyFried** · 01-07-2013, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by liv2ski

Yep, family is over rated. Live where you and your family are happy and visit the relatives every few years.

Totally agree. Otherwise I'd be stuck in Texass for the rest of my life. I love my family a lot, but just because they want to live in that hot hell hole does not mean that I need to be. If they want to see me that bad, then they can come visit me whenever they'd like.

Wife and I are contemplating spawning a brat or two someday. There is ZERO question as to where we want to raise our kids. We are pretty set on raising our kids around the mountains and could care less where the rest of our family decides they want to reside. You just looking for free baby-sitting or a total momma's boy? Forget that noise. Go where you want, my friend!

**Supermoon** · 01-07-2013, 03:35 PM

What don't you like about Charlottesville? I've only ever heard good things.

Asheville is a cool town (though I've only spent a little time there). Has a good Boulder-type vibe to it. I've only driven through Chattanooga, but I have a buddy who swears by it. Tons of good biking and river stuff nearby.

**Arty50** · 01-07-2013, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

Also, fuck ticks...fuck 'em.

I'd like to add poison oak to this list.

**Dantheman** · 01-07-2013, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

Also, fuck ticks...fuck 'em.

Vibes.

I really have no input otherwise. Having spent a fair amount of time in SE Missouri for work, you couldn't pay me enough to live in most of the SE.

**OldLarry** · 01-07-2013, 03:43 PM

How old are our kids? Now about charleston, sc? And what, besides ticks, don't you like about Charlottesville? 1/2 my in laws and a bunch of friends are UVA peeps and they all love it, but that's a different time in your life and it reminds them of the glory days...

**OldLarry** · 01-07-2013, 03:44 PM

Un, I mean YOUR kids. Mine are 6 and 8, iirc...

**PNWbrit** · 01-07-2013, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by AustinFromSA

Go where you want

Unless you

could care less

It's a difficult balance.

**irul&ublo** · 01-07-2013, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by OldLarry

Un, I mean YOUR kids. Mine are 6 and 8, iirc...

So you'll be like 80 when the last is out of high school?

**mobygrape** · 01-07-2013, 04:10 PM

Sounds like you may have moved here for a job, which you have found is not a dream job, or good job, but crummy part of the world for you to live in. Sorry to hear, it happens. Sticking with that situation for 25 more years would probably drive you insane.

We moved from a really nice situation to be closer to family. Sometimes I'm quite happy with how things turned out, other days want to go back. Found some stuff I like about the area, not too many things I love, other than the quiet in a small town vs bigger city. Being able to see my parents and wife's parents every few weekends is really worth some of the personal sacrifices I have made. That has been why I want to make this work, though like you we are considering moving an hour or two away from where we live now, which would put us 3-4 hours from family, which is close enough for a weekend trip.

Still some great/good outdoor recreation opportunities in the area, but not the same. It could be that skiing/snowboarding is focused on a week or two trip out to the PNW every year rather than every weekend skiing in New England. With the difference in ticket prices between the two areas, it could be a wash financially.

No advice on the specific areas, have not lived or visited any of them for any length of time.
could go on longer. PM if you want more info or someone to bounce ideas.

**concretejungle** · 01-07-2013, 04:14 PM

What don't you like about C'ville? What are you looking for in a place to move to?

**OldLarry** · 01-07-2013, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

So you'll be like 80 when the last is out of high school?

My cryogenic frozen body will be re- animated to fire buckshot at her prom date.

**single** · 01-07-2013, 05:02 PM

Minneapolis, but just realized you probably don't want to go that far

**Dubbs** · 01-07-2013, 05:03 PM

Asheville sucks! You should definitely not move here.

(Seriously though, come for a visit. If you like art and culture, the outdoors, fantastic food, and great music you will love Asheville. We don't have great skiing, that's true, but on every other facet of life Asheville hits a home run.)

**Mr. Altagirl** · 01-07-2013, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

What you got? Gimme suggestions, tell me why Cville is awesome and I'm not, talk about yourself in the first person, whatever.

When can I say "I told you so."???

You know the answer, come buy our house and get it over with. I'll start packing.

**Tippster** · 01-07-2013, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

I want to be able to buy a relatively affordable house in town.

Originally Posted by iceman

Santa Monica

Yeah. Not happening.

What do you do, Bags, and does it require a University nearby? Asheville is awesome but isolated, Blacksburg and Lexington are cool, Knoxville is bigger but still very nice. Fuck Roanoke - I've never liked that town for some reason.