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

[rockcreek]

I grew up in this area. Went to schools @ St. Johns in downtown Frederick, though commuted from Mt.Airy. I am blessed to have grown up there. Schools in Carroll County are very good...and while amazing mtbing, river running, skiing, the ocean aren't out your backyard, as you know it is a fairly easy drive to get too some really cool places.
********Shameless Spam Warning**********
my father is trying to sell his house and move into his retirement home in Whitehaven, MD (coast)
Geodesic dome, fairly large, very unique, on seven acres (five wooded, and renting a skidsteer for a week would net you the most badass pump track in the Mid-A.) creek running through prop, totally surrounded by thrirty year old pine (think secluded, but from neighbors, not the world). He built the house with his father and I grew up here. It is a gem of a place. and not too many ticks......

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/31...36794350_zpid/

sorry if I cunted up your thread bag, just throwin another option out there.

[bagtagley]

Spent the weekend in Asheville with the little lady. I really liked it. It's similar to Charlottesville in that it's a progressive Southern town with plenty of food/art/hip and a focus on local. Beyond that, I'd say they're not much alike. Tourism is much bigger there, and from talking to people, it sounds like it's on the verge of a significant population explosion. Given the topography and limited useable land, it's hard to imagine it handling that very well.

[AdironRider]

Love that Buckminster Fuller place, except for the whole Maryland thing.

[GimpToo]

Have friends that live in Kingsport, TN and love it . . . easy travel options!! Good luck!!

http://www.visitkingsport.com/about-...kingsport.html

[OSECS]

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.

Roanoke is a nice little town, but C'ville is certainly got it beat in terms of amenities. Probably a lot of bang for the buck in terms of cost of living, but not really sure what the schools are like. I can't imagine they are as academically competitive as C'ville schools.

Can't speak to the other place other than passing comments based on visits.

Pittsburgh is pretty blue collar isn't it, kinda lousy winter weather (lots and lots of grey sky days) ?

Asheville is uber beautiful and serene with great outdoor opportunities, but again schools are probably an issue and its not easy getting to or from there.

We made schools the number one priority for our kids. That made decision making about where to live fairly easy if boring at times