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penfield"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
You may already know that J. and I will soon be moving out of our apartment. Where we're moving to is still rather fuzzy. We could be setting up camp as close as across the street or as far away as Mars.
Leaving aside for now the high-level relationship negotiations and career aspirations underpinning such a momentous life decision, I am still sorting out the criteria for my next city of residence. I now have a tentative list of ten candidates, though the list is in no particular order and by no means final.
Some things to keep in mind:
- My parents live in Western New York and will be there for the forseeable future; being able to see them regularly is important to me.
- I'm not particularly fussy about the weather but I have a strong preference for seasons; generally speaking, the longer autumn lasts, the better.
- I hate driving and I don't even own a car; this makes the availability of public transportation a significant factor.
WASHINGTON, DC
Pros: Inertia, decent weather, public transport, friends in the area
Cons: Cost of living, imminent threat of socio-political terrorism
ROCHESTER, NY
Pros: Family, familiarity, cost of living, minor league baseball, beautiful summers
Cons: Soul-crushing winters, tanking economy
SEATTLE, WA
Pros: public transport, friends in the area
Cons: Way the hell across the country, thousands of miles from family, cost of living
BALTIMORE, MD
Pros: Decent weather, still close to Washington DC, cost of living
Cons: For some reason, people keep making bleak and grimy television programs about the city's endemic criminal element
MADISON, WI
Pros: Plenty of civic pride, friendly citizens, cost of living, pleasant summers
Cons: Rough winters, may actually be "too young" for me
PORTLAND, OR
Pros: I've never actually been there but I hear nice things, fair weather
Cons: Way the hell across the country, thousands of miles from family
CHARLOTTE/RALEIGH-DURHAM, NC
Pros: I've never actually been there either but it seems nice, fair economy
Cons: Bible-belt biases, hurricanes
CLEVELAND, OH
Pros: Civic pride, great lake coastline
Cons: So-so economy, rough winters
PITTSBURGH, PA
Pros: Another city on the rebound
Cons: Questionable weather
So, bearing all of this in mind, where do you think I should live? Feel free to lobby. Comments in haiku form will be weighted heavily.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
You may already know that J. and I will soon be moving out of our apartment. Where we're moving to is still rather fuzzy. We could be setting up camp as close as across the street or as far away as Mars.
Leaving aside for now the high-level relationship negotiations and career aspirations underpinning such a momentous life decision, I am still sorting out the criteria for my next city of residence. I now have a tentative list of ten candidates, though the list is in no particular order and by no means final.
Some things to keep in mind:
- My parents live in Western New York and will be there for the forseeable future; being able to see them regularly is important to me.
- I'm not particularly fussy about the weather but I have a strong preference for seasons; generally speaking, the longer autumn lasts, the better.
- I hate driving and I don't even own a car; this makes the availability of public transportation a significant factor.
WASHINGTON, DC
Pros: Inertia, decent weather, public transport, friends in the area
Cons: Cost of living, imminent threat of socio-political terrorism
ROCHESTER, NY
Pros: Family, familiarity, cost of living, minor league baseball, beautiful summers
Cons: Soul-crushing winters, tanking economy
SEATTLE, WA
Pros: public transport, friends in the area
Cons: Way the hell across the country, thousands of miles from family, cost of living
BALTIMORE, MD
Pros: Decent weather, still close to Washington DC, cost of living
Cons: For some reason, people keep making bleak and grimy television programs about the city's endemic criminal element
MADISON, WI
Pros: Plenty of civic pride, friendly citizens, cost of living, pleasant summers
Cons: Rough winters, may actually be "too young" for me
PORTLAND, OR
Pros: I've never actually been there but I hear nice things, fair weather
Cons: Way the hell across the country, thousands of miles from family
CHARLOTTE/RALEIGH-DURHAM, NC
Pros: I've never actually been there either but it seems nice, fair economy
Cons: Bible-belt biases, hurricanes
CLEVELAND, OH
Pros: Civic pride, great lake coastline
Cons: So-so economy, rough winters
PITTSBURGH, PA
Pros: Another city on the rebound
Cons: Questionable weather
So, bearing all of this in mind, where do you think I should live? Feel free to lobby. Comments in haiku form will be weighted heavily.
