Where might I enjoy living?
September 13, 2015 9:05 PM Subscribe
Having recently graduated college, I’m toying with the idea of moving. While I’m mostly content with living in my current city for now, part of me wonders if there isn’t someplace out there that might be a better fit. So I come to you looking for suggestions!
I currently live in Reno, and while there are things I like about living here, I feel like maybe I can do better. I’ve lived here my whole life and it might just be time for someplace new. I like the size of the community (biggest little city!), no state income tax, and that it’s large enough to have some neat things going on. But lately Reno has been feeling a little stifling, stale, and boring. Unless you’re into casinos, nightclubs, or outdoorsy sports, it can feel a little dead here.
I visited Ann Arbor several years ago, fell in love and wanted to move there. I loved the size of the town and sense of close-knit community, the university, and the variety of things to do and see. However, I stayed in my home state for college, and since then my political viewpoints and interests have changed enough that I no longer feel like Ann Arbor would be a good fit for many reasons.
I’ve also visited Austin/San Antonio, and while I loved the great music scene and the huge variety of things to do (going to concerts, riding Segways, the riverwalk in San Antonio, finding neat places like Gruene Hall), the whole area felt SO overwhelmingly large and a little too liberal. I just felt like I was sandwiched in between a bunch of huge, sprawly cities, and although it fit a lot of my other criteria, I think Texas truly is just a little too big for me. It felt very lonely and I missed that sense of small-city community that I feel in Reno and Ann Arbor.
Here’s a small list of things I would like:
1) Small to mid-sized city, ideally with a larger city within an hour or two.
2) I’d say I’m sort of middle of the road to slightly conservative politically, so I’d like to rule out overwhelmingly liberal (or overwhelmingly conservative) cities. I think someplace in the middle is what I’m looking for.
3) I’m very involved in the Reno Rodeo, horseback riding, country music, etc. I’d really like a place where I can continue with these sorts of activities and fit in relatively easily.
4) Live music (especially country/rock/alternative). This is one of the things I really loved about Austin/San Antonio was I could find some sort of show that interested me almost every night.
5) I’d prefer no extreme weather. The humidity and heat of a Texas summer, or the long, cold winters of someplace back east are things I wish to avoid if possible. I don’t mind dry heat, or a little bit of snow, but nothing too extreme.
I feel like if I could just combine the sense of close-knit community in Ann Arbor with the music scene and variety of things to do in Austin, and throw in a country/cowboy-ish vibe, I’d be in heaven. Is there some place where all of these things combine together that I might find happiness in? Where I can have the option of doing cool things like Segway tours or visiting some cool science museum, but not stick out like a sore thumb for liking country music and rodeos? Feel free to suggest places that might be close but not quite, as well. Thanks!
I currently live in Reno, and while there are things I like about living here, I feel like maybe I can do better. I’ve lived here my whole life and it might just be time for someplace new. I like the size of the community (biggest little city!), no state income tax, and that it’s large enough to have some neat things going on. But lately Reno has been feeling a little stifling, stale, and boring. Unless you’re into casinos, nightclubs, or outdoorsy sports, it can feel a little dead here.
I visited Ann Arbor several years ago, fell in love and wanted to move there. I loved the size of the town and sense of close-knit community, the university, and the variety of things to do and see. However, I stayed in my home state for college, and since then my political viewpoints and interests have changed enough that I no longer feel like Ann Arbor would be a good fit for many reasons.
I’ve also visited Austin/San Antonio, and while I loved the great music scene and the huge variety of things to do (going to concerts, riding Segways, the riverwalk in San Antonio, finding neat places like Gruene Hall), the whole area felt SO overwhelmingly large and a little too liberal. I just felt like I was sandwiched in between a bunch of huge, sprawly cities, and although it fit a lot of my other criteria, I think Texas truly is just a little too big for me. It felt very lonely and I missed that sense of small-city community that I feel in Reno and Ann Arbor.
Here’s a small list of things I would like:
1) Small to mid-sized city, ideally with a larger city within an hour or two.
2) I’d say I’m sort of middle of the road to slightly conservative politically, so I’d like to rule out overwhelmingly liberal (or overwhelmingly conservative) cities. I think someplace in the middle is what I’m looking for.
3) I’m very involved in the Reno Rodeo, horseback riding, country music, etc. I’d really like a place where I can continue with these sorts of activities and fit in relatively easily.
4) Live music (especially country/rock/alternative). This is one of the things I really loved about Austin/San Antonio was I could find some sort of show that interested me almost every night.
5) I’d prefer no extreme weather. The humidity and heat of a Texas summer, or the long, cold winters of someplace back east are things I wish to avoid if possible. I don’t mind dry heat, or a little bit of snow, but nothing too extreme.
I feel like if I could just combine the sense of close-knit community in Ann Arbor with the music scene and variety of things to do in Austin, and throw in a country/cowboy-ish vibe, I’d be in heaven. Is there some place where all of these things combine together that I might find happiness in? Where I can have the option of doing cool things like Segway tours or visiting some cool science museum, but not stick out like a sore thumb for liking country music and rodeos? Feel free to suggest places that might be close but not quite, as well. Thanks!
Denver or Fort Collins maybe?
posted by MsMolly at 9:26 PM on September 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by MsMolly at 9:26 PM on September 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
Geelong.
posted by pompomtom at 10:14 PM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by pompomtom at 10:14 PM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Nashville?
posted by Violet Hour at 10:19 PM on September 13, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Violet Hour at 10:19 PM on September 13, 2015 [6 favorites]
Seconding Nashville. It might be colder than you want, but aside from weather you're describing Nashville.
posted by The Noble Goofy Elk at 10:40 PM on September 13, 2015
posted by The Noble Goofy Elk at 10:40 PM on September 13, 2015
Louisville, Kentucky, has always sounded like a nice little-big town. And horses, definitely.
posted by hydra77 at 10:41 PM on September 13, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by hydra77 at 10:41 PM on September 13, 2015 [5 favorites]
The cities here in Montana are an order of magnitude smaller than Reno, and come with some pretty intense winters. I'd go further south around the Rockies, like a satellite town around Denver or Albuquerque. I'm less familiar with back east but yeah, I think there's a slot there in the Tenessee/Kentucky area that's not too north or south where a person might find a town with the right size and vibe.
posted by traveler_ at 10:47 PM on September 13, 2015
posted by traveler_ at 10:47 PM on September 13, 2015
Colorado Springs. Right in the middle of a whole lot of beautiful areas. Truly a western city hosting the Air Force Academy, cabins in the high Rockies, nice enough weather to garden like crazy. A beautiful town with areas of pink metamorphised sandstone with an exceptional glitter, if you like that sort of thing.
posted by Oyéah at 12:11 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 12:11 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
I second Louisville, Kentucky as a place to consider. You might want to consider New Albany, Indiana just north of us for cheaper real estate at the expense of annoying rush-hour commutes. Horse country, check! Music scene, check! Things to do, check! Beautiful countryside here and in the surrounding areas, check!
As far as weather, our summers are much milder than Texas- maybe 70-95% humidity and 103 degrees on the worst days of July and August, but typically hangs around 90%/94 degrees during those months. Yesterday we hit 90, I think. Winters are generally mild. We had maybe 19 days of snow last year in Louisville, mostly in late January through Late Feb/Early April which is oddly high. The city is horrible at cleaning the roads.
Cincy, Nashville, Indy are within daytripping distance.
As far as rodeo scene goes, Google tells me the North American Championship is at the State Fair Nov 12-14. Plenty of people own or ride horses in the state.
Louisville is the somewhat unexpected liberal beacon of Kentucky, but not overwhelmingly so. We all get along and you definitely wont be alone with conservative ideals.
I have a few friends from the western end of the state that just moved to Lexington, KY and love it for the smaller-town, more conservative feel with more amenities.
In any case, you are welcome to wear your Stetson and shoot your Smith and Wesson here.
posted by Giggilituffin at 5:44 AM on September 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
As far as weather, our summers are much milder than Texas- maybe 70-95% humidity and 103 degrees on the worst days of July and August, but typically hangs around 90%/94 degrees during those months. Yesterday we hit 90, I think. Winters are generally mild. We had maybe 19 days of snow last year in Louisville, mostly in late January through Late Feb/Early April which is oddly high. The city is horrible at cleaning the roads.
Cincy, Nashville, Indy are within daytripping distance.
As far as rodeo scene goes, Google tells me the North American Championship is at the State Fair Nov 12-14. Plenty of people own or ride horses in the state.
Louisville is the somewhat unexpected liberal beacon of Kentucky, but not overwhelmingly so. We all get along and you definitely wont be alone with conservative ideals.
I have a few friends from the western end of the state that just moved to Lexington, KY and love it for the smaller-town, more conservative feel with more amenities.
In any case, you are welcome to wear your Stetson and shoot your Smith and Wesson here.
posted by Giggilituffin at 5:44 AM on September 14, 2015 [5 favorites]
Omaha.
This page helpfully lists all of Omaha's various "Top 10" rankings, many of which correspond to your criteria. Best live music scene, best spot for job-seeking college graduates, best up-and-coming mid-sized city, etc.
Although there are over a million people in the metro area (and growing quickly), it manages to feel like a small town and a big city all at once. I grew up in DC and Chicago; my wife grew up on a farm in a town of 600 people. Both of us feel right at home here.
Your political views would fit right in. Though the state of Nebraska is about as conservative as it gets, Omaha is pretty moderate. I lean conservative but have worked on campaigns for Democrats around town and nobody here thinks that's weird.
I am not personally involved with the rodeo/cowboy scene but in my experience you will not have trouble finding those scenes in and around Omaha. A quick search reveals that the "River City Roundup" is happening in two weeks, and it looks like a pretty big deal? I know a lot of people who ride horses.
There is a youthful energy here that is really exciting. It seems like every week I see a new building downtown under construction or being renovated. Omaha fell on some hard times a few decades ago, but has been building up momentum and is now a legitimately awesome spot to live. I went to college here, left the area for a while, and earlier this year had the chance to live pretty much anywhere in the U.S. I wanted to go. I chose to move back.
Other bonuses: World-class coffee/beer/food scene. There's hardly any traffic here. The people are really, really friendly. Lincoln, the state capital and home to the U. of Nebraska, is a thriving, mid-sized city of its own and is only about 45 minutes away. The airport is super accessible and it takes roughly 4 minutes to get from your car to your gate.
It falls short of your criteria in only two ways: the nearest large city is Kansas City, which is 2.5–3 hours away. And the winters are a great chance to build character.
posted by Comic Sans-Culotte at 7:19 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
This page helpfully lists all of Omaha's various "Top 10" rankings, many of which correspond to your criteria. Best live music scene, best spot for job-seeking college graduates, best up-and-coming mid-sized city, etc.
Although there are over a million people in the metro area (and growing quickly), it manages to feel like a small town and a big city all at once. I grew up in DC and Chicago; my wife grew up on a farm in a town of 600 people. Both of us feel right at home here.
Your political views would fit right in. Though the state of Nebraska is about as conservative as it gets, Omaha is pretty moderate. I lean conservative but have worked on campaigns for Democrats around town and nobody here thinks that's weird.
I am not personally involved with the rodeo/cowboy scene but in my experience you will not have trouble finding those scenes in and around Omaha. A quick search reveals that the "River City Roundup" is happening in two weeks, and it looks like a pretty big deal? I know a lot of people who ride horses.
There is a youthful energy here that is really exciting. It seems like every week I see a new building downtown under construction or being renovated. Omaha fell on some hard times a few decades ago, but has been building up momentum and is now a legitimately awesome spot to live. I went to college here, left the area for a while, and earlier this year had the chance to live pretty much anywhere in the U.S. I wanted to go. I chose to move back.
Other bonuses: World-class coffee/beer/food scene. There's hardly any traffic here. The people are really, really friendly. Lincoln, the state capital and home to the U. of Nebraska, is a thriving, mid-sized city of its own and is only about 45 minutes away. The airport is super accessible and it takes roughly 4 minutes to get from your car to your gate.
It falls short of your criteria in only two ways: the nearest large city is Kansas City, which is 2.5–3 hours away. And the winters are a great chance to build character.
posted by Comic Sans-Culotte at 7:19 AM on September 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Walla Walla, Washington might be a good fit. I've been here six months (moved from Seattle) and am loving it so far. Seattle and Portland are both about a four hour drive away, Seattle can also be reached by plane in under an hour for fifty bucks if you book at the right time. The Tri-Cities and Spokane are an hour, and two? (Haven't been there yet) hours away respectively. Great community. Middle of the road politically leaning a bit conservative I'd say. There's a pretty good music scene. Definitely a rodeo scene. Summers have a few weeks above 100 degrees, but it's not terribly bad, and a fairly dry heat. Winters get below freezing at times, but not for months on end. If you have any liking of wine there is a great wine industry here making some outstanding wines. And Washington is an income tax free state.
posted by Jawn at 7:43 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by Jawn at 7:43 AM on September 14, 2015
It sounds like Albuquerque or maybe Santa Fe could satisfy your criteria. Santa Fe, in particular, is known for having a kind of hippie-ish artsy vibe, although it's still western enough that you should still be able to do rodeo stuff.
Maybe Tucson? I don't know much about it personally, but my wife has a friend from there who loves it.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:30 AM on September 14, 2015
Maybe Tucson? I don't know much about it personally, but my wife has a friend from there who loves it.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:30 AM on September 14, 2015
Northwest Arkansas, or perhaps even Tulsa. Fayetteville is fairly lefty, for that part of the country anyway, but the other cities in the region more than balance it out. There's plenty of reasonably priced land within 20 minutes of town if that's your thing or you can have a more urban experience if that is your preference.
Both are big enough to have things to do and fit your politics reasonably well. Tulsa is closer to the size you are used to, but the close-knit community thing is easier to find in Arkansas, and the nature-type activities are closer as well. Summers in Tulsa are pretty crappy, though. NW Arkansas has some elevation, so it doesn't get nearly as bad there, especially if you live up on a hill. It's amazing what a difference a couple hundred feet will make.
posted by wierdo at 10:46 AM on September 14, 2015
Both are big enough to have things to do and fit your politics reasonably well. Tulsa is closer to the size you are used to, but the close-knit community thing is easier to find in Arkansas, and the nature-type activities are closer as well. Summers in Tulsa are pretty crappy, though. NW Arkansas has some elevation, so it doesn't get nearly as bad there, especially if you live up on a hill. It's amazing what a difference a couple hundred feet will make.
posted by wierdo at 10:46 AM on September 14, 2015
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posted by Dip Flash at 9:14 PM on September 13, 2015 [5 favorites]