If you could move your family anywhere, where would you live and why?

[lax16]

If cost were absolutely no object, to the point where I didn’t have to work, I’d spend a lot of time in the adirondack mountains of New York.

What the Adirondacks have that, say, the Rockies do not, is a whole slew of magnificent, deep blue lakes so clean that many homes are watered with unfiltered lake water. On an august day, when, say, Lake George has been baking all summer and the water is like 70 degrees, there is no more beautiful spot on planet earth than right there, floating in the lake. It is heaven, come down and kiss the face of earth.

(It was also minus 15 degrees there 2 weeks ago). If cost were no object, I’m going somewhere warm in the winter.

Of all the times I have visited New York, I have never been to the adirondack mountains.

Another place to put on my list of “must-sees”.

Yes, the best of both worlds is ideal. Warmth and sunshine in the middle of winter is wonderful if one can pull it off.

 

[CF_Mathews]

Hi lax16! I love this question. It’s something I’ve thought about a lot. I think there is something sacred about where you are born. However, clearly God sometimes leads people to faraway places-look at the great missionary saints.

I was born on Long Island, moved to Israel (yes, the Holy Land), then NJ, then back to NY and finally wound up (providentially) back on Long Island after 24 years. I love it here (beaches, intellectual stimulation, devout Catholic parishes, proximity to NYC) but there are problems (traffic, winter, high cost). But wherever you go, there will be problems (“the devil you know”).

I’m staying on Long Island until God sends me elsewhere!

 

[ClearWater]

I like where I am in Colima, Mexico. It has a beautiful climate, fresh fruit and vegetables at the market year 'round. The prices are more reasonable than in the US. They gave me health insurance. My boyfriend lives 3 blocks away. My volunteer placements are both 3 blocks away.

Taxis are cheap, but everything is close by. I can pick which church I want to go to, since there are so many Catholic churches within walking distance. I have probably 4 within a 5 min. walk, more if I want to go farther. Some are wheelchair accessible.

Most of the year, it’s dry and sunny. This has been good for my health. In the US, I had some kind of respiratory problem which cleared up when I came to Mexico. Also, the heat is good for my arthritis.

I have a wheelchair accessible apartment.

There’s a wheelchair bus here and a wheelchair taxi, both relatively reasonable.

There’s siesta here, and nobody will think badly of a person for sleeping from about 2-4 pm. Businesses close down, and people eat lunch with family and rest during the hottest part of the day.

The pace of life is a bit slower than in the US. There’s more emphasis on family here.

I live on a fixed income and really can’t afford to live in the US even if I wanted to.

 

[bitterhope]

Aren’t there a lot of ex-pats in Costa Rica? What about health care?

There are tons of ex pats in Costa Rica. I can’t speak to you about health care. We are military so for us it’s different. My husband gets stuck on special assignments in different places quite often but medical care for us is taken care of differently for us than for others living outside the US. Even when we aren’t near a military post our healthcare is provided as long as we are on orders. I seem to remember hearing from people there that the doctors are quite good and technology is as well. I can’t speak from experience though.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Absolutely gorgeous!!

Have you ever been there?

I have not, but I know a good bit of Italian and I am learning French (they speak both) and I love that type of area. I have a big book on regions in Italy, that, and Abruzzo seems like the places I would love to live.

 

[exnihilo]

I love where I was born and raised. I love the south. And where I live I am less than two hours from the mountains and four from the ocean. But, I hate the humidity and we are losing our culture, or more accurately it is under attack.

There are three places in the US I’d consider. I love Alaska for the weather, although I might change my mind after living there a winter. I love the mountains and water. I like that you can easily get away from people and civilization. The mosquitos aren’t so nice.

I also love New Mexico. I like the dry summer heat with cool nights. I like that you can have a cool winter. I love the food. Again I like that you can get away from people. I like the history and the mix of cultures.

I also think I would like to live in Hawaii on the Big Island. I never would have thought so since normally I’d do anything to avoid tropical heat and humidity. But there are places there that aren’t so bad. The island has lots of variety in terms of climate and topography. And I really like the kind of western, easy going attitude I sensed.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I love where I was born and raised. I love the south. And where I live I am less than two hours from the mountains and four from the ocean. But, I hate the humidity and we are losing our culture, or more accurately it is under attack.

There are three places in the US I’d consider. I love Alaska for the weather, although I might change my mind after living there a winter. I love the mountains and water. I like that you can easily get away from people and civilization. The mosquitos aren’t so nice.

I also love New Mexico. I like the dry summer heat with cool nights. I like that you can have a cool winter. I love the food. Again I like that you can get away from people. I like the history and the mix of cultures.

I also think I would like to live in Hawaii on the Big Island. I never would have thought so since normally I’d do anything to avoid tropical heat and humidity. But there are places there that aren’t so bad. The island has lots of variety in terms of climate and topography. And I really like the kind of western, easy going attitude I sensed.

I love living in South Carolina for the same reason you love living where you live.

 

[PolarGuy]

CFmathews, here’s one: Israel, or New Jersey?

Which has more religious significance?
-but-
Which has more 24-hour diners?

I mean, getting breakfast at 1am with baklava for dessert might be a religious experience to some, but that’s another debate…

 

[Xantippe]

I have heard many good things about Texas - friendly people, mild winters…just like you say. We are sure ready for friendly people!!

I have heard the drivers in the Dallas are awful and the allergies around Austin can make it very difficult to function, other than that, I haven’t heard too many negatives.

Have you had a problem with the allergies? I think it is called Cedar Fever.

We wish we could spend more time with extended family as well. I understand how that works.

The local lore is that “In Texas, everybody gets allergies.”

I didn’t really believe in seasonal allergies until we had been here a number of years and I started realizing that the long-term burning eyes and sinus pressure I was experiencing was probably not a cold.

Everything is alive much longer than in Northern parts of the country, and our area has a lot of humidity (so very favorable growing conditions for mildew). A local pediatrician mentioned to me that ragweed (or something like that) season here lasts into December.

So, there is that.

 

[Xantippe]

I have heard many good things about Texas - friendly people, mild winters…just like you say. We are sure ready for friendly people!!

I have heard the drivers in the Dallas are awful and the allergies around Austin can make it very difficult to function, other than that, I haven’t heard too many negatives.

Have you had a problem with the allergies? I think it is called Cedar Fever.

We wish we could spend more time with extended family as well. I understand how that works.

You should search for the big CAF Texas thread. I think that was 2015. All will be answered…

But yes, Dallas, Houston and Austin are terrible to drive in–Houstonians have a special flair for doing several seemingly suicidal lane changes at once.

 

[iepuras]

The local lore is that “In Texas, everybody gets allergies.”

I didn’t really believe in seasonal allergies until we had been here a number of years and I started realizing that the long-term burning eyes and sinus pressure I was experiencing was probably not a cold.

Everything is alive much longer than in Northern parts of the country, and our area has a lot of humidity (so very favorable growing conditions for mildew). A local pediatrician mentioned to me that ragweed (or something like that) season here lasts into December.

So, there is that.

I grew up in Fort Worth Texas, but after living in Houston for 15 years, I finally developed those allergies. I am still kinda in denial about it but I still take allergy meds every day.

And Houstonians are also notorious for driving 85+ on the freeways outside of rush hour. Occasionally, HPD will set up speed traps, but in my experience, speeding tickets are rare. I speed like crazy in the city but will slow down when I drive to Dallas, Austin or San Antonio because the small town cops WILL stop you for speeding.

If I were to leave Houston, I would just move a bit further east, deeper into East Texas. Hill Country is nice but land prices are going up. I’ll have my acreage in East Texas, thank you very much! I would go as far east as Louisiana but I don’t like state income taxes or parish sheriffs!

 

[pensmama87]

I have heard really good things about PA. A couple of different people I know say they would move there in a heartbeat.

The low chance of natural disasters is important. I have lived in earthquake country but other than that, I have not had to deal with flooding, tornadoes or hurricanes. That is a concern.

Funny, where we live now, there are really no bugs, snakes or anything. Just deer and birds in my yard. We don’t have fleas or ticks in our yard either.

I bet the food there is good, too.

Oh my, the food. Yes.

Lots of ethnic dishes from everywhere. All good. Lots of Eastern European (pierogi!) and Italian.

One PA “thing” is fries on sandwiches and salads, and then lots of pepper. It’s a culinary adaptation I was very willing to make.

The only thing here is flooding. Just live uphill. Once every few years we will get a tornado in the region. But usually the worst is thunderstorms.

 

[EveningSkye111]

That is really neat! I have never heard of thimbleberries. I’ll have to look that up!

Well, we will just have to make our way there one of these days. You can give me the inside scoop of where to camp and the sights to see.

You’ve officially piqued my curiosity. Thanks!

This is a great thread!!

Thimbleberries are amazing. They are not easy to find and when you do, picking them is a whole new experience. They grow in ravines for the most part and bears love them too. They are delicate, delicate berries. You can reach out to pick one and it will almost fall apart in your hand. When you find a good patch, you can pick for about three hours and have about two cups of berries. They get tightly compacted in your pail! It’s easy to hurt yourself when picking. Ravines are treacherous.

Is it worth it? YES!!!

I also pick wild blueberries, black raspberries, wild strawberries, wild grapes, etc cetera. I always bring my canning stuff and make jam at the campsite. Folks go by and are amazed that it IS possible to make jam at camp. The reward of sweet, wild fruit jam in the middle of winter is just a lovely experience and memory of hot summer days.

We will be Camp Hosting this year for about five months, wherever we choose with the Michigan DNR. Being a camp host is a lot of fun for hubby and I. We are both disabled and we are both Veterans of the USAF. We have a lot to share with other campers . Hopefully, by this time next year, we will be living by Lake Superior and could Camp Host at a nearby Michigan State Park closer to our new home! Pray we can do it!

Did I mention that we do all our camping in a tent??? =)

 

[ChristianDude]

In New York City, perhaps Manhattan or Staten Island, because I am really interested in New York City and when I visited my sister I liked it. I like the big city environment (at least as far as I’ve experienced) and I like the idea of living in one of the major cities in the world. I also like the Northeastern United States in general. Maybe my feelings will change later on as I get older, but as of now I would like to live in NYC.

 

[lax16]

In New York City, perhaps Manhattan or Staten Island, because I am really interested in New York City and when I visited my sister I liked it. I like the big city environment (at least as far as I’ve experienced) and I like the idea of living in one of the major cities in the world. I also like the Northeastern United States in general. Maybe my feelings will change later on as I get older, but as of now I would like to live in NYC.

I wanted to live in NYC when I was just out of college. It’s fun to live in new places, especially when you are young and don’t have children to think of.

NYC is so exciting! Now all I can think of is how many germs are floating around…
That’s why you need to do these things when you are open to it!

 

[lax16]

This is a great thread!!

Thimbleberries are amazing. They are not easy to find and when you do, picking them is a whole new experience. They grow in ravines for the most part and bears love them too. They are delicate, delicate berries. You can reach out to pick one and it will almost fall apart in your hand. When you find a good patch, you can pick for about three hours and have about two cups of berries. They get tightly compacted in your pail! It’s easy to hurt yourself when picking. Ravines are treacherous.

Is it worth it? YES!!!

I also pick wild blueberries, black raspberries, wild strawberries, wild grapes, etc cetera. I always bring my canning stuff and make jam at the campsite. Folks go by and are amazed that it IS possible to make jam at camp. The reward of sweet, wild fruit jam in the middle of winter is just a lovely experience and memory of hot summer days.

We will be Camp Hosting this year for about five months, wherever we choose with the Michigan DNR. Being a camp host is a lot of fun for hubby and I. We are both disabled and we are both Veterans of the USAF. We have a lot to share with other campers . Hopefully, by this time next year, we will be living by Lake Superior and could Camp Host at a nearby Michigan State Park closer to our new home! Pray we can do it!

Did I mention that we do all our camping in a tent??? =)

This is so interesting!! What is Camp Hosting? Do you teach others how to can and make jam?

If you are camping in a tent, do you use the showers at a nearby facility? (I have only been RV camping).

You are one amazing lady!

(yes, this is a great thread! )

 

[LittleWay84]

I’m from England but I’ve always had a strong desire to live in North Carolina .

I visited for the first time this past summer and I did really love parts of it. There are so many different things in one state; mountains, lakes, beaches…beaches with wild horses, pretty historic cities like Wilmington.

I blame Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill and many Nicholas Sparks movies!

 

[Kelfa28]

I’m from England but I’ve always had a strong desire to live in North Carolina .

I visited for the first time this past summer and I did really love parts of it. There are so many different things in one state; mountains, lakes, beaches…beaches with wild horses, pretty historic cities like Wilmington.

I blame Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill and many Nicholas Sparks movies!

That is kind of funny because Dawson’s Creek was supposed to take place on the Cape but was filmed in the Carolinas.

 

[Allegra]

I love my community. I don’t know of any place that I’d like to live better. Plus my family is here. Plus I hate moving. And painting,

 

[Irishmom2]

Lived on Long Island for the first 35 years of life. Some of our family is still there. We visit there at least once a year, and on the Belt Parkway, at some point because of the traffic, one of us always says “why does anyone live here??” We enjoy our time there because we know it. It’s familiar. It has pizza. Bagels. Beaches. Attitude. But could we ever move back there? Only if we won Powerball!

After NY, we lived in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and now Maryland. We are looking to move in a few years if my husband retires, but we aren’t sure where we will want to go yet. Can’t take heat, sick of snow, lol!