Where to live?
Dear Gang,
I love Mr. Florida’s site! I just bought his recent book and am still trying to decide where to live. I have lived in over 7 other cities in 5 countries and traveled to 20 others. I also have lived in over 11 cities in the United States. I am an instructor, motivational and teacher trainer, musician, songwriter, traveler, and adventurer. I have also assisted personal motivators through a friend of mine who runs a seminar company in Detroit. I am leaning towards Toronto, San Francisco Area (where I lived), L.A. (never lived), San Diego (my parents live there currently), or Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale. My current employment with several universities dictates that I reside within the U.S. Where would you go if you wanted great beaches, easy access to major attractions, lots of bars, clubs, and venues to play in a band, wonderful multicultural communities, artsy communities, coffeehouses, etc.? I also love Holland’s Interest Inventory because using it can help in addition to r reading Mr. Florida’s work 
I love Cincinnati because it has a low cost-of-living. It is not very ethnically-diverse and the music scene is not very vibrant. I am hearing from a lot of people that it okay to live wherever and post your music on the internet, but maybe I’m old-fashioned, I want it all! Any advice? I see that Mr. Florida loves Toronto and I hear that there was a new man-made beach that was created on one of the lakeshores recently… San Francisco is gorgeous but does it have a major music scene? Also, isn’t the high-cost of living and real-estate astronomical? Any advice? Just let me know!!! I would love to hear from you! Thanks, S. Paul
Sent in by Paul S. from Cincinnati
August 15th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Toronto - Miami is a great combo. Quick easy direct flights, 6 months of weather bliss in each city. The two disctinct personalities play off each other well!
August 24th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Lived in Toronto all my life and love it with all my heart. Drawbacks: if you want to live anywhere near the city centre you’re looking at $1400/m for a 1 bedroom (if you are lucky). However, you’re within walking distance of EVERYTHING. I actually had a two bdrm 7 minute subway ride north of the city centre for $1400/m.
The beaches are lovely, beach volleyball courts, boardwalks… but don’t you dare step foot in the water. It’s a funny sight to go to the beach and see everyone on the shores and not a soul in the water. The water is disgusting. However, you are about 1.5 hours from the largest fresh water beach in the world (Wasaga Beach) which is beautiful. I lived in Hawaii for five years and I almost prefer Wasaga to it. You can walk out for miles and the water is soooo fresh, sand sooo fine. Toronto is also very close to loads of other beaches (Turkey Point where I’ve known people to surf).
Toronto is also a micro-climate. 40 minutes north it could be seven degrees colder and snowing buckets.
Smog. You might not love it.
Very multi-cultural city, very young and thriving, VERY inviting. It’s claimed to be the most snobbish of Canadian cities (it’s the most corporate) but I hear it lauded by Americans for it’s hospitality.
Music scene is fabulous. Many a night I’ve been torn between four different venues, and all relatively inexpensive.
When it comes to flying into Canada, Toronto is your cheapest airport, however I usually fly out of Buffalo (two hours away) for half the price. Actually, here’s the comparison. Weekend round trip to DC from Toronto = $500, from Buffalo = $150
Well, hope this helps, let me know if you want to know anything else.
October 5th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Hi Paul!
It’s a pity that your job keeps you in the States, because reading through your words… Barcelona (Spain), would be THE city.
Well, you’ll always have time to step by in the future, and taste it for a while..
Good luck with your search.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I would definitley try for Toronto..it sounds like you know the states pretty well so why not try a change in environment. Toronto pretty much has everything you’re looking for and you will notice a positive difference in a canadian city as opposed to an american one, it would be worth the experience. good luck!