Who’s YOUR City? Blog

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

I grew up in southern Ohio, moved to Minneapolis/St.Paul for college and stayed for 15 years. My chronic health issues worsened while living so far north. I didn’t mind the cold, but the short days really began to wear me down over the years. I loved the progressive nature of the city, politics, community, etc. It was so easy to meet people there. I am also openly gay and I work in non-profit administration. So I need a city where there is a reasonable amount of sunshine, lower cost of living, and somewhat progressive. 8 years ago I moved to Tucson, just to get my health back, While I love the slower pace, it is very difficult to meet people here. The city is more liberal than Phoenix but still somewhat isolating. I am considering, Tampa, Ft.Lauderdale (much higher cost of living),and Miami. Houston and Atlanta have similiar cost of living stats but I am soo confused as to what my next move should be. Any suggestions? (nothing north of St. Louis please) You can email me at Toddtucson@msn.com

Sent by Geoffery from Tucson AZ

Hello! Very interesting concept here. I am an entrepreneur in Cheyenne, Wyoming and I find it difficult to grow a business and prosper primarily due to the low population. However, the city and areas of Wyoming seem to be the best place to raise a family and purchase a home (no state income tax either). Any thoughts?

Sent by Pamela Girt from Cheyenne, Wyoming

I moved to Cincinnati about 2 years ago (yes, for a love….but now that’s done). I am interested in a new chapter of my life. I am young, single, and fairly outgoing. I enjoy going out to the bars, but am not much of a “clubber”. Anyone have any good ideas for a new city? I keep resorting back to home (also midwest), and I just don’t know if I am ready to move back quite yet. Cincinnati is great, if you have a significant other. There are a lot of fun things to do and cool neighborhoods to check out. It has a lot more than I ever thought it could offer, but without a “significant other”, you are an outsider. Its hard to meet people here without having a close set of friends that are Cincinnati-homegrown.

Any suggestions for new cities for young people like me?

Sent by A from Cincinnati

I live in Wilson, NC– a very small town that’s trying to act like a big city with a small town attitude. Even though we have a growing and thriving international population, the powers that be are dominated by the ‘ole boys club’: white males over the age of 40. Museums for adults do not exist in this town, the library is wonderful (in part due to folks who don’t live in Wilson), and a few international restaurants are starting to open. Wilson’s claim to fame is tobacco and its location: about 50 miles east of Raleigh and 40 miles west of Greenville.

I did not go through the local school system as a child. I went to a Math/Science High school in a large city, attended a Liberal Arts college, then grad school in Lexington, KY. I had to come back to help with an ailing mother, who is still alive. She wants to remain in Wilson–this is her hometown and her family is here. I’m also a math teacher.

I find a lot of native Wilsonian petty, unthinking, ultra conservative, racist (both the blacks and whites) and so religious (i.e. they can justify their racism, homophobia and hatred of strong women from the Bible). My tolerance level is hitting an all time low with such thinking. My small band of friends are not from Wilson (but live here, even though most are talking about leaving themselves), and when I want to go and see art, plays, clubs etc., I have to travel 50 miles to Raleigh.

So what city do you suggest?

Sent by Paully from Wilson, NC

I grew up in Chattanooga, TN. It has a lot good going for it these days, but it’s still too conservative for my tastes. I’m sociable by nature but a minority in being a non-church-goer. My husband and I have been living the expat life for 8 solid years now (the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East and Asia). We work in international aid and development and are used to and enjoy diversity.

Eventually we will have to come back home for family reasons. Family is very important to me. I can’t stomach the idea of living in the suburbs of Atlanta, but where can we go? Is DC our only option? It’s not exactly close. If not either of these, we are likely going to have to make some career change since the work we’ve been doing seems to need an international city hub.

Sent by Kate from Amman, Jordan

My wife and I are an interracial couple with two young children. We are also teachers. We love Austin because of its coolness, tolerance, and lack of chain stores. However, it has gotten too expensive to live downtown and we hear teaching jobs are hard to come by.

I have heard that Louisville is an up and coming Austin. Is this true? or would anyone know another up and coming city that has similar qualities as Austin?

Sent by Fred from Las Vegas

I currently live in Huntington, WV, a college town, but still on the small side.

I had lived in New York city for almost 9 years, but moved back when I had my son. I am finishing up school, and am wanting to move to another city. My two choices are Austin, TX or St. Petersburg, FL.

I am looking for employment as a medical coder/health information management. Also, I am into healthy living - organic foods, yoga, holistic medicine, and am environmentally conscious. I want to live in an environment that is diverse on all levels. I need somewhere that is affordable. And finally, I want to live in a place that has good schools for my son. Does Austin or St. Petersburg live up to this?, or should i look elsewhere?

Sent by Jill from Huntington, WV

Hi there, I thought it was coincidental that I heard a review of this book on NPR just hours before I interviewed for a position in Auckland. Louisville, KY is my hometown, but I’ve lived in Nantucket, Taos, and Hawaii. I’m considering a move to New Zealand and would love to hear about the experiences of other Americans or Canadians that have relocated there.

Sent by Ginny from Louisville, KY

My wife met in Cincinnati, OH and have lived here for too long. We have some family here and a lot of friends but we are still very unhappy in this city. The climate is bad and I have horrible allergies to almost every tree in the Mid-West.

I am a social worker and my wife is finishing up graduate school soon. We are hoping to move somewhere in Colorado in the next year or two, but we are not quite sure where. We have been there three times and enjoy the open space, green technology, historic downtowns, and clean/dry air.

My wife will soon have her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and I would like to open my own vintage shop at some point. Are there any suggestions (especially from those of you in Colorado) where we should look further into? Even if it is not Colorado, we just need some advice… and we NEED to leave the Mid-West!

Sent by Jim from Cincinnati