Picking a new place to live

Condensed version: Divorced, living with parents, need to pick a new city/place. I am open to nearly anywhere, but there are some requirements. I don't have a lot of personal stuff, but I have a massive amount of tools, cars, and parts. I have spent several years whittling down my stash to just the necessities, but its still considerable. I think it would all fit in a 24' box truck or enclosed trailer, but there are also at least three cars, a boat, and a large full-dress bagger motorcycle involved.

If it weren't for the car addiction (which is something I just can't give up and remain happy), I would be open to other continents, tropical islands, or other planets, but given my car fetish it needs to stay North American for now. Since I hate winter and love summer, I can rule out Canada. Since I enjoy access to cosmopolitan things and city luxuries I can rule out Mexico.

So basically I'm willing to go anywhere as long as its in the 48 contiguous states.

Here is the list:
1) no winter, or at least minimal winter.
2) awesome extroverted artsy people. Semi-granola types without being hipster.
3) car culture a plus, but I rarely attend car events
4) political leanings aren't a big deal. I'm pretty liberal but don't mind conservative areas... as long as they are not trashy. For instance, TX is full of motivated individualist conservatives with cattle ranches. PA is full of conservatives who use their welfare check to buy more camo clothing so they look good at WalMart.
5) larger populations suit me
6) good nightlife/social outlets. I'm 41, but tend to fit in more with the 30-ish type activities.
7) within a 2-day drive to my PA family/friends.

Any of those are negotiable; like if you can think of a clear choice that trips all the triggers except one, I'll consider it.

I was going to say Portland until I read the last line.

Chattanooga or Knoxville, Asheville, Anniston or Birminham AL, Tallahassee, Tampa. With the exception of Tampa, most of the places have some rolling hills and dense urban development. Well, Anniston is a ghost town, but its in a cool location.

I'm in the same situation, only my wife is driving the "no snow" demand. I'd prefer to be able to drive home with only a single night in a hotel, at least while my parents and grandparents are still around. Once their gone, I'm headed west.

Chicago strikes out big on #1, but hits everything else out of the park. EDIT: Oh right, with as many vehicles as you have, this is a non-starter unless you live in the suburbs or buy a warehouse (I'd rent a spot!)

I'd say, with very limited knowledge of each of these places, you need to be looking at Nashville, Louisville, Charleston, Austin, and New Orlean--those last two are probably pushing the 2 day drive requirement.

Austin, Athens GA, and Chattanooga would all be good prospects. Austin is over-run with hipster types, but they are pretty hard to avoid these days. Fortunately, the hipster fad will pass, and soon the beards will be shaved, and they will return to wearing men's jeans. Another annoying trend is sure to replace it though....

If I was gonna drive 20 hours home I'd rather do it from Fort Collins, CO or Boulder rather than Austin. Sure its warm but Fort Collins is rad.

1) Austin, TX or Pacific Northwest (west of the cascades)

2)Pacific Northwest (a little Austin, TX though)

3) Austin is autocross heaven plus several tracks in the area

4) Austin, TX or Pacific Northwest (Austin is not your typical idea of texas, but eastern washington state is)

5) Austin for sure.

6) Austin Austin Austin!

7) Gonna have to fly or drive fast.

Seriously man, I recommend Austin, Texas. Even if you don't stay there for ever, it's a great place to spend 5-years of your life, cost of living is cheap, and it sounds like it's right up your alley. Short of that anywhere between Portland, OR and Everett, WA on the I-5 corridor is calling your name.

Raleigh or one of the other spots in the triangle, NC?

Chattanooga

You strike as similar...
The most craziest, outlandish, and unconventional person that I knew in Ohio moved to New Orleans where he is a respected pillar of the community and he has not changed nor really grown up in the at least 15 years he has been there.

Savannah GA? I know a few people who live there and it seems like a small island of progressiveness in the middle of the Bible-belt...

Ian F wrote: Savannah GA? I know a few people who live there and it seems like a small island of progressiveness in the middle of the Bible-belt...

Super close to Road Atlanta and Roebling road

Re: Austin. I lived there for three years and loved it. Unfortunately I lived there with my ex wife and the overwhelmingly emotional nature of the split makes it a little tough to live there yet. I did visit in October and it sucked a fair amount, emotionally. It has also changed a ton. Still an awesome town, and very high on the list.

Re: New Orleans. I lived there for about a year pre-Katrina. What made it fun was the friends I had there and the awesome vibe of the town. I have visited a couple times since and its not the town it used to be. Again, still a great town and high on the list.

Re: Savannah. I visited there once and it is so charming and beautiful. Its a wee bit more pricey than I was hoping for but also on my radar.

Re: Asheville. I have had so many recommendations to live there that I got tired of hearing about it and went to visit. It has all the excitement of a paper cup, but the cost of living of Seattle. I really don't get it. It is totally not my style. It looks like western PA, its high enough elevation that it gets plenty of winter, and I found the people to be standoffish and rude. Its like Pittsburgh but expensive.

Re: AL and TN. See WalMart/camo comment above :)

Re: FL. I think I could get behind a FL party town like Miami, Daytona, or the Keys. My grandparents lived in Ruskin just outside of Tampa for years so I have a lot of experience with Tampa suburbs, but only really went into Tampa/St Pete a couple times. I like it some, but I think I would prefer the ocean coast to the gulf coast. More party, less Geritol.

In reply to rebelgtp:

Challenge accepted. I'd still say Portland.

I think somewhere in TN might be the answer.

Ian F wrote: Savannah GA? I know a few people who live there and it seems like a small island of progressiveness in the middle of the Bible-belt...

This Savannah/bible belt comment reminded me of a great conversation I had with someone in Savannah.

Picture a 70+ year old large, short, black woman with no teeth. She had on sunglasses and I actually thought she might be blind until I realized she visually noticed some things. She was like a stereotypical caricature of old, black, southern woman. I peeled my butt off my motorcycle when I parked in front of her stoop and she noticed my PA plates. We got on the topic of why I was there, divorce, road trip, etc. The conversation continued something like this:

Her: well you know why she divorced you right?
Me: No, why?
Her: 'ccordin to that new preacher over at my church its cause you have long hair. That crazy man says that its a sin for a man to have long hair.
Me: (with a smirk) Well, you know he probably also thinks that Jesus was white.
Her: (with a bigger smirk) You know, Jesus WAS white. You know how ya know it?
Me: (taking the bait) No, how do you know?
Her: Cuz who the f**k would follow a black jew?

Raucous laughter ensued.

Watch for the hidden costs when looking at Austin now a days. Over the last 3-4 years, the cost of living has gone up a lot and the wages on average have been neutral or lower. The city went through and trued up the property taxes a few years ago and investors bought a ton of the available affordable housing driving up the costs.

I have a house on the NW side of town where RR, Cedar Park, and Austin come together that I bought 8 years ago now. It was cheap at the time. For us to move into the city any more and just get the same house it's almost 110K more. In the same time, My property taxes went up 40%.

Portland is somewhere I need to visit. If it trips all the right triggers I would consider the extra distance.

Regarding AL and TN, I have never visited any of their cities and found them enjoyable. Euphala is lovely, but small and isolated.

Perhaps I should explain better on the conservative areas part. I am a country boy who likes cities. I can milk a cow, shoe a horse, and plow a field, but it doesn't identify me. If a conservative person identifies him or herself by the redness of their neck, chances are we won't get along. If they scorn enlightenment as something stupid but worship God and Dodge Rams (not necessarily in that order), chances are its not the kind of conservative I can deal with.

I like to use the bidet analogy. If you show a Bidet to an AL, AR, MS, or TN redneck, they might say, "that's the dumbest rich-people BS I ever seen... let's get some PBR and shotguns and play in the mud with my ex-wife's truck after bingo at the firehall." If you show a Bidet to a TX country boy, he might say, "well ain't that the darndest gizmo. It ain't my style, but thanks for learnin me."

I like the latter, but find it intensely difficult to tolerate the former. Anyone who's vocabulary includes "fag" or "ni**er" will never be invited to my parties.

On the opposite end of the Bidet extreme are the rich people who would consider it rude to not have a bidet, and anyone who doesn't must be destitute.

Truth is, my favorite people are in between those extremes. We know bidets exist, we know how they work, but also know that it doesn't matter a hill of beans if you have one or not.

bmw88rider wrote: Watch for the hidden costs when looking at Austin now a days. Over the last 3-4 years, the cost of living has gone up a lot and the wages on average have been neutral or lower. The city went through and trued up the property taxes a few years ago and investors bought a ton of the available affordable housing driving up the costs. I have a house on the NW side of town where RR, Cedar Park, and Austin come together that I bought 8 years ago now. It was cheap at the time. For us to move into the city any more and just get the same house it's almost 110K more. In the same time, My property taxes went up 40%.

Good to know. When I was there I rented a duplex in Jollyville/Anderson Mill area (just off Pond Springs Rd) and it was relatively cheap. I think if I were to go back to Austin I might look south west, like out where 290/71 split. Unless something has changed dramatically, that was a mildly affordable area with very loose zoning. I'm thinking a 60' x 100' live/work shop. That area has plenty of space.

You remind me a lot of a friend of mine from high school. He moved to Portland OR about 20 years ago and loves it there. I think you should check it out.

Portland is probably one of the more affordable major metros on the west coast, although that isn't saying much.

Datsun1500 wrote: Asheville NC hit's most of the buttons, except it's not that big. Charlotte NC hits a lot of them, but not as artsy as Asheville. I'd live in Charlotte and visit Asheville every so often to get the whole package.

This.

And 20 miles east of Charlotte is Albemarle, where real estate is berkeleying CHEAP.

it's also where im living now.

Austin is the Boulder of Texas, so either Austin or Boulder. Although I can't say that Austin is hipster-free.

Other that blatantly failing the winter thing- MN is your bag. You could even hang out with me! PA is 16 hours (12 if you're speeding... I still can't believe I didn't get arrested) food, nightlife, to say we're openminded is an understatement, cars ( car craft summer nats are HERE), but we've got a berkeleyload of winter.

Yellow Springs, OH? Close to Dayton/Cincinnati/ Columbus. A few hours from PA. Definitely liberal leaning without being too hipster. Extremely low cost of living. We do have winter here though, and it does suck.

You'd probably like Tucson, its hot but you get used to it. Its a great little big city if you put the effort into enjoying it here. Large selection of rust free cars. Its possible to make PA in 2 days drive if your crazy enough.

There's a possibility of having to relocate from here after SWMBO graduates. I'm not looking forward to it but of the potential places she could end up, Knoxville Tennessee doesn't look bad. My list of accolades look a lot like yours.

Daytona.