I would recommend where I live, but I don't think Wilmington, NC would give you enough big city feel. The winters are good. Not real sure how to rate the place on the artsyness scale, but there is a downtown with shops and restaurants as well as UNC-Wilmington so there are plenty of college aged people that find stuff to do. Beaches are close by.
curtis73 wrote: I like to use the bidet analogy.
Just for fun, here are pictures of the actual bidets in my house.
Master Bath:
Guest Bath:
Not used "every time" but very refreshing when the time is right.
SVReX did a nice job of selling the Alpharetta GA area to me.
By my reckoning, Smokey Mountains are close. Barber is doable. South Carolina, North Carolina and VA Beach are all in play. Plenty of work in and around Atlanta. Swamps, ocean, mountains...
Now I just need to abandon my wife and children and I'm so there.
How about Richmond, Va? I know my daughter loved it.
And I'll throw on Greenville, SC. But it's not real big.
As befits the NOHOME name, I have lived in my share of places on the planet. I find your approach to looking for people and lifestyle to be backward to my experience.
I typically arrive at a new place with a purpose: Family move, school, or job. I focus on my reason for being there first, and assimilate the culture over time. Everyplace has its benefits and its sucky points. Whatever you do, dont move to Ontario, with the 0.05 DWI limits, its a pretty no fun place to live if you like to have a beer at a friends or share a bottle of wine with a meal. Too cold to be that sober most of the time!
While I hear you on the cold weather thing, it is something that I get used to, called "Car building season"
FL keys. Something not too far from Miami, so you can satisfy your big city jones periodically.
South Florida, find a piece of property and throw up a huge shop with an apartment in the corner, or rent a hanger with a small apartment. Gulf side fishing in the fall and winter and Atlantic side fishing in the spring and summer. Car culture exists, you'll have to hunt back roads for curves as all our highways are straight. Key West will take care of any "artsy" needs. Long days ride back home or a lazy 2 day ride.
These are all great suggestions. Thank you all so much for putting effort into helping me. Love this forum.
Another vote for South Florida. I just spent another week on Islamorada and I could easily live there.
What about Albequer... Albu... ABQ, New Mexico?
First, not every "redneck" is what your stereotype would lead you to think. But I'll admit that most of MS and AL are 20 yrs behind, so depending on how you live you ain't gonna fit in.
That being said Baldwin co. AL isn't that bad. It includes Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. You'd be semiclose to Pensacola and a little further gets you to Panama City.
How about Louisville, Kentucky? I went there for business a couple years ago and loved it. Nice city life, good culture and you had the country 30 minutes outside of town.
I'm sitting in Asheville right now, just to visit, and if it weren't for stupid inspections, I'd think I'd be living here. Few hrs youre at the ocean or many other large cities.
In reply to spitfirebill:
Greenville is already too big to me. Growing too fast and it really needs to STOP.
In reply to Sine_Qua_Non:
I agree, but Curtis wants a big city.
You have to admit though downtown Greenville is nice. It was dead as all hell until the late 80s.
spitfirebill wrote: In reply to Sine_Qua_Non: I agree, but Curtis wants a big city.
Yes... or a big city feel. I always marveled at how some cities appear deserted and empty regardless of being huge, and how some small towns feel citified simply because they are bustling. Its one of the reasons I never really fell in love with Vancouver. Its a big enough city but it feels like there are 35 people living there. There wasn't any vibe.
Ranger50 wrote: I'm sitting in Asheville right now, just to visit, and if it weren't for stupid inspections, I'd think I'd be living here. Few hrs youre at the ocean or many other large cities.
Only reason I like Asheville is its just off the mountain from free-for-all-ville known as spruce pine. I got my family last name on roads up there. I get free passes some times.
Where I live (Frederick,MD) meets all the requirements except for the winter one. And the best part is you are only ~1 hour from Baltimore or DC if you really want the big city.
Another vote for South Florida on the Atlantic side. Checks all the boxes in your OP. I spent a few years deciding where to move in the Southeast and like it here.
curtis73 wrote: These are all great suggestions. Thank you all so much for putting effort into helping me. Love this forum.
I'm glad you've marked Asheville off your list … wish more people would 
the influx of newcomers over the last 20+ yrs has driven up the price of everything, and the trust fund, birkenstock wearing panhandlers has gotten old 
Ranger50 wrote: I'm sitting in Asheville right now, just to visit, and if it weren't for stupid inspections, I'd think I'd be living here. Few hrs youre at the ocean or many other large cities.
just out of curiosity … what inspections do you mean ?
In reply to wbjones:
Vehicle.
curtis73 wrote:spitfirebill wrote: In reply to Sine_Qua_Non: I agree, but Curtis wants a big city.Yes... or a big city feel. I always marveled at how some cities appear deserted and empty regardless of being huge, and how some small towns feel citified simply because they are bustling. Its one of the reasons I never really fell in love with Vancouver. Its a big enough city but it feels like there are 35 people living there. There wasn't any vibe.
Ever been in the Chicago loop after 5pm on a weeknight? It's downright creepy how vacant it is...
petegossett wrote:curtis73 wrote:Ever been in the Chicago loop after 5pm on a weeknight? It's downright *creepy* how vacant it is...spitfirebill wrote: In reply to Sine_Qua_Non: I agree, but Curtis wants a big city.Yes... or a big city feel. I always marveled at how some cities appear deserted and empty regardless of being huge, and how some small towns feel citified simply because they are bustling. Its one of the reasons I never really fell in love with Vancouver. Its a big enough city but it feels like there are 35 people living there. There wasn't any vibe.
Yeah, but go 1 miles in any direction and that changes.
In reply to mtn:
Unless you happen to go a mile out into the lake.
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