If You Could Live In Any State...

[Lady Rebecca]

So far, I've lived in CA (the Bay Area), OK (OKC), VA (Williamsburg), NY (upstate middle of nowhere), and FL (Orlando). Out of all of these, my two favorites have been OKC or upstate NY. Unfortunately, I can't do professional theatre in either place.

OKC is a great city - it has a very suburban feel, but there's a nice downtown, and there's everything you need in a very short distance. It seems like a suburb like Edmond would be a really nice place to raise a family. Also, the cost of living is super low, and the weather changes really often so you never get bored. Plus you get a nice sampling of all the seasons.

I loved upstate NY, but I didn't like living in the middle of nowhere, so I would want to be closer to Albany (I was an hr away). I wasn't there during the winter, but the summer was absolutely gorgeous.

The next place I want to try, though, is Seattle. However, I'm moving home to CA to save up money for it, since the cost of living is so high.

Oh, and though some people may like FL, I have absolutely hated it. The weather is non-stop hot, the tourists are crazy (and therefore, no one knows how to drive), the cost of living is higher than wages here, everything is really spread out so you have to drive 15 to 30 minutes to find anything you need, and half the roads are toll roads. I'm leaving in April, after my next show, and I know I won't ever live here again.

[Merlin the Elder]

Yeah, Rebecca...I've been to Florida on numerous occasions, all over the state, and it wasn't my cup of tea at all. Not a slam on Florida, just wasn't what I was looking for.  I think the places that I liked the most were cold. If it weren't for Sarah Palin, I might like Alaska.

[Mairte]

Good thoughts! I am in Minnesota now and did live in West Texas for 6 years. I actually liked East Texas the many times we were through there. It is one of the states I was considering before even asking the question.
Leaving in about an hour to do some shopping (not one of the die hard 3 am black friday shoppers!) but will check back here today or tomorrow.
Oh also, I tend to like the northern states but winter gets old after December.

[Lady Nicolette]

Mairte, do remember that most people are loyal to their states (me included) and there are a lot of Texans on this board, so it would stand to reason that TX would place highly here (no offense, please!!!!  None meant)...Places Rated might be a good place for you to take a survey, they recommend places you may have never thought of based on a variety of factors that you choose. 

http://placesrated.expertchoice.com/how/Default.aspx

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

I dearly love Louisiana and Florida for a number of reasons.  But for now I'm in Minnesota. cursing every snowflake.

[Lady Neysa]

Lady Rebecca, Seattle would be a great place to live!  My in laws used to live right outside of the city in Kent, before they retired and moved up on the Olympic peninsula to Sequim.  Seattle has everything you'd want in an urban environment, yet a relatively short drive outside the city finds you in stunning beauty.  Washington is a nature lovers paradise. One could spend months, if not years just exploring Mt. Rainier and surrounding area, and up on the Olympic Peninsula.  The geography is so diverse, (much like the previous post about CA) WA has it all.  Bustling metropolis, small quaint towns, including a bavarian village,  breathtaking mountains and waterfalls, dramatic coastal vistas with sea stacks, whale watching. World renowned tulip and lavender fields. Seafood nirvana, hot springs, temperate rain forests with huge ancient trees old as time, desert like conditions in eastern parts of the state as well as green, verdant farmland.
My husband would move out there in a blink, heck I'm sure I'd like it too, if all my family weren't here in MD. 

[BLAKDUKE]

Actually I am living there now.  I have lived in CA. TX. MA. NY(born and raised in Albany), but I am basing my preference on strict economics.  I like living in a smaller town with relatively close access to a big city and I have that.  If fact the scenario I use is put a pin in Columbus Georgia and attach an 8 hour string to it (roughly Orlando) then use that and draw a circle.  within that circle see how many major metropolitan place there are.  With access to those cities I can live cheaper  here and get the same goods and services and decent climate as any place in the country.  The only place that might be cheaper is Bentonville Arkansas but you can't get there from here, and the only place you can shop is Wal-Mart.    Also USA today did a survey a while back and based solely on climate Alabama ranked second only behind Nevada as the best place to live without having to greatly fear disasterous climatic upheavals, i.e. tornados, hurricanes, cylones, blizzards, ice storms, nor'easters, and floods  etc.     

[Molden]

I spent most of my life in Texas. If I moved back, it would likely be in Austin, though I would consider Denton (just North of Dallas).

I'm now living just north of Charlotte, NC and am LOVING it! Great autumns and springs here. It gets cold enough in the winter to make snuggling a sport...  Davidson, NC is CHARMING beyond belief and Mooresville has access to sooo much. The Arts are big here and I really love that.

If I move anywhere else, it'd likely be in Vermont - either Woodstock (not THAT woodstock! That's in NY.) or the area around Dartmouth University.

[Mairte]

My son lives in Asheville, NC and I have thought about it.
I DO like the four seasons in Minnesota, I just could do with a little less winter but not no winter at all. I would really miss snow.
LOL, what state has the most renaissance festivals???

[angusmacinnes]

I live where I choose now.  Texas is home and shall always be.  As for the most Ren Festivals I dont know.

[Mairte]

LOL, I just thought that might be a good place to live. Maybe I will have to research the number of RFs in various states. Okay, its not the most important criteria but it sure would help!

[Mairte]

Right now seriously considering a old historical stone farmhouse in Illinois...yeah, COLD in the winter but maybe there would be someway to insulate it better.

[Anna Iram]

The farmhouse sounds neat, but I can't help but think of the film Babyboom and the scene with Diane Keaton when her well runs dry and it starts to snow inside the house.  Funny movie if you've not yet seen it.

Have you looked at Arizona? You can ski in the morning and be in the desert by afternoon. You have the Grand Canyon, awesome Sedona, a great faire in Chandler and close enough proximity to Cali and Texas, and other states for more great faires. If AZ had an ocean I'd still be living there.

[Mairte]

LOL, Anna, I HAVE seen that movie, love it! Its weird you should bring that up because I was talking with the real estate agent about everything that needs fixing and THAT popped into my head.
I am not in a hurry, they cant build anything on these lots until spring anyway.
Arizona would be a different life experience for me for sure!!! Though maybe not...how different is it from West Texas? I think the states I have been considering the most are IL, TX, NC and NM because my sister lives in Albequerque.
Watch though, it will be somewhere totally the opposite of ANY of these places.

[Merlin the Elder]

A good companion movie is The Money Pit...  That's what I'm in right now....