If you could live anywhere. . .

[Deleted]

May 26, 2012 23:41:53 GMT -5 @bonnap said:

To categorize AZ as barren means you haven't visited much of the state.

Where we lived in Northern Maricopa County (greater Phoenix area) actually gets more annual rainfall than San Diego (13 inches vs 10).

More rainfall, but also lower average humidity and higher evaporation..

I love Sedona and Flagstaff and Tuscon has an interesting charm with its few, but extremely green plants

[diamonds]

May 27, 2012 11:36:35 GMT -5 Plain Old Petunia said:

I have mold allergies, so my ideal place has dry air.

Lately I've been thinking perhaps Reno, Nv. It is big enough to have plenty of services, yet not a big city. It is just a few hours drive down to the valley (where I have lived most of my life) to visit family & friends. The bulk of my family is here in Ca's central valley and the bay area. As a plus, housing costs are lower than they are here. Also, the casinos have lots of good shows.

Same here, molds make me deathly ill. I lived in Vegas several times and felt wonderful and eating in the casinos I was able to put on weight. It is my first place of choice and the people are so friendly and come from all over the world.

[findingdeadbeats]

I also like the option of Reno. DH and I used to go there a lot in the early years and talked about moving to the mountains in that area at some point.

[Deleted]

"More rainfall, but also lower average humidity and higher evaporation.."

Yep. But to classify it as barren is just ignorant. Most people don't understand that San Diego is coastal desert. All those lawns and palm trees are non native and require additional irrigation since most of Coastal CA gets no rain from about April through October. All you have to do is drive through Camp Pendelton or south of Tijuana to see what the native landscape is...coastal scrub with a few sycamores and willows in the riparian areas.

San Diego has changed a lot since I grew up there; 1963-1986. Obviously it's a lot more crowded and expensive and on the other hand it's a lot more interesting than the very conservative grade B Navy town I grew up in. I'm still fond of it which why we own two properties in San Diego County. But AZ outside of the major metropolitan areas is truly wild and very interesting.

[973beachbum]

May 28, 2012 2:25:00 GMT -5 @bonnap said:

"More rainfall, but also lower average humidity and higher evaporation.."

Yep. But to classify it as barren is just ignorant. Most people don't understand that San Diego is coastal desert. All those lawns and palm trees are non native and require additional irrigation since most of Coastal CA gets no rain from about April through October. All you have to do is drive through Camp Pendelton or south of Tijuana to see what the native landscape is...coastal scrub with a few sycamores and willows in the riparian areas.

San Diego has changed a lot since I grew up there; 1963-1986. Obviously it's a lot more crowded and expensive and on the other hand it's a lot more interesting than the very conservative grade B Navy town I grew up in. I'm still fond of it which why we own two properties in San Diego County. But AZ outside of the major metropolitan areas is truly wild and very interesting.

My Mom lives south of Phoenix. It definitely is a city and there is lots going on. It is not good for a person with allergies though. She was real surprised to get allergies for the first time in her life there. Because it is the dessert the dirt just blows around like mad. She also said there is smog like mad because of the huge influx of people/cars and construction. She says the smog reminds her of LA years ago.

I think anyone thinking of moving to a place like Phoenix should go there for a few months first to see if it really makes them feel better before moving for real permanently. Just my 2 cents.

[Deleted]

According to that website, my ideal place is California. I LOVE San Francisco but that is the only city I have really been to in Cali. I would love to live there. I also got Hawaii.

I would prefer to retire in Europe somewhere. Or in South America. We will probably end up in Texas unless I can change DH's mind.

[Deleted]

May 28, 2012 2:25:00 GMT -5 @bonnap said:

"More rainfall, but also lower average humidity and higher evaporation.."

Yep. But to classify it as barren is just ignorant. Most people don't understand that San Diego is coastal desert. All those lawns and palm trees are non native and require additional irrigation since most of Coastal CA gets no rain from about April through October. All you have to do is drive through Camp Pendelton or south of Tijuana to see what the native landscape is...coastal scrub with a few sycamores and willows in the riparian areas.

One major advantage San Diego has is, well duh, the ocean.. Where I'm really going with that though is that we have an unlimited water supply at a higher price. The desalination plant that is being built by Carlsbad could be replicated to provide 100% of our water if we have a drier future ahead. Seems like the answer to rising sea levels right?

I'm not sure what Arizona does in the future with higher population - build a pipeline to the Gulf of California and build a desalination plant in Mexico?

[Deleted]

I love the weather in San Diego but not the cost of living. My husband wants to retire in Boca Raton, Florida. I need hills! The idea of a flat horizon depresses me. I also like Hawaii but again the cost of living there is a deal breaker. My favorite island is Kauai.

[msventoux]

One of the places it gave me is the area I already live in. Maybe I like this area better than I think I do!

[svwashout]

I like where I am but would be interested in spending a year in NYC. A cramped congested and noisy place would be fine, only I want a short walk from a subway station and ideally a farmers market. I'm tired of driving the freeways around here and would love to be able to give up driving entirely. That whole package of museums, theater, opera, and really good restaurants, I've never experienced any of it. If it costs about the same as a full year in a private liberal arts college, it'd be on my bucket list.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

There are so many great places all over the world. If I was staying in the US, I would like to have a house in SF and a ranch overlooking the ocean in Marin County or on the coast south of SF.

Dark, you should reclaim Angel Island, not alcatraz! More pretty trees ;D

Other places I could live are southeast VA/NC coast, CO Rockies, or Maine. Most of these places would only be good seasonally, though and CA seems to fit me year round...

[Formerly SK]

We're on the OR/WA border and LOVE it. We don't ever plan to move. A little more sun would be nice, but then every Tom, Dick, and Harry would move here and ruin it. ;D