Why do you live where you live?

[Elrohwen]

Now, nobody has to say where they actually live (and I think younger members aren’t allowed), but I’m really curious about why people choose to live where they are living. Did you grow up there? Do you have multiple generations of family there? Did you just move for a job or is it your dream location where you’ve always wanted to live?

What do you love about your current locaiton? If it’s not your favorite place, do you plan to move to your dream location at some point?

 

 

 

 

I’ll go first! I grew up in Pittsburgh, but wanted to live somewhat near New York City when I graduated college and ended up finding a job in Connecticut. Luckily DH found one in the Hudson Valley, not too far away (though he wouldn’t be my husband for a few more years!) and I was happy we ended up in the same place after school. I’ve been in CT for almost 5 years now and I like it, though it’s not my “forever” home.

We’re both working in the Hudson Valley and looking for a house near work – I have to say I loooove this area. It’s beautiful and right near the Hudson River, there are farms, farmers markets, and rural areas, but it’s only 1.5 hrs from NYC. We might not be in this exact part of the valley forever (we’re thinking about moving to the Albany area eventually) but I think some part of the Hudson Valley will be our home for a very long time.

[Monkeybun]

Well, my hubby is Oregon born, he’s never lived anywhere else. All his family is here, his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. He gets nervous with big changes, so it’s easier on him if we stay here… for now, til somehow we win the lottery without ever buying a ticket. lol.

I like it here, the weather is similar to Vancouver BC, my home town. Don’t have the mountains though I do miss those. We’ll likely stay in Oregon, its rather pretty here, even without the BC mountains. Hubby wants to stay close to his family, he is his parents only kid, so he’s all they have.

[Elrohwen]

I love both Oregon and Vancouver!! I think you’re lucky to have lived in both.

[babybunsmum]

i was born and raised in kitchener-waterloo, went to college here and, tho i’d love to travel far more than i do, i have no immediate plans to move my home base

i love this area… there are 4 distinct seasons in southern ontario, i’m only an hour outside of toronto and an hour or 2 from 3 of the great lakes and from georgian bay. also this area is a bit of a technology centre (=jobs) and there’s always something interesting / fun going on because of the 2 universities, a think tank and the perimeter institute (theoretical physics).

[Sonn]

I was born here but we moved around a lot when I was a kid but always ended up coming back here. Almost my entire family lives here but there are so many of us we are scattered all over the world.

I really REALLY do not like where I live and am scraping together every extra penny I get to move far far away. There has always been almost 0 jobs here unless you want to work at the hospital or in the mines and it is very hard to get a job with either. I could list a million reasons I don’t like living here but that would take way too long. =P

The only thing I do like about it is I am in the middle of nowhere and the neighbors I do have don’t like me enough to talk to me lol. I like to either live in an isolated area or an extremely busy area.

[MarkBun]

Posted By Elrohwen on 01/07/2011 07:06 AM

We’re both working in the Hudson Valley and looking for a house near work

 

I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley – in the small (well not as small as when I was there) town of Goshen.  Even got my first job out of college in the Hudson Valley working for a broadway scene shop known as Costume Armor.

I am living happily in San Fransico’s Bay Area – mostly the Berkeley area.  I love the climate here as it is basically the same thing year round except for winter where it is basically the same thing for those 3-4 months.  But if I want snow, Tahoe is only a couple hours away.  The diversity in San Francisco is enough that if I ever want to travel to another part of the world, there is usually an area in it that I can hit that feels just like it.  Sure there’s earthquakes but they really don’t bother me as I love the adventure – sort of like a disaster movie except there’s no major disaster.

 

 

[Michelle&Lolli]

I live in central Illinois. I was born here and life didn’t go as expected so here I still am. It’s not a bad place to live. A bit boring cause like other sizeable midwest cities/towns, there’s nothing to do but eat, drink and see movies. I would really love to move up to Chicago but with financial and medical problems, I don’t know when that’s going to happen.

Most of my family lives in the area. My brother is in Florida and I have a cousin in the military who is based in Colorado, but everyone else is within a 3 hour drive. And we are all really close. I’m really attached and close with my mom so when I do move away, it will be really hard. Really really hard. But it’s something I feel I need to experience.

[FluffyBunny]

I live in a mountain town in Colorado. To be honest, I’d prefer to move to the city. I was too young to have a say in us moving here the last time we moved, but now that I do have a say, I’d like to move as soon as possible. It’s very pretty here, but to be honest, not much happens around here.

[LoveChaCha]

Everyone has a story to tell and it is cool

My dad moved around all his life because his dad was in the Army. My dad was in the Coast Guard after he married my mom and they had my brother. My family moved around a lot, and when I was born, my dad wanted me to have roots and not have to move all the time. He was in Hawaii with my mom and brother and I was born in Hawaii (my dad was born in the Philippines, my mom was born in Hawaii, both were raised in Hawaii) and stayed there until I was 2 years old.

My dad got a job in Washington, where my grandparents retired to and that is now my home

I don’t like Washington. The city that I currently live in is pretty.. well, its alright, but the crime rate has gone up since the 1980s It used to be such a quiet town. After I am done with my education, and after my boyfriend is done with his, I plan to move wherever his job is.

[Lis]

My parents live near DC, because that’s where my dad could get an actual desk job with his Forestry degree:p. I grew up there.

I live in Hampton Roads because that’s where I went the first year of my college education. I went to the school HJ’s at right now, and feel in love with the area. I had to go back to DC, but came back down to a different college this year. Sure, Hampton Roads (my city in particular) is pretty dangerous, but my hometown’s pretty bad too, so that doesn’t really phase me. It’s so pretty at night, especially near the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

[Lis]

My parents live near DC, because that’s where my dad could get an actual desk job with his Forestry degree:p. I grew up there.

I live in Hampton Roads because that’s where I went the first year of my college education. I went to the school HJ’s at right now, and feel in love with the area. I had to go back to DC, but came back down to a different college this year. Sure, Hampton Roads (my city in particular) is pretty dangerous, but my hometown’s pretty bad too, so that doesn’t really phase me. It’s so pretty at night, especially near the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Both Stan and I grew up in North Florida and lived there most of our lives. I was born there, but he was born in Okinawa, Japan! His father is an orthopedic surgeon and was stationed there at the time. But they moved to our hometown when he was three and that’s when we met… when we were both three-years old!

Needless to say, we have some pre-K pictures of the two of us that are so precious you might actually vomit in your mouth a little ; D

We grew up together and fell in love in high school! He went to college at Georgetown U., in DC, and I went to Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. We did the long distance thing, which was hard but we did it!

Shortly after college we got married <3 We moved to New Orleans, LA so Stan could attend Tulane Law School. We moved in two weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit……. and had to evacuate. Easily one of the craziest experiences of our lives.

We moved back to NOLA (what the locals call New Orleans, LA) and stayed there until he graduated. Then I got a hankering to move “home” so we went back to Florida. This turned out to be a huge mistake…

I don’t know if you guys have experienced this, but sometimes the place where you “grew up” ceases to exist once you’re an adult. I could explain further, but it would take a while…

So after a year and 1/2 of living there (omg…), Stan supported my long-time dream of us living in Colorado. I had never up-and-moved anywhere before… at least not for a reason, like school. I was excited and nervous and part of me felt like I didn’t know what I was doing.

So we got a Penske truck and I drove our vehicle and most of you know what happened…

On the way to Colorado I was in a huge car accident and flipped three times. Remy and Momo were in the back seat. I sobbed to the fire fighters for forty minutes to find them, even though my own arm was covered in blood. Stan was searching the road in case they had fallen out of the broken windows. Turns out, they were totally fine and still in the car. Momo had a scrape on her nose, and you can still see the scar if you look carefully. It was a miracle all around.

Now we’re here, and have been for a year this month! This place is exquisite. We see the Rockies from our window. They’re currently covered in beautiful snow. Moving here has given me a sense of freedom that I never thought possible. You *can* live where you want to… you just have to put one foot in front of the other.

We love it here, and I’m grateful everyday that we made that huge step!

[FluffyBunny]

Lizzy, that’s amazing that you met when you were 3! Not many people can say that! I would love to see those photos sometime.

[Monkeybun]

Definitely need to see those pics! lol.

I miss seeing the mountains every day. I’ll have to take the hubby up to Canada again soon.

[peppypoo]

I was born in Taiwan, but moved to the States when my dad got a job in Arizona when I was around 2 years. However, I was displaced halfway through kindergarten to move to Texas (again due to dad’s job), and have lived here ever since. I thought college would be my big break, but I just ended up going to the state university 20 minutes away from home. After college graduation, I took a bold new step for medical school and moved….a bold three hours up the highway  

Maybe I’ll be more adventurous and leave the state for residency! But until then, it’s good ol’ Texas for me.  I do enjoy living here, but don’t have any overt loyalty or desire to stay…things just have worked out for me to stay here so far.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

ohhhhhhhhhhh ya twisted my arm!

And yeeeears later…!

<3

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

OMG Lizzie-your hubby that young was googoo for you-he’s looking at you in each pic!!! THAT’s wow *big grin* Cool

I was born in the US actually in Waltham (near Boston) MS (I’m not going to try to spell it) because that’s where my dad was working (he worked for Shell for his whole career and made us all move a lot). I lived in Calgary and Edmonton Ab and I think we’d moved something like eleven times before we settled in Sarnia Ontario (southern southern-like a literal stones throw from Port Huron Michigan). And then we moved to Edmonton because my dad played a role in the first oilsand operation out here.

It’s funny I was so excited to move to a big city (Edmonton) when we came here-because-well in Sarnia it was a good day if five people weren’t wearing the same outfit as you given our limited shopping..now I yearn for a quiet acreage in a small town where everybody knows everybody. In fact I’m sure that’s why I shop where I shop in Edmonton-if they take the time to know me (like at my local rip off gas station) and are nice-well I like that!

I was going to move after I graduated Uni and then I met Dave…while we were figuring things out and I was acquiring rabbits….he got an amazing job that treats him well, and they are grooming him to own and operate the company….so we’re stuck here I guess As long as I get two trips a year, one abroad and one to BC…I can cope I think If I ever get into vet school I will move to do that and I guess we’ll do shared custody of Mikey while I study

[angie-la]

no one else is from the bay area?!

haha. well I was born and raised in berkeley, CA. land of the crazy hippies but [more importantly] awesome food! went to college in san francisco and then resettled back in oakland. I’ve travelled a decent amount and had a lot of fun in other states/cities/countries, but I seriously can’t see myself living anywhere else but here. the vibe here is super open minded and [for the most part] accepting of everyone. the bay area is amazing, if you guys ever thought about visiting. super laid back, full of culture, open minded, and stocked with every kind of cuisine you can think of.

if you can’t tell.. I am a glutton. haha

[LoveChaCha]

angie-la, lintini lives in the bay area

[angie-la]

oh wait, and mark too.. haha. fail.

[LoveChaCha]

Hahaha its okay.

[Momto3boys]

Well I’ve always lived in New Brunswick, just different parts of it.

I now live 4 hours away from my hometown because Craig got transferred here for work…and now you couldn’t pay me to move, I love it here

[Elrohwen]

Posted By MarkBun on 01/07/2011 10:17 AM

Posted By Elrohwen on 01/07/2011 07:06 AM

We’re both working in the Hudson Valley and looking for a house near work

 

I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley – in the small (well not as small as when I was there) town of Goshen.  Even got my first job out of college in the Hudson Valley working for a broadway scene shop known as Costume Armor.

I am living happily in San Fransico’s Bay Area – mostly the Berkeley area.  I love the climate here as it is basically the same thing year round except for winter where it is basically the same thing for those 3-4 months.  But if I want snow, Tahoe is only a couple hours away.  The diversity in San Francisco is enough that if I ever want to travel to another part of the world, there is usually an area in it that I can hit that feels just like it.  Sure there’s earthquakes but they really don’t bother me as I love the adventure – sort of like a disaster movie except there’s no major disaster.

 

 

Very cool! I work on the other side of the river, but Otto actually comes from a town right near Goshen  Funny that you used to live out here, and I used to live in Pittsburgh where your gf lives (I think you mentioned her vet once and it’s the vet my parents live very close to – we took our dogs there growing up)

I also love the San Fran area. I would love to live there!

[Elrohwen]

I love reading everybody’s stories! Thank you all for sharing! I was thinking about this topic the other day because all of my local friends are from all over the country. I also work with many people from all over the world (especially Asia and Germany) and it’s so fascinating to me how we all ended up where we are now.

So many of you live in places I love! Very jealous of all those west of the Mississippi. I love the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, and the Bay Area. I doubt I’ll ever live in those places, but I will always love to visit.

PS Lizzie, those pictures are so frickin cute! What an adorable story for you two!

[CarlieL]

I live in between Vancouver BC and Seattle…I’ve lived in this area my whole life, all my family’s here and this is where hubby grew up, too. I do like it, although I’m more of a sunshine girl. The Pacific NW can be beautiful at times, I’ll give it that! I love visiting the east coast, especially NY…I think if I was single with no pets/kids I’d probably live there.

[jerseygirl]

Lizzie, what did Santa say to you to have you look at him like that?! (Pic #2) LOL!
Thanks for posting these cutecutecute pictures. Your wedding dress is completely dreamy.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

ha! I am giving him a *very* suspicious look. Who is this guy, anyway?

: D

[LizzieKnittyBun]

And thank you for the compliment on my dress!!!

[Lintini]

I’ve been born and raised in the east bay of california.

I’ve traveled a ton thanks to marching band, drum corps and orchestra and realized quite early that I can’t wait to escape from this hell hole. It depresses me greatly that after getting my teaching credential and getting a band director job that I wouldn’t be able to buy a house out here. I plan to move out west or to the east coast. My parents want to escape too but they will be stuck due to grandparents. The earthquakes aren’t so bad, just duck and cover right?? lol. But I can’t move somewhere where there are tornadoes…..HECK NO!!!

I can’t stand going into the cities like San Fran or Oakland….well….as long as I don’t have to drive. I’m not much of the city type. I would love to have my own ranchette someday. So I either need my own farm or my own personal driver for the city. lol

[LizzyBunny]

Born and raised in Vancoouver BC. I plan to travel through Europe when I get a bit older and live there too as my whole family (both sides) are from England. I’ve traveled to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, England etc and my favorite is always San Francisco My dream is to start a vet practice there : D

[Monkeybun]

Yay Vancouver! \o/

 

Linds, come move to Oregon

[LoveChaCha]

Lindsey, oregon is gorgeous and quiet. I’ve been there proally more than 5 times. Its different from Cali. I’ve been there too. Lol. Toomuch hustle n bustle for me!

[Author]

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