So say you were going to pick everything up and go live somewhere else (in the states), where? Why?

[klook]

109. Pacific Northwest.

Got lots of friends up there, weather is generally cool, scenery is beautiful, there are plentiful options for outdoor activities, and values are significantly more progressive than in most of the Southeast -- where I've lived my whole life. (Months of gray sky + rain would be a challenge, but I kinda like rainy days.)

Leaving the SE region would certainly be a mixed bag. I have many friends and relatives here, and uprooting at this point would be hard. Also, let's face it -- if black-eyed peas, collard greens, fried okra, and iced tea weren't readily available, life would lose some of its luster for me. And increasingly, there are really interesting international influences throughout the Southeast -- despite what you might think from seeing backward Teabagger idiots on TV. ("Backward Teabagger idiots" -- how's that for a redundant phrase?!)

And there are so many great places and experiences in this region -- Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains, funky little Florida towns, the Mississippi river, Atlanta, Memphis (!), New Orleans (!!!), and fascinating creative and progressive people all over plugging away working to make life better for themselves and others.

BUT -- There are plenty of times when I feel like I have forehead-smacked myself so many times I'm going to need a neck brace. (For example, my state Georgia's monumentally stupid "Guns Everwhar" law. Blecch!!)

Anyway, back to fantasies about other places...

New York City would be great also -- I visit there when I can to get a dose of culture and creativity. But I probably don't have the $$ to live there comfortably.

I've had wonderful times in California as well -- again it's expensive, but not everywhere -- and wow, what an incredible, diverse, stimulating environment!

There are actually hundreds of places in the U.S. where I think I could be happy. Dang, I forgot to become stinking rich so I could have 7 houses like John McCain!