walkswithblackflies
Trail Wise!
Resident terrorist-supporting eco-freak bootlicker
Posts: 6,952
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Aug 26, 2015 6:14:42 GMT -8
We have a thread about where you'd like to live, but what about where you currently live?
Although I'd love to live in Lake Placid because 1) location, location, location, 2) the international vibe from so many foreign tourists, and 3) its a small village but there is always something going on (Olympic events, Ironman, etc.)... I have to admit I really like being near Syracuse. That statement usually results in a lot of raised eyebrows, so I'll explain:
1) A medium-sized city with very little urban sprawl. I live on the edge of a small village east of the city... kinda suburban-rural... I have neighbors but I also live next to an alpaca farm. But I can be in downtown Syracuse within 15 minutes. My work commute is less than 10 minutes.
2) TONS of hiking opportunities in many different landforms / ecosystems. North: swamps and ancient lake plains (ie - flat), East: rolling hills that look like the Shire from the Hobbit, South: hills that rise nearly 2000', some call them "mountains", West: rolling hills, then Finger Lakes.
3) Four true seasons.
4) Snow, snow, and more snow. Several downhill ski areas within 30 minutes, lots of XC skiing and snowshoeing opportunities. I don't partake, but lots of snowmobiling and ice fishing opportunities, too.
5) More snow.
6) Several state parks / forests within 30 minutes. One just a couple miles from my house is a geologic wonder. Scientists from all over the world come to study it. Plus, a lot of varied terrain and the largest stand of old growth forest outside the Adirondacks.
7) Hunting and fishing opportunities everywhere.
8) Plenty of lakes, navigable streams, beaches, and waterfalls.
9) Natural disasters are rare... snowmelt and the occasional hurricane-associated rainfall are typically the only extreme events.
10) A short drive to another country (Canada). Being in Quebec is a like still another country. As is Vermont.
11) Several different cultures... urban, suburban, redneck, tourist, college student/hipster ; Irish, German, Italian are the predominant ethnicities, with some African-American and Mexican, and pockets of Polish, Bosnian, and Sudanese.
12) Several great universities (SU, SUNY ESF, SUNY Upstate Medical, Cornell, Colgate)... all of which have staffs that are very accessible to nerds like me who constantly wonder "why?" or "what?".
13) Although Syracuse City schools are atrocious, the surrounding school districts are generally very good.
14) Low cost of housing... even with waterfront.
15) Some of the cleanest air in the US. Some of the best municipal water in the US... and no shortage of it.
16) Although the people here will bitch, whine, moan, and complain about EVERYTHING... they will also give you the shirt off their back.
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Post by cweston on Aug 26, 2015 7:00:22 GMT -8
I live in Manhattan, Kansas.
Overall, I like it quite a bit. It is a university town, so there are a lot of cultural and entertainment options that would otherwise not exist in a small city of about 50,000. This part of Kansas (the flint hills) is quite scenic, and there is some decent day hiking nearby.
I am a day's drive from big boy hiking in the Rockies--I'd love to be closer, but it could be a lot worse.
Kansas City, a very vibrant smaller big city, is two hours away. I wish it were more like one hour, because I'd love to go more often for concerts, restaurants, etc.
Mostly what we don't like about our location is how messed up Kansas politics and economy are right now. And, while our town is at the confluence of two major rivers, water (as a feature of the environment) is pretty scarce around here.
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Post by hikerjer on Aug 26, 2015 7:22:34 GMT -8
I genuinely like where I live. At just over 100,000 population it has just about all the amenities you could want excepting big time professional sports which I could not care less about. The schools are quite good and the city is becoming more progressive all the time. More money being poured into parks and recreational activities as well as bike paths, etc. The best part is I'm not far from the mountains and some of the best hiking in the country. There are smaller nearby towns closer to the mountains that I wouldn't mind moving to, but I suspect I'll be around here for sometime.
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desert dweller
Trail Wise!
Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
Posts: 6,291
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Post by desert dweller on Aug 26, 2015 8:11:57 GMT -8
I like Tucson. It's not Phoenix.
Been here 35 years. Could have left many times but I have always been able to find work. The diverse environment makes for diverse hiking.
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Aug 26, 2015 8:22:58 GMT -8
Love it. I feel like I've won the lottery since moving here. If I had to leave, I would mourn like I lost a child.
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leafwalker
Trail Wise!
peace on earth and good will toward all - om shanti
Posts: 526
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Post by leafwalker on Aug 26, 2015 9:02:23 GMT -8
I live in a small town in NE MO. It's OK. Have a state park about 17 miles away and a large state conservation area 6 miles away. Not so good is that it is about 11 car hours to the northwoods, the Appalachians, the Rockies. Kind of in the middle, but not close to and major type of habitat except plains and Miss R/tributaries caused hills. Desert is a lot farther (although, SW MO has an area with road runners). The southern MO hills are about 5 car hours away. Have flown to Calif for the big trees and to Oregon for the woods and coast. But, small town life is OK. Can always keep up with the gossip if that is your cup of tea (have a neighbor that is gossip center) - not my cup. Need to drive 30 miles to go to a big grocery store, theater, or hospital in a large city of (laugh) 40,000 (I grew up in the Chicago area). A couple of small colleges within 25 miles and Missou 100 miles away that sometimes have something worth attending. Walk a block one way or four the other way and I am in farm country (literally). It's OK. Got my wife, son is in KC that is four miles away, daughter closer. Can route for KC in Card country.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
Posts: 1,710
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Post by davesenesac on Aug 26, 2015 9:27:39 GMT -8
No. But it is a reasonable choice compromising between negatives and far better than choices most people that need to make a living have. Living in a dense modern urban area like the San Francisco Bay Area offers both many positives as well as negatives. There are some exceptional places within the area to be living but on balance many more not so. From Palo Alto to Oakland. Santa Clara County has a population that is soon to go over 2,000,000 people. Although that is over a large land area of 1290 square miles ( a ~35 mile square ), most of the county is mountainous or part of San Francisco Bay with few or no people while any level areas have long since been developed. Thus the population density is typical of core areas of our large western urban cities that grew during the age of automobiles. There is considerable new development that is simply tearing down less dense older areas and building expensive high density multi level buildings. I went to kindergarten in the area when there were vast fragrant orchards, especially of apricots. This was one of the most beautiful places with lots of giant valley oaks in open grassy fields and little streams with fish draining down from our forested hills. Of course it is now the 800 pound gorilla of hi tech on the planet with resulting enormous employment pressures of people trying to move here that also makes it one of the most expensive urban areas to live in especially regarding housing costs. The median value of owner occupied units is $645k and apartment rents are nearing $3k/month. Loaning banks, real estate corps, their army of speculators and house flippers is endless devastating much. Its famous semi-arid Mediterranean climate is also near ideal, not too hot in summer, not too cold in winter that has drawn people for decades. Additionally there is a long list of world class tourist attractions and natural areas within a few hours drive. For someone like this person with decades of electronic hardware and computer skills, it is one of the most ideal career locations to have become entrenched in. But I'm now at retirement age and once I am no longer working m-f 8-5, housing costs will be much too expensive. So will need to move away or get lucky. The county has a large population of immigrants rich and poor that have radically changed the culture for the worse from what it was just 2 or 3 decades ago. Traffic and urban noise is mind numbing and the government and media has long been strangled by PC and financial interests. In any case there is much natural wonder and scenery with hiking within a local hour or two drive including the Pacific Ocean. And there are many superb peripheral residential areas within the urban labyrinth especially close to the coast where it is easy to blot out all the noise down in the hole where I would love to stake out for my remaining years. To own a residence in modest Santa Cruz or Pacific Grove and like near coastal areas would be fantastic. Otherwise much of the rest is a thumbs down. David www.davidsenesac.com/2015_Trip_Chronicles/2015_Trip-Chronicles-0.html
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Post by starwalker on Aug 26, 2015 9:28:43 GMT -8
Bunch, Oklahoma--What's to love? Reasonable winters with snow that usually goes away in a few days. Beautiful fall leaves, although not as good as New England or the aspens in the Rockies. A State Game Refuge as my neighbor which I can go hiking on about any time I want (except deer and turkey season). Beautiful spring flowers, dogwoods and redbuds abound. My wife's family is close, unlike my family which has dispersed. Ouachita and Ozark National Forests within a close driving distance. Tulsa within 2 hours distance with big name concerts, a great museum in Gilcrease and minor league baseball which is also in the Fayetteville, Arkansas area which is only 1 hour away.
What's to hate? Hot, humid, buggy summers. I HATE TICKS. Oklahoma politics, not as messed up as Kansas' but close.
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,962
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Post by Westy on Aug 26, 2015 10:00:07 GMT -8
Salt Lake City
GOOD Small metropolitan area #35 Central Wasatch Mountains - Hiking & Skiing - 30 minutes Winter is function of altitude - Snow in the mountains, mild in the Valley Direct flights to London and Paris - Airport - Delta Hub Within a days drive of Yellowstone, Denver, Grand Canyon, Reno Well-maintained Olympic Winter Sports Venues 1600 rock climbing routes - 30 minutes
BAD Air Pollution The Inversion Byzantine Liquor Laws
UGLY
Utah State Legislature Utah Congressional Delegation
ABSURD Public school students needed parental permission to watch the President's Address to Students
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zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,895
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Post by zeke on Aug 26, 2015 10:12:39 GMT -8
I moved many times during my work career, and I enjoyed all of them. This move was necessitated by my wife's illness, and how warm weather alleviated many of the symptoms.
I will start with the Cons, as it can be summed up nicely by: It is too damn Hot! It is also in the Eastern Time Zone, so it is bad for live sports addicts like myself. In my old age, I cannot stay up later than about 10:30.
The Pros of living near Tampa are many. Nice airport, with no real congestion getting in and out of it. Nice place to base out of for kayaking, which has its appeal now that I am too feeble to BP much. Cost of living is fairly low, so food is rather cheap, as is housing. My local library is well stocked and has AC. The bike trail is one of the longest and best maintained in the US. Although I am not one to just hang out at the beach, it is only 8 minutes from the house, including the 3 traffic lights between here and the parking lot. Sometimes, there is some nice scenery there. Sunsets are great, as it is on the Gulf side of Fl.
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sarbar
Trail Wise!
After being here since 2001...I couldn't say goodbye yet!
Posts: 1,030
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Post by sarbar on Aug 26, 2015 10:23:35 GMT -8
I've lived in my town since 2004 - when we moved here it was a lot smaller. It has grown tremendously and is often now listed as one of the Top 10 places to raise families in the US - which is why so many people have moved here. It has brought problems - showing the piss poor planning of the city only too well. But, it is a good town. It is quick to drive to the mountains, I live with the back of my property in the middle of town, on a rail to trail - not much better could one ask for!
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Post by trinity on Aug 26, 2015 10:35:40 GMT -8
I live in the middle of nowhere about an hour northwest of Austin, TX. I like it quite well. I am originally from Austin, but it has grown so much in the last 50 years that I can hardly stand being there anymore. Now I get to live in the Texas Hill Country that I love without having to deal with city life, but I can get into Austin pretty easily if I need anything. Summers are miserable here, but the rest of the year is quite beautiful. I am within a half hour of several beautiful rivers for flyfishing. It is a great area for running, and the folks in these parts are kind and down to earth. Most of my dissatisfaction with living here comes from two areas. First, politics. Texas is the home of George W, Rick Perry, and Ted Cruz. 'Nuff said. Second, there is very little public land here. If I want an actual backpacking experience, I've got to drive all the way to Big Bend or the Guads, and I greatly prefer wilderness to national parks, so I normally drive to New Mexico for my backpacking trips. This is my home and I love it, but it is only a matter of time before we move, almost certainly to the mountain west.
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BlueBear
Trail Wise!
@GoBlueHiker
Posts: 3,224
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Post by BlueBear on Aug 26, 2015 11:50:30 GMT -8
I like it. Boulder's expensive and it definitely has its drawbacks, but there are also a lot of benefits of the town that many of the tourists don't see on their brief forays here.
I bike to work and put less than 5,000 miles a year on my car. Bike paths abound, you can get anywhere in town on a bike safely. I only start up the car when I need to get a lot of groceries, drive out to a more remote trailhead, or take the kids somewhere.
The education system is top-notch in the country. Important when you have kids.
Nature is right nearby. I can walk up the creek and whitewater paddle to 100 yards of my backdoor when the water's high. I can bike to the edge of town and have immediate access to mountain trails. Same with climbing or bouldering.
The airport, though on the other side of Denver, is an easy enough drive on the turnpike that it makes traveling elsewhere pretty trivial. You can get just-about anywhere from Denver Int'l.
I can't necessarily guarantee I'll live here forever, but for now, Boulder's all right.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Aug 26, 2015 12:41:35 GMT -8
Back when I was young(er) single and had the opportunity, I decided I wanted to live in Colorado. I've never regretted that decision.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,214
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Post by reuben on Aug 26, 2015 14:11:07 GMT -8
Lived in the same state all my life. I like having 4 distinct seasons - fall is my favorite. We live kinda in the woods near a small/medium town ("a drinking town with a sailing problem") which is somewhat near to two larger ones (Baltimore and DC). Restaurants galore, some little trails for practice hikes, tons of water access and fishing (which I almost never use), and in an hour or two I can be on the AT, where it's 10 degrees cooler.
It's nice to go to the local general store (wood floors, beer, bait, lots of ads for lost dogs, boats for sale, etc.), and still have "civilization" close by.
It ain't perfect, but nothing is.
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