I do like where I live ...

So when I hear things about New England and it's history and culture and people, I tend to pay attention.

Just recently, the peeps over at GoFundMe declared we New Englanders to be the most generous:

We occupy the top three positions on their per capita donations rankings, and four out of the top five, and six of the top ten.

Despite this love of where I'm from, my wife and I are discussing where we want to live the rest of our lives.

It's not a decision to be made immediately. I'm currently enrolled in another degree program so I couldn't move immediately anyway. And she has a successful accounting practice here.

But long term ... It's this where we want to call home? It's an open discussion.

Do you love where you live?

Would you ever pick up and move?

What would motivate such a decision?

Is climate a good enough reason?

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JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

I do not love where I live, because there are too many people and too many cars, inadequate roads and public transit, and high rents.

But every major city is like that. So I need an exurban life. Even semi-rural. But not entirely rural, since I want to be close enough to medical care and retail. I will give up transit in favor of adequate roads. Yet I confess I do not use transit now since I live and work on the end of two separate spokes of the transit wheel. I used to work in the center, so transit worked for me. Not now, I am a Beltway crawler.

I also do not like winter. Or humidity. I would like to try out a mild desert. Yet not Satan's Anvil (Lawrence of Arabia movie reference). The southwest is tricky, since it still has winter. And I worry about losing tree cover, unless it is pine. But those burn! Maybe I should try southern California. But people are strange and it is crowded, too. Ugh. And it burns.

North Carolina sounds interesting. Like Gondor of Middle Earth, "between the mountains and the sea". So is Maryland, where I am now, but NC is warmer and has better mountains and beaches.

No place with swamp ass, though.

sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@JoyfulSilence Lol, love your descriptions! 🤣🤣🤣

When you say NC, are you thinking Charlotte or the OB?? I would take the Outer Banks in a heartbeat. But then, that might not meet your criteria of being close to good healthcare. 🤷‍♀

JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

@sarabee1995

I suspect closer to the mountains.

I have been to both places.

The Outer Banks away from the towns is so dark at night. Amazing.

Sort of like Cadillac Mountain in Acadia. I saw the Milky Way on that mountain at midnight. (And some deer in my headlights).

The most insane night adventure was the high pass in Rocky Mountain Park at midnight right after they plowed the road. Other worldly. I was safe because it was only me. I drove in the middle, straddling the double yellow line! I only passed a few pickup trucks.

Ah. Memories.

sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@JoyfulSilence Wow, very nice. I love the night sky without light pollution. I've done a few overnight sailing passages away from shore and the sky comes alive!

JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

@sarabee1995

That is neat.

I have not been on many boats. A few times on Lake Erie (I once got seasick). Yet I do not think I have ever been on an ocean. Not even the Bay.

I haven't even driven over the Bay in several years.

I do get lost in the mountains though. It is fun. I leave my phone off and navigate using the car clock and the sun, and vague memories of maps and past journeys. I only use Google Maps if I hit a dead end or go in a circle.