where is the living good?

[deebocools]

Hello everybody, I am a young man who feels younger every day. I moved away from a suburb of baltimore, MD with mild sadness, but relief. I liked some things about it, but there is a strange culture of violence where you never feel totally safe.

I chose winston-salem, NC and NC in general because I didn't go to college and figured I need to count on minimum wage. This city has one of the lowest costs of living in both the US and europe, supposedly, but It seems only partially true. I like the quality of life here, I feel like there's less racial and other tension between people, but it's missing a reliable music scene, which I used to count on(I'm a "musician" that can't play an instrument, though I always end up in talks to front a band)

ok, what you should understand is I'm only really interested in my own quality of life. I'm not trying to get rich, just stay out of debt and make good friends, good girlfriends occasionally get involved with making music. I've also considered comedy. I'm by nature a performer, have never experienced stage fright and I feel that's a good lead to follow.

Since most of you are much older or otherwise more experience than I am, where have you lived that was a great place? The places I've considered strongly are Toronto, Austin and Ft. Meyers, buy I'm literally open to anything and my lease here is up in August. Geographically I'm drawn to extremes. I love snowstorms and dry hot summers. Always feel depressed in mild climates as far as I know.

Any advice on where to go to get my slice of the american pie?

[Premium Parrots]

There are "Dennys" everywhere and they all have pie.

[Condor]

Atlanta is the jewel of the south. And the Athens music scene has always been very popluar...R.E.M., B-52's, Rehab, Bubba Sparxxx, on and on....





But you can have this shit. I want to get the **** out.

[Link]

There's a lot of nice places here in Maryland like the mountains in the Western part of the state and of course the beaches bordering the Atlantic. My favorite is all the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay I get to Canoe in.

On the other hand, we do have the highest overall tax burden in the country and the crime in the Metro DC and Baltimore area is ridiculous. It would probably help if the Baltimore Prosecutor wasn't a black racist no good douchebag who gives pookie and pooketta 3 to 5 on murder raps, but that's another story.

[RobsanX]

I never lived there, but you might look into Austin, TX. It has a vibrant music scene, and lot's of cheap housing for the college students.

[justintempler]

Re: where is the living good?

....Since most of you are much older or otherwise more experience than I am, where have you lived that was a great place? The places I've considered strongly are Toronto, Austin and Ft. Meyers, buy I'm literally open to anything and my lease here is up in August. Geographically I'm drawn to extremes. I love snowstorms and dry hot summers. Always feel depressed in mild climates as far as I know.

Any advice on where to go to get my slice of the american pie?

I've lived in Illinois (Chicago suburbs), Cleveland Ohio, Nashville Tn., rural Tn, rural Ky. and now Central Fl. I've visited Toronto 3 times.

Toronto would probably be the nicest. I loved Toronto but if you move there you'll be living in a nanny state with high taxes on alcohol and tobacco.

Florida is dependent on tourism for a lot of it's tax revenue so right now in the middle of a recession Florida is hurting, real estate took a real big hit here. So until the economy improves I wouldn't suggest Florida.

I don't know anything about Austin first hand.

[Condor]

I never lived there, but you might look into Austin, TX. It has a vibrant music scene, and lot's of cheap housing for the college students.

I have actually heard if youre looking for jobs and cheap housing, head to Austin.

[Soft Morning, City!]

Texas in general. I live in Denton, which is near Dallas. The cost of living is low, primarily because there's lots of cheap housing (college town) and lots of cheap places to eat.

The music scene is great. Very diverse. Whatever it is you're into musically, you can find it in Denton. Or you can make the brief drive to Dallas and check out their music scene. I'm a musician myself and their are plenty of places to play.

I moved here from Portland, Oregon and the main incentive was the lower cost of living.

[deebocools]

for me personally there's 3 basic leads- good people, good music, and cheapness. Texas seems to fit all of them

Honestly considered canada in a non-bullshit way, but the nanny-stateism really ruins it. I don't even like the county control of liquor stores here in this state, so I won't go any further down that road.

[Quemador]

You may want to consider Phoenix (area)AZ. Tempe or Mesa would probably fit the best for you... Here goes the reasoning: Phoenix metro area is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, jobs are easy to find, housing is relatively cheap, and the culture is VERY diverse. The music scene is outstanding, no matter what style of music you're in to; whether you want to play, or see a good band. I'm in a rock band (as a hobby), and I can say without a doubt this area is the easiest place I've ever lived to get a gig. We basically play whenever we want, we've also cut a small demo for cheap (from some dude from Hollywood who relocated here to open a studio, if you're in to recording).

As far as the climate here, there isn't anything mild about it. However, in Winter, a short 2.5 to 3 hour drive will lead you to the high country in Northern AZ (Flagstaff) which provides excellent snowfall and therefore, superb snowboarding.

One other reason you might consider Phoenix is location, here are a few places of interest within driving distance: LA, San Diego, Mexico, Texas, and Las Vegas.

[sagedil]

Easy. Just drive up the road a bit and come here to Raleigh. WAY better than Winston Salem, and still similar costs of living. Plus, if you ever need snus, I am always here. :wink:

[Starcadia]

You should seriously consider Asheville, NC. You're pretty close, so you should visit if you haven't already done so. Very dynamic underground music scene there, and always something going on. The big music venue, The Orange Peel, brings in a shockingly high caliber of internationally renown bands of all types, and I saw some of my favorite shows ever there, despite having lived in Chicago and Austin. Sounds perfect for you from what you've described. It's a hippie college town in the mountains, with a distinct Southern nature, where people can and do get by on very little. You'll probably have to work in a restaurant if you want some money, but it's a quick track into Asheville's underground social scene. I met and worked with a shit-ton of aspiring musicians doing that. That was recently, too - 2003-2005. Let me know if you have questions.

And yeah, Austin is great.

[SnusNinja]

Austin is nice, but by the time I moved away in 2004 it seemed to have lost some of the uniqueness that made it cool and traffic was getting really bad. No income tax and relatively low cost of living in Texas is nice though.

Lived in Colorado Springs for awhile recently and really enjoyed it for the outdoor stuff.

Avoid New England. I've been up here for a year, it's pretty corrupt and the taxes are through the roof. I will be out of here as soon as I promote.

Just curios, how do you move to Toronto without a job? Will Canada give you a working visa?

[rickcharles606]

Anchorage, Alaska was one of the coolest places I've ever been, and I've been all over the world. I just really enjoyed the atmosphere and attitude that the entire area conveyed....laid back as hell.

The people from AK say that people go to AK for one of two reasons. To escape society...or the law, lol. I visit AK whenever I can.

[Ainkor]

You should seriously consider Asheville, NC. You're pretty close, so you should visit if you haven't already done so. Very dynamic underground music scene there, and always something going on.

Asheville is a pretty kick ass town. After my kids graduate thats probably where my wife and I will move to.

Great music, nice town out in the mountains!