Why do you live in the town you live in and what keeps you there?

@Rossana Yes, growth can cause problems. I was going to move back to a small city where I used to live, but on arrival I found there was too much traffic (even on rural roads), along with parking problems. And if I gave up my car, public transportation was inadequate.

I hope you continue to enjoy your location!
 

Wife and I move to Los Angeles 10 years ago from Chicago. She had never lived anywhere else. I lived in San Diego until I was eighteen, and eventually settled in Chicago. She was tired of the winters, and we moved to L.A. where we had been coming every year for Thanksgiving with her cousin.

Now that we've been here, we find that we miss the seasons. We're not sure we want to go back to Chicago, but definitely would like to be somewhere with more definiable seasons.
 

I don’t live in a town which is why I like it.
We have no neighbours, except for coyotes, deer, eagles, fox, birds, squirrels etc., and they are great company . The scenery is amazing. I’m also not a city person either.
 
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Lived in a country setting until I retired. Wanted to downsize to a mortgage free rancher in southern Nevada. We did.
Reasons
Low humidity to enjoy no arthritic pains , general warm year round, eye, dental & medical services if needed minutes away, 24 hr 7 days a week availability for something to do, multiple chain grocery stores. By choice we live in a multi cultural neighborhood not a retirement community. Didn't want neighbors with one foot in the grave as neighbors.
 
I had wanted to live here since 1979, when a friend and I drove over from San Diego to visit. It’s the perfect climate for me from about the middle of October until sometime in May. Then I need to run away! Usually to San Diego, of course!
 
hollydolly said:
I would like to move back to the city where unlike here in the Rural Shires, there's lots to do, places to go, things to see, easy transport if I don't want to use a car.. hospitals , doctors, shops on the doorstep.. ..buttttt...the pay off is the Mahussive crime....people get mugged in broad daylight even in the most upmarket areas, and now even with witnesses.. .. kids are stabbed to death in the less salubrious areas ..soo. I stay where I am here where there's nothing much to do...
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Hey Holly,
I hope this isn’t too forward of me. If you don’t want to answer I completely understand. Do you own those horses I see in the pictures you share and if so what will you do with them?

I’m not meaning to put you on the spot or embarrass you. Separation can be really difficult. There are often kids and pets that get re- homed. Recently a close family member got divorced. It’s a sad thing to witness. The pets were given away.

Is it possible for you to rent a place for them to stay on the outskirts of town so you can still visit them?

It’s none of my business so I understand if you don’t want to answer. For some reason it’s been nagging at me for the last couple of days so I felt this urge to ask.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Hey Holly,
I hope this isn’t too forward of me. If you don’t want to answer I completely understand. Do you own those horses I see in the pictures you share and if so what will you do with them?

I’m not meaning to put you on the spot or embarrass you. Separation can be really difficult. There are often kids and pets that get re- homed. Recently a close family member got divorced. It’s a sad thing to witness. The pets were given away.

Is it possible for you to rent a place for them to stay on the outskirts of town so you can still visit them?

It’s none of my business so I understand if you don’t want to answer. For some reason it’s been nagging at me for the last couple of days so I felt this urge to ask.
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no, no... the horses belong to my neighbour.. don't worry!! :D :love:
 

Why do you live in the town you live in and what keeps you there?​

I grew up in very small, very homogeneous, very white, northeastern US towns. No thanks. I quickly embraced the anonymity of living in a large population center as well as the diversity of most of Los Angeles, this middle-class suburb included.

Even with this winter's surprisingly cold, stormy weather, LA has an overall pleasant climate. When I want the experience of snow a two hour drive to the local mountains gives me my fill.

DH grew up not far from where we live now so he knew the area well when we were home shopping 38 years ago. Our children have all settled within 30 minutes of us and we see them often.

Yeah, it's got its faults, as every place does, but Like Randy Newman, I love LA!!!
 
When I retired from the Marines, I had a job lined up in Washington at the Pentagon, so I wanted to be close and Alexandria had everything I wanted or needed, so bingo, I moved here. Am I staying here? Nope! I will be out of here by the end of summer 2023.
 
Northern CA metropolitan suburb:
  • Racial Diversity. We're Asian, and love living where our foods and culture are not only popular but easily accessible, whether you want to dine out, cook at home, or attend special cultural events. We also appreciate the foods and culture of the many other Asian, Hispanic, and African communities, in addition to the usual American/European mix. We're currently compiling a list of our county's top dozen Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants, ranking them by our personal preferences. There are probably hundreds in the region, but we had to limit it or we'll never get around to the Afghani and Latin American (non-Mexican) food scenes, LOL.
  • Convenience. 2 major hospitals 10 min. away; fabulous community/events/sports (including pro); sited to easily reach hundreds of scenic areas from Pacific Ocean to Sierra Nevada mountains. Multiple food markets including major ethnic chains, gourmet independents, weekly farmers markets, delivery from everybody to our doorstep.
  • Climate. We live in one of the seven Mediterranean-climate regions in the world. The magnolia trees are already past their prime bloom as spring starts here in early February. On the downside, gardeners have to weed year-round!
  • Geographic Safety. No wildfire or flood issues. Quake danger is something I'd rather live with than snowstorms, freezing weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, or killer heat/humidity. I grew up in the Midwest, and you couldn't pay me enough to live back there again.
  • Small house with a custom-designed interior; large garden, great neighbors, killer views. Privacy without isolation, which we consider ideal.
  • Family. Except for a brother down in the LA area, all my immediate family live in a cluster about 7 miles away. And we ALL love to cook, so get togethers are gourmet feasts. Yum!
 
Lethe200 said:
Northern CA metropolitan suburb:
  • Racial Diversity. We're Asian, and love living where our foods and culture are not only popular but easily accessible, whether you want to dine out, cook at home, or attend special cultural events. We also appreciate the foods and culture of the many other Asian, Hispanic, and African communities, in addition to the usual American/European mix. We're currently compiling a list of our county's top dozen Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants, ranking them by our personal preferences. There are probably hundreds in the region, but we had to limit it or we'll never get around to the Afghani and Latin American (non-Mexican) food scenes, LOL.
  • Convenience. 2 major hospitals 10 min. away; fabulous community/events/sports (including pro); sited to easily reach hundreds of scenic areas from Pacific Ocean to Sierra Nevada mountains. Multiple food markets including major ethnic chains, gourmet independents, weekly farmers markets, delivery from everybody to our doorstep.
  • Climate. We live in one of the seven Mediterranean-climate regions in the world. The magnolia trees are already past their prime bloom as spring starts here in early February. On the downside, gardeners have to weed year-round!
  • Geographic Safety. No wildfire or flood issues. Quake danger is something I'd rather live with than snowstorms, freezing weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, or killer heat/humidity. I grew up in the Midwest, and you couldn't pay me enough to live back there again.
  • Small house with a custom-designed interior; large garden, great neighbors, killer views. Privacy without isolation, which we consider ideal.
  • Family. Except for a brother down in the LA area, all my immediate family live in a cluster about 7 miles away. And we ALL love to cook, so get togethers are gourmet feasts. Yum!
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Wish I could afford to live there, sigh.
 
We moved to Dallas 17 years ago at the recommendation of a friend who said we would enjoy living here. At the time, the cost of housing was very affordable. Not any longer, but it enabled us to buy a great house for what I considered decent money.

We live within walking distance of a lake and 17-mile trail. We didn't realize how lucky we were until the pandemic hit. It was kind of a sleepy, quaint suburb but it has now become gentrified so although it has lost some of its charm we have everything we want at our disposal.

I can go to the gym, grocery stores, markets, a variety of restaurants, performing arts theaters, art museums, movie theaters and a mall in 20 minutes. Our neighborhood is mostly Boomers so it is quiet. Most importantly, people take care of their homes and some have recently been completely renovating.

The weather is good. We occasionally have sub-freezing temps but not often. The summers can get hot, but usually only in July and August. Right now, the temps are in the 60's, 70's and 80's which allow for a lot of outdoor activities. We love it here.
 
kaemicha said:
I've lived in Portland most all of my life. I've looked around for other states to live but I always came back to Portland. It's just me.
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We visited Portland several years ago and really enjoyed it. The city is walkable and fun. We ate at Old Town Pizza where there is supposedly a ghost who was killed in the elevator there. And who doesn't love Voodoo Donuts?

The parks and gardens are beautiful. We especially enjoyed the Japanese Gardens. You live in a great city!
 

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