Foo - Sell me on your town

My girlfriend is about to enter her masters program. She'll have a masters degree in 2 years. We want to move out of Illinois. We are active peeps who need nice weather. We want mountains. We prefer to be on a body of water. Neither of us will be rich anytime soon given our line of work/education.

We've tossed a few idea's around.

1. Colorado
2. The Bay Area (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=235)
3. Portland

Some other notables that i would be ok with--though some aren't realistic
4. Socal (expensive)
5. Texas (too hot?)
6. North Carolina

We are unattached to anything but each other i suppose. We both have a secure full time job (i don't expect that to change during her stay in school).

Move me somewhere that is not here.

North Carolina. Beautiful place, great for your photography and there's a lot of really nice guys there called the NC crew. You'd love them.

The Carolinas are pretty cool. Texas has no mountains unless you go to the Big Bend and then you are in the middle of nowhere. Texas Gulf coast has some appeal. Dallas is a great city but will not put you on water, in mountains or offer inspiring scenery, but is does have a plethora of good schools, no state income tax, and relatively cheap housing compared to national averages.

Bay area is no cheaper than socal. But its a hell of a lot nicer. I guess it depends on exactly where you go.
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Colorado has no bodies of water.... unless you count rivers. But we have mountains. Many big mountains.
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N.C. we have an unusual mix of Conservative red necks and Northern liberals. We share interests in NASCAR, College hoops, fine art, and cuisine.

But, I'm here and that's what counts. Coz I'm good lookin and all.

edit: and we have nice beaches and mountains. Lance Armstrong goes to NC mountain to train sometimes.

Let me clarify. There are few places that will give us affordability, things to do, mountains, and a body of water. That would be an ideal--fictional place.

N.C. we have an unusual mix of Conservative red necks and Northern liberals. We share interests in NASCAR, College hoops, fine art, and cuisine.

But, I'm here and that's what counts. Coz I'm good lookin and all.

edit: and we have nice beaches and mountains. Lance Armstrong goes to NC mountain to train sometimes.

I was going to put: North Carolina (ideological differences?) but uhh...i didn't want to offend.

Why would I sell you on my town....that would make you want to come here wouldn't it? :twitchy:

Let me clarify. There are few places that will give us affordability, things to do, mountains, and a body of water. That would be an ideal--fictional place.

Might look at Austin / Texas Hill Country, but the traffic in Austin and San Antonio can really really really really suck.

Might look at Austin / Texas Hill Country, but the traffic in Austin and San Antonio can really really really really suck.

I was thinking the same thing. And the hills in the hill country don't quite qualify as mountains, either. Still, it's pretty country, and you can ride year 'round.

Let me clarify. There are few places that will give us affordability, things to do, mountains, and a body of water. That would be an ideal--fictional place.

Sacramento has those things. Right now, houses are cheap cheap cheap! Lots of riding. Good climbs not far from where I live a little East of town. Big climbs farther east and to the west. Tahoe is less than 100 miles. The ocean is about 100 miles. It's hot here during the summer though. That's the big drawback.

I was going to put: North Carolina (ideological differences?) but uhh...i didn't want to offend.

It offend only half of us.
The Charlotte area is really turning blue. Surrounding areas are still quite red - including where I live in Gaston County.

I love NC. Really. I love the area (minus the humidity) and the food. Southern food is awesome.

Might look at Austin / Texas Hill Country, but the traffic in Austin and San Antonio can really really really really suck.

You ever try the Kennedy at 7am?

You ever try the Kennedy at 7am?

In Texas, we do the Kennedy from the 6th floor.

Why would I sell you on my town....that would make you want to come here wouldn't it? :twitchy:

Hence my push for N. Kakalaka. :thumb:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1065/713827998_2e1c6f940a.jpg

I bet i'll be taking this drive this summer and change my mind...but it'll just come back 4 months later.

Sacramento has those things. Right now, houses are cheap cheap cheap! Lots of riding. Good climbs not far from where I live a little East of town. Big climbs farther east and to the west. Tahoe is less than 100 miles. The ocean is about 100 miles. It's hot here during the summer though. That's the big drawback.

*elbows Joel* :mad:

Are you attached to your country? If not, Canada has waaaay better beer than the U.S. Just sayin' :innocent:

Hence my push for N. Kakalaka. :thumb:

Aaaah......you sly devil. You did the same thing in a sneakier way.

Are you attached to your country? If not, Canada has waaaay better beer than the U.S. Just sayin' :innocent:

http://www.ucs.mun.ca/%7Edbehm/Images/JeepInSnow.jpg

No thanks.

Sacramento has those things. Right now, houses are cheap cheap cheap! Lots of riding. Good climbs not far from where I live a little East of town. Big climbs farther east and to the west. Tahoe is less than 100 miles. The ocean is about 100 miles. It's hot here during the summer though. That's the big drawback.
I know how that goes. 100 miles means you go twice a year.
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I know how that goes. 100 miles means you go twice a year.
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That depends on the price of gas.

Colorado has no bodies of water....

So says the guy scant miles from Navajo Lake!

Granted, the CO shoreline isn't much compared to the NM side, but still...that's one huge lake. Coming from SoCal, I was amazed at the number of lakes, streams and rivers in this town and how green it is here (when it's not white or mud brown :p) in comparison.

No thanks.

Hey, that's only 6 months out of the year. Keeps the beer nice and cold :thumb:

Aaaah......you sly devil. You did the same thing in a sneakier way.

I figured it was the most far.

That depends on the price of gas.
Anywhere beyond 30 min in the car becomes a big production. Its the way of things.
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Anywhere beyond 30 min in the car becomes a big production. Its the way of things.
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Got a bunch of little ones?

We go up to Tahoe a lot during the winter for snowboarding/skiing. Summer we go to the SF Zoo once and the beach once or twice. We've 2 little ones (7 and 5 now). It's not a big production.

You get 70 temps and blizzard warnings in the same week. Not to forget the mountains off to our west.

Got a bunch of little ones?

We go up to Tahoe a lot during the winter for snowboarding/skiing. Summer we go to the SF Zoo once and the beach once or twice. We've 2 little ones (7 and 5 now). It's not a big production.
True. Some people dont mind lots of driving. I hate it. Especially out there.
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I need some kind of outdoor escape close at hand... something you could do after work.
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You get 70 temps and blizzard warnings in the same week. Not to forget the mountains off to our west.

I'm use to that...

True. Some people dont mind lots of driving. I hate it. Especially out there.
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I need some kind of outdoor escape close at hand... something you could do after work.
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Ah, that explains it. I enjoy driving, except in traffic.

Ah, that explains it. I enjoy driving, except in traffic.
I was spoiled growing up in Marin.... where killer mountain biking was always 10 min (by bike) away. And you could bike ride to the ocean in 2 hrs max. But its impossible to live there. So freakin expensive, and older, and image conscious, and less interesting every year. Great food, though.
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Let me clarify. There are few places that will give us affordability, things to do, mountains, and a body of water. That would be an ideal--fictional place.

no, that would be WV:lol:

Why would I sell you on my town....that would make you want to come here wouldn't it? :twitchy:

It rains 9 months out of the year, we've closed half the lanes on 2 of our 3 highways for construction, and we flatten newcomers with tower cranes. Welcome to Seattle's eastside.

We fell in love with Louisville, which shouldnt be mistaken for Kentucky :P
You have water (the Ohio), great mountains close by and if you locate in
the city or Highland/Cherokee area, fabulous art, music an cultural stuff
everywhere. We thought it was like Asheville NC, but all grown up with
a job :P
If you move there, there is huge chance you could be riding with me in few
months....what more enticement could you need ?!?!?!? :lol:

Burlington Vermont is very very cool too, but the winter/dark 6 months syndrome
is just too much for some people. But, the other 6 months would probaly fall under
that mystical stuff you are looking for. Same for Mt. Dora Fl, but change winter
for summer.

Ya,but a lot of Americans can't handle beer that hasn't been processed though a horse first,so no sense inviting them here. :D

The pinnacle of fine beer
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11651044/Labatt_Blue_Beer.jpg

The DFW area is not a bad area. There is every major sports team and minor league team, plenty of lakes, good schools, public transportation, however no mountains. Not too far from OK or Louisiana if you want to go to a Casino.

Texas has some very diverse and beautiful county, sometimes it is a bit of a drive to get there :)


If you are considering CO, check out Fort Collins (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/snapshots/PL0827425.html). It is great college town at the base of the foothills, with plenty to do. Of course I grew just outside of Fort Collins and went to school there so I do have bias. :D

Durango is like 7 hours drive from the nearest pro sports team. Unless you count the pro cyclists who live here.
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Durango is like 7 hours drive from the nearest pro sports team. Unless you count the pro cyclists who live here.
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Durango is nice, I have friends there. Boulder is too bad either, well maybe. :D

I can't even sell myself on my town. :P But the Bay area's nice!

The pinnacle of fine beer
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8246/t1023814199355.jpg*cough*

I hear Sacremento, CA is nice. And as soon as that one guy leaves, it'll be a lot nicer. :innocent:

I lived in NC for about 7-8 years.
It's the most beautiful state I've visited.
If I ever move out of Georgia, I'll go back to NC.

PA has good roads and isn't actually on fire right now :innocent:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Pdr_1647.jpg/180px-Pdr_1647.jpg

PA gets a bad rap.......
Yeah, we had our Pennslytucky areas, but two large diverse but different cities
along with the smaller ones ....Vermont-New England like hills and open spaces....
Jobs, relatively speaking....It has a lot more to offer than people think.
I regret the day I ever left :cry:

Have you considered Costa Rica? It's beautiful!

On the other hand, Orange County is nice, but being in California means you pay the highest taxes in the country. Look into Idaho or Montana, maybe Wyoming.

PA gets a bad rap.......
Yeah, we had our Pennslytucky areas, but two large diverse but different cities
along with the smaller ones ....Vermont-New England like hills and open spaces....
Jobs, relatively speaking....It has a lot more to offer than people think.
I regret the day I ever left :cry:

I'd stay in Chicago before i moved north east from here...

Have you considered Costa Rica? It's beautiful!

On the other hand, Orange County is nice, but being in California means you pay the highest taxes in the country. Look into Idaho or Montana, maybe Wyoming.

I brought it up to her last night. Mentioned crtreedue, joe & his lady...she didn't want any of it :lol: