Where Would You Move?
 

I tried to do this as a poll, but I can't figure out how and don't really feel like digging for it. :o

Hypothetically speaking: You're a young, single 20-something headed for the next phase of your life. There are places you are considering and each has it's own +/-. You don't know where you'd like to go, so you sit down and mull over the million dollar question:

New York City: Fun and fast-paced, you LOVE big cities. It would be the experience of a lifetime and you absolutely love all that it has to offer. With a roommate, you just might be able to avoid living in a carbboard box and you'd no longer need a car (goodbye high gas prices!). There's always something to do, the nightlife suits you, and you'll be in a new, exciting place you've always wanted to live in.

Atlanta: A wonderful place you've grown to feel at home in. Minimal family members around and maybe one or two friends, but you can always make more. You (generally) know the area and, though you're looking for something new, it'd be nice to live somewhere you're comfortable with. There's even a church you like. It's the cheapest option (seemingly) and the culture is something you adore.

Santa Barbara: Back to good ol' California, yet far enough away from the parental units that mom wouldn't be on the doorstep every other day. It's a high cost of living (but so's everywhere else) and a place you aren't the least bit familiar with, but all your family will be just a couple hours away and it's been YEARS since you've gotten to just call your cousins or sister up to go hang out. It'd be the best of both worlds.


So what would you choose? You don't have to say why, but it'd be nice. :)

Atlanta

NYC
NYC
NYC

Santa Barbara! I'm a Cali girl, of course. SB is beautiful!

New York - hands down.

I actually plan on starting the next phase of my life there. :o

Atlanta. I even have relatives there! I know the area relatively well, there are a lot of things to do, and it is only 5 hours away from my parents.

NYC would be second choice. It has A LOT of fun things to do. But it is far away, very crowded, not enough nature for me, and too expensive.

Santa Barbara is not a realistic option in my case.

New York

None of the above. I've lived in Atlanta, for four months a year for 3 years (for work), and I hated everything about it. Maybe I'm jaded because our office was in a rough part of Atlanta, but i never saw anything remotely "beautiful" about it. We'd go hang out at places like the Varsity or on occassion we'd go to that nice mall (Lennox Hill? I can't remember!) but it was always so ugly and dirty. Ick. I've also lived in metro Washington DC, and all I can say is that I hate big cities. I grew up in a town of 68 people, and all the smog, pollution, craziness of cities doesn't appeal to me in the least bit.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

Any place but Atlanta. I think that place is hell on earth. Apparently it's Mecca for any young black professional except for me.

I've lived in NYC for 5 years now, and think it's a fantastic place for a single 20-something. I don't like driving, and it's close to other cities in the NE, and if you HAVE to get out and fish, ski, mountain climb, whatever--you can do that in a day's drive.

Santa Barbara is a gorgeous city and if being near family's important to you, that would be a good place to do it.

Could you find a job in any of the cities easily?

Are you limited to just the three cities? If so, I'd take NYC. IMHO, everyone who has the means should live in NYC for a portion of their lives.

Santa Barbara! I am all about the warm weather

This is what it comes down to: im a single 20-something but this city is much much more interesting with $$$. not to say that i havent had fun growing up here, but i was exposed to all sorts of people in college that, though they thought their hometowns and upbringing was lame, i wouldve traded with for a weekend. im sure there are lots of things i wouldve learned/done had i grown up in the suburbs, or say on the West coast, or on a farm. you get my drift. i just think with more money, you can play harder.

[rant]NYC is very 21+ IMO and really its a place to work and play. once you start thinking about raising a family, i'd get the heck outta here, even if it's as close as Westchester/Rockland county. I just wouldnt want a city life for my kids.[/rant]

p.s. im thinking of the whole "where to move next?" thing as well, but my cities are:

Philadephia
Chicago
DC
Charlotte
Houston (or somewhere in Texas, i know, that can vary between cities because its such a big state, its more of a regional move for me)

the only thing is that i feel like these would all be downgrades (no offense to those who live/raised in these placs) but again, where DO you go after NYC?

Atlanta would be kinder to someone who was entirely new to the region.

Denver

Atlanta... two reasons. The first: The only man who could ever convince me to think about getting married lives in Atlanta. The second: Some of the most wonderful Alpha Gams in the country live in Atlanta so I have a built in family.

NYC has snow and if I'm going to move out of state, it will be somewhere without snow.

I don't get the California hype. Weather is alright, when they don't have fires, floods or earthquakes, I guess, but those things are enough to keep me away.


ETA: I'm nowhere near my 20's, so my opinion shouldn't even count :)