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Topic: When you're ready to leave NYC, where do you go?
| Author | Message |
| leprechaunsy | Posted – 8/7/2007 2:25:29 PM | show profile It's the age-old question for those of us getting ... uh ... old. When you've decide that the rent/stress/job ain't worth it anymore and you're ready to depart NYC (if sadly), where can you go? I grew up in small, culture-deprived town, and I've thrived living here. Is there any city that compares? Any place that has diversity, culture, reasonably affordable real estate, and a walkable, livable downtown? Even better, any place on the East Coast? |
| Upward Bound | Posted – 8/7/2007 2:40:39 PM | show profile I think Chicago will be my fallback if I get to the point you are and still crave city life. I've always been drawn to Northern California, though, as far as being a beautiful place to live. Guess it depends what I crave most at that point in my life. I will say, though, that Chicago is far cheaper than NYC and isn't too far behind in culture/diversity/arts... I'd move there now if it had more consumer magazines to work at. |
| GrOoVaL!c!OuS | Posted – 8/7/2007 2:45:09 PM | show profile Go abroad. No other U.S. city compares to New York. If it's the city's craziness that's growing old, then moving back to your hometown isn't such a bad idea. It's what I plan to do eventually. Or move to a surburban area that's really close to a large, culturally-diverse city and that has a commute and rent/stress/job market you're comfortable with. Atlanta's a good one, though it's grossly overcrowded and traffic is ridiculous. Philly's another good one. The metropolitan area there is wonderful. It's like a mini-NY. I'd also consider Seattle or Phoenix. Never been to either, but my impression is that the vibes there are fresh, which could be exactly what you're looking for. But my first instinct if I were you would be to go abroad for a little while. |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 8/7/2007 3:01:04 PM | show profile Atlanta traffic is ridiculous for the most part, but I think it's a great city. If you live in the Midtown and nearby areas like Grant Park, the traffic situation is actually doable, though. Just don't live in the 'burbs. And compared to NYC, real estate is incredibly affordable. Salaries will be lower, though, but livable. |
| Janetblueyes | Posted – 8/7/2007 3:10:40 PM | show profile I really love Portland, Maine. It has all the things you've listed, and the downtown area is beautiful and very walkable. The climate is great in the summer, and not terribly different from New York in the winter. Plus, if you are a seafood lover, Portland is the place. |
| stlagrange | Posted – 8/7/2007 3:30:27 PM | show profile Boston I am still living in Paris. I love NYC . If I will leave Paris or NYC, I woulD LIKE TO LIVE IN New England |
| getmeoutofhere | Posted – 8/7/2007 4:03:29 PM | show profile ditto to Portland, ME I grew up in that city, and will eventually move back to and raise my family in that city. The air smells like ocean, it's great to walk, and you're not far fro Boston or the absolute sticks. |
| ManhattanMatt | Posted – 8/7/2007 4:18:46 PM | show profile Pittsburgh. Try it. |
| chucho | Posted – 8/7/2007 4:38:48 PM | show profile I assume you mean inside the United States, in which case it would be impossible -- apart from the usual suspects, including Chicago -- to find a "comparable" city in terms of diversity, culture 00 though other than San Fran, you'll probably find cheaper real estate anywhere you go (a good plus to leaving NYC). Walkable, livable downtowns are hard to find in America. The ones that let their downtowns die (most of them) are reviving them in a very big-boys "Chamber of Commerce" mindset with lots of commercial chain retail-chain development and upscale renovations in the historic buildings -- and it seems to me that the gentrification pioneers searching for that "Manhattan loft in downtown Denver" end up walking around downtown districts that are dead at night, with the exception or the action at "the Irish Pub" and the "Italian Restaurant" and the "Indie Rock Bar" (note the quote marks) next to the new Staples baseball stadium or whatever. I would love to hear form people with their suggestions of mis-sized cities (like Portland) and specifically what they have to offer in "walkable, livable" downtowns with good food, diverse atmosphere, and nighttime activities (preferably not all nightclubs). No bricktowns (popular in the Southern Plains states from St. Louis to San Antonio), please! I'm leaning toward Portland or the Chapel Hill area myself, someday. |
| chucho | Posted – 8/7/2007 4:42:02 PM | show profile Er, Portland, Oregon, not Maine, though Portland, Maine is very nice, if a bit on the cool side temperature-wise. |
| mealadybug | Posted – 8/7/2007 5:05:17 PM | show profile Austin Austin - one of the most creative, amazing cities in the country. There are a ton of New York and LA transplants here - myself included. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like it here. |
| pholiday | Posted – 8/7/2007 5:54:54 PM | show profile Just moved to Chicago via London and before that Atlanta and before that NYC. I love it here. The people are down to earth, I can ride my bike anywhere, there are endless cultural stimulants, I am five minutes from the lake and rent is so cheap that I have money to spare. It is a wonderful place to live. |
| mailbag | Posted – 8/7/2007 6:33:09 PM | show profile | email poster Central France: Angles sur l'Anglin anglessuranglin.com |
| candylilacs | Posted – 8/7/2007 6:36:56 PM | show profile Portland, Ore. is affordable and clean but incredibly, naively white. It's also not a big city, despite every Oregonian's oath that it's the best metropolitan area on the planet. If you have to go to the PacN'West, go to Seattle, it's the closest thing to a real city out there. Secondly, what's so bad about not living downtown and in a big city? You can live in a small town and have a completely great life and not be too far from all the excitement of a big city. Thirdly, I'm in my 30s and married to a very nice boy from a small town. I lived in L.A. for several years and now I'm in NoCal in a 'burb. Traffic isn't bad and life is good. I don't club much anymore and if I want to go to museum on the weekend I can hop on some public transportation and be in SF. But quite frankly, I rarely go to museums even when I lived in a gigantic cultural mecca (yeah, L.A. is, you naysayers!) I enjoy where I live, walk to downtown, and eat a sandwich while looking at the ocean. The only thing I miss about Los Angeles is that there was so much to do even at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. (I'm an insomniac.) I am a native Californian who has lived in a lot of small towns, so I'll put this out to you: even small towns in California have very bright, artistic and with-it people. I talked to a couple from L.A., who moved to Springville, Calif. (pop. 1, 200) to start living a sustainable life. They found it tough at first, but eventually made friends (I asked if she knew the local Sierra Club chapter president, which she did) that weren't rednecks, but thoughtful people who were artists, farmers and even enterpreneurs. The thing is, in small towns, is that your kindred spirits may not even be within 20 years of your same age. So, if you're looking to settle down with someone if maybe difficult, but not impossible. Thirdly, everyone I knew from New York City seemed to love the Research Triangle in North Carolina. As for Portland, Maine, it is again, absurdly white. I like diversity and need to be around it. Good luck finding your spot! ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
| hawkmail | Posted – 8/7/2007 7:31:10 PM | show profile I second Seattle Amazing natural beauty, interesting walkable neighborhoods, decent arts scene, and they have Barney's! I would love to move out there. Austin is great, too, but so hot and the traffic is insane. I guess it depends on whether you work from home or need to relocate based on going into an office everyday. I love some of the upstate river towns like Rhinebeck and also the Saratoga area. Close to NYC but far enough away if you're looking to escape. I think in many New England areas, like Providence, Portland, Burlington, the property values are still quite high compared to the average salaries. Not necessarily what you would expect. |
| voracious reader | Posted – 8/7/2007 7:32:59 PM | show profile Austin...baby! I'll always be a New Yorker, and since my two oldest kids live here, I doubt I'll be moving anywhere any time soon. But when I do... I'm moving to Austin, Texas, where my youngest is a student at the the University of Texas. And if he decides to stay in Austin, hey, I'm buying a second home there! Austin ROCKS! |
| SPF 30 | Posted – 8/7/2007 8:35:28 PM | show profile I'm leaning toward Austin, Portland, Seattle, and Boulder. Not "or" but "and" -- I'd like to try them all, to spend a few years in each one, and if something fits, I would consider staying. I moved a lot as a kid, so I guess it's in my blood to keep it going. The only problem is you don't set down roots, and, yeah, sometimes I feel like I'm getting old and perhaps it's time to at least let something take hold... Nah. Dublin sounds pretty good, too. |
| seeattleme | Posted – 8/7/2007 10:40:26 PM | show profile Modesto! It's only a matter of time before they have another big crime scandal/case/unsolved mystery there...NYC can't compare. or hasn't, for the past several years, anyway. |
| Bleak Spouse | Posted – 8/7/2007 11:23:16 PM | show profile leprechaunsy: from everything you wrote, it sounds like Philadelphia would be a good choice for you. It's a remarkable walking city. It's definitately not exciting like NYC is, but as far as cities on the east coast I think it's the most like NYC than any other. |
| clare04 | Posted – 8/8/2007 12:33:33 AM | show profile alas, are you ? I don't think you're ready to leave. Because you would not need to ask if there's something to compare. I left New York one time and came back and then the next time I left, I have never so much as glanced back - I don't miss it or compare anywhere to it. I was simply done with New York and relished living somewhere much less ... New York. |
| Marie | Posted – 8/8/2007 12:57:57 AM | show profile Many people work in Philadelphia and work in New York. Maybe try that. It's not a difficult commute on Amtrak. And if you don't need to be at a job every day, it's downright easy. That way you get the low Philly rent, but don't lose whatever it is New York is feesding. you. |
| womaninbooks | Posted – 8/8/2007 4:50:50 AM | show profile My top pick: Berlin. It's like Brooklyn but you don't need a car, the arts scene is huge and rent is cheap, cheap, cheap (as in 350 Euros for a 1-bedroom with walk-in kitchen!). You can always freelance for American pubs if you can't get a proper working visa. |
| chucho | Posted – 8/8/2007 7:25:47 AM | show profile Not sure the OP is considering moving abroad. Of course Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, etc. But for most Americans this is not an option because it's difficult to get legal working / residency status in Europe. Living illegally and freelancing is an option, but it's rarely a long-term situation. (For those that it is, they usually have private health insurance (a requirement for legal European residency status) and fulfill income requirements by having an income base in the US.) Austin is very nice, but you don't have to drive far to be in cul-de-sac-ed Texas suburbia. Go to Google Earth, plug in Austin: that teensy-weensy section of downtown (where the streets are gridded instead of Suburban-loopy) is the "cool part" of Austin. And I find downtown filled with cap-headed drunk college students, though it is very lively and definitely an option, especially if you like music. And there are some great little galleries. Real estate in this part of Austin is relatively high, tho. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/8/2007 8:32:09 AM | show profile Austin's still affordable compared to most of the aforementioned spots. What I like about Austin is there are organizations there -- writer's groups, etc. -- things to do, funky places to shop. I don't club, I rarely even pub -- but still lots to do. What's kept me out of Austin to date is the school district -- hard to get the schools right when you have kids unless you go to the nearby burbs, I've heard. Good place to be young though I think. I've heard Philly's crime rate's up there. My personal vote for a walkable liveable cultured town is Annapolis -- but not affordable unless you're renting. I'm for sustainability -- I have my eye on upstate NY or Ontario maybe? In the Dallas area, I favor McKinney or Waxahachie -- lots of historic homes, decent size, interesting organizations, fair commute to Dallas. Richardson's not bad if you have to be close in -- but always, anywhere I consider school district (elementary especially, different in different parts of town) because that's important for resale. In semi=retirement, I'm thinking small town with good services and large airport not far. |
| Printingman | Posted – 8/8/2007 9:00:17 AM | show profile | email poster St. Petersburg.....Russia or Samarkand and Tashkent |
