I was just thinking about my family's pending temporary move back "home" to Arizona (YAY) while my husband completes 4 months of training...made me wonder where everyone here has really enjoyed living and their reasons.

I LOVE Arizona more than anyplace else I've lived/visited. I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona (age six to twenty-one) and I really do love just about everything about it (except the atrocious education system and the fact that AZ is a historically Republican state , but I get the feeling that things are becoming more "balanced" lately in that department)! I love the culture (museums, performing arts, etc.), kindness of most people I've encountered (something I haven't seen anywhere else I've lived except Belgium), "big city" life, beautiful scenery (grass would be nice on occasion though), the coolest grid-layout - it's nearly impossible to get lost in Phoenix unless you're downtown, the list goes on and on.

I have also lived in:
NJ (near Newark - from birth to six) - like what I remember, but that's not too much
NC (Fayetteville - just one year when I was first married and dh was stationed there) - really disliked it. Just not my kind of place on so many levels
Belgium (Mons, which is in the French-speaking - Walloon - region of Belgium) - love it here, but I miss the "amenities" and "familiarity" of the U.S. and the closeness of friends and family. People are very nice and helpful here, moreso than anywhere I've lived/been in the U.S. on average.

I've visited most of the US states at some point (though that can't compare to actually LIVING there) and still love Arizona more than any other place. CO was also nice, as was NM. Didn't at all like the southern states other than GA (husband has family in GA) - no offense to the southerners, it's just not my cup 'o tea

So...what say you?

so far (being 20) the best has been idaho springs, colorado. up in the hills, and a nice place to live (especially when you live three miles from town)

worst is by far rifle, colorado. it is 60 minutes east of grand junction. middle of NOWHERE! at least I had a nice view of the colorado river.

I love New Mexico, the art, landscape, the Pueblo/Spanish architecture, the way the sunlight bathes everything even in the winter with nice snowfall, the laid back way of life, but its really hard to make a living there, something for retirement. Though I miss water when its 96.o in the shade and so dry you think if you light a match the air will catch fire.

Alaska is great. Its unique. Very special, like nowhere else Ive ever been. Much more to explore here. Not so safe though. Some bears are running wild this year, we are really coming up against nature vs humans, even with millions of acres of wilderness. Alaskans love their wildlife, but its often a one on one and we lose. A weekend hike or fishing trip could be your last. This headspace is not typical for most in other places, it puts an edge on, kind of primal.

Spain was extraordinary. 9 years and never missed the US one single day. Proximity to all of Europe and Africa.

Austin Texas, has a lot going for it if you like outdoor life and want to live in Texas. Its the best Texas offers.

I loved Northern Cal, S.F. , Napa, Sonoma, but its just getting too difficult to deal with Calif craziness and cost of living.

Some places in Mexico are really fun to live in, if youre not attached to 24/7 electricity or running water. No bother, the community just gets together and shares food, sings songs and tells stories. (hurricane season Baja)

Worst places:
Houston Texas: Its now so incredibly polluted they have 'keep your kids inside for air quality 'Ozone' warnings'.
Philadelphia: I was born there.
Miami: The superficial reigns supreme.

Where in Spain? One of the best things about Belgium is the fact that just about everything in Europe and Northern/Western Africa is easily accessible (especially via the ultra cheap RyanAir!). We're trying to get to Spain/Italy before we leave Belgium and are probably headed to either Rota/Moron (military travel) or Barcelona (Barcelona because RyanAir flies there from here) in Spain and/or Rome or Milan in Italy (again, that's where RyanAir flies from here)!

My husband lived in Austin as a kid and loved it there...our first choice for his next assignment is San Antonio (supposed to be a great base). I don't think I could live in TX anywhere other than Austin or San Antonio from my knowledge! I'm just not Texas Material!

My favorite place I have lived, by far, has been Santa Barbara, CA. I'd return in a heart beat if I could. On the Ocean, consistent climate 24/7. Good restaurants, access to a major city. Small town feel with out a small minded feel.

Worst . . . well let's se out of NJ, PA, DE, Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Culver City, Simi Valley, Goleta, SAnta Barbara, CA Scottsdale AZ, Dallas, Southlake, Grand Prairie, Austin (short stays and visits in TX) Alpharetta, GA, Tuscaloosa and Northport AL, Antioch and Nashville, TN.

I'd have to say I didn't hate living any of these places. I hate snow and will not ever be living in the snow belt again. Culver City CA was probably the worst of my stays. LA is not my kind of town (SF is) it is only a sea of humanity and I always remember feeling the tension lift off of me as a got to the outskirts and more open spaces of that megalopolis.

I live in Peoria, Arizona, (AZ in Bill55AZ), and like the low humidity, so anyplace that is not too hot or too humid is fine by me. I grew up in Houston, Texas, and that kind of hot and humid is why I will never go back there.
But AZ in the summer is a bit much, and that is the time we head north. My wife is a teacher, so we get to spend the summer months in Logan, Utah where some of our grandchildren live. I am recently retired, and when she retires we will split the year between the 2 places.

Well... I've probably moved more times than i qam years old but I was mostly raised in VA. I have been living in Texas for the last 5-6 years.

I went to school in south Austin and not only is it cool, green and beautiful (and hilly) they have some of the most open minded and respectful people. It's like a whole nother place compared to Dallas (where I have spent most of my time.) Austin tends to have very open people who are upfront about who they are, what they're thinking, and what they want... and I appreciate that. Everyone there seems so much more real than here (Dallas). But maybe I am just reminicing about the good and forgetting the bad? I had some great friends... living in the non-A/C dorm rocked!

I remember VA is being nice... but not perfect. I loved going on trips we could wake up next to the beach and then drive on up to the mountains and set-up camp for dinner. I lived in the Hampton Roads area which is pretty much populated by tourists and people in the Military... there's like 3? bases there. The navy guys were so HOT! But whenever there was a "skermish" or a storm the town was gone. The USS Enterprise as well as other ships can hold a LOT of people... practically eliminates traffic when the military is gone... Smithfield (where you probably get your ham from) Stinks! The whole town can smell the stench in the mornings when they are cleaning.

All of the other places I have lived have been short lived and I was young. Austin is still where my heart is and I knew it when I left.

O.

I've spent over half of my life living in Southern California, and I'm getting kinda used to it now. Still though, I think of Denver, Colorado as home and if I had my druthers, I think I'd live in Boulder.

I spent the first three decades of my life in Southern Califronia, and I suppose I was used to it. Now that I live in Eastern Tennessee, I can't imagine how I was able to stand it. The crowds, the traffic, the lack of anything remotely resembling wilderness. Where I live now is a nice place, with lots of scenic wonder. The weather is pretty good; it gets pretty hot and pretty cold, but avoids extreme on both sides. There are few natural disasters around here. (Some flooding and hurricanes nearby, but not exactly where I live.)

I've always lived in Colorado. I currently live in Denver, but I grew up in Pine, and if it wasn't for the commute, I'd still be living there. It's beautiful, but it's not too far outside of civilization.

Favorite Place to live:

San Diego, Ca - I was never bored there - I spent my summer days on the beaches, and my nights at various live music venues (the casbah, the belly-up) - - Fish tacos, the Padres, Steve Poltz, Greg Page, The San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Cuyamaco Mountains (hiking, biking, camping)....spittin' distance to L.A., the desert (had mucho fun spelunking)....4 hour drive to Phoenix.

Least favorite: Fergus Falls, MN - never in my life have i lived in a more clique oriented little town.... conservative, backstabbing little community of retirees....so long, stinktown....


other places lived: San Fransisco, CA, Virginia Beach, VA, Wash. DC, Athens, GA, Minneapolis, MN

I've only lived in Chappaqua where the Clinton's lived and Tucson Arizona. Tucson is much better. In Chappaqua I never saw my neighbors once and they lived right across the street. One of them was a reclusive actor type but the other person had no excuse. I think many people just live there for their egos. If it's good enough for Bill Clinton, Vanessa Williams and Allen Arkin; it's good enough for me. Absolute snobs! Tucson is much nicer. Good weather, nature, "the cats", low taxes, nice people, and Cacti. What more could you ask for? Maybe good pizza, we don't have great pizza

There has to be some good pizza down near the University of Arizona. There was a place called "New York Pizza" I liked but that was way back in '77.

Tucson is not on the top of my list because the weather is always the same. I like my weather to have some variety. I really hate cholla cactus, too. Cactus is fine but that stuff that sticks to you if you barely touch it then buries itself in...bad news.

The worst was Korea, with no cultural regard for personal space and the waft of raw sewage in the streets and your house all spring and summer...sometimes overpowered by the smell of putrifying fish. Dangerous, with often (unobstructed) open manholes in the middle of the sidewalks and broken glass everywhere. One foot wide, 10 inch deep steps without railings and concrete everywhere.

The best was probably Italy. If I had airconditioning I would've wanted to stay forever. Great weather, overall...and I had a wonderful view of the mountains from my house. It was just 30 minutes to ski in the winter and 30 minutes to the beach in summer.

Edited to add: kmsouthern, since you have a young child, if you visit Italy I would recommend going on non holidays. Don't travel in August, if you can avoid it. There will be people everywhere because they take that entire month off as a country. I would highly recommend anywhere in Tuscany as relatively child friendly, if you aren't certain about Milan and Rome, or considering other options. If you go to Venice, be prepared to walk a lot (and it isn't stroller friendly).

Kmsouthern,
Barcelona is beautiful with lots to see.... near Rota there are great small towns with beautiful beaches and Gibraltar and Morrocco are just a day trip away.
As far as Milan, its really just a big city, Rome has a lot more to offer for a tourist, too much for one trip! Make sure you have really good walking shoes.

I was born in central Pennsylvania (Franklinville - population: 84) where I lived till I was seventeen. Since then I've lived in State College and Hollidaysburg (both in PA), Grand Rapids, MI (briefly), Albuquerque, NM (briefly), San Francisco, CA, New York City, NY, Dublin (Ireland), Waterford (Ireland), and Orlando, FL.

Best places I've lived: Dublin (second coolest city in Europe) and New York (the best city in the universe). Worst place I've lived: Grand Rapids (okay I was there in the dead of winter and it was colder than a bucket of penguin droppings, but even then, the most stimulating thing ever to come of this burg was Gerald Ford - that says it all).

I've never been to the place I am about to mention, but I would love to live on Christmas Island.

For those of you who don't know, Christmas Island is an enviromental utopia [basically, it is one of the last pristine places in the world]. Very beautiful and loose inhabited. It is very tempting.