I wouldn't move back to the town I grew up in. My ex was related to darn near everyone....even though we divorced in 1985, there's STILL too many people in that town that were related!!!! (I think there was a lotta in-breeding, too! :roll: ). I won't name the town either. Fact is, I won't live anywhere but Oregon. I've been to other states and have no desire to move to them. Now -- as a famous governor once said, come visit, don't stay. LOL Actually, I hate to see Oregon getting so crowded!!!

I know where I want to go next, hubby won't go, he's happy where we are. I'm happy too, that is until the snow flies. I want to be an artist living on a beach. Sandbridge VA calls my name all the time.

Is there a place where all is good? I've wondered- if all the states are in financial messes- is there a state that has managed itself well? That's where I want to be. (We are 100 days beyond having a budget in PA, our county is $30 million in debt and mired in judge scandals that the FBI will be here for years to unravel- we are an embarrassment.)

Well, here's a little story, the moral of which is, if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.

When we were young marrieds, my husband was with IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY (midway between NYC and Albany) in the mid-Hudson Valley.

After a while, I learned that IBM had a comparable research and development facility in San Jose, CA. In my parochial mind, Californa = earthquakes and I wanted no part of that! I made it quite clear to my DH that San Jose, CA, was NOT an option for our family. "No way will I live on the San Andreas fault!"

In those days, IBM also meant "I've Been Moved". Being my husband was in the research and development division, it was unlikely that we would ever move to California with IBM. Had he been in sales, that would be a different story.

Fast-forward a few years and IBM moved us -- to suburban Chicago. We were delighted as our young sons would then have the opportunity to spend more time with their grandparents and other family members.

We were "home". For example, even though the boys were still in grade school, it was a given that they would go to the U of I in Urbana, as their parents did. At least one week-end / month we were driving to Central Illinois or someone would visit us. It was great.

In 1978, my DH resigned from IBM and with a colleague, started a software company.

In 1982, they had an offer from a company in CALIFORNIA :( to buy the company.

"Do we have to move to California? It sucks! It has earthquakes! Why do we have to move?" I was not, and was determined to never be, again, a happy camper. I was insufferable. (We won't discuss the parenting model I exhibited to my boys!)

"Because I am the primary developer of the product and they want me there to manage the product."

"Where is this company located...in California?"

"Santa Clara."

"Isn't that close to San Jose...and that IBM facility?"

"Yes"

We moved to a town on the east side of San Francisco Bay. Lovely house, neighborhood, great schools. I have a 2700' tall peak in my front yard. We're about 15 miles from San Jose.

The rest of the story?

God must have heard me and my tantrum. You see, I don't live anywhere near the San Andreas fault. I live smack dab between the Hayward and the Calaveras faults. The Hayward fault is considered to be the most dangerous fault in CA as it is highly urbanized it's entire length. The Calaveras fault is "just over the hill" from my house -- about 5 miles as the crow flies.

But, I don't live on the San Andreas.

I've always had a picture of God in my mind in which he's just smiling. "What are you not going to do now, my child?"

Added blessing: we've re-connected with my Mom's cousin (who is only 8 yrs. older than I)and her family who have lived in San Jose 30+ years It's as if I've gained another sister and 4 nephews and a niece. Her kids and mine have formed a very strong bond over the years.

Oh, and California's not such a bad place to live...if you can afford it (and we're re-visitng that question...)

Didn't want to move here, but God worked it for good.

I don't dare stomp my foot and tell anyone, let alone GOD, where I wouldn't live. No way. No how. :lol: I am teachable!

Yeah, somehow I missed that part of the Welcome to Florida booklet! About the only places I wouldn't live is where it is too cold - my joints do not tolerate extremes.

I would never want to move back to California. We lived there for a while while DH was in the Marines. He loved it, I hated it. I'd rather not move back to New Mexico. I don't ever want to move to Florida. I'd never want to move to New York City. We went out there on vacation and the drivers were incredibly rude. Definitely not a place for me.

Well? That's an easy one at the moment....
The ONLY state that I would refuse to live in would be Hawaii. Ok, go ahead and groan...Nope, been there, done that...too expensive!
Give me the lower 48,,,ok, include Alaska in there because I could probably do Alaska too.
If you want to include Territories....get me out of Guam!
Any place where I have to drive in circles daily and end up where I started an hour later, nope, not for me! I want the open roads so I can travel where and when I want.
My perfect place, if there is such a thing would be a farmlet (about 5-10 acres) outside of a nice town where I could have my gardens and just be peaceful with the world. I don't want the hustle and bustle of city life, but if the city life were an hour away, then that's ok...I could drive there to stress-up, then go back to my haven and de-stress.
I want my 4 seasons back too!

[quote=Moonpi]Yeah, somehow I missed that part of the Welcome to Florida booklet! About the only places I wouldn't live is where it is too cold - my joints do not tolerate extremes.[/quote

I wasn't old enough to read, when I came here, and wasn't asked for my vote! :?
OTOH. I met my hubby here, had my children here, and now my grandchildren...hot or not, I'm not going anywhere...not without them!~

but Terri, what about all those poor little homeless/stashless* lol, geckos, m lizards...and let's don't forget the totomonas...that you named and tamed.
You gonna bring your storm blowing fans with ya, when you come back to the states?
Come to Florida, girlfriend...we go in circles sometimes, driving ourselves and our spouses crazy, but we drive up and down, up and down, unless of course, you go to the top, then you can drive, side to side...side to side...wheeeeee...no more circles for you :wink:

Well, Kings Bay (Kingsland/St Marys, GA) might pop up on the list. I like it there. That's right on the border of FL, about 40 min from Jacksonville. Nice area, not too bad, but I want 4 seasons!

Probably Florida. The humidity, to me is unbearable. I like to be outside too much.

I'm a southern girl, born and raised, through and through but if I could move anywhere else it would probably be to Savannah, Georgia. Then my son, who lives in Florida wouldn't have so far to drive when he came to visit me.