Do you absolutely LOVE where you live and if so, why? OR are you anxious to "get outta Dodge" and if so, why?

I've lived here in the same house in New Jersey for over 55 years, orginally from Brooklyn, NYC, and haven't any desire to move. It's not perfect here but we like it.

Of course, if I hit a jackpot lottery I'd live everywhere, city, country, beach, mountains, US, tropical island, etc., but that's only dream talk. Anyway, I'm too old to make a big change, nice and comfy right here. May in Jersey

I used to love my area. Lived here for 30 years. It's a small college town. With unemployment as high as it is here a lot of homes on my street have been repossessed. What happens is parents of college students buy these homes cheaply (cheaper than 4 yrs room and board) and then rent out the rooms. I have 4 boys in a 2 bedroom house next door, 6 girls & 3 boys in a 4 bedroom house directly across from me and 3 more houses on my block with anywhere from 4-6 kids in them. Some of the houses are owned by absentee landlords. There's no maintenance and kids will be kids. The entire atmosphere has changed from a family neighborhood to block party central. I can't move yet-my mom lives nearby and she's 88 and needs my help. I hate to look ahead to her passing but when that happens, I'm out of here!!

I love it here. Weather is perfect year round, the beach is really close (8 miles) the Mountains are not far. We are surrounded by farm fields, so have super fresh veggies and fruit year round, LA is only 40 min away if we wanted to see great shows and stuff yet we are not part of LA, we are a small city. I have lots of great places to shop for fabrics and we even have an outlet mall in our town. The best thing of all 2 of my 4 children are staying here in the area, the eldest is closing on their home tomorrow and the 3rd is marrying a wonderful man next month who also owns a home here, so I will have grandkids nearby!!!

I used to not love where I live...after almost 25 years, getting used to it. The not loving it is in large part due to the weather. I grew up in a small town north of Seattle, called Lake Stevens. We had enough sunshine and enough rain, and it rarely got over 85. Where I live now, we haven't had ANY rain since June and it will be over 100 again today. I frequently feel like I'm going to dry up and blow away. Where I am now is also a fairly small town, with a lot of families that have been here for 8 or 9 generations, and for a long time felt like I would never fit in...all of a sudden over the past year or so, I have really begun to feel like I do belong. And, when we retire, it will be hard to leave in many aspects.

That being said....I have two answers to where and why...If I were to move with my husband, it will be to Montana for the flyfishing...if he doesn't have a hobby, he won't live long (because he would bug me until I had to do him in LOL). If I were moving by myself, I would return home to the Pacific Northwest. Not to the town I grew up in because it has gotten tooooooooooooo big, but further north, because I really want a small town.

And....that being said...my sister that lives here will be 70 when my husband retires. Her DILs are not the caretaking types (they are lovely - just not nurturing) and she has no daughters. When our mom was dying, my sister made me promise that I would do the same for her that we did for our mom...no one (other than Mary and I) ever saw our mom without her false teeth. Not even our dad or step-dad. My sister's husband has never seen her without hers either. So....even when my husband retires, it might not be easy to move away and not be here to take care of my sister.

Aren't you glad you asked? LOL

I do like where I live, and will probably stay in this general area. Most of my family are fairly close by... or I could be tempted to move...maybe :wink:

I like where I live, no people, fresh air, 80 acres. I miss my old house and sewing room though, this home and sewing room is even less then half the size of our old house. I just have to look at it that it's only temporary, until the granddaughter is out of college-5 more years.

I love where I live but HATE the taxes. The part of NY where I live is very close to the VT border. We have change of seasons, which I love, lots of rural area, which I love, very close to all the mountains and able to always see them on the horizon which I love and if I get a hankering for some ocean view it is only about 3 hours drive to the coast. Sometimes winter lasts a little too long and summer gets too humid but for the most part I am happy here. Unfortunately I could not afford to retire here because of the taxes.

I LOVE the Pacific Northwest. We have mountain ranges, the ocean, lakes, and old growth forests, so there's lots to do and see. Best of all we have over 50 quilt shops in Western Washington.

I was born in the area and have lived here all of my life, except for the three month. I don't have any plans for leaving.

I love where we live, Panhandle of Idaho, across from the big city of Spokane, WA. It's beautiful here with the four seasons. The trees are turning into flaming colors of red, yellow and orange as we speak. We have everything we could possibly need as far as shopping goes, quilt shop in town and many in Spokane. We moved here 21 years ago from So. California and though it's a bit tougher to make a living, we are living just fine!! Less stress and traffic. There's a beautiful lake less than a mile from our home, mountains, golf courses, including one with a floating green, hunting, fishing, snow sports, and hiking. Do I do any of those activities, no!! Neither does DH but love it here anyway!! I just miss lifelong friends and Mom in So. California, but I do get to visit fairly often. If I had the chance to move, I wouldn't, this is the place to be, snow and all!!

I love where I live. We have been in Alaska for 32 years now. 28 in the Interior; 4 yrs on the coast. I live 2 mi from the beach. It's small and quiet. I am originally from Maine but lived in FL about 15 years before coming here. My hubby is from GA. We both abhor the humidity and all the people on the East Coast. So we retired here, too and thought we would travel more to Lower 48 but we got tired of that too. Two of the 4 children live in the state. I just love Alaska--I never tired of the scenery that goes on and on!

Hey Nancy, if I didn't live where I do I wouldn't get to see you once in a while. lol

I moved 15 times before I moved to the country in 1983. I said then I wasn't moving again. I love it out here in the Lost Pines of Bastrop. Our area has changed to much in the past years. Bastrop has started growing since they moved the Airport to the east side of Austin.
The only reason I would leave here would be if my health went down hill and I had to go live with my daughter in Tenn.

We live in Central Oregon, where we can get 3 feet of snow all winter, and hot in the summer (though the high has been only 98 two days this summer - and most summers). I love it!!! The humidity is low, so we don't feel the heat like most places. Moved here 5 yrs ago from Salem, Oregon -- lived there for 30 yrs and it was too crowded. We're within 20 miles of 3 lakes -- 40 miles of LOTS more lakes. We can go into Bend for fine-dining, I'm within 40 miles of 7 quilt shops....what more can I say???

I've been pretty much of a rolling stone since my early 20's. First as a military wife and after a divorce 20 years ago..just because. I would get antsy after 3 or 4 years in one place and want to see another part of the country. I worked for a national hotel chain and it was easy to get transfers...experienced help with no retraining needed was a definite plus. I've always found something positive about wherever I lived!! Since retiring 3 years ago and moving to a small town in Alabama, I'm perfectly satisfied. I love being in the country with my dog and two cats. DS and DD aren't too terribly far away and my neighbors in the park all look out for me...if they don't see my curtains open by mid morning, someone will call or come by. Not a lot of money but it's a low key and stress free lifestyle which I really needed. I have plenty of fabric ( maybe too much ), 10 working sewing machines and better than average health...I'm a happy camper right here :lol: :lol:

We very much like where we live. It's a Senior Community with all the amenities. We're 4 miles from the beach; get the ocean breezes; walks on the pier; golf course view; able to walk to shopping, P.O., Sunday Mass at the Mission & French bakery; family just 45 min. drive; quilt shops (including Eleanor Burns) & JoAnn's all within 20 min. drive. In the past, we lived in Seattle and Denver before settling here. Yes, loved the changing weather and beautiful scenery, but as we get older, we appreciate coming home to So. Calif. I just had to be near my Pacific Ocean and family. Plus, it's very easy to visit mother (age 88) by hopping on the train or driving 60 miles. And, yes, she still drives around town. We're healthy and able to continue touring and cruising. We love where we live and consider ourselves very lucky and are thankful for our blessings. Amen to that!

Absolutely love it! Husband and I built our dream home about 18 years ago, small but with my working basement it fits me perfectly. We are out in the country, at the edge of a forest no other homes within seeing distance. About 10 miles from us is the county seat with small university, hospital, great school, good restruants and a Walmart (!). Several small churchs in any direction. We have 4 distinct seasons which I love. Going into the fall with beautiful folige, warm days and cool nights. Wonderful neighbors when we need them. Life just couldn't be better.

I love my house but I would move in an instant. I do not like winters and I live way too far from the ocean.

My goal would be to be a hermit-type. No need for human contact, live off the land, a good book and the beach is enough for me.

Growing up I didn't want to marry and have kids, but blew that one quick. I love my hubby and kids, but there's that draw to be alone- maybe because I grew up one of 9 and there wasn't alone time and I was super shy so I didn't really have friends or social life.

But hubby won't move, so I'm here, with the love of my life that makes it all worth it and I can deal with the snowflakes and chills and have vacations.

I have been here for 41 years and always wanted to move. Not that I don't like it, just never thought of this as 'home' even though I graduated from high school here and my children were born here. I actually like it better now...3 of my daughters are here and 6 of my grandkids. Love my job and our church family. I wish we got a little more rain and things were a little greener, but the desert has a unique kind of beauty and absolutely fabulous sunsets. Could be a little closer to a city....gotta drive 100 miles to really go shopping.

I like where I live. I live in lower Michigan but it has grown up in the last 10 years. If I move I would like more country.

I love my home, I love my backyard view and love being away from the big city. But that said, Walgreens is the biggest store in town and we are fighting for a Walmart. We moved here 6 years ago. I was excited that it was our first home. Just as soon as we were getting to know our neighbors, they left - foreclosures. So, I don't have many friends and I treasure the very few I have. We are originally from Southern California and our families currently live there. I hate driving, but I don't mind the 4 1/2 hour drive to my Mama's house. When we retire, we would like to find an in-between like Santa Barbara. But, if the Lord takes my Mama first, I would want to live in Pacific Northwest near our daughter. But, I am in love with Placerville. I guess, I am what my mother calls me, a gypsy.

I've lived in this state my whole life. I stayed when I was younger to be around my grandparents (they raised me). After they passed, I stayed and took care of my mother, til she passed. Now my DH works for the county and I have a job here that has weathered the recession well. I love the seasons, but as I get older, the winters seem to be getting longer. I'd like to retire in 6 years and just work from home, if my health holds out. I guess I'm staying.

Aw thanks Jamey -
As for the rest of you who are not in "hiding" It is amazing that the majority are from southern California or the Pacific NW. As for me, I really long for the foothills of California myself - really miss old friends, and the ability to shop when I want to - here we have WM and have to drive 50 minutes for nicer restaurants, better groceries, doctors. Who thought that we were gonna get old only 8 short years ago! Our friend here that moved from CA keeps telling me that I am turning into a HERMIT! What can I say, she is right!

I live in Michigan and the only thing I would like to see more of is mountains. We love to travel, but it is always nice to get home. Couldn't move if I wanted to. Couldn't bear to be away from family. Home is where the family is, i guess.

I love were I live. The winters are a bit to long and the summer is to short and when it's hot there is most of the time a lot humidity. If I could replace my country into Spain I would do it right away. But I don't want to move, I love Holland with it's really free mind way of thinking about almost every thing. I love to be near the beach (North See) and I love it that our country is so small you can drive trough it in about 3 of 4 hours. I like to be in Spain of Greece but I love coming home. :)

I love east Tennessee. We live in a small but growing town. It's growing a little too fast for me, but I can handle that. My DH and I moved every 2 or 3 years for 23 years. We settled in Memphis and thought we would be there the rest of our lives. But, like most big cities, the druggies and murderers and robbers began to take over. The schools went downhill in a hurry and I began to barricade myself in the house during the day, and was afraid to go to the mall. When DH retired from UT Memphis, we couldn't leave fast enough! We have been here for 18 years. I have lots of friends, I love my church and am involved in choir. My neighbors are great. We built the house and I love it, but wish I had one more room besides the bonus room. I sit on my back porch and look at the Smokies amd the Chilhowees and I love it! The leaves are starting to turn and in a month it will be breathtaking. What more could you ask for? Quilt shops? There are 6 within 30 miles!

When we don't feel safe in our own home/neighborhood that says alot, Navy. With so many things changing lately, the crime was one of the things that needs to be addressed. Thanks for responding

I've lived in West Michigan all my life.All
the kids and grand are here so guess this is
where I'll stay. I love all the seasons, Fall
being my favorite.

I like where I live, nice wide open spaces , great views and very quiet. But my dream home would be a cottage by the sea, white picket fence and garden and strolls daily to the water.

You are describing Pismo Beach, California...............

As much as I love to travel and could sit for hours and look at the ocean, I can't imagine not living in East Tennessee. I love it here. The thought of not really being able to see the seasons change each year would be unthinkable. That said, I would love to retire a little further east to the Smokies mountains. As much as we love to look at the ocean we love our mountains and can just sit for ages and watch them change over and over.

I am originally from the Black Hills of SD, where the temperature can get as high as 125* in the shade in mid July. My hay fever allergies were bad there.
Moved to the north-western Nebraska in 1994, and it wasn't bad, but the wind would blow across Wyoming and push us in to Iowa.
Eventually I ended up in the Turtle Mountains of ND, where the days are long and the high may of made it to 88*-90* this summer. My hayfever allergies are tolable here. And if it snows, I can count on a snowday or two from work and quilt all day long if I want, cause it's not a surprise to get 12"-20" in snow in a storm.
My oldest daughter lives in Rapid City, and to see my grandbabies there, is nearly a 10 hour drive. My son and family live in Anchorage, AK. and if my husband had his way, we would of moved there 2 years ago. My other daughter lives near the border of Washington and Idaho. We have one son that lives 25 miles away and another that lives on the border of Minnesota and ND. So you can see, I am use to driving or flying. Which has the plus of doing a lot of Quilt shop hoppin'.
Now the kicker to this.........is that within the next 2 months we are moving to south western North Dakota, where the wind blows, the snow flies and it's hot. Not looking forward to this, but I go where my DH goes. But the plus side, grandbabies will only be about a 2 1/2 hour drive now. And I drive that to get to a JoAnn's now.
So no, If I had my druthers, I would stay here because of the temperature, the beauty of the hills and my very large quilting room and anticipate the drive to RC to see DGC.

I do not like where I live. It's cold and dreary in the winter and summers are way too short. So need to be near a beach to be happy. Left the area several times but parents that weren't well brought us back. Unfortunately, now my three adult children are entrenched here so if I want to be near family I will have to stay.

I love NC, born and raised. We live in the country, plenty of fresh air, wildlife, no traffic and few people. I do have to drive 10 miles to a grocery store, but hey, I seldom meet another car!!

Eh, I could take it or leave it if it weren't for my three daughters being within 5 minutes with 4 of our 6 grandchildren. The other two grandchildren are in Georgia with their parents, where we are now, visiting. I could NEVER live in this heat.

I live in Rochester, NY and don't like the neighborhood because everyone is so unfriendly but I do like my house and my brand new kitchen. The only drawback is it is big and two floors. I would love to find a ranch far away from anyone and have a big sewing room with a long-arm. Only an inheritance from a rich relative would make that possible....I'm waiting!!

Just moved to Colorado last year. Came from Illinois and don't miss the weather one bit. Should have made the move sooner. Everyday is a beautiful day here.

Interesting - it seems like family and weather are the main factors as to if you love it or not.

Lived here all my life and as soon as I retire, I'm gone. Want to see the world before God calls me to his home.