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If you could live anywhere- where would you live?
ok, I know late night posts rarely get a response... but I'm hardly ever finding the time to be on lately so I've got to do it when I can. Since having DS I'm more confused than ever on where I would like to live.
If you could live anywhere in the Austin area where would you live?
If you could live anywhere in the US...?
If you could live anywhere in the world...?
I'm sure some of you may have an answer to one or all 3 of these questions...I used to think I wanted to explore the world, but now with DS I feel more like staying in one place, but I don't know that I'm entirely happy with our current house or 'hood or even dare I say Austin (which I love).
What is important to you about where you live? Being close to family? What do you like or dislike about your neighborhood?
>This discussion has been closed.
Re: If you could live anywhere- where would you live?
Austin: Southwest Austin. It's where I'm comfortable and it feels older and more homey to me than north Austin. I like the neighborhood I'm in now more than the last one bc it was so Joneses. It still isn't exactly us, but it works for now. We know what we want, it's just a time/ money/ location issue.
US: Seattle, WA. When the plane lands I sigh and just feel home. My dad lives there and it's the happiest place in the world to me.
World: The Northwest of the U.S. I grew up in ID, WA and OR, so I love it there. I love the mountains, trees and lakes and beaches. In my head it's my happy place.
The only reason I couldn't leave Austin completely is bc my sisters live here. As much as I know they want to go home, too, they have kids here so they can't just up and leave.
I think there is a lot to be said for feeling content where you are. You need to sigh and relax when you get there. Maybe drive around Austin. maybe travel. I was really how surprised DH was taken with the Northeast. I think he feels like it's his second home, even though he's lived in Texas (almost Austin) 100% of his life.
In Austin: We would love to live *in* Austin, maybe off of South Congress, or in Hyde Park... We would love to be able to ditch the cars (or at least one car) and walk everywhere. Sadly, we'll be sicking where we are until we win the lottery.
In the US: See above. I have no desire to leave the Austin area. I sometimes have a desire to leave Round Rock/ suburbia, but never Austin. Our family is here, plus we just love Austin.
In the world: Hmm... In an ideal world, I would love to live in London but only if I could move my family along with me. I studied there for a semester in college and honestly I didn't want to come home although I missed my mom and mexican food. DH would love to move to Amsterdam, but he's never been to London.
Austin: Hutto or Taylor areas. I love Austin as a city, but its too many people in too small of a place. I felt claustrophobic all the time we lived in Round Rock. Hutto/Taylor was close enough to Austin for a commute or shopping trips, but away from all the people and plazas on every corner.
US: I don't know. I haven't traveled much. I grew up in Michigan, and I never ever want to go back to Detroit. Maybe I could live in northern Michigan but only for the summers. I can't handle winters anymore.
World: I don't know. I've never left the continent. Maybe I could live in a hut on the carribean somewhere and spend my days fishing. But I think I'd get bored after awhile.
Important: I like rural areas. I hate traffic and seeing a plaza, CVS and a gas station on every corner. I like seeing farms and open fields, rivers and streams. That's a huge reason we moved to Belton, but its slowly becoming very developed around here, too. We'll have to move again someday....
Our families are all back in Michigan. I miss them and wish my kids could grow up with their cousins, but I'll never move back there.
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Austin: off Enfield on the west side. Those homes are gorgeous and the neighborhood is so quaint. "Quaint" meaning cute but the homes are $1mil plus.
US: I think if I could take all of the people that I love with me I'd move to Big Sur. I've never, ever felt so peaceful somewhere outside of Austin. Although, I am a comfort girl... so I'd have to have a really great relationship with my UPS carrier.
World: I dunno. I am sad to say I've traveled North America and been to Costa Rica but never overseas. If Mexico was a safe place now I'd say that I'd live on a ranch and have a ton of babies.
US: See previous answer
World: Before A was born I would have said anywhere In the world and meant it. I still have dreams of going back to Africa for an extended period of time. But factoring in A & DH I would say Vancouver. It's the one place we both agree we would love live in someday and have grand plans of retiring there.
Austin: next door to LLCG in the Enfield area. Gorgeous houses, and I'd love to feel like I lived in "real" Austin and not a suburban offshoot. Ooh, and the big trees. I'm obsessed with big trees.
US: southern California, Newport or Laguna area to be exact. I just love California SO much. My parents are there (Newport) and my sister is there (LA) and being far away from them makes my heart sad.
The weather is just gorgeous and I want to be closer to the ocean. And my family. Did I mention that?
World: Same answer as US. I don't have any desire to live outside the States.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
1. Exactly where we live now. I really love our house and our 'hood. And I love that it takes me 10 min to get to work downtown!
2. see above
3. Hmm...In reality, I don't think I'd really want to live abroad anymore b/c of family and losing close connections, but if we're talking fantasy 2nd homes, I'd love a beach house in Belize, Roatan Honduras or Tulum/PDC Mexico.
If you could live anywhere in the Austin area where would you live? On lake austin.
If you could live anywhere in the US...? Carrboro, NC
If you could live anywhere in the world...? London, England
1. Austin - ditto the Enfield area. LOVE LOVE LOVE it - I used to drive through those neighborhoods on my way home and was just in awe the whole time. I love all the "old" houses that are super unique, the huge trees, and just the "community" that area has.
2. US - San Diego. I miss it all the time but realize that DH and I will probably never move back because it is so expensive and I really want to be a SAHM when he's done with his PhD. The cost of living is so high there but I really miss the ocean, the weather, and my friends there. Don't get me wrong - I love Austin - love it. It comes in close second.
3. World - same answer as the US (San Diego). I don't want to move out of the country and be far away from my family. My brother lives in Germany and the distance has been so hard. I hate that I only get to see him every few years and that my niece and nephew are growing up and they aren't going to know me when they move back to the US.
My husband and I have been talking a lot about places we would/would not like to live because he's now more than half-way through his program and the probability of him finding a job in Austin is slim to none. So more than likely we're going to have to move in a couple of years and we are really trying to figure out what areas we want to look into. I'll be peeking back into this post for ideas.
If you could live anywhere in the Austin area where would you live? On Lake Austin.
If you could live anywhere in the US...? Probably California.
If you could live anywhere in the world...? Italy. We are thinking about spending 6 months or so in Tuscany in a few years, really hope that works out!
I like this post!
If you could live anywhere in the Austin area where would you live?
Barton Hills or Travis Heights. These areas are most special to me b/c they are where I grew up.
If you could live anywhere in the US...?
This is a tough question, b/c I don't feel like I know the U.S. well enough to pick a place to live. I would definitely stay south, though, so probably southern Florida, California, New Mexico, or southern Colorado. I don't think I'd live anywhere in else in Texas except Austin.
If you could live anywhere in the world...?
I'm not very qualified to answer this question either since I haven't done much world traveling, but I do love Costa Rica and Mexico. I would pick somewhere laid back and warm that is close to a beach. I like that kind of lifestyle. I've never been there, but I think the Netherlands sound neat too.
What is important to you about where you live?
Being close to family is most important to me. Being in an area with easy access to major highways and close proximity to work is also super important. Being in a city, such as Austin, that is open-minded, (mostly) pretty liberal, and educated is also important.
What do you like or dislike about your neighborhood?
I currently live in Northeast Austin. I love how close it is to all major highways - it's so easy to get around. I don't like how there is more crime in the area and I would not feel safe to venture out of my little subdivision. Also, I know we will move before my daughter starts school because the public schools in the area are not good at all.
If you could live anywhere in the Austin area where would you live? Downtown or at least Central Austin.
If you could live anywhere in the US...? NYC
If you could live anywhere in the world...? Not sure that I would want to live anywhere but the US...I'm boring like that.
Looks like I have a lot in common with you guys! I love the Enfield area too. My dream neighborhood (not sure what it is called but) the homes along Balcones - north of the Enfield neighborhood and south of Mt. Bonnell. Of course we will never be able to afford one of those homes, but even if we could, no sidewalks. I hate this. A lot of really nice neighborhoods have no sidewalks. I really like walkability and especially for kids like sidewalks.
I used to live downtown and always thought I would eventually give up my car. I even envisioned us being able to live downtown in a condo with DS. But now that we are in a house I can't even imagine it. Plus I think he needs a yard whereas before he was born I thought we could play at the park and that kids are raised well without yards all the time. With DS I think about my own childhood and think his should be similar- where before I was thinking of how I wanted his to be different!
I'm in SW Austin and I love SW Austin I think over all areas of Austin we can really afford. I would also love to live on the lake, love trees, or near any water or trails or parks or places to be outside. Sometimes I think I'd like to live out west toward Lakeway or in Lakeway or even out in Dripping Springs or Spicewood or somewhere more rural. But I grew up in a very suburban area and always told myself my kids would live closer into the city in a more diverse/less isolated area. We aren't quite there in SW Austin but we are more diverse than where I grew up where there was maybe 1 or 2 black or hispanic kid for every 1000 white kids in my schools.
DH always talks about finding a job in another country. I used to be excited about this but now it scares me to take DS somewhere unknown and away from the support of his grandparents. Yet I always thought it would be good for DS to be exposed to other cultures and places. Now I feel like a traitor to DH on my opinions.
Where is your hood if you don't mind me asking?
I would love to feel this way about our home- that it is supposed to be our forever home. Is this realistic now-a-days? It probably isn't for us. Yet I'd like to think I could settle down and see DS growing up in the same house/hood. Like you said about looking outside of Austin and the state for a job- we are in the same boat. DH is fine now but when it comes time for the next job it is likely to be an issue just as it was before he got this job.
I love southern California too. I've visited Newport and laguna and think I would be so happy to live there but then people tell you that it is only a good place to visit. I would love to give it a try if given an opportunity. (at least I think I would.) Now with DS I'd probaby wuss out and stay close to my parents. I hope not.
If you could live anywhere in the Austin area where would you live? I think I would live near the lake on a cliff in a nice size house- not huge, just ice size.
If you could live anywhere in the US...? hmmm.... maybe Colorado. the NE is so pretty too.
If you could live anywhere in the world...? The Carribbean. Hands Down. Like the BVIs.
I don't think it is common nowadays for people our age to settle where they want to stay. We knew we wanted to be out here and we built this house so it is exactly what we wanted. It is the perfect size for us now, but not so big that it would seem too big when we were retirement age. I really wish we could rent it out and come back to it, but I doubt if that is a possibility out here.
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Austin- Right where we are, assuming I have my current job. Otherwise, anywhere on Lake Austin or a golf course.
US- Wherever my parents are (currently Austin) and a place without mosquitoes or natural disasters.
The world- same as above.
Austin - I also love the Enfield area, or Hyde Park.
US - California wine country. It's just so beautiful there, and you are driving distance to skiing, hiking, the ocean, and big cities, and it doesn't get too cold.
World - Well I would still say California wine country because I would prefer to live in the US, but if I had to pick, maybe somewhere near the Alps. I really don't know because I haven't traveled out of the country much at all
Austin: Enfield/Tarrytown
US: Boulder, CO
World: This is hard. I've always fantasized about moving to France. I'm thinking a vineyard near the French Riviera but close enough to a big city for entertainment, culture & stuff would be just perfect. Bonus if I can get good friends to move into the vineyards next door.