Here's where that last link goes "The 10 Best Weather Cities." It doesn't work for me because hot and dry is not my idea of "best." I like seasons and moisture.
February 4, 2017
After walking in Wisconsin, where the cold wind hurt my face, I had a conversation with Siri...
Here's where that last link goes "The 10 Best Weather Cities." It doesn't work for me because hot and dry is not my idea of "best." I like seasons and moisture.
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If someone is stuck in one place (in the States): Santa Fe.
Your advisor is crap. Yuma is a rattlesnake heaven unless you are a Marine pilot at the NAS.
Phoenix is hot and crowded, although not like LA. It is 15 degrees hotter in summer than Tucson. I work in Phoenix a couple of days a week. Everybody I know there loves Tucson and lives in Phoenix to work. They would love to live in Tucson.
Tucson has the university and the culture that follows it. In winter it can get down to 14 and I have seen it snow in downtown Tucson but in a couple of days it is back in the 70s.
If you like four seasons there are places with milder climate than Wisconsin. A friend bought a house in Arkansas and that is a beautiful state in most places. I went back there about 20 years ago for a medical thing. The guy I was working with was from Sydney Australia and he loved Little Rock. That's where the medical school is. He told me that his house, if located in Sydney would be $12 million. And that was 20 years ago. One of the clinic nurses had a very nice home not far from his and she told me she had paid about $250K. She had about 4 acres on the river.
"Knowledge is good."
- Emil Faber, Founder 1904
Heck! Tucson even has a ski slope!
San Francisco.
With some spots along the coast.
Outdoor airconditioning year-round, that fails only occasionally. Can rain, occasionally heavily for three-four months.
Rent and home values are astronomical. If you are in and own of old, you are good. Attach yourself like a whelk.
Outright wild beauty, fine cool weather and slightly more affordable (though still ridiculous) besides, San Luis Obispo.
Colorado along the Front Range is the world's best weather. Unfortunately, it's Colorado.
My preferred weather would be four distinct seasons that aren't too extreme, such as Arkansas as Dr. K mentions above. However, there aren't jobs in my husband's field there.
I prefer cold over heat. I've lived primarily in hot climates for fifteen years and hate it. This is part of why we're planning a relocation to outside NYC. I don't mind the cold winters and I cannot, CANNOT wait for milder summers and distinct seasons.
Santa Fe is beautiful. Love the Sangre de Cristo Mts. But Althouse said she didn't like hot & dry so it's right out.
North Carolina in the winter, WI or Maine in the summer.
Utah is beautiful & not too cold.
I think, without having been there, that the Ozark region would have nice weather for a retired law professor who can live wherever she wants without worrying about working.
You're gonna love it, Pants. Listen, when you get here, look for this local delicacy we call...pizza.
Now, I can hear you laughing, you're saying to yourself, "Pizza? I know what pizza is, I've had pizza." Sweetheart, with respect, no, you haven't.
Making progress on the move? Can I give you more info?
Lawrence, Kansas is nice.
Northwest Arkansas and only that part of Arkansas.
Sounds like you want to live in Portland. You can get artisanal weather there.
Not Little Rock. Michael K, tell your friend to check out the Fayetteville area. They opened a medical school location here recently.
I really liked living in St Paul, but eventually the brutal winters and high taxes broke me down. Freed from the dismal necessity of working for a living, I moved to a large over-55 community on the outskirts of Las Vegas, far from the Strip. The cost of living is quite reasonable, and the Virtue Signalling at a minimum. It doesn't take long to adapt to the dry, hot summer weather.
We're going to Ken's Artisanal Pizza tonight. More snow tomorrow night in Portland. I'd live in the Hillcrest neighborhood in San Diego if I could afford a nice house there.
Sounds like you want to live in Portland. You can get artisanal weather there.
Portland doesn't really have seasons. It's March in the fall/winter/spring and April & May in the summer.
lower midwest has seasons and humidity but isn't too cold. I love eastern Kansas.
or North Carolina, but summers are crazy hot.
Try Charlottesville, VA - as I say, the Old South. Home to Thomas Jefferson's UVA, 2 wonderful hospitals, 4 seasons, beautiful mountains nearby. A class act.
@FleetUSA, wife and I considered Charlottesville, but the local cost of living is ridiculous for being so far outside the Washington metro area. Althouse and Meade need to follow us out to the Shenandoah Valley. Right now it's 32, but Tuesday's high is supposed to be 62 (with rain).
garrison said:
"I'd live in the Hillcrest neighborhood in San Diego in San Diego if I could afford a nice house there."
I used to live in San Diego, in Normal Heights, a neighborhood further east and slightly north, but I was in Hillcrest frequently. I'd live there, too, if I could afford it but another reason for staying away is the traffic. It's rough all the time and horrible at commuter times. Parking is nearly non-existant, when it's not expensive. San Diego raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour not too long ago as well, so I expect to see some of Hillcrest's many restaurants go under in the coming years.
AA, in the Farmer's Almanac article you linked to, one of the commenters praised South Carolina. They claimed it has noticible changing seasons, but based on their description, they are mild. I haven't been to any southeastern state, myself, but it might be worth looking into.
Santa Fe is a fossil. Albuquerque is where it's at!
75 here in Lake Elsinore CA. Political weather is, however, perpetual sleet.
My favorite personal conversation with Siri was:
"Siri, where's the nearest Seven-Eleven?"
"Seven minus eleven is negative four."
"Thank you, Siri."
"You're welcome, Michael."
(Siri doesn't get sarcasm.)
Ask Siri, "What is monk fruit?" This is what I got, "Monk fruit is a sweet, natural, and zero calorie sweetener made by feeling pure cane sugar through the sterized urine of monks in three monasteries." Siri is full of fake facts.
Back in college (I'm Ann's age) we settled these issues with a dart and a map on the wall. The results were always interesting. -And yes, the dart made a hole in the plaster wall.
Road trip anyone?
You liked Asheville and western NC when you visited a few years ago. It has nice weather. It is considered one of the best places to live in my neck of the woods, although progressives have taken over just about everything locally and I am not sure how long it will stay that way.
If not there, you could come just north of the mountains across the line here to east TN, where your nephew lives. We have four perfect seasons, which coincide almost exactly with the calendar. It does get cold some in the winter, and we get a little snow, but not like you do in WI. We have beautiful springs and in the summer we have warm days and cool nights, sometimes you need a jacket. And just no place in America beats being here in the fall, with the leaves turning and the crisp, cool, cloudless days. Mountains, lakes, and rivers are beautiful and there are lots of things to do - hiking on the AT, mountain biking, road biking, whitewater rafting, Great Smoky Mtns, bluegrass music. And you would save a lot of money. I would guess your house here would cost about half and your property taxes would be a fraction of what they are now. And there is no income tax (currently 5% on certain dividend and interest income only, but it will be eliminated by 2022). And the state is well-governed, has practically no long-term debt, there are no public employee unions (except for some teachers, and it is very restricted), and its pension funds are almost fully funded. We have a lot of out-of-state retirees here. If not here, Knoxville, Nashville, and Chattanooga are good alternatives if you are looking for something bigger. My son lives in Chattanooga and loves it, it is somewhat displacing Asheville now as the place to be. Also, east TN and northwest AR are very similar in terms of terrain, climate, and culture and it is also a good alternative.
I have a daughter in South Carolina. Charleston. She loves it. We visited and the restaurants were full every week night 'til 10. I thought, "What do these people do ?"
Very humid in summer, though.
If Arkansas was closer to my kids, I would give it serious thought.
My friend is into horses. She travels around to race tracks and does something with horses. She also has a trust fund.
It might be a good compromise for retired. Houses are cheap or were.
Hawaii is boring in a week.
75 here in Lake Elsinore CA. Political weather is, however, perpetual sleet.
If your house catches fire, you will probably meet my son.
"Rent and home values are astronomical. "
My middle daughter is heading up to Cupertino for her fourth or fifth interview with Apple for their design team.
If they make her an offer, and she is close, her big concern is living cost. Eventually, even Apple has to think about this.
Years ago UC, Irvine built a whole community in Orange County for their faculty.
There is also a community here in Tucson which was built by a big employer back in the 60s for their executives.
Apple may have to think about it.
Savannah and Charleston might be the two most beautiful cities in America and are great places to visit - and eat, especially the eating - but they are just unbearable in the summer.
Las Vegas is great for those who like 110-degree heat delivered by 25-MPH wind. If you like Madison then Portland, Oregon is probably the temperate equivalent. Corvallis and Eugene are nice too but probably a touch provincial.
Artificial Intelligence. It's been ten years away since... what... 2001: A Space Odyssey? 1968 at least. Kinda like we've had ten years to save the planet (OMFG!) since the premier Earth Day in 1970 (those must be Armillarian years, which are like dog years in reverse)
Well, give the tech industry credit where credit is due. They got the Artificial part licked.
Does anyone here have Alexa? I hear she's much better. She's on my new 33 dollar kindle fire, but it's just a backup in case of an iPad emergency, so I've lost the charger cord.
Tennessee. Four seasons but relatively mild winters. Communities around Nashville will get you city amenities with laid back country living and great people.
...or North Carolina, but summers are crazy hot.
Not lately. Summers have been very mild recently.
San Luis Obispo, located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, is everything good about California and very little bad (except for house prices). And the weather is to die for.
Savannah and Charleston: biggest, most vicious mosquitos in existence, including New Orleans.
Earnest Prole: for some reason, I associate SLO with the Black Panther Huey Newton. Is there a prison around there?
Further evidence that Siri is a joke. I tried the same voice queries in Google and got serviceable results.
The Research Triangle area is a choice place these days. Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill (a pox upon thy) are quite nice. The real scum at Duke have been laying low since the horrendous Nifong prosecutions, which certainly makes the intellectual atmosphere more breathable. You can drive to the Outer Banks in two hours or the Blue Ridge in four.
I like Freeman's advice. As usual.
Anyone here looking to go overseas? I'm thinking of selling some property I have in Albania and buying a place in Xlendi Bay, Gozo Malta. I really liked Malta when I worked there last spring. Malta is hot and very dry summers. Cool and wet winters. Fortunately the refugee problem hasn't been too bad there.
My wife's friend bought a place in Costa Rica. They will live in the mountains close to the capital city.
Ideally I'd like to have two homes. Winter in Florida and Summer somewhere in the mountains but I can't afford it.
" I really liked Malta when I worked there last spring."
I didn't get out of Valletta. Have you seen Oliver's Last Pub ?
Places that might surprise you: The Gulf coast, especially around Biloxi.
Rent/lease one of those big bus/campers, spend the winter exploring the south and southwest. Nothing manic, just a leisurely ride from camp ground to camp ground.
Oh, and bring your camera.
...or North Carolina, but summers are crazy hot.
Not lately. Summers have been very mild recently.
hot is relative. I like hot summers and could easily live in the tidewater south. But I know people who think anything above 85 is intolerable.
Wisconsin has pretty mild summers compared to anyplace a couple of hours south.
Edit: "campground"
My plan is to live 6 months minus one day in WI and the rest on the beach in FL. The state income tax savings pays for the winter home.
Why wouldn't you?
Hey, it was 60 here in CO today! Of course the mountains were getting a lot of snow again. So much this year. To bad some of it is going to CA.
@Michael K.
I don't remember that pub but I was living and working around the new Freeport. I'd ride the bus into Valletta and just soak up the history of the place. I was always in awe of how much has happened on that rock. But the whole area from Vallarta to St George's Bay is way to populated for me. The people are just packed in there.
If you ever get back I'd recommend you to explore the islands. Comino Island has an amazing beach and bay. And Gozo is much less crowded and more livable.
CA has some of the best all year round weather, way too many crazies, and the taxes and costs are out of control. At least in the desirable areas.
We moved from the Twin Cities to the raleigh-durham-chapel hill area. It's beautiful. Today was "cold", 25 when we woke, 40 by 11 am. Bright blue skies. Sunny and warm and green green green. Crabapple trees are already starting to blossoms. It's supposed to be 65 this week.
Since you like to drive I'd recommend the two home solution. The leisurely drive to the second home and back to the main home is a lot of fun. We're in Southern Florida most of the time and Eastern Pennsylvania for a few months to remind us what seasons are like and to visit our northeastern friends and relatives. I'm trying to talk my husband into additional homes along the way that could be airbnbed, but he's resistant.
Bill Republic of Texas:
Been wanting to vacation in Malta. Any advice, suggestions, recommendations?
Have given some thought to an island-hopping from the Italian islands (Stromboli, etc.) to Malta.
Also thinking about Armenia.
"follow us out to the Shenandoah Valley"
I do have some ancestral roots near Harrisonburg.
robinintn: It looks like there is. From Wikipedia, “California Men's Colony has been called a country club and the garden spot among California prisons because of its offerings of a wide variety of vocational, educational and psychological-treatment programs.”
Bob and Ray have the solution to cold wind on your face
Most Beautiful Face Winner.
Stay tuned for the four leaf clover farmer interview with Johnny Carson.
Meade:
Are you related to General George Meade? Is Meade an Irish name?
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”
Shit Norwegians Say #1
http://www.lifeinnorway.net/2013/11/no-bad-weather-only-bad-clothes/
Born in Durango, CO. Loved the weather there.
Grew up in Ohio. Loved the weather there.
Now on the Oregon coast and the Florida coast. Love the weather there. Well, except for summers in Florida.
Dislike all those places on the top 10 list. Biased toward heat and sun.
Durango CO is great. Love it.
"Are you related to General George Meade?"
Who cares? Being related to Robin Meade, that'd be worth knowing. Hot. But, did she get the voice from Lawrence genes, or Marlboro?
North Carolina, which has been suggested several times already, is indeed a good choice. You can choose to live close to the coast, close to the mountains, or in the Piedmont and split the difference.
If on the coast, I'd choose a nice little town like Southport, at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Big game hunter/novelist Robert Ruark grew up there, and wrote of in 24K solid gold nostalgia in his coming-of-age book The Old Man and the Boy. It isn't quite as quiet as back in the 1920's when Ruark lived there, but it's still quieter than the Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach. Even better is Beaufort, further to the east, almost to the Outer Banks. That's still a wild and empty part of the state, with fewer tourists than other areas on the coast.
In the mountains Asheville has already been mentioned, and I guess you've been there before and are familiar with it. It's cooler than the coast or the Piedmont, being at a higher elevation, and has the moisture you desire. If you wish to relocate to another college town Boone would be a good choice, with Appalachian State University part of the area. Enough snow each year for you to remain familiar with it, yet not enough to be a nuisance or a safety hazard.
In the Piedmont I'd avoid Charlotte and Raleigh, and look for a smaller city or even a small town. Up on the NC/VA border is Mt. Airy, where Andy Griffith grew up, and it has been made into a Mayberry replica and tourist destination. I'd not recommend Mt. Airy itself, but some small, sweet town up in that area. The advantage to the Piedmont is that you have access to both the coast and the mountains in just a few hours.
Bill Republic of Texas: "Been wanting to vacation in Malta. Any advice, suggestions, recommendations?"
A bit of advice for Malta.
When drinking in the bars and some local breaks out into a Karaoke version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver, DO NOT START SINGING ALONG.
The locals can become quite...animated.
On the plus side, you might be able to get out of there without having paid for your drinks.
"I don't remember that pub but I was living and working around the new Freeport."
The pub is fairly new and famous. Oliver Reed, a favorite actor of mine, was working in Malta making "The Gladiator" in 1999. He used to hang out in this pub in Valletta and was arm wrestling British sailors for fun when he had a heart attack and died.
He was a fine actor and apparently a hell of a guy. Th last scenes of "Gladiator " were done with doubles and shooting around his character as he died during filming. Other favorites were "The Three Musketeers" and "Castaway" a film in which Amanda Donohoe spends most of the film naked.
Roughcoat
One absolute must do in Malta is to go to the underground temples. They were carved out if the limestone and they are spectacular! BUT the tickets in season are sold out for months in advance (they are allowed only a small number of people per day). Buy your tickets as soon as you get your plans in place.
Vallarta is a working harbor and not too pretty. But if you like history (pre-history, mythology history, religious history, Catholic Church history, or wWII history Malta has it all.
Last year after work I hoped a ferry to Sicily and Italy for a couple of weeks. I then took ferry to Lampedusa. I wanted to see the beautiful beach called rabbit beach(?). But the island is struggling with the refugees from North Africa. One day they burned down their camp. Almost everyday refugees protesting and trying to make tourist feel guilty for being there. So I'd suggest skipping that.
There is an amazing ferry trip from North Sicily to the Stromboli islands. I'd did that once a few years ago. It is a must see. Or there are cruise ships who dock in Malta and visit islands in Greece, Old Yugoslavia, Italy, Spain, etc. If you like that kind of thing that may be god way to see the Med.
I've never been to Armenia so I can't talk about that. I've been all around Crimea since my wife had family there. Obviously don't go know because no ATMs and no US or Europe credit cards can be used.
I know many people who go to Batumi Georgia and love it. The Cavcaus people and food are the best in that part of the world.
Nashville is nice. Ashville is nice. I have no idea about Shville.
Roughcoat,
Distant. Yes, English
Pa's other Virginia ancestors were indentured tobacco farmers, Klehms (Prussia) and Powhatan who mixed with slave Africans before Bacon's Rebellion if you can believe family lore/oral history. From Ma's side, Pilgrims, Dutch, Irish, Scot, and Welsh (Morgan).
" Big game hunter/novelist Robert Ruark grew up there, and wrote of in 24K solid gold nostalgia in his coming-of-age book "
Ruark is unknown now which is too bad.
He wrote a non-fiction book about his own safari in the 1950s called "Horn of the Hunter," which has some of his biography.
He wrote an excellent novel called, "Something of Value", about the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya that is sympathetic to the colonials. What he predicted has pretty much come true.
Fabi,
lol. Great episode of Portlandia.
Use Atlanta as headquarters and spend hottest summer in Highlands, NC and some dreary winters in Amelia Island, Fl.The spring and autumn in ATL are perfect.The others atra few hours Drive away. And education and culture in Atlanta equals anywhere.
Yes! I heard about the pub where the actor died. I didn't go there. I'm not much of a bar and nightlife guy. I heard they have the same chair and table and you can get your picture taken. No word if he had aces over eights.
Althouse -- If you want four seasons, try somewhere in the rim country of Arizona. The winter is mild with very few days of snow, the summers are warm but not hot, and the spring and fall are spectacular. Or, consider Cedar City, Utah. Again, the winters are relatively mild. Personally, I'd go with Kanab or St. George, Utah. St. George is on the West of Zion's National Park and Kanab is on the East. Both have four seasons, but the winter is brief.
I think Lincoln, Nebraska might be the best place of all.
I had no idea anyone could get animated about John Denver!
I'm thinking Nashville.
Thanks, Meade! I am serious about the first two cities -- four distinct seasons with none too severe.
Bill, Republic of Texas: "I had no idea anyone could get animated about John Denver!"
The locals became animated with us for having the temerity and obvious bad taste to horn in the locals primo stage moment.
If we were to leave this state, which we both love by the way, I wouldn't mind seeing if I could turn another blue state red just like I did to the Badger State.
The snow melts I in Denver. Just saying.
And I hate Sir I. She never understands what I'm asking either.
@Meade, I had a week-long business trip out to Omaha in the month of February back around Y2K. I think you and the Professor would be happier staying put in Wisconsin.
One of my sons had a one year TDY assignment to Huntsville, AL, and we went to visit. Not that bad in the summer, short winter. Good things about Huntsville include the Space Museum, Monte Sano, low cost of living, and the reality that your next door neighbor probably really is a rocket scientist. Great hospital. But the politics might seem a little ... crimson to you.
"If we were to leave this state, which we both love by the way, I wouldn't mind seeing if I could turn another blue state red just like I did to the Badger State."
Meade - - VA would fit that description. Down close to the NC border area is still mild enough so that snow is a novelty rather than a chore, and the rural towns of VA are lovely.
I'm 40 miles south of Charleston, in Beaufort. In addition to the humidity, the heat is unrelenting. There is no respite from June through mid September. I spent a few summers there but it really wore on me. Now I get myself back to Wisconsin, my former home state, when the weather gets hot. Lucky, lucky me. I think often about the people who worked (as some still do) out of doors all year round in this climate. Especially the slaves, who had so little control over their lives. They had to be very tough and resilient people.
Meade,
Take a sec to think about the little lady.
Sure, she blathers Rush and Drudge stuff, and those two sell the idea that they're "of the people."
But, you know better.
And, the gal has serious coast/elite-y-ness. She's had plenty of coast/lib exposure. And, obviously, the elite box is check w/ law-prof. Also, there could be seriously upsetting situations in a place that is too removed from a lib-loony bin like Madison. Was it 2006 when human contact w/ libertarians made Althouse breakdown and cry when she was personally confronted w/ non-liberals? Sure most folks have evolved since then, but you, as the pants wearer, need to think of her vulnerabilities/happiness.
Not to mention the obsession w/ the NYT. Take that as a data point. A sign.
Anywho, you know her better than anyone in the world (even though, she's still more psychologically attached to her kids than she is to you.) And, she'd still have the tubes as a connection to the rest of the world even if you get her in some backward berg that may sow the seeds of subconscious unease. Even so, don't forget that it's more important to find a place that compliments her fragile reality, not your strong will. You're more adaptable. Some trails, plants, loaner dogs and grouchy geezers (they got those everywhere) is all you need. You're the easy one.
Carry on.
I wouldn't mind seeing if I could turn another blue state red ...
@Meade, fair's fair. Scott Walker helped a little.
But wherever we live, thanks to the internet, I'll always be able to watch my favorite TV show.
Michael K said...
Tucson has the university and the culture that follows it.
Lefties?
ARM: "Lefties?"
Yes.
Apparently no conservatives can make the cut.
Just as in the Soviet Union.
Try Bellingham, Washington, a very nice college town with a mild but rainy climate and close proximity to
Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle. Its on the north slope of the North Cascades and near the B.C. mountains.
Mao did a pretty good job making sure no conservatives survived in China as well.
And Castro & Che were no slouches in that department either.
""If we were to leave this state, which we both love by the way, I wouldn't mind seeing if I could turn another blue state red just like I did to the Badger State."
Pennsylvania. The winters are fairly mild and much shorter in southeast and even southwest Pennsylvania. When I moved to Wisconsin from my home town of Pittsburgh, I was shocked at how cold and long the winters were. Very different, and silly me had not anticipated he change.
Or Nevada. There is a nice seasonal climate in the western mountains of the state, around Reno and Tahoe.
And Florida of course. But Florida might drive you both back to the left.
Or just come to Beaufort. Housing is cheap. You could rent or buy a nice place with the income from renting your Madison house during the school year, and then go back there in the summer.
Or just stick with Madison and travel some in the winter. Not the go go go travel that Althouse dislikes, but a rental in a place that you can stay for a couple of months and get to know. Sort of like your buddy Nina.
My advice is free, and well worth it.
"Try Bellingham, Washington"
Sure, that's where folks go when Seattle is too conservative for them.
The idea is to keep poor Althouse out of some con shit hole that Meade is into. Let's not go crazy in the other direction.
Sheesh.
Bob said... "VA would fit that description. Down close to the NC border area is still mild enough so that snow is a novelty rather than a chore, and the rural towns of VA are lovely."
Virginia might indeed be the right state for Meadhouse in retirement. I wonder if I could get Scott and Tonette Walker to immigrate with us.
Stick around Mead and then you can see Wisc turn blue again; the funds for the rural schools has arrived too late and a bit too short to keep Walker in office again, and when that happens you can move to Boise ID-- reasonable living, nice climate and safe. Or stick around and continue complain about all the Prius Liberals in Madison.
Just finished The Old Man and the Boy by Ruark about my new home town. Moved here 5 months ago. Enjoyed the book and the town and area are nice. Real nice. More developed, but still a lot of areas of nothing.
I also suggest the Portland, Maine area. It has real winters, but they are milder than Madison's; it also has beautiful mild summers and falls. It is on the Atlantic, Casco Bay, nears wonderful beaches, parks, and lakes but just two
hours north of Boston. Great seafood -- 4.99 pound lobster in October, and wonderful restaurants. It is also
a university center with 3 or 4 universities in the area (Southern Maine, New England College, Bowdoin College.
and a few others, I think.)
I spend 3 or 4 weeks there each year and really enjoy the area. Its quite laid-back compared to Madison.
Moreover, you won't need air conditioning in the summer.
I also suggest the Portland, Maine area. It has real winters, but they are milder than Madison's; it also has beautiful mild summers and falls. It is on the Atlantic, Casco Bay, nears wonderful beaches, parks, and lakes but just two
hours north of Boston. Great seafood -- 4.99 pound lobster in October, and wonderful restaurants. It is also
a university center with 3 or 4 universities in the area (Southern Maine, New England College, Bowdoin College.
and a few others, I think.)
I spend 3 or 4 weeks there each year and really enjoy the area. Its quite laid-back compared to Madison.
Moreover, you won't need air conditioning in the summer.
"Boise ID-- reasonable living, nice climate and safe."
And, they've taken in more Syrian refugees than NY City.
Lyin'PB_Ombudsman said...
Sure, that's where folks go when Seattle is too conservative for them.
I'm starting to think there are a lot of faux conservatives around here. They should be going to some place where there are guns everywhere, not some stinkin' college town.
Here's another favorite episode of Wisconsin Life.
ARM,
Years ago Meade admitted that being in Madison meant having his cake and eating it too. Bitching about lib stuff and also loving lib stuff.
Sure, Meadehouse could dabble for some number of years in a con place, w/o a full commitment. But, why not just admit reality and start out somewhere a little more liberalness, where there's a better chance of sticking things out for the long haul, w/o needing to lie to yourself that everything's peachy?
I'm just trying to help. In my obnoxious way, which is all I've got.
"And, they've taken in more Syrian refugees than NY City."
Moderately vetted though, I'm sure.
"Moderately vetted though, I'm sure."
Not to mention that I read it in the NYT, so it was probably fake news, anyway.
Southport has lots of guns and churches, if that's what you want. And beach and restaurants.
Portland has lots of homeless people. And great wineries 45 minutes from downtown. I think Portland would be a step down from Madison.
Our all time favorite episode of Wisconsin Life.
I think you might find Portland, Oregon, too leftist and too heavily into group think. Oregon used to be a socially liberal,
fiscally conservative state represented by Mark Hatfield and Wayne Morse. Now its overrun by migrants seeking
utopia or ecotopia. I enjoyed living in Eugene in the 70's, but the Willamette Valley is like a small version of Southern California now. When I lived there, comon bumper stickers said "Don't Californicate Oregon." That battle has been lost.
"The cold wind hurt my face." That makes me wanna cry. Please protect yourself from the elements, and from rotten commentators.
Come to Arizona. It seems to half of Wisconsin is here already. Why not you?
"I'm just trying to help. In my obnoxious way, which is all I've got."
Oh you're not all that obnoxious, Lyin'budsman. Get over yourself, bro.
Might I recommend Atlanta. Beautiful area, 4 seasons, nice people, bad traffic. Well...3 out of 4 ain't bad.
A recent study recently ranked Minnesota the 2nd happiest state in the U.S., and Wisconsin the 15th happiest.
So move to Minnesota where we are really happy, particularly in January and at tax time. Ironically Minnesotans seem to be happiest in the winter. Most people don't realize that rural Minnesota (called greater Minnesota by Twin City media) is quite conservative, while the Twin Cities metro is hyper liberal. Greater Minnesota went heavily for
Trump. Minn. is not politically monolithic. The Duluth area is also extremely leftist.
Irony alert!
"When I lived there, comon bumper stickers said "Don't Californicate Oregon." That battle has been lost."
That battle was lost when everyone decided that massive immigration was the greatest thing in the world. I don't know how many dumbshit California liberals I've met who bemoan all the "little boxes" and crowded Freeways and then holler about open borders. The connection escapes them. Morons.
"Tank said...
Just finished The Old Man and the Boy by Ruark about my new home town. Moved here 5 months ago. Enjoyed the book and the town and area are nice. Real nice. More developed, but still a lot of areas of nothing."
Tank, it's a shame that you didn't get to Southport before Orton Plantation closed to the public. Noted by Ruark as "the fabulous Orton Plantation," it is on the river next to Brunswick Town, and is indeed fabulous, as nice in fact as any of the large plantations in Charleston, SC. Brunswick Town, which was at one time NC's colonial capital, is worth a visit itself - - they just dug a cannon out of the river from a Spanish ship that tried to capture the town.
People move to NM and end up in Santa Fe or Albuquerque. Unless they die quickly.
Portland doesn't really have 4 seasons. Really has 2. Rainy-cloudy season and August.
"Or just stick with Madison and travel some in the winter. Not the go go go travel that Althouse dislikes, but a rental in a place that you can stay for a couple of months and get to know."
This is a great way to live in more than one place without owning more than one house. We rent a place up north for a month in the fall. It's kind of like a second home without the responsibilities of ownership.
I don't like the 4 seasons. I'm a warm weather girl born and raised in the wrong state. I'd be happy with 80 degrees every day. San Diego would be my town, but it's so damnably expensive and coastal California is no longer a viable option for someone as conservative as me. Shorewood drives me crazy enough as it is.
I agree with those who sing the praises of NC and VA. Ideally, I would live in Asheville or Charlottesville in the winter and Door County in the summer. Charlottesville is close enough to DC to be able to get there to see an exhibit or concert or other big city cultural thing if you feel like it. I really hate the humidity of the East Coast in the summer. Wisconsin summers are perfect as far as I'm concerned - but way too short.
My newly retired cousin is in the process of moving to Arkansas. Just loves the mountains, the milder winters, the people, and the lower cost of living.
I'm with tcrosse. Though I still work, I moved to Summerlin from Western Wisconsin in June of 2015. My first two weeks here the temps averaged about 105, but you get used to it no state income tax is nice.
Southport, NC, actually has two live webcams that sweep the waterfront area. Better during the day than after dark, of course.
Michael K said...
If your house catches fire, you will probably meet my son.
The hillside behind my house has gone up three times in the 15 years we've lived here. So far, the water bombers have always showed up in time.
I always wanted to live in a place, where the only other people are those who get lost on the highway, and pull into the "yard" to ask how to get to the big city.
"Big city?? You mean like Vici?"
My wife and I were driving through Oklahoma when we came upon a sign that said "Vici 1 Mile". I asked her "I wonder how they pronounce that?". She said, "I think it must be Vickie". No, No, probably "Vy-Cy", I countered.
Well, she bet me a dollar that she was right.
So we pulled into the first restaurant we came to and went inside, and I asked the waitress "Speak slowly now, because we don't understand Oklahoman too well, but can you tell us what you people call this place?"
"Sure pops" she said, "It's called d-a-i-r-y q-u-e-e-n".
A girlfriend moved to Central America. Some of those countries have dual citizenship with USA. Weather is mild in winters, they've got 80s now. Tropical but doesn't seem buggy. Fresh air. New language. Unadulterated beauty. And fresh fish, fresh fruits. affordable living.
rcocean said...Portland doesn't really have 4 seasons.
Portland is no choice for educated people. Oregon has no sales tax, so they make all the property owners pay for services. And boy do those Progressives like services!
"World War I pretty much put an end to the Hobo life, except in Oregon, where it still flourishes today." - Oregonian, December, 2016.
Places that might surprise you: The Gulf coast, especially around Biloxi.
I've stayed a while in Biloxi myself. In the summer. The only thing that surprised me was how they cooked live lobster; you just take the thing and wave it around outside the window for a few minutes.
But, then, the weather in El Paso (#4 on the linked list) suits me wonderfully.
San Diego for weather can't be beaten, in my opinion, and I have been everywhere on that list except for El Paso- even Yuma. However, you seem to want the presence of seasons, so you seem to be asking for some sort of needle threading. I would think you should look for some elevation, but not too far north. You might investigate the mountains of Tennessee or North Carolina. Or, if you really want a large city where the Winter exists, but is rarely face peeling cold, Seattle or Portland.
Of course, it is kind of depressing that Siri is that bad for such a straightforward question.
Nice place, but Mexican influx causes fire-sale prices.
320busdriver said..."My plan is to live 6 months minus one day in WI and the rest on the beach in FL. The state income tax savings pays for the winter home."
Make sure WI doesn't have other criteria besides that 1/2 time rule. The state of Minnesota has beaten some snowbirds that met the 183/4 day rule and assessed some big tax bills.
I agree with your plan though. I live in MSP and am thinking about the same thing. I am visiting my daughter in the ATL area and plan to do some reconnaissance in the Florida panhandle after flying into ECP later today.
For four balanced seasons, knowing what we know about our hostess, I think that St. Louis might be a good pick. Depressed real estate prices, the "diversity" that Madison is always mouthing off about, enough cultural events to keep her mind stimulated, lots of fresh imagery to satisfy her creative urges, a big enough airport that it is easy for the boys to visit, health care facilities that will be needed later on, Forest Park to wander about in with the famous and FREE (!) St. Louis Zoo.
Some of the places mentioned are good Bellingham is a nice town, but small. Boulder has arguably worse liberals than Madison and over-inflated real estate prices. No, the Althouse Unbound phase of life requires a bigger venue. St. Louis. Check it out. Just 359 miles due south.
I don't think we know enough about what they are looking for yet. Friends a couple days ago were talking about spending part of their falls in the Hamptons (and the rest in CO, where they have been for decades). Her sister has a place there, and is offering to let them expand it as a buy in. The other groomsman than I at that guy's wedding so many years ago is moving full time to NY, out of the city, but not too far. I think they are all bonkers crazy. Both couples enjoy being close to plays, musicals, fine dining, etc. We had all of that we needed in the Denver area, or, now in the PHX area. Which means maybe one musical or the like a year, and a fine restaurant every couple months.
Does MeadeHouse want a lot of culture? Or is nature more important? Are they more sensitive to heat or cold? Dry or humid? Open to a two state solution?
The latter is what we picked - half the year in NW MT, and the other half around PHX. Because that is how my partner has been living for the last 30 years. We go from a county w/o a stop light, to a metro area of maybe 4 million. But we are far enough out that it isn't that crowded, and the new place has the best shopping I have ever had - Walmart 10 minutes by foot, Costco, Sams Club, Home Depot, Lowes, Cabellas, and an outlet mall all w/I a 10 minute drive. The other half the year, the closest Walmarts are 2 hours in 4 directions. But we don't have stop lights there.
One of the weird things that I look at is concealed carry reciprocity. Of course, neither MT nor AZ has very strict gun control (or, as my partner points out, gun control in MT is how steady you can hold your gun). My CO permit works in most of the country, except for the west coast, HI, NY, NJ, MD, DC, and a couple other weird places (NM - but they take AZ). At least WA will allow non-residents to get permits there based on having one elsewhere (I go through Spokane enough that I will probably get one). In any case, to me, it isn't the legal ability to own and carry a firearm, per se, but rather as a cultural proxy. The states where my permit doesn't work tend to be somewhere between light blue to very deep blue, and mostly controlled by progressive wackos. The states moving towards more gun control are mostly far too leftist for me, and the ones moving in the opposite direction are politically much more accommodating. Except that both NV and CO have started down this road.
Santa Barbara, California is climate perfect, but the prices are for really those with several millions of assets in retirement plans.
More specific comments:
Dr K likes Tucson, and dislikes PHX. We are just the opposite. Plus my partner's daughter is in PHX, and daughter-in-law in Tucson area, and latter freaked when we were looking at houses there last year. Two hours away from her MIL is about right for her. Summer is brutal in PHX, but we are up by the Canadian border at that time of year. Friends live up in Carefree, north of Scottsdale. It is a bit higher and drier, but still close to the amenities of Scottsdale (expensive stores) and PHX (symphony, plays, professional sports, etc).
I lived for awhile in N NV. Tahoe itself is very pricey, and sometimes gets insane amounts of snow. We are talking dumps of 8-10 feet. South shore is better, but... I lived down in Douglas County (Minden/Gardnerville), 20 minutes south of Carson City, and I thought it idyllic. Much milder that at the lake 2,500 above us, snow never that bad, but still 20 minutes away from skiing. Easy to walk to work. Beautiful scenery. Very horsey, but also a lot of cattle still in the valley. I didn't much like either Reno or Carson - the people there seemed too rough. And don't get me started on Vegas.
I just drove through Santa Fe and Albuquerque today, and was reminded why I would never live in NM. Ok, maybe Las Alamos. Just don't like the people. Or the wind. Spent most of a year at Sandia maybe 30 years ago. Disliked it then, and more so now. Not used to getting honked at, and got a bit of that today. Plus a heavily Hispanic population who look down on us because they were there first. I was in a Dollar Tree W of Albuquerque today, and was probably the only gringo in the place. I normally get along fine with Hispanics. A lot of our neighbors in PHX are such. Not in NM. Weird thing is that the only places I felt compelled to go armed over the last year were Santa Fe and Tucson. Just the vibes I had.
For us, maybe 2/3 of the Continental US is out of the question. Just too humid. Hot and humid is far worse than hot and dry (I joke that I moved from Austin to PHX to survive the summers). And cold and humid is far worse than cold and dry. At least for us. If you can handle it - even my partner, spending most of 60 years in the desert in the winters needed a humidifier in the winter in CO. I thought her silly, except she had the bloody nose to prove it. Sure, you may get snow, but it melts fast. Really fast. Combination of dry and blue sky. Pretty consistent throughout the inter-mountain west (except for SLC). If you want to play outdoors year round, CO is great. Unfortunately, socialists from CA, NY, and NJ have discovered it, and are in the process of destroying what was great about it.
My two suggestions have already been made: Asheville, NC and Fayetteville, AR.
Fayetteville has the university, 4 (mild) seasons, great thunderstorms, beautiful autumns, nice people, the university, quality-built homes, and it's driving distance to lots of interesting places and scenery. It's grown a lot since I've been there, so Northwest Arkansas will do, not just Fayetteville.
San Francisco is nice, if you want liberals.
"The Ninth Circuit court moved quickly to reject the administration’s appeal, a measure of the urgency and intense interest in the case."
As if there's any actual question about the case.
I rented a Citabria and flew around San Francisco in the late 60s, which was interesting for a few minutes, then went offshore and did aerobatics for the rest of my hour.
To be fair, Ohio isn't interesting from the air for any amount of time.
The Gulf coast close to New Orleans is not that hot in summer because of the offshore breeze and not cold in winter. They shiver and put on heavy coats and ear muffs when the temp is 55. It is close to several major universities and an interesting big city. It just had it's hundred-year weather disaster with Katrina. Most important: Brett Farve's family comes from there.
"Summer is brutal in PHX, but we are up by the Canadian border at that time of year."
My point about PHX. Tucson is 15 degrees cooler. I drive to PHX twice a week to work and we can go to opera there if we wish.
South Tucson can be a bit scary but we are just between the city and Oro Valley, north of that.
"Portland is no choice for educated people. Oregon has no sales tax, so they make all the property owners pay for services. And boy do those Progressives like services!"
The answer is to live in Vancouver WA and work and shop in Portland. We actually considered that but the weather is too cold and wet for my wife. Her oldest son lives south of Portland but too cold in winter,
"The Gulf coast close to New Orleans is not that hot in summer because of the offshore breeze and not cold in winter. "
I considered that area about ten years ago, just before Katrina. A bit too humid for me but over by Mobile there are some nice small cities.
Methinks you should have taken that job at Scalia!
maybe a visiting professor gig to try it out?
Virginia has awesome seasons, ditto North Carolina. And beaches and mountains.
and nobody has ever called the South "dry"
except maybe some of the counties
I like being migratory.
Or you can get an RV and travel the whole country like Clarence Thomas
he parks at Wal-Mart
when I was in film school we used to buy all our set design at Wal-Mart and return it the next day
they have an awesome return policy, no questions asked
a lot of student films should have "thanks Wal-Mart" in the credits
Wal-Mart is awesome
I had one of my professors tell me that he never shops at Wal-Marts because they're not unionized
I told him, "it's a great place to shop if you are poor."
I don't know if my truth dagger pierced his leftist soul or not
probably not
but it's still fun to talk shit to uppity up leftists who hate Wal-Mart
not sure I'd want to spend half my retirement years in a Wal-Mart parking lot though
nice thing with having money is you don't have to shop at Wal-Mart or eat at McDonald's
Warren Buffett eats at McDonald's every day
I think Jimmy got the brains in that family
"Does anyone here have Alexa?"
I have it (Christmas gift). Alexa does not do well with facts. (i. e. "Hey Alexa what's...?)
PS Live in Phx. Would never suggest it has ideal whether. Culture is just fine though. Besides, "Bear down" is something you do when you take a dump.
PPS Best 4 season climate I ever lived in: Ruidoso, NM.
When Siri says "OK I found this on the web" it basically means "Sorry, giving up. You're on your own."
Saint Croix said...
I had one of my professors tell me that he never shops at Wal-Marts because they're not unionized
I told him, "it's a great place to shop if you are poor."
I don't know if my truth dagger pierced his leftist soul or not
probably not
but it's still fun to talk shit to uppity up leftists who hate Wal-Mart
I know.
And thank Bob for the Southport info.
Siri (and Apple) lost me when I was eastbound on I-94 looking for the exit to the Machine Shed restaurant. Had an iPhone from work so I asked Siri where the nearest Machine Shed restaurant was...Siri directed me to the one in Rockford IL. Kept driving on 94, found the exit myself and pulled into the parking lot. Gave Siri one more chance - asked again, and the answer again was... the one in Rockford. That, and other less than satisfying experiences with iPods, pretty much shut the door for me on Apple products.
"Meade said...
Bob said... "VA would fit that description. Down close to the NC border area is still mild enough so that snow is a novelty rather than a chore, and the rural towns of VA are lovely."
Virginia might indeed be the right state for Meadhouse in retirement. I wonder if I could get Scott and Tonette Walker to immigrate with us."
He tried to move to that area. Didn't work out.
"He tried to move to that area. Didn't work out."
Haha. True, but he's a very patient and persistent future president. Fifteen years from now (if Freeman Hunt declines to be our first female — and greatest — POTUS) I'll be keen on helping Mr. Walker Make America Even Greater Again.
"To be fair, Ohio isn't interesting from the air for any amount of time."
Unless you're getting air on a mt. bike in which case Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana become endlessly fascinating.
It sounds like talking to Siri is like talking to a sarcastic and very snotty teenager who is gas lighting you all the time. Why would anyone want to have an entity like that around?
Even if you like hour and dry, Bakersfield is a hellhole. White deer made that list was just looking at numbers. Redding, at the other (north) end of the Great Valley, is much nicer, if you can tolerate heat - most summers, there's a week in August where it gets to 115°F every day. But the winters are cold, and sometimes there's snow.
The two best weather place on that list are Reno and Bishop. But Bishop is small and isolated - 4000 people and hundreds of miles to the nearest larger cities.
Weather and nice places to live? IF you can afford it,(very expensive real estate).... the Napa Valley and northern parts, especially, are quite lovely with mild winters, fall color, warm but not scaldingly hot like Redding. Many areas are still open wilderness and there are some fabulous parks, biking and hiking trails nearby. Great restaurants, wineries, craft fairs, and lots of interesting events. Perfect gardening environment!
Petaluma, Sonoma, Rhonert Park, Santa Rosa and surrounding areas. Within a short driving distance of SF and bay area in the south, the ocean to the west, redwoods to the north and if you want to/must visit the snow...head east and up into the Sierra Nevadas.
We lived in Novato, CA (Marin County, a few miles south of Petaluma) for eight years, and liked it very much. But I'd now recommend the Oregon coast. Newport, Lincoln City. Yes, gets stormy at times. But: Seasons. And lovely sea breezes. We have seasons in Salem too, but they're nastier. (The weather at the moment is absolutely dismal, so feel free to factor that in.)
AI isn't.
Some of you think Northwest Arkansas is nice. I lived there for a couple of years as a teenager and couldn't wait to get away. The public school curriculum in high school there was at least two grade levels behind my previous school in suburban Chicago.
The weather is nice, but it you go outside to enjoy it, the chiggers, ticks and mosquitoes will eat you alive. That is, they'll eat what's left of you after the copperheads, water moccasins and rattlers have had their fill.
To make things worse, many of those counties are dry, so you have to drive a long way to get a decent drink. Finally, Newton County is the only place I've ever been where many people are proud of their ignorance. So many times I heard people say things like: "I ain't got no book learnin', but at least I got common sense!" And from the tone of their voice it was clear they thought the two were mutually exclusive.
On the topic of Siri, it seems like it's just ELIZA with a search engine bolted on.
Last night, the topic of how much football players get paid for playoff games, and my brother tried to use Siri on his phone to find out. Not even close to a useful answer.
Maybe one day all jobs will be done by AI and automation, but we're a long ways off based on the results I've personally seen so far.
Stay with Madison. Your chances of snow in the winter are worth the chance of a sunny day and an opportunity to ski cross country. The cold weather has its good points and if you feel the need to get away, do it! I recommend the Caribbean for the winter get away.
Ann,
For a refuge from winter's ills, I suggest Charleston, SC from mid-October until mid-April. Winters are mild, snow is light or absent. Humidity is reduced and storms are few.
Charleston-like Boston and Philadelphia - retains much of its Anglo heritage while also being a coastal city. It is a college town, a book lovers town and a city with a vibrant restaurant trade. Yankees are welcomed.
At any major thoroughfare intersections cars with emblems
identifying B1G schools are common.
It is an affordable city by bi-coastal elite standards.
Good pizza does not exist in Chuck town. We do have great BBQ. Enjoy.
``
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