Where should I move?

[Antarion]

Now I know... It's far too soon for me to decide, but I really like this community and what people here have to say. So for lack of a better topic, I'll ask this one!

I'm heading off to college this fall, and I'm shooting to graduate pharmacy school. I really like the career and the money I'll get from it, however, a topic that has been on my mind almost as much as college has been "Where am I going to move when I graduate?" I've lived in two towns in my life, both of which had a population under three thousand. I'm really thinking about moving to a bigger city when I graduate 6 years from now. So the question I present is this.

Are there any people here who have lived in a big city that would recommend that city to a person looking to move? Thanks!

 

[SpiffyTickler]

San Francisco is pretty fantastic, though ridiculously expensive. You'd be living in a world-class city with everything you could possibly want. You're 1-2 hours away from amazing Napa wine, 2 hours away from snow in Lake Tahoe, 2 hours away from beaches in Santa Cruz. There's great hiking spots everywhere, amazing restaurants, and there are always new events happening that you can get in on. Incredibly fun place to be (if you can afford it).

If the city is too expensive, you can always move to most anywhere else in the general Bay Area for cheaper (though still expensive) and take mass transit up. The Bay Area is pretty rad in general, so regardless of where you are here you'll be in a good place (except for the East Bay, which is pretty boring).

The kink scene in the Bay Area is pretty good, too. There are good kink clubs in the city, and an active gathering community down in San Jose.

 

[Mitchell]

Antarion, you mentioned a "bigger city". Well, I live in the biggest city in the US, New York, home to eight and a half million people., You want a "big city", move here.

Seriously, though.. if you've lived in such a small town for your whole life, I think a city like New York would be culture shock to you. My honest suggestion would be to move to a bigger town or city, say maybe.. 50, 000 to 100,000, within not far proximity to a major city, so that you can live in a place that might not be such a shocking change, and also be within reasonable distance to a city that's even larger.

I don't know exactly where you live, but this would be my suggestion.

Hope it helps.

 

[Bugman]

Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in America. If as is expected this continues, by 2030 the Greater Austin Metropolitan Area will to home to around three million. I'll list some of the pros and cons about living here.

Pros:

Climate: Expect hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild, with daytime highs in January sometimes reaching the low to mid 70s. Spring and Fall are often spectacular.

Education: If you want to pursue post graduate education, Austin is home to the University of Texas, Saint Edwards, Concordia and Huston-Tillotson Universities, the latter an historically Black institution. Texas State University is in San Marcos, about thirty miles to the south.

Culture: Austin has large and vibrant art and music scenes. We have a symphony orchestra and opera company, and many community theater companies. The South by Southwest and Austin City Limits Music Festivals attract artists and music fans from around the world.

Amenities: Austin has a reasonably well stocked library system. Soon, ground will be broken for a new, $120 million dollar Central Library. The city and county park systems are very nice.

Employment: We boast the lowest unemployment figures in the state, and one of the lowest in the nation.

Natural Beauty and outdoor recreation: The Texas Hill Country is beautiful. If you like water sports, the Gulf Coast is just a few hours away. Closer to home, the Colorado River is right in the heart of Austin, and The Highland Lakes are nearby.

Cons:

Traffic, the worst in the state. During rush hour I-35, Mopac Expressway and State Highways 183 and 290 are hopelessly snarled.

Cost of living: The highest in the state, although people who come here from California for example are often astounded at how much house their money can buy.

Climate: As I mentioned, Summers can be brutal. Given the weather during the rest of the year, I consider the tradeoff worth it.

Crime: Just a fact of life in any large city, though.

 

[TickleMyFancy]

San Francisco is pretty fantastic, though ridiculously expensive. You'd be living in a world-class city with everything you could possibly want. You're 1-2 hours away from amazing Napa wine, 2 hours away from snow in Lake Tahoe, 2 hours away from beaches in Santa Cruz. There's great hiking spots everywhere, amazing restaurants, and there are always new events happening that you can get in on. Incredibly fun place to be (if you can afford it).

If the city is too expensive, you can always move to most anywhere else in the general Bay Area for cheaper (though still expensive) and take mass transit up. The Bay Area is pretty rad in general, so regardless of where you are here you'll be in a good place (except for the East Bay, which is pretty boring).

The kink scene in the Bay Area is pretty good, too. There are good kink clubs in the city, and an active gathering community down in San Jose.

I have to agree, the Bay Area is the place to be. West Coast!

But then again- Seattle is BEYOND beautiful, and you're closer to nature in Washington as opposed to California, which is just a giant concrete jungle.

Depends on what you're looking for.

 

[Antarion]

I've lived in Montana and South dakota. On a Native american reservation and next to one. Pharmacy should give me about 120,000$ a year, so I'll have money to spare. I have really been considering somewhere like Anaheim, or New York, and something about Texas doesn't appeal to me... I've grown up in a country area and I don't really fit in with that demographic. I feel I'd fit in somewhere with a closer connection to technology and civilization.

Thanks for all the posts! I'm getting some good info!

 

[wolfman40]

I'm a homebird at heart, London and the South, so can't give any advice!

Have you thought about travelling?

Blighty gets a lot of shit, but it's home for me, should consider a vacation to Jolly old England at some point

 

[DontAskJusTckle]

I recommend you make your decision based on each the state's budget status.

States to avoid: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.