I have done a great deal of traveling, but I find that where ever I go,
even if I really like the place, is not a place I could imagine living
forever or for the rest of my life.  My parents have begun to talk about
retiring in the perfect place, but I feel that the only place I could ever
live is the same place I have been living for most of my life, or at least
in the same area.  How do others feel about this?  Have you ever visited a
place that you felt you could call home permanently, or is three months
usually enough for you to spend in any other place besides your home?

26 responses total.

I've lived in lots of different places, and my personal experience
is that I eventually come to think of just about anyplace I live
as "home."  I can honestly say I feel nostalgic about three places
in Massachusetts, one in New Hampshire, two in New York City, and
two here in Michigan.

Whenever I go to a place and stay awhile, and am happy I think for a while that
I could live there.  Then I leave, get home and relaize what the shortcomings
of living there would be.  But I always know that I can be happy almost
any place where there are people I love and things to keep my mind occupied.
My husband and I have looked and travelled for years all over the world to\
find a good Place (notice I didnt say perfect) to retire and as our retirement
nears, we realize that any place our children and grandchilren are, will be
a good place.  Of course, it will bet even better if the weather isn't as
bad as it is in Michigan in winter.  And as one groes older you have to have
a place that has relatively good health care.  And some good concerts or
plays or lectures.  And the ability to eat at good restaurants and get
the kind of food you like to prepare in the kind of stores you like to shop.
Right now, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco are looking mighty good to me.

My parents mentioned Seattle too.
*grin*
Of course, I intend to stay here forever.
Well, not here here, but not far away.

I don't think I could live here for ever in Nebraska I will probally move
someday but for now I live here.  I have been to other places and I would not
want to live there, if I live anywhere it would be Colorado it is so beutiful

That depends on *where* you are in Colorado. A lot is just like Nebraska.

Yes indeed. Western Colorado has some of the best examples of the Rockies
in the US. Excellent for camping, backpacking, sightseeing in summer,
and skiing in the winter (now fall, too). It's basically gorgeous, and
famous (Vail, Aspen, Steamboat, Colorado Springs, Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park,
The Grand Canyon of the Gunnison, Pike's Peak, many more)

Eastern Colorado finally made it onto the map of people's consciousness
when Michener wrote "Centennial". It's a high desert. Higher and drier
and more boring than even Nebraska. Quite a contrast!

I assume Pamela was talking about some place in or near the mts.

There's an old saying somewhere that a place that's good to live in 
has both mountains and water (as in a lake or pond, not drinking 
water)  *grin*
Part of me wants to live somewhere like that, with mountains and a lake
where I can watch the sunset every day...
but other parts of me think I'd never be able to move from the city
after all, I was born and lived in New York City for quite awhile
Does anyone else ever feel torn between the "city" and the "country"?
Or is everyone else either a "city" or "country" person, and I'm just 
unique (or something like that)?

I was born in and lived in New York City for almost forty years, Kimberly.  I
moved to Ann Arbor (which to me is still a small town) many years ago.  It 
took me about two years to adjust to "small town" living and I always
felt like I was going home when I visited NY.  Then, somewhere between the
fourth and fifth years here, Ann Arbor became "home" and when I visit NY
(which I still love) I am happy to get "home."  While Ann Arbor does not
have the variety of restaurants and theaters and musical events of a NYC,
I feel so much safer, laid back and comfortable here.  I know, now Iwould
never be happy living in NY again.  I would miss like crazy not being able
to go back and wander the streets, visit the stores I love and the theaters
I so enjoy and Lincoln Center. (Of course visit Zabars and Bloomingdales)
But it is just visiting and this is home.  It's not the country to most,
but every day when I commute between Ann Arbor and Plymouth on back roads,
I see sheep and cows, pass farms and little lakes, and it is as much
country as I would have ever dreamt as a child, I would have experienced.

That is nearly my identical story, Audrey. I grew up in New York City,
and initially Ann Arbor was "cow town": now, its home. Of course,
mail order helps out a lot!

The universality of experience is often very comforting.  In line with that
thought, We are thinking of moving further west to the Pacific Northwest when
we retire.  What are your plans after you retire, Rane?

Add my voice to that chorus. I still love returning to NY, and feel at
home there. I still prefer Ann Arbor, where I can afford to live 10 minutes
away from my job. It's a good compromise between city and countryside.

A very good friend who still lives in NYC just called and invited Jerry and me
to NY for New Year's Eve.  We can't make it, however, the call caused a
 resurfacing of the excitement I always feel returning there.  I do prefer
going back in spring or fall.  I was there for a long weekend last summer.
Went to dinner and the theater on 46th Street and Broadway.  we parked at
about 54th and walked down eighth Avenue at 5:00.  You want to talk about
terror. . . .I couldn't wait to get to the restaurant and then to the theater.
And then, we had to walk back in the dark.  Fortunately there were about
50,000 other people walking with us at the time (:-)).  It was hot, dirty
and the potential for violence was all around.  Next time, I will stick to
the upper west side.  But I can't deny, it is exciting!!!

We were going to NYC regularly for Xmas when my wife's mother lived
there (and we could stay with her). We always got to the Lincoln
Center - and other favorite destinations, but she moved here some
years ago, so our visits are much less frequent.

The area around Lincoln center always feels so much "safer" and better to me
then the Times Square area (probably no surprise to anyone).  I also like
the music better.  Have you heard about the big reception that the new
opening of Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close has gotten?  Makes me think a
trip back east would be worth the effort.

I always ask the question "Could I live here?" when I travel somewhere. 
The answer is usually that I'd love to live somewhere different for a
year -- sort of an elongated visit to really get to know the place.
Then I would want to go "home".  It's the relationships that matter for
me, not the excitement or the weather.

That's so true, for me, also.  However, I have found that I can develop mean-
ingful relationships wherever I live.  A place to live has to offer some
mental and spiritual stimulation for me.  That's what excites me.  Also
the physical beauty of a place (be it geographical as in the case of the
Pacific NW or man made in the case of Paris or Rome.)  

        Compared to most on here, I seem to be wanting to go in the opposite d
oops...direction.  I grew up in a VERY small farning community (Buffalo, IL
of 500...not even a gas station in the town.  For the last 2 and 1/2 years,
I have lived in Lebaonon, IL (pop. 4000) and it's safe, but I'm ready for
the big city...St. Louis would be great, but Boston, whcih I visited this
summer looks even better.  I lived in the Northeast this summer for 2 months,
and I foudn Boston to be absolutely wonderful.  Southeastern CT, however
runs a very close second!

I went to college in the Boston area. I recommend it highly.
The cost of living there is much higher than in the midwest, though.
Check out the taxes and housing before you commit yourself.

Yes, I've been warned about that by my relatives in CT, and when I lived
with them last summer, I found quickly how much more expensive everything
is....If I can't swing going to grad. school in Boston, I may go to  either
the University of Illinois or or Washington University (STL) and save
a little due to the lower cost of living here.  However, if I can find
a way to live in boston (i.e., finding a decent salary), I'm there!

This is my item and I felt like reviving it.
Those of you who've lived in NYC, do you still (assuming you're no longer
there) feel like you are a "city" person, or have you grown used to living
in a "suburban" or "country" environment?  Better yet, let's open this up to
everyone... is there such things as "city" and "country" people?  Which
are you and why and does it depend on where you've lived, or just where
you are now?

I grew up in New York City and have lived near Boston and in San Francisco
and London (England). I am at ease in big cities, but am comfortable in a
small city like Ann Arbor, despite its relative lack of diverse options. A
"city-country" distinction might be mostly differences in experiences and
education. A "country" person that has been broadly educated and well
travelled would be essentially as sophisticated as a "city" person. 

I don't mean city and country in that sense.
I mean some people say they can only live in the city because the
country is too quiet, or they can only live in the country because,
the city is too dangerous.  Can you live in both?  Or is everyone
a type?
Just a thought.

Well, I don't know how to live in both simultaneously ;->, but yes,
I could live in either, though I'd like to choose the city *or*
the country town. 

Okay... new survey.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where 
would it be and why?

This response has been erased.

On where I'd feel comfortable calling home:  Having lived in
southeastern MI for the  first 30+ years [yeah, a sheltered life, huh?],
I considered this home for a number of  years after moving down south. 
But the longer I lived there, the more I considered  THAT as being 'home
seet home', even though most of my family still resided in MI-- and that
I frequently came up for visits.  

Now that I'm residing in southeastern MI again [and having been back for
about 16  months], I still don't feel that this is 'home' yet [will I
ever?].  I know it takes time to  feel comfortable with a new place of
residence, but even though I grew up here, I'm  still having a hard time
feeling 'at home'.  It doesn't help that I've lived in two differnent 
places already since coming back up [a year at the first place in an
apt. complex, now  in a house where I have my own couple bedrooms and
bath, plus access to most of the  rest of the house], but it's a
month-to-month lease and though it seems like I could be  here for
awhile, I don't really know what's going to happen with the current
living  arrangements.

I really do miss the south and hope to some day, move to a warmer
climate with  nearby 'water' access.  But in the meantime, I need to
find more things to do here,  meet and hang out with new-found friends,
etc...

So again, where do I call 'home sweet home'?  I really don't know if I
have one!

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