The problem with the great California Exodus is the people leaving CA end up trying to re-create CA wherever they move. Just look at the Californication of Seattle, Hawaii and Denver.
Anecdote: Walking around Seattle, I stumbled into an olive oil/butter shop (think: wine shop, but not). In this shop was an 8 year old girl. She, in the shop without a parent or guardian, asked the attendant, "Which one of these is the organic butter? I only eat organic."
Sure, I'm biased because I moved here from NYC, but also check out Nashville. You can live like a Columbian drug lord on NYC (or California) freelance rates.
I know a lot of Memphis residents who have relocated to Nashville. One guy described it as "life-changing." The cities are completely different. The problem with Nashville is the same as the problem with Austin - it's surrounded by rural hicks. On the other hand, I moved here because housing is cheap and it allows me to do the things I want to do (like travel) while keeping my overhead low.
I'm pretty pro-TN (my relatives are from KY and OH), and surprisingly compatible with hicks, but I wonder how it would be for e.g. my Japanese-ancestry girlfriend. She seems afraid of Texas for the same reason.
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Seriously considering Seattle or Las Vegas, or farther afield, Hawaii or New Zealand, in 2013+.
The problem with the great California Exodus is the people leaving CA end up trying to re-create CA wherever they move. Just look at the Californication of Seattle, Hawaii and Denver.
Anecdote: Walking around Seattle, I stumbled into an olive oil/butter shop (think: wine shop, but not). In this shop was an 8 year old girl. She, in the shop without a parent or guardian, asked the attendant, "Which one of these is the organic butter? I only eat organic."
Who knew the insanity started so young?
Expensive/organic/artisanal food is a native Northwest thing, though -- it's not just a California import.
If I had to put places in order, I'd go with: NYC, Barcelona (May-July), Seattle (August), Austin (not summer).
Sure, I'm biased because I moved here from NYC, but also check out Nashville. You can live like a Columbian drug lord on NYC (or California) freelance rates.
I was kind of turned-off of TN due to Memphis, but maybe Nashville is enough better to be worth considering.
I know a lot of Memphis residents who have relocated to Nashville. One guy described it as "life-changing." The cities are completely different. The problem with Nashville is the same as the problem with Austin - it's surrounded by rural hicks. On the other hand, I moved here because housing is cheap and it allows me to do the things I want to do (like travel) while keeping my overhead low.
I'm pretty pro-TN (my relatives are from KY and OH), and surprisingly compatible with hicks, but I wonder how it would be for e.g. my Japanese-ancestry girlfriend. She seems afraid of Texas for the same reason.