Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Top 5 Places I Would Want to Live

Given that I am in the midst of my law school applications (yes, I am using this as an opportunity to procrastinate) and am considering the possibility of new locales, I felt that a systematic discussion of the places we would want to live was in order. As you observed during the elections, a cursory glance at a red v. blue state map gives one a pretty clear idea of inhabitable and not-so-inhabitable regions of the nation. Here are a few stalwart democratic places that made my list:

Honorable Mention: Los Angeles - The scourge of my social life almost makes the top 5, but solely on the grounds that my boyfriend and other people I like are there. And I would only live there under protest.


5) Ireland - I have this misguided notion that because the Irish are an island people and I come from island people, we have something in common. I also once heard someone describe the Irish as the black people of Europe, and I’ve always felt that Filipinos are the black people of Asia, so there’s also that. Also, as you know since you were there with me, I’ve been to Ireland and I liked it and would love to spend more time there. Dublin felt like a really safe city and it didn’t feel weird being there as a person of color (which I imagine wouldn’t be quite so true of places like Great Britain or France, especially France). I also felt like I needed a place not in the U.S. on my list.

4) New York, New York - I imagine everyone considers living in New York. It certainly would be fun to live at the alleged epicenter of the world. New York is probably one of the only places on the East Coast that I could tolerate living in, because we all know how D.C. worked out for me (I swear never to set foot south of the Mason-Dixon line ever again). I really like urban settings (the elevated prospect of mugging and violent crime notwithstanding) and its one of the greenest ways to live. All things considered, though, I have a hard time imagining living in New York indefinitely. It seems more like a temporary thing, which is why it comes in at number 4.


3) San Francisco - Having spent the last 4 years in the Bay Area, I know it’s somewhere I wouldn’t mind sticking around in for a while. I also think it would be fun (although outrageously expensive) to live in the City. SF seems to be the ultimate yuppie city and as most of those closest to me know, I am yuppie at heart. It’s a relatively small, walkable city with plenty of things to do and see. Progressive values are a big plus, but mostly, I like the idea of not having to make the 20-minute bart ride across the Bay—the tube is scurry!


2) Home, sweet, home: Seattle - As we have discussed before, we will always be northwest girls. The more time I spend away from Seattle, the more it becomes an enticing place to settle down (ignoring the herculean effort of moving). The most exciting things about living in Seattle: going to Mariner’s games ALL THE TIME, being close to my family, the opportunity to see Rowe all the time, no Peet’s coffee. Plus, to paraphrase the Blue Scholars (another Seattle perk), summer in Seattle is perhaps the northwest’s best kept secret.


1) The Magical City of Portland - Anyone who knows me for at least 5 seconds is aware of my obsession with this scenic Pacific Northwest city. Portland is truly a magical land of free light rail transportation downtown, beautiful bridges, spacious bike lanes and a gondola!!! (Seriously, a freaking gondola!). Also, for an inveterate bibliophile, the prospect of living near Powell’s bookstore is one that makes me hysterical with glee. The city’s only downside: no baseball. But given Portland’s seemingly endless wonders, a somewhat frequent three-hour drive up to Seattle during baseball season seems like a small price to pay.

3 comments:

Caley said...

I was wondering where Portland would end up on your list... haha. And I can't believe LA is on there. Verra, verra interesting...

Caley said...

Wow... I also chose the same NYC picture. haha. Completely unintentional. Jinx?

Sofia said...

Dude another thing about the pics is we totally switched pic alignment styles. I decided to try your centered approach and it looks like you went for my usual justified left approach. Interesting.