Top 5 Places I'd Like To Live

In thinking about all of the various and diverse locations I could live... it makes me wonder if my life will be long enough that I can experience them all. Living in a big city, living in the countryside, living in the suburbs... I wouldn't mind trying it all. That requires a lot of moving, however, and we've established our distaste for that. I do agree that this election definitely clarified which states I shall NEVER EVER live (I'm looking at you Oklahoma, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Kentucky, etc.). That said... here we go:


Honorable Mentions: Portland and Austin, TX. Portland is a fantastic city, and in the "real world" it's high on my list (as my chances of living out of the country are SO SLIM). It's a true Pacific Northwest hub, with awesome bars and a vibrant intellectual scene. I'm a fan. Austin is here because it intrigues me. The music capital of the world? That sounds promising. However, as it is in Texas... we have a problem.










5. Dublin, Ireland-- We had such a kickass ten days in Dublin, that I'm dying to return. The people we met were great, the bars were so cool, and the literary history is unmatched. There is so much of the city that I have yet to experience, not to mention the countryside we barely had time to explore. I don't know how long I could be in the city, but I would enjoy every minute. Plus, the doors are just so awesome.



4. Washington, DC-- Living here for 3 months left me with a positive impression of DC. Having there always be something fun--and usually related to politics or history--to do was mind-blowing. I was never bored. And I loved being immersed in politics. That summer changed how I thought about politics and increased my desire to gain more knowledge and be a more active democratic citizen. There are a lot of important people and things in DC, not to mention the restaurants, nightlife, museums, events, and general craziness. We had opposite experiences, my friend. I'm sorry yours was so terrible. As long as I could stay above the self-righteous fray, I think I'd be okay.


3. New York, NY-- Even though I have only spent 36 hours in the city, I adored it. I enjoyed taking the subway, walking along the dirty streets, and being surrounded by culture. It's also probably a place I could handle for about a year. But what a year it would be... I'd probably never sleep. There is too much to do! The museums, restaurants, theater, cultural displays, history, not to mention people watching. The 24/7 lifestyle is appealing... for a bit.




2. Seattle, WA-- It's absolutely true: we are Pacific Northwest people. I happily and excitedly left Seattle for California five years ago... however my opinion of our hometown has changed considerably since then. I have a renewed appreciation of its music scene, laid-back vibe, friendly and intelligent people, festivals, greenery (both of people and landscape), and gorgeous skyline. Seattle truly has something for everyone without falling into the traps of a huge metropolis.


1. Sydney, Australia-- I don't think it's a huge surprise to anyone who has met me that I have a deep, deep love for Australia. Studying abroad there for three months was one of the most fantastic experiences of my young life. Sydney is the coolest city I have ever visited, hands down. Not only is it ridiculously clean, as in no gum on the sidewalks, but it is safe and there is a ton to do. Australians are a fun bunch- they're quirky and friendly, so the culture shock level is small. And, not a small component, I am a short plane ride away from the Great Barrier Reef. Weekend trips to go scuba diving in one of the coolest places on earth would be a regular happening in my life. What a perfect life.