Where Should I live (Page 2)

I cannot tell you about most of the places but I used to live in Bonifay, Florida population 5000 and can tell you this. (and this is m opinion and worth what you paid for it, nuthin) AVOID LA LIKE THE PLAGUE. LA standing for Lower Alabama or the panhandle of Florida. Oh sure you might be all conservative and fit in like a coonhound in clover but I stuck out like a sore thumb. I had a cross burned on my lawn cause gay friend came to visit. I have been to Tampa a lot on business and love it. I like Austin too but again just long business trips. I have heard mixed reviews about Jacksonville.

I suppose if you were in Pensecola it might be OK but the rest of the panhandle? Oh man.. If you are a conservative it can be a good place but if you are a big ole Seminole NDN, Liberal who does not happen to practice the local faith system.. well it was not pretty. It was pretty lonely.

Rant off

My deepest apologies to those that live in the Florida panhandle and love it to bits. I support you and think that it's a great place if you don't happen to be me.

Lived in or spent time in a number of those places.

Florida Panhandle - nice weather, but not as many local tri's as you might think (although there are scores within a 4-5 hour drive). For the most part it's not very biker friendly. The dreaded highway 98 that runs along the coast is a notoriously high accident area. There are a few low traffic roads that you can use, but not as many as you would expect for such a sparsely populated area. And the housing prices are as ridiculous as anywhere in Florida (okay maybe a little less), but if you live near a Military base (and you can't go 50 miles without running into one) you'll pay well over 200k for a 3 bed, 2 bath.

Austin - I second what everyone else says, I love that town (although not quite as many tri's as the Florida area).

Tampa - Nice as well, lots of people have talked about it already.

BR - You probably know more about that than I do since you liked just down the road from it.

Jacksonville - If you're looking for "non-big city" I'd be wary, this place is trying like mad to grow as fast as it can.

Happy Hunting, and consider further west, there are a few tri mecca's in the AZ area.

bts

Edited by Brett 2005-08-22 7:36 AM

okay it seems overwhelmingly Austin or Tampa. Now I need a really good Controller/CFO type job that is work life friendly enuff to continue my addiction to triathlons. suggestions appreciated!

Another controversial post, but I wouldn't consider CO. My little brother and I graduated from HS in Co Springs, and whenever we go back there, our subsequent conversations center around how happy we are that we left. Horrible spring weather and the place is brown in the summer. The fall and winter can be nice. Not always. There's the rub.

Austin or Tampa sound great. Personally, I'd consider moving to a place that has 100 miles of good bike paths.

Let us know what you decide. What a fun decision to face.

If it helps at all, Ken, at least you are not stuck in "The Bad Place" like me!!  I am DYING to move to Austin...I just need to find a job for a lawyer, preferably a job that doesn't require 80 hour weeks, because like you, I have to have a life, and it must include plenty of time for tri related activities! In fact, come ot think of it, I don;t even care if it is a law job...just a good corporate job would be great...law is getting miserable at times anyway

Its really funny how your priorities change over time. I have moved and traveled extensively, (corporate gypsy) for 20 years and never thought anything of it. I get into triathlons and boom, I want time to train and I want to live in a place that is conducive to training, riding, and racing. If I would have listened to my wife, we would have done this 5 years ago. Drooling over 100 miles of bike trails.

You're right.  I used to think about one thing and one thing only...becoming fabulously weathy as a litigator.  Now I could care less about wealth other than I'd like to be out of debt...I care more about quality time in a qaulity place, getting fit, staying fit, and enjoying my kids

drool somemore:

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/suncoast.htm

How close can I buy a house, oh hell rent a trailer to the trail?

Manatee-

I have lived in Austin for a little over a year and a half now.....I absolutely love it, but maybe I can give you a good perspective on real estate, job market, etc. I would agree w/ everyone about the tri/cycling entusiasm here...I mean Lance has made all of the bike shop owners rich. Also, if you read last months Triathlete magazine, they do a story on the top 15 Tri shops in the US....Austin's most known came in at #6 I believe (and I like another better than that one). I cannot imagine there are more than 5 locations in the US more conducive to Tri's, training, fitness, etc. The town has great food, lots to do, and very nice people. This is my 4th city in Texas to live in and it blows the other 3 away (Amarillo, Lubbock, Dallas).

Now for the bad news...when I graduated college (2001), Austin and Denver had the 2 worst job climates in the US...I have heard Austin's is so bad b/c everyone is overeducated and overqualified for the jobs available. Many people are moving here b/c they like the feel of the town, people, etc....see MTV's Real World...Austin is the smallest place they have been yet (I heard Key West is next season so that will take over that title). Also, the real estate is brutal. I don't know what you are used to, but it is bad for texas here...unless you want to live in the suburbs. If that's the case, I say come on to Texas...oh yeah, it was 101 yesterday and it felt like 11...OUCH.

Other cities I would research: Boulder, CO; Ft. Collins, CO; Nashville, TN, and San Diego, CA....just for the weather!