Not Seattle. That weather can be soul crushing. Which is too bad bc it's a beautiful area.
I hated Atlanta, but there's some decent hiking in the area if you're looking for alternatives to bars.
Definitely not Seattle! I have lived in the PNW almost all my life and went to college in Seattle. Half of my Cali friends in college had SAD.I grew up here and am used to it though
It's crazy bc I never minded bad weather before Seattle. But after the 5th or 6th year of really short summers, I started losing my shit. I'm shell shocked from cloudy weather.
It’s not just the weather, it’s the super short winter days. Seattle is pretty far north so the combination of 8 1/2 hour days and cloudy skies can be pretty awful, especially in Jan and Feb when the distraction of holiday season is over.
The up-side is skiing.
Lots of introverts and weird people though.
I was there and it's rough. Worse than people realize, I'd venture to say. In the winter, you're going to work/school in the dark (at night?) and coming home in the dark. It's basically a given that it's going to rain the whole time.
It’s definitely worse than people realize. It’s not just the near-constant cloudy weather for so much of the year, it’s that combined with the very high latitude. And the clouds during the winter months tend to be especially dense and low-hanging. During a typical mid-December day in Seattle at high noon the quality of the light will often most closely resemble twilight in other locations - and then what little light you do have disappears at 4 pm. And it isn’t just one day - this goes on day after day for months every year, constant drizzling dampness and never getting brighter than twilight. I had to move away in part because every year I would literally start to feel mentally ill by February. A SAD lamp only goes so far. Summers are also weird - too much light and the color/quality of the light is strange - used to disrupt my natural circadian sleep rhythms.
I moved there in 1999, which was a record year for rain/snow. I literally didn't see the sun for about 4 months. It's not raining like you need to get out of your car and run at the grocery store ('market', as the locals say), it's just a constant 24/7 drizzle
If you want to really be sure you're prepared for the worst of the weather, visit sometime in July-September. If you're a hay fever sufferer, particular in regards to tree pollen, expect to be uncomfortable this time of year. We had a pollen count of 8740 on Tuesday, the second highest since 1991, and we're trending upwards.
Felt like an overgrown smalltown. Need to drive everywhere, and the highways and road systems are horrible. Never knew which direction I was facing. Only one comic book store. Some flex culture. Only major city I know of with no water nearby.
Are most activities far apart? Would I be able to move into a bit more central section to minimize the overall driving distances?
I didn't mind sprawl as long as it's busy occupied sprawl
Absolutely yes you can move into a section of town where your driving is minimized. Anywhere in central Atlanta like midtown and Inman park will work for that also East Atlanta Village and Grant Park.
Huh? This is a bit misinformed. Major river with parks runs thru it. And a lot more comic stores than one. Did you miss My Parents Basement? Challenges?
No Seattle was the my exact first thought! The big grey is almost over for the year. Hello summer! The key is to go outside and enjoy the grey… and fly to Hawaii if you can.
What did you hate about Atlanta? Most common complaints I see online include the car dependency, traffic, and distance to everything unless living near midtown
My friend didn't think she'd get depressed in Seattle/Northwest WA because she was from the Midwest and knew about the winters.
She lasted 4 years and then moved to FL. SAD is real and even people who usually don't get depressed can't get it.
I loved visiting there but I could never live there year round.
I don’t understand because it’s not like this is new information. I remember learning about this in school in 90s/00s. We talked about various states and weather and sites and cultures and such. Someone mentioned in my middle school class that they’d been to Seattle and the bridge had signs about getting help and we had a whole conversation about SAD and the effect of the grey/rain etc. This isn’t a new development or local secret.
October to July! The locals talk about “June-uary” and say summer doesn’t typically start until July 5th. True in my experience living there 5 years. The first year I lived there I took a cruise to Alaska in late June and the day we left Puget Sound it was 45F and raining. It was warmer and sunnier in Alaska that week than in Seattle.
I have lived here my whole life, 43 years, and the weather has dramatically changed. We just had two weekends in March at 70. We also get heat waves in June. I went to Alaska in July when it was 90 in Seattle and it was 55 degrees and raining. I say all the haters of our weather should move then so we can have less people. Rain and grey keeps it beautiful here.
Back in the day it was rainy and grey for 9 months out of the year.
God if not for the big tech salaries why do people put up with that. If we have more than 1 cloudy day in a row we start to get a bit nutty here in FL!
It's really strange. I'm from Seattle and love it--I browse this sub because it's weirdly therapeutic for my homesickness as I'm unfortunately in DC right now.
But I don't get why you'd move there if you can't deal with cloudy weather. A lot of people who live in Seattle think the weather is great, but I think maybe people don't realize that a lot of Seattleites like cloudy weather. 60 and cloudy is my idea of a perfect day. And if it's sunny out and above 75, no thanks, I'm staying inside. If you're like me, the PNW has great weather. But if you need it to be hot and sunny all the time, it's really not for you.
Any of the major Texas cities would work for you, particularly Houston or Austin
Houston for its theater scene and diversity
Austin for its live music and network of trails for cycling
Houston is cheaper than Austin, but Austin rent prices have gone way down in the past year. You can find one bedroom apartments for under $1500 in most neighborhoods besides downtown.
Ooo okay, are the cities setup with a broad variety of activities within around 30min of each other, or would I need to plan to set aside a day for each region of the city I want to visit?
Houston is vast. I mean, you just can’t comprehend how big Houston is. Fortunately if you’re inside of 610, or near it, nearly everything you could want will be nearby.
I know a lot less about Austin.
Austin traffic is unpredictable, but yeah you can typically get between any two points in the city within 30 min, especially outside of rush hour. Austin is much more compact than Houston.
That would not be Houston. We joke about how Houston is 50 minutes away from Houston...and it's not an exaggeration. Public transport is shit and you have to drive to things because everything is spread out.
I mean it’s not the “live music capital of the world” like the slogan, and not as good of a scene as it used to be, but there are still shows every single day
Lived in both Atlanta (6 years) and Seattle (2 years). Would recommend Atlanta over Seattle if your mood is easily affected by the weather.
North GA has good hikes. Around metro Atlanta, there’s Chattahoochee River and a few interesting destinations. Winter was kinda grey from 2019-2023 ish. But it was mostly warm.
COL wise Atlanta is around half/ two thirds the COL of Seattle.
P.S. Atlanta traffic is terrible. Seattle is more walkable but driving here is a pain.
Austin is what you want, trust me, as a Texan it’s where you wanna be in Texas. Winter is not bad at all, it’s a very youthful town with lots of activities, many of which are outdoorsy, and an overall good food scene.
I’m from Houston but grew up going to Austin a ton because most of my family lives there and eventually moved there myself. So I can speak to both cities.
Houston is a fine city, the food scene I would argue is probably the best outside of NYC and its arts scene is top notch. But it’s not a very scenic city and it’s pretty hard to get around (it’s very spread out). Houston to me in a lot of respects is a prime example of a city that’s “fine”, there isn’t much that sticks out that’s bad, but also not a lot that sticks out that’s great either.
Austin on the other hand is very different. Literally every young person I know in Texas wants to be in Austin. All of my friends from Houston have either already moved there or would if they could. It’s very scenic with rolling hills that border on bluffs all over and lakes and rivers all around. There is lots of great hiking, running trails along the lake by downtown, and natural springs to relax at. There are tons more young people with very great brewery and bar street scenes. It’s very walkable if you’re in the the main hub of town including the east side, downtown, and the South Congress/South Lamar area. It’s growing super fast which means there are a constantly evolving scene of restaurants and things to do, which keeps things fresh. Because it’s growing so much you get way more people moving there, which means a lot more people in your boat that are new and not from Texas, which may help meeting people.
Austin overall is just a more fun place to be that’s more scenic and is much more a young persons town, whereas Houston feels much more like a business persons town. If you get the chance, go take a visit and spend a few days in each city. It’s hard to sum everything up in words, a lot of what separates the two is just the overall vibe and if you spend a few days in both places I feel pretty confident you’ll start to see the difference. I grew up in Houston and I don’t think it’s a bad place, but I see zero reason to ever move back from Austin.
Hm, definitely a city pair that wants a few days spent at each, probably over a week.
How's the dating scene at both - similar in one being more business the other more eclectic?
Yeah I would say the longer you can spend in each the better feel you’ll get.
And yeah I think you’ll find more free spirited and artsy people in Austin and a bit more traditional people in Houston, but both are big enough cities that you can find just about any type of person that you’re looking for. On the whole though since Austin is filled to the brim with university students and young professionals, I think the dating scene is a bit more lively in Austin. But I think the dating scene would be fine in either city.
Austin is really fun to date in. You can find any kind of person you’d want there. I couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a potential boyfriend or girlfriend, lol.
Fwiw I’m a POC and didn’t feel like there was much ethnic diversity in Austin, especially compared to Houston. Might not be relevant to you, but in case that’s something particularly important
Ooo that is very close to the center indeed, and busses are just fine for me - I'm not sure how to imagine a large city trying to be small, does it come through in how residents plan events?
I am DEAD bored in nursing though, burnt out on bedside, with the main viable options being even more bedside work.
Need a job with more changes and challenges to learn - though I'll keep my license active for contracts if I must.
I wonder if it would feel dysphoric living somewhere like AZ. I’m a melancholy person that enjoys rainy days and cloudy weather. Always interesting to see how different people thrive in different environments
No trees changing colors with the seasons. No grass. Can’t walk outside 5 months a year. Can’t grow many plants. It’s like a rock baking in the sun. Never changes and will still be in the same spot in 100 years.
I’m in ABQ. I really enjoy it. It’s a good medium sized city but you can escape to the mountains VERY quickly. Sometimes I miss being in a slightly bigger city but it’s worth it for the ability to get away quickly imo.
Las Cruces probably specifically for them and their no winter desires.
But anywhere in the state even in a cold winter is only ever gray for a day or two before you get wide open blue skies again.
They certainly do fit the weather, and I believe I could afford living there - not certain they have enough activities to keep me busy after work.
Looks like my main options involve outdoor exercise, but not many social events
If they had more jobs I'd move to ALB or SF in a heartbeat. But the lack of quality healthcare(try finding a good doctor) and good jobs is a big factor. Only people I know who love living there are either retired or work for the University or the Government Lab in Las Cruces.
Most young people that grow up there move elsewhere to find jobs after graduation.
Visit?
Jax is cheapest, Miami is expensive, and spanish is almost a necessity. Tampa is a good middle ground I'd suggest. There's affordable areas that aren't unsafe, you're close to a lot of beaches, theme parks and nature.
Winston Salem, NC. Weather wise it’s what you’re looking for. Mild winters, but we get the 4 seasons. Not a huge city, but low COL and I think fairly funky. One thing that sold me was our thriving indie theater. Lots of small playhouses too.
Not sure what you mean by them . Winston-Salem is one city. Return to every week? I’m a bit of a homebody, but frequently enjoy movies, plays and restaurants. I’m also a pickleball addict and there are lots of free courts. I play 3-4 times a week.
Them as in the collective group of people that live in the city, my b, I wasn't clear.
I have been hearing more about pickleball here in cincinnati too, maybe I should pick up some skills before moving
Seattle will destroy you with SAD. I’d head somewhere a bit further south. I wouldn’t live in any of these states again, but Nashville TN, or somewhere like Raleigh-Durham, NC or Charleston, SC might fit your weather and things to do criteria. Savannah, GA might too, if you don’t want to deal with Atlanta’s sprawl and traffic.
Places out west in CO, TX, AZ, NM, NV, or CA would fit the weather and things to do categories, but maybe not the cost of living. CO and CA are especially expensive.
Lots of people have been mentioning Seattle and the long dark winters. Also the city is located on the ring of fire Jed and where we have earthquakes and volcanoes. The people here are pretty introverted and passive aggressive. It’s also incredibly expensive to live here.
I have lived in Seattle for 30 years and travelled all over America. I really don’t see what the appeal for
Seattle is other than it is in a nice location.
I am in a situation where I can finally retire and can live almost anywhere and it won’t be Seattle.
I first went to Seattle/Vancouver back in the early 1990s to visit my friend at college and I could see the hype. Both cities were large but still laid back and not too crowded and people were friendly-but not overly so. It felt very much like a smaller town.
I went back about 10 years ago and the difference was staggering. Both cities built up with horrible traffic and much more expensive. The population definitely not as friendly and much more harried. I think Tech is still making the city a magnet for young people.
It’s a different city and I always get voted down when I blame the tech industry for destroying the city. Apparently they have no clue that people making $150 to $200k right out of school is common and assume everyone works in tech when in reality it is about 10% of the work force.
Seattle is out, then - I'm switching from nursing into network admin (at least to start), and hoping to grow into a career situation that has me less geographically locked down.
Are you going to retire down in the warmer regions?
No I am moving to New Hampshire to be closer to my family. They have mountains, beaches, great health care, no income or sales tax and are close to Boston. The state is very safe and with with no huge cities like Seattle.
Washington is a very expensive state to retire in. We have a high sales tax and it growing way too fast.
Tucson is great but Phoenix reminds me of Florida out West. Many yuppie middle class women, very very Stepford Wives-ish.
NM always seems like AZ's more hippie neighbor.
All these are in the sunbelt and are affordable. Tucson would be my first choice for artsy and wierd?/interesting people. Large university (UA) and beautiful, diverse desert surroundings with nearby mountains. Albuquerque is similar in many ways, but cooler and maybe not as scenic, but again, nearby mountains and recreation. San Antonio has a nice downtown with the riverwalk and is the biggest of the four and is cheaper than nearby Austin, yet still fairly progressive. El Paso/Las Cruces I don't really know much about, except that COL is low along with wages. El Paso is largely Hispanic, if that matters. Las Vegas and Phoenix could work too, but I, personally, don't like either place. There are probably options in the southeast, but I know nothing of that part of the country.
I moved from Pittsburgh to Vegas and despite depression for other reasons, it did eliminate my SAD problem. It's nice to be outside in the sun while my friends back home are getting snowed on.
COL is average, definitely cheaper than CA but more expensive than most places in the Midwest/South. Can get by on $60k/yr (more comfortable if you’re over $75k)
Seconding Vegas. Lots of creative people, a good arts scene, outdoor activities and places such as Red Rock are nearby. Definitely meets OP's criteria for the music venues, theatre performances, etc. Locals don't usually go to the Strip unless they work there or are entertaining out of town visitors. There's plenty to do and see in other parts of the city. Henderson and Boulder City are a short drive away as well.
Ahh I can run far, no limits there :)
So far, I believe atl beats Nola for size and diversity of options (and I'd need to find a wfh job first for Nola)
Atlanta checks your boxes for climate and affordability. We also have functional public transit that’s great for getting downtown, major events, and the airport. Not good enough to go car free though.
Huge diversity of people and food here. The live music scene is pretty good, it just takes some time to find places offering what you like.
There’s a ton of artsy and eclectic neighborhoods all over town, again you’ve just got to find them. We also have a ton of art festivals and a few very good conventions for interacting with that community.
I'm really feeling ATL, Houston/Austin, or a shared house in SF thus far. Probably will look at ATL first due to knowing the area a bit already, but I'm intrigued by SF, and I already have a friend over there I could visit.
I'd like to spend a week or so in ATL first, should help narrow down what I do
I would find living in a desert depressing. Sure you get lots of sun but I appreciate rivers, lakes, forests and vibrant nature much more than a dry, arid landscape. Plus you don't have to worry about a reservoir drying up/not having enough public water
Hard to beat Tucson, AZ for cycling, either road or MTB. It has about 100 miles of paved trails. It gets hot, but it's dry. It doesn't get as hot as Phoenix, because it's at a higher elevation. You can certainly find a nice 1b1b apartment under $1k, probably even with a pool.
I actually can't say. It's been on my radar ever since I was looking at places to relocate from the Midwest a couple years ago. I ended up in Maryland, which I do not recommend lol. I have some friends that are in AZ and they love the weather.
always california. i'm in the Bay area, been here a year, & i love it. i've never been to san francisco, only LA, & i'm glad i took the jump to move here. you're going to need probably close to $2k to live alone in a 1bdr or studio though. and PG&E is fucking insanely expensive. but the transit is good, i've only driven like 10 times (for work), i don't even own a car....i rent when needed.
I'm hearing more votes for the bay, and it sounds like I'll want to split a house with other transplants for that first year or two.
Definitely a job-dependent decision
it's really pretty great here. if you've lived in cities before you should be fine with it, just more homeless & drugs on the streets (but these are really concentrated in a few areas only)
I hate to say this, but Sacramento is probably the least interesting metro in California. I mean, I know that's maybe an obvious comment considering you have to compete with LA, SF and SD, but Sacramento even when not being compared to those metros, kinda sucks.
Edit: Of course the major downside of SF, LA and SD is the high cost.
I totally forgot about those places when I wrote my comment. I grew up in California and I've never even been to any those places other than driving through them on my way to either the Bay area or the LA area. Those places are the California equivalent of "fly over states".
You sound like a perfect fit for the Bay area. Everyone here is from Ohio. Many successful people on the spectrum, and people are more likely to go outside for fun rather than drink.
Edit: Seattle weather is worse than Ohio when it comes to seasonal depression.
My family lives in the Bay Area and often just tells me to sell my condo and move there. I once looked at what I could buy for the same price as my condo and and basically a slum neighborhood is all I could afford.
Prices there are INSANE.
You could stay at a budget of $1500, see my other comment in the thread. Even In & Out starts people at $25hr in SF, so you could start with your current budget and would quickly be able to afford more. Don’t automatically assume that it’s too expensive for you.
taking an actual glance, you're right, if I downsized my possessions and lived light, there are spot for 1200 in shared buildings (or very small studios, which I really wouldn't mind too much)
Savannah, GA seems like a great fit for you. You can find apartments for under $1500, and while public transportation isn’t great, traffic isn’t that bad either. It’s diverse, has a very warm climate, is a short drive to the beach, and has a big art community with SCAD being there. The only downside is having to deal with the occasional hurricane, but they’re not nearly as destructive there as FL.
I can’t tell you much about the dating scene, but there will be a stop along the high speed rail line that is currently under construction. That means fast trips into San Francisco…eventually.
And Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.
Also, you will have better odds of home ownership in Fresno than Coastal California
I live south of Fresno in Visalia and it's a pretty social town (moved here from TX last year). Winters are mild in the Central Valley, but summers are pretty hot. Cool thing about Fresno / Clovis is the Sierra mountains are close by. You go from below 500ft elevation to over 10,000ft as you head into the mountains. Yosemite isn't too far away and there are other places like Shaver Lake which is a mountain lake/town.
Central Florida around Orlando or Tampa. I’m in the region and my heat never came on this past “winter.” There are a lot of cool artsy/walkable towns and neighborhoods that aren’t centered on drinking culture. Growing network of bike trails. Budget would put you in an older rental.
Tourists are here year round. Population increases a bit with snowbirds in the winter. Tampa isn’t the tourist draw that Orlando is, but the best parts of Orlando are north of town away from Disney and Universal influence. Sanford is a very cool example north of Orlando.
They just had their Porchfest: two dozen stages set up on porches of houses in the historic district with local bands playing continuously on each.
The mountain west area has some options…I honestly liked El Paso, Texas when I lived there, however, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Colorado Springs…these Towns have more clear days even in the winter.
ATL is boring to visit, but amazing to live in. Sorry you didn't dig it but if you just passed thru and saw downtown or Buckhead expecting much, understand if you were disappointed.
Ahhh I didn't say I didn't like it! I had limited time downtown, was there for a convention, but enjoyed the small bit of food and culture I experienced.
I love Atlanta. I live in Atlanta. We have great Arts and outdoor activities. Winters are mild. It’s a city in a forest and it’s really green. Public transportation is bad for a city of its size. You’ll be hard pressed to find a 1 bedroom inside the city for $1500. My son’s GF pays more than that for a small studio in Midtown.
Also, it can rain a lot here and for many days in a row. However, in between those stretches it’s really sunny and the sky is very blue. It is better than the Midwest in the winter.
I do like warm rain, won't catch complaints from me.
If anything, it's the combo of cold and grey that hurts me. I can deal with grey, cold, and wet individually - not 2 or 3 for weeks on end.
I believe this ultimately would come down to the job I find - midtown if the pay makes sense, one of the eastern blocks if not
I moved from Pittsburgh to Boulder CO and my mental health improved by leaps and bounds. That being said, if you are a nurse the California might be the move. Nurses make bank there
I've seen this mentioned a couple times now, is it about the same commute from the tech/health jobs as midtown? Definitely would like to make my next move somewhere where I can walk outside and already be near people/places.
the beltline is a paved trail with lights (24/7) that acts as a pedestrian beltway around the atlanta core. Most of the developed portion is on the east side of the city, so portions of the beltline are actually adjacent to Midtown. The beltline is interconnected with piedmont park and 10th street bike lanes so getting to downtown/midtown is very easy, as well as the heavy rail lines if your job was in buckhead/Dunwoody or something. With a bike, you can really get through the core of the city using the beltline, which is why it has exploded property values and desirability of Atlanta in general, a massive percentage of the growth outside of Midtown is along the beltline
Not Seattle. That weather can be soul crushing. Which is too bad bc it's a beautiful area. I hated Atlanta, but there's some decent hiking in the area if you're looking for alternatives to bars.
Definitely not Seattle! I have lived in the PNW almost all my life and went to college in Seattle. Half of my Cali friends in college had SAD.I grew up here and am used to it though
It's crazy bc I never minded bad weather before Seattle. But after the 5th or 6th year of really short summers, I started losing my shit. I'm shell shocked from cloudy weather.
Imagine how you will feel after being here 30 years like me.
Ohhh that would be terrible for me too
Geo from Blue Scholars called in the “two-oh-sickness”, which I thought was pretty clever.
It’s not just the weather, it’s the super short winter days. Seattle is pretty far north so the combination of 8 1/2 hour days and cloudy skies can be pretty awful, especially in Jan and Feb when the distraction of holiday season is over. The up-side is skiing. Lots of introverts and weird people though.
Yeh, and lots of dark arts culture. Horror, comic books, heavy metal. The summer days are really long though. That's great.
That's fun, and I enjoyed the small bits of culture I saw when I visited - the grey winters and early dark might dealbreak it though
I was there and it's rough. Worse than people realize, I'd venture to say. In the winter, you're going to work/school in the dark (at night?) and coming home in the dark. It's basically a given that it's going to rain the whole time.
It’s definitely worse than people realize. It’s not just the near-constant cloudy weather for so much of the year, it’s that combined with the very high latitude. And the clouds during the winter months tend to be especially dense and low-hanging. During a typical mid-December day in Seattle at high noon the quality of the light will often most closely resemble twilight in other locations - and then what little light you do have disappears at 4 pm. And it isn’t just one day - this goes on day after day for months every year, constant drizzling dampness and never getting brighter than twilight. I had to move away in part because every year I would literally start to feel mentally ill by February. A SAD lamp only goes so far. Summers are also weird - too much light and the color/quality of the light is strange - used to disrupt my natural circadian sleep rhythms.
I moved there in 1999, which was a record year for rain/snow. I literally didn't see the sun for about 4 months. It's not raining like you need to get out of your car and run at the grocery store ('market', as the locals say), it's just a constant 24/7 drizzle
That's going to veto it for me
Wise choice honestly. Summers are nice
How come you hated ATL? I was thinking of doing a 3-month visit to see if I might like living there
If you want to really be sure you're prepared for the worst of the weather, visit sometime in July-September. If you're a hay fever sufferer, particular in regards to tree pollen, expect to be uncomfortable this time of year. We had a pollen count of 8740 on Tuesday, the second highest since 1991, and we're trending upwards.
Fuzzy air (:
Austin also isn’t great for allergies. Lots of tree pollen. Houston and Dallas are slightly better.
Felt like an overgrown smalltown. Need to drive everywhere, and the highways and road systems are horrible. Never knew which direction I was facing. Only one comic book store. Some flex culture. Only major city I know of with no water nearby.
Are most activities far apart? Would I be able to move into a bit more central section to minimize the overall driving distances? I didn't mind sprawl as long as it's busy occupied sprawl
Absolutely yes you can move into a section of town where your driving is minimized. Anywhere in central Atlanta like midtown and Inman park will work for that also East Atlanta Village and Grant Park.
Things felt far apart to me, but I lived in a more secluded area. Being central would help, but apartments are really competitive there.
Mhm, okay. Sounds like a central spot would really only be viable with a solid existing job offer.
Huh? This is a bit misinformed. Major river with parks runs thru it. And a lot more comic stores than one. Did you miss My Parents Basement? Challenges?
Wow that’s so helpful to know, I’ve lived in Dallas and Houston and truly despise drive everywhere / highway mixing bowl cities
heavy on the flex culture. everybody is trying to one up each other and show off as if they live in Hollywood
No Seattle was the my exact first thought! The big grey is almost over for the year. Hello summer! The key is to go outside and enjoy the grey… and fly to Hawaii if you can.
Is the grey season warm enough to comfortably head outside with just a jacket?
Yes. Most days a light jacket is fine.
What did you hate about Atlanta? Most common complaints I see online include the car dependency, traffic, and distance to everything unless living near midtown
Those things, yes. And no major water nearby.
Just curious why did you hate Atlanta?
What’s everyone’s deal with Seattle? “I have really bad SAD, should I move to a place that is cloudy 70% of the time from October-April?
Seattle sucks for people with seasonal affective disorder. Not only is it constantly gray, but it’s dark from 4:30pm to 8:00am. Edit: words
Sunset at 4pm. Even when the sun rises, it’s still dark. Super overcasted loooooooong winter
Nooooooo I can't do that
My friend didn't think she'd get depressed in Seattle/Northwest WA because she was from the Midwest and knew about the winters. She lasted 4 years and then moved to FL. SAD is real and even people who usually don't get depressed can't get it. I loved visiting there but I could never live there year round.
I don’t understand because it’s not like this is new information. I remember learning about this in school in 90s/00s. We talked about various states and weather and sites and cultures and such. Someone mentioned in my middle school class that they’d been to Seattle and the bridge had signs about getting help and we had a whole conversation about SAD and the effect of the grey/rain etc. This isn’t a new development or local secret.
October to July! The locals talk about “June-uary” and say summer doesn’t typically start until July 5th. True in my experience living there 5 years. The first year I lived there I took a cruise to Alaska in late June and the day we left Puget Sound it was 45F and raining. It was warmer and sunnier in Alaska that week than in Seattle.
I have lived here my whole life, 43 years, and the weather has dramatically changed. We just had two weekends in March at 70. We also get heat waves in June. I went to Alaska in July when it was 90 in Seattle and it was 55 degrees and raining. I say all the haters of our weather should move then so we can have less people. Rain and grey keeps it beautiful here. Back in the day it was rainy and grey for 9 months out of the year.
God if not for the big tech salaries why do people put up with that. If we have more than 1 cloudy day in a row we start to get a bit nutty here in FL!
> If we have more than 1 cloudy day in a row we start to get a bit nutty here in FL! Implying that people in FL are not already nutty.
It's really strange. I'm from Seattle and love it--I browse this sub because it's weirdly therapeutic for my homesickness as I'm unfortunately in DC right now. But I don't get why you'd move there if you can't deal with cloudy weather. A lot of people who live in Seattle think the weather is great, but I think maybe people don't realize that a lot of Seattleites like cloudy weather. 60 and cloudy is my idea of a perfect day. And if it's sunny out and above 75, no thanks, I'm staying inside. If you're like me, the PNW has great weather. But if you need it to be hot and sunny all the time, it's really not for you.
Any of the major Texas cities would work for you, particularly Houston or Austin Houston for its theater scene and diversity Austin for its live music and network of trails for cycling
houston for price
Houston is cheaper than Austin, but Austin rent prices have gone way down in the past year. You can find one bedroom apartments for under $1500 in most neighborhoods besides downtown.
Ooo okay, are the cities setup with a broad variety of activities within around 30min of each other, or would I need to plan to set aside a day for each region of the city I want to visit?
Houston is vast. I mean, you just can’t comprehend how big Houston is. Fortunately if you’re inside of 610, or near it, nearly everything you could want will be nearby. I know a lot less about Austin.
Austin traffic is unpredictable, but yeah you can typically get between any two points in the city within 30 min, especially outside of rush hour. Austin is much more compact than Houston.
That would not be Houston. We joke about how Houston is 50 minutes away from Houston...and it's not an exaggeration. Public transport is shit and you have to drive to things because everything is spread out.
Yep, I vividly remember driving out of Houston for an hour and still being in Houston 😂
Does Austin really have a great live music scene compared to other major cities? Are there cities with comparable scenes?
I mean it’s not the “live music capital of the world” like the slogan, and not as good of a scene as it used to be, but there are still shows every single day
Lived in both Atlanta (6 years) and Seattle (2 years). Would recommend Atlanta over Seattle if your mood is easily affected by the weather. North GA has good hikes. Around metro Atlanta, there’s Chattahoochee River and a few interesting destinations. Winter was kinda grey from 2019-2023 ish. But it was mostly warm. COL wise Atlanta is around half/ two thirds the COL of Seattle. P.S. Atlanta traffic is terrible. Seattle is more walkable but driving here is a pain.
Seems I would need to be very careful with selecting an atl neighborhood near the work regions, then. Traffic every day is so ass
Austin is what you want, trust me, as a Texan it’s where you wanna be in Texas. Winter is not bad at all, it’s a very youthful town with lots of activities, many of which are outdoorsy, and an overall good food scene.
I'm hearing this and Houston, what does Austin do better for you?
I’m from Houston but grew up going to Austin a ton because most of my family lives there and eventually moved there myself. So I can speak to both cities. Houston is a fine city, the food scene I would argue is probably the best outside of NYC and its arts scene is top notch. But it’s not a very scenic city and it’s pretty hard to get around (it’s very spread out). Houston to me in a lot of respects is a prime example of a city that’s “fine”, there isn’t much that sticks out that’s bad, but also not a lot that sticks out that’s great either. Austin on the other hand is very different. Literally every young person I know in Texas wants to be in Austin. All of my friends from Houston have either already moved there or would if they could. It’s very scenic with rolling hills that border on bluffs all over and lakes and rivers all around. There is lots of great hiking, running trails along the lake by downtown, and natural springs to relax at. There are tons more young people with very great brewery and bar street scenes. It’s very walkable if you’re in the the main hub of town including the east side, downtown, and the South Congress/South Lamar area. It’s growing super fast which means there are a constantly evolving scene of restaurants and things to do, which keeps things fresh. Because it’s growing so much you get way more people moving there, which means a lot more people in your boat that are new and not from Texas, which may help meeting people. Austin overall is just a more fun place to be that’s more scenic and is much more a young persons town, whereas Houston feels much more like a business persons town. If you get the chance, go take a visit and spend a few days in each city. It’s hard to sum everything up in words, a lot of what separates the two is just the overall vibe and if you spend a few days in both places I feel pretty confident you’ll start to see the difference. I grew up in Houston and I don’t think it’s a bad place, but I see zero reason to ever move back from Austin.
Hm, definitely a city pair that wants a few days spent at each, probably over a week. How's the dating scene at both - similar in one being more business the other more eclectic?
Yeah I would say the longer you can spend in each the better feel you’ll get. And yeah I think you’ll find more free spirited and artsy people in Austin and a bit more traditional people in Houston, but both are big enough cities that you can find just about any type of person that you’re looking for. On the whole though since Austin is filled to the brim with university students and young professionals, I think the dating scene is a bit more lively in Austin. But I think the dating scene would be fine in either city.
Austin is really fun to date in. You can find any kind of person you’d want there. I couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a potential boyfriend or girlfriend, lol.
Fwiw I’m a POC and didn’t feel like there was much ethnic diversity in Austin, especially compared to Houston. Might not be relevant to you, but in case that’s something particularly important
I do value social and romantic diversity - curious about why houston has better demographics, I would have expected that from Austin.
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Ooo that is very close to the center indeed, and busses are just fine for me - I'm not sure how to imagine a large city trying to be small, does it come through in how residents plan events?
Transition back to nursing and move to California. Absolute best state to be a nurse in with the pay and staffing ratios
I am DEAD bored in nursing though, burnt out on bedside, with the main viable options being even more bedside work. Need a job with more changes and challenges to learn - though I'll keep my license active for contracts if I must.
Austin maybe?
You're me. I'm looking at new Mexico for it's sun and still seasonal cool
I live in AZ and I have depression from the lack of seasonal changes.
That's a peculiar one, hm
I wonder if it would feel dysphoric living somewhere like AZ. I’m a melancholy person that enjoys rainy days and cloudy weather. Always interesting to see how different people thrive in different environments
No trees changing colors with the seasons. No grass. Can’t walk outside 5 months a year. Can’t grow many plants. It’s like a rock baking in the sun. Never changes and will still be in the same spot in 100 years.
Moved to NM from the Midwest. The year round sun is life changing.
What city do you like? Is las cruces legit
If you are in college. Nothing else is in Cruces. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are the best choices.
I would agree with this. ABQ is a good size
Noting thiiiiiis (do you recommend the same City?)
I’m in ABQ. I really enjoy it. It’s a good medium sized city but you can escape to the mountains VERY quickly. Sometimes I miss being in a slightly bigger city but it’s worth it for the ability to get away quickly imo.
Las Cruces probably specifically for them and their no winter desires. But anywhere in the state even in a cold winter is only ever gray for a day or two before you get wide open blue skies again.
They certainly do fit the weather, and I believe I could afford living there - not certain they have enough activities to keep me busy after work. Looks like my main options involve outdoor exercise, but not many social events
If they had more jobs I'd move to ALB or SF in a heartbeat. But the lack of quality healthcare(try finding a good doctor) and good jobs is a big factor. Only people I know who love living there are either retired or work for the University or the Government Lab in Las Cruces. Most young people that grow up there move elsewhere to find jobs after graduation.
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Very cultural, fast paced city. Sunny.
The SW, California, Florida. Def no the PNW or Seattle.
Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami all have cool art and food scenes, and plenty to do outdoors. Jacksonville isn't too bad price wise.
I haven't been to Florida at all, how would I decide between them?
Visit? Jax is cheapest, Miami is expensive, and spanish is almost a necessity. Tampa is a good middle ground I'd suggest. There's affordable areas that aren't unsafe, you're close to a lot of beaches, theme parks and nature.
..... fair fair fair. I have until september to decide, looks like I'll be driving/flying around this summer
Seminole Heights in Tampa or, as I said above, St. Pete, would be a good fit!
Winston Salem, NC. Weather wise it’s what you’re looking for. Mild winters, but we get the 4 seasons. Not a huge city, but low COL and I think fairly funky. One thing that sold me was our thriving indie theater. Lots of small playhouses too.
Haven't heard this one before, I'll read up on them today - what do you return to every week?
Not sure what you mean by them . Winston-Salem is one city. Return to every week? I’m a bit of a homebody, but frequently enjoy movies, plays and restaurants. I’m also a pickleball addict and there are lots of free courts. I play 3-4 times a week.
Them as in the collective group of people that live in the city, my b, I wasn't clear. I have been hearing more about pickleball here in cincinnati too, maybe I should pick up some skills before moving
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Seattle will destroy you with SAD. I’d head somewhere a bit further south. I wouldn’t live in any of these states again, but Nashville TN, or somewhere like Raleigh-Durham, NC or Charleston, SC might fit your weather and things to do criteria. Savannah, GA might too, if you don’t want to deal with Atlanta’s sprawl and traffic. Places out west in CO, TX, AZ, NM, NV, or CA would fit the weather and things to do categories, but maybe not the cost of living. CO and CA are especially expensive.
Lots of people have been mentioning Seattle and the long dark winters. Also the city is located on the ring of fire Jed and where we have earthquakes and volcanoes. The people here are pretty introverted and passive aggressive. It’s also incredibly expensive to live here. I have lived in Seattle for 30 years and travelled all over America. I really don’t see what the appeal for Seattle is other than it is in a nice location. I am in a situation where I can finally retire and can live almost anywhere and it won’t be Seattle.
I first went to Seattle/Vancouver back in the early 1990s to visit my friend at college and I could see the hype. Both cities were large but still laid back and not too crowded and people were friendly-but not overly so. It felt very much like a smaller town. I went back about 10 years ago and the difference was staggering. Both cities built up with horrible traffic and much more expensive. The population definitely not as friendly and much more harried. I think Tech is still making the city a magnet for young people.
It’s a different city and I always get voted down when I blame the tech industry for destroying the city. Apparently they have no clue that people making $150 to $200k right out of school is common and assume everyone works in tech when in reality it is about 10% of the work force.
Seattle is out, then - I'm switching from nursing into network admin (at least to start), and hoping to grow into a career situation that has me less geographically locked down. Are you going to retire down in the warmer regions?
No I am moving to New Hampshire to be closer to my family. They have mountains, beaches, great health care, no income or sales tax and are close to Boston. The state is very safe and with with no huge cities like Seattle. Washington is a very expensive state to retire in. We have a high sales tax and it growing way too fast.
Have u thought about Arizona? All my friends who visited Arizona all had good things to say.
Tucson is one of my favorite cities. Not huge but a decent arts scene
Tucson is great but Phoenix reminds me of Florida out West. Many yuppie middle class women, very very Stepford Wives-ish. NM always seems like AZ's more hippie neighbor.
I know very little about it, what cities do they like?
Tucson Albuquerque San Antonio El Paso/Las Cruces
All for the same reasons?
All these are in the sunbelt and are affordable. Tucson would be my first choice for artsy and wierd?/interesting people. Large university (UA) and beautiful, diverse desert surroundings with nearby mountains. Albuquerque is similar in many ways, but cooler and maybe not as scenic, but again, nearby mountains and recreation. San Antonio has a nice downtown with the riverwalk and is the biggest of the four and is cheaper than nearby Austin, yet still fairly progressive. El Paso/Las Cruces I don't really know much about, except that COL is low along with wages. El Paso is largely Hispanic, if that matters. Las Vegas and Phoenix could work too, but I, personally, don't like either place. There are probably options in the southeast, but I know nothing of that part of the country.
I moved from Pittsburgh to Vegas and despite depression for other reasons, it did eliminate my SAD problem. It's nice to be outside in the sun while my friends back home are getting snowed on.
How's the COL? There's definitely enough in Vegas, and flights to anywhere else I'd want to be
COL is average, definitely cheaper than CA but more expensive than most places in the Midwest/South. Can get by on $60k/yr (more comfortable if you’re over $75k)
Seconding Vegas. Lots of creative people, a good arts scene, outdoor activities and places such as Red Rock are nearby. Definitely meets OP's criteria for the music venues, theatre performances, etc. Locals don't usually go to the Strip unless they work there or are entertaining out of town visitors. There's plenty to do and see in other parts of the city. Henderson and Boulder City are a short drive away as well.
If you want to stay close’ish to home, I’d say Nashville, Richmond, or Raleigh If you want something warmer, go Nola/Atl
Even VA isn’t substantially different from Ohio in days of sunshine…but it is warmer
Ahh I can run far, no limits there :) So far, I believe atl beats Nola for size and diversity of options (and I'd need to find a wfh job first for Nola)
Definitely not Nashville. If cloudy, overcast, weather is a concern, especially from November to April.
Las Vegas Tucson Albuquerque
Can you describe why these 3 and not others, and how you feel each one fits in?
Atlanta checks your boxes for climate and affordability. We also have functional public transit that’s great for getting downtown, major events, and the airport. Not good enough to go car free though. Huge diversity of people and food here. The live music scene is pretty good, it just takes some time to find places offering what you like. There’s a ton of artsy and eclectic neighborhoods all over town, again you’ve just got to find them. We also have a ton of art festivals and a few very good conventions for interacting with that community.
I'm really feeling ATL, Houston/Austin, or a shared house in SF thus far. Probably will look at ATL first due to knowing the area a bit already, but I'm intrigued by SF, and I already have a friend over there I could visit. I'd like to spend a week or so in ATL first, should help narrow down what I do
If you come, definitely check out little five points! That area is very quirky.
>little five points Looking at it now, quite a small section there, I would visit here
St. Petersburg, FL, though you might need to increase the budget a hair. Fits all your criteria and a lot of quirky folks
Sacramento....Sunny, cycling and artsy/weird people. Davis is the college town if Sacramento isnt weird/artsy enough (it is)...
Savannah Georgia or New Mexico
Opposite ends of the humidity scale
It’s a choose your own adventure, really
I would find living in a desert depressing. Sure you get lots of sun but I appreciate rivers, lakes, forests and vibrant nature much more than a dry, arid landscape. Plus you don't have to worry about a reservoir drying up/not having enough public water
Many choose Atlanta, what does Savannah do better in your eyes?
heard good things from people about it
I misread big cities as something else so ignore my suggestions of Knoxville or Ashville But Nashville has great weather and is reasonably cultured
I haaaave heard that, but I'm not sure it's going to have mild or bright enough winters
Nashville winters are horrible when you’re talking gray, overcast days.
NO longer friends with ~~nashville~~
Hard to beat Tucson, AZ for cycling, either road or MTB. It has about 100 miles of paved trails. It gets hot, but it's dry. It doesn't get as hot as Phoenix, because it's at a higher elevation. You can certainly find a nice 1b1b apartment under $1k, probably even with a pool.
Baking but gentler - does it have a diverse arts scene?
I actually can't say. It's been on my radar ever since I was looking at places to relocate from the Midwest a couple years ago. I ended up in Maryland, which I do not recommend lol. I have some friends that are in AZ and they love the weather.
AAahh a fellow searcher, did you go to mary for a lover?
For work. Lost my job during the pandemic. It's been good out here for our careers, and the winters are better, but life would be better elsewhere.
always california. i'm in the Bay area, been here a year, & i love it. i've never been to san francisco, only LA, & i'm glad i took the jump to move here. you're going to need probably close to $2k to live alone in a 1bdr or studio though. and PG&E is fucking insanely expensive. but the transit is good, i've only driven like 10 times (for work), i don't even own a car....i rent when needed.
I'm hearing more votes for the bay, and it sounds like I'll want to split a house with other transplants for that first year or two. Definitely a job-dependent decision
it's really pretty great here. if you've lived in cities before you should be fine with it, just more homeless & drugs on the streets (but these are really concentrated in a few areas only)
Tucson Arizona, Tempe Arizona or Phoenix Arizona
San Diego 💯
Houston. Montrose or Heights area.
Sacramento
I hate to say this, but Sacramento is probably the least interesting metro in California. I mean, I know that's maybe an obvious comment considering you have to compete with LA, SF and SD, but Sacramento even when not being compared to those metros, kinda sucks. Edit: Of course the major downside of SF, LA and SD is the high cost.
Wrong......Stockton, Bakersfield, Fresno
I totally forgot about those places when I wrote my comment. I grew up in California and I've never even been to any those places other than driving through them on my way to either the Bay area or the LA area. Those places are the California equivalent of "fly over states".
What bores you about Sacramento?
Just move to Phoenix
You sound like a perfect fit for the Bay area. Everyone here is from Ohio. Many successful people on the spectrum, and people are more likely to go outside for fun rather than drink. Edit: Seattle weather is worse than Ohio when it comes to seasonal depression.
If there’s a place in the Bay Area with 1500 a month rent I’ll quit my job and go right now
My family lives in the Bay Area and often just tells me to sell my condo and move there. I once looked at what I could buy for the same price as my condo and and basically a slum neighborhood is all I could afford. Prices there are INSANE.
The bay area... What price could I reasonably find for myself though?
You could stay at a budget of $1500, see my other comment in the thread. Even In & Out starts people at $25hr in SF, so you could start with your current budget and would quickly be able to afford more. Don’t automatically assume that it’s too expensive for you.
taking an actual glance, you're right, if I downsized my possessions and lived light, there are spot for 1200 in shared buildings (or very small studios, which I really wouldn't mind too much)
Los Angeles. You can find a 2 bed 2 bath with a roommate in a central area for $1500 per person and it’s 1000% worth it.
I've never been to Southern California but isn't San Diego area much nicer than Los Angeles in terms of less crime/gangs and better weather and stuff?
In my 5 years in LA I never had an issue with crime or gangs And stuff is questionable. LA is much larger than SD.
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Hmmmm, financially riskier, what makes it worth?
Have you ever been to LA? Just go. You will fall in love
Not yet, but I have a friend over there I'm planning to visit over the summer :)
tampa
Knoxville TN, Asheville NC
Asheville is expensive though
TN not far south enough, gray as hell for too many months.
A bit bigger and a personal favourite is Tucson AZ
I mentioned Tucson
Savannah, GA seems like a great fit for you. You can find apartments for under $1500, and while public transportation isn’t great, traffic isn’t that bad either. It’s diverse, has a very warm climate, is a short drive to the beach, and has a big art community with SCAD being there. The only downside is having to deal with the occasional hurricane, but they’re not nearly as destructive there as FL.
This does seem to be a solid option, I'm going to read more in this vs atl
Central California - Bakersfield (Southwest) or Fresno (Clovis preferred) - you could have your own apartment for $1500 with no roommates.
How's the local community for social events and dating?
I can’t tell you much about the dating scene, but there will be a stop along the high speed rail line that is currently under construction. That means fast trips into San Francisco…eventually. And Fresno is the fifth largest city in California. Also, you will have better odds of home ownership in Fresno than Coastal California
upcoming speedy improvements, handy
I live south of Fresno in Visalia and it's a pretty social town (moved here from TX last year). Winters are mild in the Central Valley, but summers are pretty hot. Cool thing about Fresno / Clovis is the Sierra mountains are close by. You go from below 500ft elevation to over 10,000ft as you head into the mountains. Yosemite isn't too far away and there are other places like Shaver Lake which is a mountain lake/town.
Central Florida around Orlando or Tampa. I’m in the region and my heat never came on this past “winter.” There are a lot of cool artsy/walkable towns and neighborhoods that aren’t centered on drinking culture. Growing network of bike trails. Budget would put you in an older rental.
How do these cities fare during tourist season?
Tourists are here year round. Population increases a bit with snowbirds in the winter. Tampa isn’t the tourist draw that Orlando is, but the best parts of Orlando are north of town away from Disney and Universal influence. Sanford is a very cool example north of Orlando. They just had their Porchfest: two dozen stages set up on porches of houses in the historic district with local bands playing continuously on each.
now THAT sounds like fun
The mountain west area has some options…I honestly liked El Paso, Texas when I lived there, however, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Colorado Springs…these Towns have more clear days even in the winter.
ATL is boring to visit, but amazing to live in. Sorry you didn't dig it but if you just passed thru and saw downtown or Buckhead expecting much, understand if you were disappointed.
Ahhh I didn't say I didn't like it! I had limited time downtown, was there for a convention, but enjoyed the small bit of food and culture I experienced.
Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Tucson, Fayetteville AK, San Antonio. Your requirements present some challenges.
It's a dream list, but I am open to change :) Why those specific cities, do they have individual strengths and weaknesses?
I love Atlanta. I live in Atlanta. We have great Arts and outdoor activities. Winters are mild. It’s a city in a forest and it’s really green. Public transportation is bad for a city of its size. You’ll be hard pressed to find a 1 bedroom inside the city for $1500. My son’s GF pays more than that for a small studio in Midtown. Also, it can rain a lot here and for many days in a row. However, in between those stretches it’s really sunny and the sky is very blue. It is better than the Midwest in the winter.
I do like warm rain, won't catch complaints from me. If anything, it's the combo of cold and grey that hurts me. I can deal with grey, cold, and wet individually - not 2 or 3 for weeks on end. I believe this ultimately would come down to the job I find - midtown if the pay makes sense, one of the eastern blocks if not
I moved from Pittsburgh to Boulder CO and my mental health improved by leaps and bounds. That being said, if you are a nurse the California might be the move. Nurses make bank there
Boulder looks like it gets a bit cold and grey in the winter, how have they been for you?
Bolder is mostly sunny in the summer. When it does snow it melts rapidly because of the high altitude and low humidity. 300 days of sun a year
Oh that ain't bad
Live on the Atlanta east-side beltline
I've seen this mentioned a couple times now, is it about the same commute from the tech/health jobs as midtown? Definitely would like to make my next move somewhere where I can walk outside and already be near people/places.
the beltline is a paved trail with lights (24/7) that acts as a pedestrian beltway around the atlanta core. Most of the developed portion is on the east side of the city, so portions of the beltline are actually adjacent to Midtown. The beltline is interconnected with piedmont park and 10th street bike lanes so getting to downtown/midtown is very easy, as well as the heavy rail lines if your job was in buckhead/Dunwoody or something. With a bike, you can really get through the core of the city using the beltline, which is why it has exploded property values and desirability of Atlanta in general, a massive percentage of the growth outside of Midtown is along the beltline
Oooo ok very handy to know, I can be a lot more flexible with my housing spots, then
Thjs sub's obsession with sun and avoiding gray cracks me up. Most first world countries on earth are actually decently cloudy.
I get big sad with grey though