# If you had to move to a new city —one you haven't lived in before —where would you go? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077 "2015-10-09T21:28:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/1 "2015-10-09T21:28:17Z")
You have been told by an irresistible outside force — aliens, genie, voice of God, whatever — that you must move away from your current home, to a new city. (Yes, even if you don’t live in a city now.) All of your moving expenses will be covered. All of your moving _logistics_ will be covered to the degree that you want them to be. You’ll receive a comfortable home on par with your home now in the new city. This force will even help you find a comparable job. You’ll be moved in 30 days. But you do get to pick your new city. The one caveat: It can’t be one where you’ve lived before, at all. You can have visited, multiple times even, but you can’t have been a legal resident or an extended visitor (longer than, say, a month). You’re allowed to visit the city you live in now, but again, not for an extended period of time. (For purposes of this question, you need to move outside of the metropolitan statistical area, so no going to St. Paul from Minneapolis, for example. A significant disruption to your routine is required.) What city would you move to? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/2 "2015-10-09T22:05:04Z")
I lived in Paris for four months when I was 19, so that knocks it off the list. Otherwise, it would be my first choice. Vienna, Barcelona, or Strasbourg. All places I’ve visited several times and have felt as comfy as an old pair of slippers from day one. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/3 "2015-10-09T22:10:05Z")
San Francisco: a couple hours away (so outside the metropolitan statistical area), but still close enough to visit friends and family. I have always loved SF, but can, in no way, afford to live there. If I could get a comparable home and job in the city, I would move in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/4 "2015-10-09T22:13:03Z")
Easy. London. I currently live in on the top floor of a historic apartment building in the center of Portland, Ore. A comparable apartment in the heart of London would put me in some of the most valuable real estate in the world. There are number of cities, mostly in Australia and New Zealand, that would be on equal footing for second place. Hobart would probably get second choice if London was out. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/5 "2015-10-09T22:18:06Z")
Okay to name places I’ve visited? Flagstaff, Arizona, is an extremely nice place, and I’d be delighted to live there. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/6 "2015-10-09T22:34:45Z")
My wife and I have been talking about this recently. I want to move somewhere with a strong agriculture base enough rainfall that I don’t have to worry about drought and a strong tourism economy. Right now we’re mainly looking at Cour d’Alane/Spokane although Walla Walla is a decent runner up. I’m also curious about moving to the east coast some where around Hampton, NH but I’ve never been to the area. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/7 "2015-10-09T22:45:48Z")
Portland, Maine. Please, please, Genie, pick me! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/8 "2015-10-09T22:54:41Z")
One of several towns in the East Bay that I haven’t lived in–El Cerrito, Kensington, and Montclair, California, probably. I moved here (St. Paul) because my job moved here, and I’m just marking time, saving up money for the move back home. All my stuff’s in storage in Berkeley, so moving would be a breeze. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/9 "2015-10-09T23:00:45Z")
New York City. Get me some of that pizza and Chinese food I’ve hear so much about. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/10 "2015-10-09T23:10:47Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Easy. London. That’s my answer. ---
**Author:** ![Mnemnosyne](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mnemnosyne/32/3347_2.png) [@Mnemnosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnemnosyne)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/11 "2015-10-09T23:18:00Z")
Never been there, but from everything I’ve read and heard, I think I’d like it: Stockholm, Sweden. Assuming citizenship issues are part of the logistics thing you mentioned. Since job and place to live are handled for me, I don’t have to worry about not knowing Swedish yet, I can learn it once I’m there and immersed in the environment. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/12 "2015-10-09T23:28:06Z")
I’d probably wind up in Detroit, with my luck. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/13 "2015-10-09T23:31:55Z")
Amsterdam. Progressive culture and near many other European cities. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/14 "2015-10-09T23:43:35Z")
I’d want to stay close to my mom and brothers, who live in St. Louis. So, I’d pick Chicago. I’ve visited several times, and I think it’s a wonderful city. Gets a bit chilly, sure, but there’s lots to do, good public transportation, and not too far from the folks. Chicago is probably my favorite city to visit in the US. If aging/ailing family were not an issue, probably London. What a great place! Paris is if course fantastic as well, but not speaking the language would be an issue. Luckily, living in London, I could easily pop over for a visit. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/15 "2015-10-09T23:58:13Z")
Since I’ve already lived in NY, it would be a toss up between Pittsburgh and Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/16 "2015-10-10T00:27:49Z")
I’m going to say Toronto at this point. As a bonus, I’d be closer to my remaining family in New York State than I currently am. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/17 "2015-10-10T00:29:26Z")
Probably Paris. If it has to be in North America, then Fredricton, New Brunswick. If it has to be in the US, then New York City. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/18 "2015-10-10T01:18:49Z")
Rio! I can finally learn Portuguese. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/19 "2015-10-10T01:55:13Z")
I wouldn’t want to move out of the region. So I’d say no to Houston, Texas even though I’ve visited there a lot and like the city. Burlington, Vermont’s a great city and I’d be closer to my family. I like the city of Ithaca, NY itself but the surrounding area is pretty desolate. I don’t know Albany, NY as well but it seems like a decent place. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077/20 "2015-10-10T02:02:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Houston, Texas…Burlington, Vermont…Ithaca, NY…Albany, NY Christ amighty, bro, it’s a wish fufillment thread! Set your sights a little higher! You could be a householder in Gormenghast, or Oz. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-move-to-a-new-city-one-you-havent-lived-in-before-where-would-you-go/734077.md?page=2)