# \[LOTR\] Where would you rather live? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143 "2002-10-27T19:43:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/21 "2002-10-29T03:28:48Z")
I’d take the shire. And if that wasn’t available I’d head for Bree. I’m human, I like to live. And frankly, in Rivendell and Lothlorien they’re not really living. I always got the impression they just existed. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/22 "2002-10-29T04:31:13Z")
Provided I could add a few feet to the ceiling of Bilbo’s house, I’d live in the shire…it seems like a nice place. ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/23 "2002-10-29T14:25:04Z")
I’m sure that I’d feel most at home, and most welcome, in Minas Tirith. Lothlorien and Rohan are as dangerous to outsiders as Mordor. Rivendell is more “enlightened” and “multicultural,” but IMHO like the United Nations… you have to be a dignitary, or travelling with one. As for Dwarrowdelf, the lack of fresh air would be a nuisance. So for comfort, I’d settle in MT. If I could only visit one place, I think it would be the Shire. They’d put out the welcome mat and we could exchange some drinking games, and I’d find out if that pipe weed really is what I think it is. It is a lifetime achievement for a stranger to earn the real trust and friendship of even one hobbit, though… ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/24 "2002-10-29T15:16:00Z")
Live in the Shire… in spite of King Elessar’s decree (don’t tell him!) and vacation everywhere else, especially Rivendell. Except Mordor, of course. Whee! The Two Towers set exhibit opens on Thursday! I get to see Helm’s Deep and Fangorn and the golden hall and Isengard… ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/25 "2002-10-29T15:58:33Z")
I’d love to VISIT Moria in its prime. Or Erebor pre-Smaug. And definitely the Glittering caves early 4th age. How about Dol Amroth? Nice sea view… I guess I’d choose Lake-town. Brian ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/26 "2002-10-29T20:57:29Z")
Maybe I’m just unimaginative, but I never got a good idea of what Rivendell is supposed to look like–Shire, yes, Bree, yes, Tom Bombadil’s house, yes, Lothlorien, yes, Edoras, yes, Minas Tirith, yes … but not Rivendell. Tolkien just kind of glosses over it. What are the buildings made of? Stone? Wood? Are they grand, palace-y things with gobs of gold and marble, or more of a quaint Alpine village feel? ---
**Author:** ![moonstarssun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@moonstarssun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moonstarssun)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/27 "2002-10-29T23:07:36Z")
I’m new to the board, and this seems like a good place for my first post. I’d choose Lothlorien. I love trees, and the idea of living deep in the forest is very appealing. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/28 "2002-10-29T23:33:01Z")
If I could live anywhere in the books, it’d be Nargothrond, the grandest of the underground kingdoms. Of course, I’d want to visit Menegroth and see the statues telling the history of the elves and valinor that Melian made… If I’m restricted to LOTR places, I’d probably go with Bree. ---
**Author:** ![c\_carol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@c\_carol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_carol)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/29 "2002-10-29T23:58:43Z")
Toadspittle, the way I pictured Rivendale is pretty much exactly the way they showed it in the movie; it’s one of the things I thought they (surprisingly) got exactly right. If they’d have me, I’d love to stay there for a while (and maybe get a look at Elrond’s library) but to live permanently I’d have to go for Minas Tirith. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/30 "2002-10-30T00:50:35Z")
Are the Undying Lands an option? Imagine the light of the two trees… ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/31 "2002-10-30T01:19:52Z")
Glee, the trees are dead. All that’s left are the sun (fruit of Laurelin) and moon (flower of Telperion). Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143/32 "2002-10-30T03:46:41Z")
When the new 911 addressing system was put in here several years ago, I was chosen to name the road our house is on. I named it Rivendell Road. (We live in the Last Homely House) I guess that answers that question. A second choice would be Bree. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-where-would-you-rather-live/134143.md?page=1)