I lived in Athens from '84 to '91. I recommend it. You can be big city culture or small town laid back. I’m in Madison, WI now. College towns are college towns. I’ll be back down there in the warm weather when I finish my duties up here.
Having moved around alot over the last 20 years, my conclusion is that the location matters less than the pure luck of who you happen to meet while there.
Go Dawgs.
Go Badgers.