I’m looking for fun, I’m looking for youthful like me. I’m looking for an interest in all the art stuff (local music, theatre, museums, architecture) but not snobby- willing to refer to it as “art stuff”. I want to feel safe- I’m reasonably tough, but I don’t want to have to walk with my (theoretical) mace out all the time. I’m looking for outside of the midwest, not too cold (no winters frozen solid- but I’m living in Denver), not too humid (please refer to current location). I don’t like visiting Minnesota because it’s just too humid, at least in the summer.
I’ll be moving to the state to eventually go to school there (nursing school), so I’ll be there for a few years. I have worked as a receptionist and as a phlebotomist, so finding a job shouldn’t be too hard wherever I go?
The tragic truth is- I have no idea what I’m doing, so let me know of any questions I should be asking myself. I’ll be moving in January.
I’ve currently got Washington State in my sights (Seattle?), also for some reason Alaska, maybe for some reason the southeast coast- Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina?, Atlanta… I just don’t know! Please help me find some direction to my quest! I’m a romantic- I just want to live somewhere interesting.
People love the North Carolina “Research Triangle” of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Great college towns, lots of universities, young and educated and progressive population (surrounded by the rest of conservative North Carolina), great restaurants, good music scene. Though it probably gets cold winters and hot and humid summers, it seems like a nice place to end up, and it would be on my short list if I ever decide to leave Florida.
As for Florida, you’d die from the humidity, so I won’t even give it a shout-out. I’ve lived here my whole life, and it is my least favorite part.
What you should do is consult a list of accredited nursing schools, and eliminate any that are in areas you definitely won’t like, then eliminate more based on high costs, admissions standards you might not meet, or specializations that don’t interest you. From there, you’ll have a shorter list of “maybes,” and you can do more research into the schools and surrounding cities – cost of living (very important!), weather, local culture, etc. Then look into the local job markets, and see how long it would take for you to establish residency, since in-state tuition is almost always lower than out-of-state. If you can truly go anywhere you want, this seems like a logical way to begin.
I’ve always heard you have to be special to move to Canada from the US (highly educated or… something), and is a Nursing degree transferrable from Canada to the US?
Seattle is really nice, but you do realize in rains a ton there?
I would recommend New York City, Boston or Chicago. Some people like Philly, but I’m not a big fan.
Of course if you move to NY, you can join the throngs of other Manhattan women who complain that they can’t find a guy who isn’t gay, unemployed or afraid of commitment.
I have a feeling humidity is going to be the first requirement broken, since I’m not interested in the southwest, so I’m not overly worried about it. I tend to have unrealistic hopes.
Yeah, if I move to NY, NY, I can be a poor very single (vaguely) fat woman in a tiny apartment eating ramen. I think not.
Chico isn’t a big city, but it has lots of youth and art and fun stuff, and it isn’t too terribly expensive. It’s hot in summer, but mostly dry, and personally I think it’s the best place in California.
Austin. It’s got all the appeal of a big city, without (yet) being overcrowded and too expensive to live in. No frozen winters; in fact the city tends to shut down on the rare occasion we get a little ice. It’s not too humid, at least compared to the other places I’ve lived (Florida and south Alabama). Not very dangerous either. I was in a similar situation to you two years ago. I could move anywhere I wanted, and I picked out Austin as the best place. I don’t regret it at all, this is a great city.
Portland, Oregon. Less rain than Seattle, cheaper, smaller while still bing an actual city, slightly younger, too. Lots of artsy things and it’s just fine to call them “artsy things.” The architecture is cool except the KOIN tower which is just ass-ugly.
Although it’s difficult to get into nursing schools here - I have several friends all trying to get into programs and they seem terribly stressed out about come competitive it is.
OTOH, I have a position open for a phlebotomist I need to hire, uh, last week. It’s full time!!
I moved here about 8 years ago at age 26 as a temporary stop doing an internship. I can’t stand the though of leaving now, so I won’t. I’m quite settled in and quite happy.
Boston is nice, and not just because I live there. Seriously! We have great schools, lots of culture, an awesome night-life, a low crime-rate for the most part, and beautiful weather* I’d give it a look.
Well…Seattle doesn’t exactly work on the humidity requirement, but it’d fit the bill otherwise. Seattle doesn’t exactly get as much rain as people think, it’s just overcast ALL THE TIME. If you like hippies maybe Bellingham.
Is the US a requirement? I love Victoria, BC and would move their in a second if I had a chance. They claim to be the home of the “Newlywed and nearly dead.” Evidently the age of Victoria residents tends to be bimodal. Expensive place to live though from what I heard last time. Weather was perfect though.
Portland would be another option. My brother lives there and loves it. If you’re the social type he says it’s got some of the best nightlife out of any city in the country. Close to the coast too.
