Calling US-based mumsnetters

[StathLetsFlats]

I am looking for a change. Tell me where you live and why I should move there. I am currently living in NYC and, although I know this is an unpopular opinion.. but NY is like an inferior version of London. I can’t move back to London (Brexit) so would like a complete change for a couple of years, maybe somewhere a bit cheaper and a bit warmer! But definitely with cool things going on. Any ideas?

Oh and by Denver, I mean Colorado generally, I got a bit carried away then!

The only place I have seen a gun is in the sporting store (which has since stopped selling them), it's not a consideration in my everyday life and there is certainly not a huge gun crime problem in Nashville.
We have about the same amount of snow as London, some years more, some years none at all.
Plenty of Europeans, I don't know the exact stats but Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in the US and a lot of the people moving here are from overseas.
I know many transplants here from NYV and LA who moved for a better quality of life, no one seems to regret their decision!

I'd love to live in San Fransisco too; tbh the shit weather wouldn't put me off, it'd be a bit like living in the UK! However, I know housing costs are insane, and depending on where you work, commutes are awful. The only thing putting me off was extra travel time back to the UK

I'd avoid LA and San Diego - both didn't do anything for me and just felt like urban sprawl with no centre

I live in the greater Boston area and I love it. Really diverse, loads of cultural activities, fab symphony, art galleries, theatre scene, music (check out Club Passim) universities and colleges. I have taken courses at Harvard and other colleges for the fun of it. Boston has a wonderful and vibrant waterfront (seaport - relatively new) and riverfront - Charles river esplanade. Affordable sailing for all at community boating, ditto rowing on the Charles. lots of restaurants and a great older feel to the city - old buildings/streets etc. Sail/swim/row/paddleboard in summer and ski/skate in winter.

downsides are traffic and the winter can be hard in Jan/Feb particularly. Far greater gun control than most states.

No need to be religious. Very diverse, pretty accepting of all apart from leftover racism and historical divisions from bussing - but people are trying to deal with this.

Oh I am reading this thread with interest, more from the point of view of possible places to visit in the US in the distant future!

I have never been over to the USA, so it's good read about other places apart from New York

My husband likes Colorado little but the snow puts me off! I like Boston, but the weather is too similar to NY.

How about Costa Rica great food, good investments in infrastructure (including better internet, cell etc provision than the US) totally different to London, however not the US so maybe not an option..

Aside from the flippancy, the no snow criteria puts you on the west coast, lower east coast and the southern states.

I'd probably only do Florida if it was Miami, I've heard good things about Houston, depending on area you live in, but have never been

Well then if you don't want boston how about Portland ME. The winter isn't as hard as Maine generally as it is by the coast and it is a fab city with art galleries, bookshops, restaurants etc. Close to Boston, close to coastal Maine and used to be a ferry to Nova Scotia (not sure if there still is)

I also liked Newport (RI) but I imagine it gets baltic up there in winter. I'd avoid around Washington DC as I was there one summer and it was a hot as satan's ballcrack - I basically melt in that humidity!

Reading back your criteria, I'd say Austin TX is probably the closest for you.

Tbh you couldn't pay me to live in Tx (even Austin) but my cousin lived in Houston for several years and met lovely people and made lifelong friends.

Miami. Just been voted in the top cities to eat in the US, lovely and warm year round, loads to do and there's always the beach, cultural, different to anywhere else in the US and very different to London. Close to Key West and Orlando so nice weekends away.

I have to say Nashville. Great place.

I'd vote for my home city though if I didn't think it would be just a little slow for you after NY! money.com/money/collection/best-places-to-live-2019/5653183/clarksville-tennessee/

Santa Monica, California.

If you could stand a smaller city, there’s Asheville NC. I just moved from there are I loved it. Great restaurant and bar/brewery scene, good music, great weather and lovely people. Strong hippy/alternative streak and the most amazing fall colours I’ve ever seen.

Have you considered Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA? Top notch food in both!

Im just north of Boston, bout 1/2 way between Boston and the New Hampshire border. Its great. Close to the ocean or the mountains or farmland or the city. Decent transportation, nice homes and communities and plenty of good paying jobs.
We are no warmer though.

I got to choose where we lived I would pick Miami, I love the sea and the Latin culture. It makes me practice my Spanish properly. We visit the area at least yearly.
But the hurricanes are scary for friends who live there.

Cleveland!!

Atlanta,Georgia has nightlife,shopping,great cuisine and cheaper than NYC.

Atlanta

Well, I live in Michigan so the weather's worse and the night life's limited!

I've heard that Nashville is good - loads of places with bands and live music, bars etc.

I want something different because I don’t want to feel like I am just in a smaller version of London every time I go out.

How on Earth is New York City a smaller version of London?!

Having lived in both cities, culture wise - theatre, music, arts, nightlife - they are pretty similar although for nightlife I think NYC is better.

You might prefer San Francisco if weather is an issue, but the cost of living there is very high due to low housing density. And even if you live in the city proper you most likely need a car to really enjoy your lifestyle out there.

Well it is smaller for a start edge, New York seems very generic these days (many cities are sadly) nothing like it was 25+ years ago, but it also just seems much less exciting than London, I told you it wasn’t an popular opinion. 😂

I live in NYC and don't think it's anything like London let alone an inferior version. Like saying Love Island is an inferior version of Strictly .

That being said, I'd go to VEGAS. Hot weather, fine dining, excellent standard of living, growing economy, lots of outdoorsy/hiking stuff. Easy stabbing distance to LA and Tahoe too.

How on Earth is New York City a smaller version of London?!

I have to say I don't get this either. I love London (I'm not from the UK) and it is one of my favourite cities to visit. I could go there over and over again and always see/experience something different. I am not that enthused about NYC and rarely go there unless my kids want to see a show or to visit friends. But they are utterly utterly different cities to me - couldn't imagine one being a smaller/bigger/less exciting version of the other. completely different history, geography, zeitgeist, etc.