Living in the USA (Page 4 of 4)

Hey Jonny- that's a tough call. Obviously it helps if you have family or friends already here to lean on but otherwise I can't answer that. Everyone handles it differently. I've never had a problem moving somewhere new but then again I generally don't like people anyway so it works out all around! Seriously, I don't think there's all that much adjustment required. You already speak the language (unless you go to the southern states) so you'll be just fine. Hell, I figure you could come over, stay with me for a month or so and then I'll pass you off to one of the other Bonabuds and so on and so on till you're sick of us.

There's something to be said for every area of the U.S. The weather is always the deciding factor for me. Generally the eastern and southern states tend to be humid in the summer, most northern states can be bitterly cold in the winter and let's not forget hurricane and tornado seasons in many areas. Of course out here in California, we don't get any of that. Yeah, we get the occasional shaker (not where I live however) but personally I prefer a little rock and roll as opposed to a blow and go.

As Mike answered Jonathan, from my experience in Austin, it appears to be a safe city. As I mentioned before, it really has a lot music possibilities and many clubs that have music at night. Reminds me a lot of Madison, Wisconsin in that it too is a college town combined with the State capitol. Lots of forward thinking younger people and you'll always find something to do. Of course, Madison has one thing over Austin in that, you could then become a Green Bay Packer fan living in Wisconsin. Sort of like this guy: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2004/1911 … 45c2_z.jpg    Of course, he doesn't actually live in Wisconsin. And, as Tres mentioned, there are a lot of fine looking women in Austin who tend to wear less and less in the way of clothing as the temperature rises. Funny how that works, hey?

Simply said, Austin is a great town.

Roy

HA! HA! HA!
Don't forget to try the veal and tip your waitress well!

Martin mbcl: We were in Florida, which has its problems, schooling is appalling and attitude towards the disabled in school is victorian and oppressive, although we did improve things while we were there. Apparently this is a Florida thing.

FDOL:  It's worse than that.  But that shouldn't affect you. 

Unusual state.  In Miami we speak Spanish.  In Fort Pierce *Soulsville By The Sea* we speak deep ghetto.  In Boca Raton we speak Yiddish.  In the University towns anything goes.  In Okeechobee we speak cracker/redneck.  In Marco Island we speak retired yankee.  and so on and so forth.

MuchLove
Bigjeff

I may as well add my 2 cents worth.  I live in the Southern US where we have delightful winters and unbearably hot and humid summers.  America is massive, I believe my state of Louisiana is as large as the UK.  Yes, we travel a lot from state to state on vacation ... I've been all over this country and there are amazingly different cultures, landscapes, etc.

I've read the other comments and would totally agree about Austin, TX.  It's a big city, has traffic congestion, but offsetting that is the great university, the live music scene, and the absolutely laid back atmosphere.  Summers might get pretty hot but winter should be mild.   

If you prefer mountains, there's a smaller city in the East called Asheville, North Carolina, that has a nice lively live music scene, a very tolerant culture (right in the city), some great restaurants, microbreweries, etc.  Also they are into organic locally grown food, have a fabulous farmer's market.  It has a 4 season climate.

Northern California is great, especially San Francisco Bay area.  International culture, live music, beautiful scenery.  Very high cost of living right in the city but more affordable in the surrounding area.

Also love Southern Cali, especially the San Diego area; lovely weather, the beaches and ocean are to die for, again high cost of living but better than L.A.  L.A. has everything but traffic and freeways are a nightmare and rush hour(s) are long.

Nashville, Tennessee is also a great place, 4 seasons, large enough for lively live music scene.  Of course it is the country music capital of the US.  Great central US location close to lots of beautiful scenery.

Love New York City.  Manhattan extremely expensive to live in, more affordable in outer boroughs.  I would love to live there for a few years and experience everything.  There you just mostly park the car, ride the bus or take a taxi or walk, as long as you're in Manhattan.

There's basically a trade off as far as weather --- the north has appalling cold winters and lots of snow and ice, but especially in the midwest & north, the summers can be equally as hot as the winters are cold.  The south has great sunny mild winters, though we do get down to freezing and below, usually not for more than a few days at a time.  Summers are often unbearably hot.

I'd want to live at or near one coast or the other, in a large city, for more opportunity for work, various cultures, acceptance, etc.

If you don't have a job with health insurance, you're in a bind over here.  Health care costs become more outrageous every year.  I don't know how to compare ours with Europe, Canada or anywhere else.

Sounds like a good idea to do some traveling while you're still young, staying long enough in each place to get a true feel for what it's like to live there.  The longer you wait, the less likely you will be to find that new place where you feel at home.

Hi Sandy Girl, thanks very much for the reply. The more I look at San Francisco and San Diego, the more attractive they look to me. This is because of the large tech companies that I would like to someday work for. Also, sounds like they have good weather too which is important for me. What's the congestion and air/noise/visual pollution like in these cities? You also describe Nashville as having 4 seasons...does you saying this mean that other places like SF don't? (I assume by seasons you mean weather-wise btw )

Hello:) I can't thank you and everyone else enough for the great advice and also kindness you have showed me. SF sounds good (weather wise) because I don't like blisteringly hot weather all the time...30 degrees give or take a few is as hot as I would like and good news about the pollution...can cause some nasty health problems over time I've heard. SD also sounds great and I like the idea of being able to be outdoors all year round. Interesting that Nashville has only 2 weather seasons though.

I look forward to meeting you sometime too!:) maybe at a Joe show:D