Should I live where you live??

[mackysmama]

I'm a New Yorker at heart but have lived in Houston, Texas for the last 13 years. My partner and I are planning on moving back to the northeast/new england area. We are trying to find the "perfect place" for our family and we'll job search once we have a destination (or a few places to choose from). So, I am starting to research places for us and I'm asking for your help. Do you live in a great place and do you think it would be great for me? Do you know of a place that would be great? Here's what our "utopia" would look like.

State civil unions or marriage for same-sex couples OR a very liberal area where it will be easy to find a job with domestic partner benefits.

A small city or suburb of a larger city. We want diversity, especially an area where our children will see families like their own (same sex parents) and where we can find a community of families that share our AP parenting values. Size wise, we're thinking an area like Burlington, VT or Ithaca, NY, as examples. But, we'd also consider suburbs or larger cities like Boston. Think crunchy.

Affordable housing. By this, we mean we would be able to purchase a house (1500 sf or more) in a nice, safe, cozy, liberal neighborhood for about $200,000 (we'd prefer less, of course, and might be able to swing a bit more).

Good job market and reasonable cost of living. We want to be able to continue to live on one income. My partner works in non-profit so we need an area that pays well and has good support for social service work.

Good schools. Either VERY good public schools or a selection of affordable private schools with a montessori or waldorf focus.

Beauty. We want our kids to play outside in nature. We want parks and playgrounds and green space and mountains and lakes. I have visions of my kids playing in our backyard with the neighborhood kids and riding their bikes through the safe streets.

Okay, does this place exist? Do you know where it is?

[tylertyler]

Hello there
Yes this place does exist.
Its a place called Topanga Canyon within the boundries of LA california.
In fact all of calif. is verry open minded. Specially in all of LA.
Topanga canyon is one of the many deepset nature canyons in the Santa Monica Mountain rainge that runs parralell with the Pacific ocean.
Topanga canyon last of the organic/holistic/openminded/veggan communities.
You find the typical Yoga studios,Nudist colony,Anti- War people,organic food farms,tibetan book stores,homeopaths,acupunturists,chirop,holistic healers of all sorts. Many artists,Hippies,dancers,musicians. Homes go for super cheap like a little cute mountain shack,or several million dollars next door. Lots of movie people in the area have torn down down the original topanga homes and built moster villas, but the area is so dense with forest you dont notice these horrific monster homes.
The best area's for gay couples is in the west Hollywood neighborhood of LA (aprox 30 min drive from Topanga canyon) Id say its 65-70% gay living.But verry expensive! More like a city,concrete,shops,malls............etc.

Need anything more regards info please let me know
TYLER

[edenluna]

I think Portland, Oregon is the place for you.... Very liberal, beautiful, good schools, many same sex couples. loads of non-profits and you can buy a great house in some up and coming neighborhoods. There is a very low crime rate there, AND you would be within a days trip of San Fran, Seattle and Vancouver BC....

I lived there for 10 years and my plan is to one day move back! i love it!!!

[hxcmama]

I am subscribing to this thread, because I am in the same position as you! I want to suggest Northampton/western Mass however unless you are a professor or a medical professional it is very difficult to find a good job. NoHo is very liberal though, and I miss living near there. The cost of living is going way up there too. I just want a nice area where one can find a job AND a house on a single income.

[RomanGoddess]

Toronto, Canada. Except for the beauty (at least in my opinion) you have to leave the city. The beauty of Canada is in nature, not in the city.

[mom3b1?]

[QUOTE=mackysmama;7211599]

State civil unions or marriage for same-sex couples OR a very liberal area where it will be easy to find a job with domestic partner benefits.

A small city or suburb of a larger city. We want diversity, especially an area where our children will see families like their own (same sex parents) and where we can find a community of families that share our AP parenting values. Size wise, we're thinking an area like Burlington, VT or Ithaca, NY, as examples. But, we'd also consider suburbs or larger cities like Boston. Think crunchy.

Affordable housing. By this, we mean we would be able to purchase a house (1500 sf or more) in a nice, safe, cozy, liberal neighborhood for about $200,000 (we'd prefer less, of course, and might be able to swing a bit more).

Good job market and reasonable cost of living. We want to be able to continue to live on one income. My partner works in non-profit so we need an area that pays well and has good support for social service work.

Good schools. Either VERY good public schools or a selection of affordable private schools with a montessori or waldorf focus.

Beauty. We want our kids to play outside in nature. We want parks and playgrounds and green space and mountains and lakes. I have visions of my kids playing in our backyard with the neighborhood kids and riding their bikes through the safe streets.

QUOTE]

Well, we have most of it, except one of the most important bits, and that would be the Civil Union bit. The only place I know about that has that is Ann Arbor Michigan, but I wouldn't recommend it for other reasons. My time in Michigan wasn't very good, though Ann Arbor does have some cool people. The University of Michigan offers full benefits to same sex couples, which is how I think it should be everywhere. If you can take the cold, and don't want to have a baby, Ann Arbor is a bit of a haven for same sex couples. The birth scene there is pretty grim, IMO.

I've found my Utopia in Houston County Georgia. The public schools are AMAZING. There are some good private schools around as well. If you moved to Macon, you'd probably love the Montessouri of Macon School, but it only goes up to 8th grade. The church it rents space from is very welcoming to same sex couples. In fact, you could call them if you wanted to find out an insider's perspective. It's St. Francis Episcopal Church. Send me a message if you want contact info. There is also a UU church in Macon that would answer your questions about the community. Don't feel you have to ascribe to either or any religion to call these churches, they are equally welcoming to everybody. My friend is Wiccan and goes to the UU church with her partner, and people act perfectly normally. Her partner is a teacher in our school system down here in Houston County, and while it's not really accepted by everybody, she's not given trouble either. They live in a completely different county. Unfortunately in that location, an outlying rural county, they did have some problems.

Anyway, this isn't the best place for same sex couples, but it's far from the worst. Just google up St. Francis Episcopal Church in Macon Georgia, and give them a call if you want more details.

How the children and I ended up here is nothing short of miraculous. We had to leave their father because of his mental problems, and find a safe place to live. We could have gone anywhere. My realtor mother made calls and found this place. It has been a perfect fit. There are good jobs to be had here and in Macon. I can't say enough about how great the schools are. My kids all have special needs and this county is incredible for special needs kids. Bibb County, where Macon is, doesn't have as much of that, but it does have some really great schools, and some amazing magnet schools. Vineville Academy is a performing arts magnet Elementary school and is like a little slice of heaven. Central High is just as good. Anyway, it's a great place to get a good education. Macon also has some exceptional private schools.

There is no shortage of natural beauty either.

This is a great place, send me a private message if you want more information or contacts.

Kiley