wow! lots of moving talk- lets keep this going!

[shalom]

I've posted to a couple boards on this topic, but I'd LOVE more feedback. We are also on a quest for the perfect place to live (probably in the US).
We need four seasons (spring, green summer, fall colors, snowy winter), a smallish town, definitely 'alternative', progressive, 'crunchy', whatever you want to call it; affordable, beautiful,..... We want it all! :)

Lets keep this discussion up!:hippie

[CookieMonsterMommy]

I've heard that Vermont is beautiful, and if it weren't for my SO I'd definately look into settling there. Supposedly very simple living, AP accepted, have snowy winters and gorgeous autumns (I worked for an MD who took 1 week vacation in the summer to go to the caribbean, and his other week at the end of September to Vermont just to see the leaves change!). Not sure about the summers. I myself am planning a move to Virginia Beach or Chesapeak are....but they don't get much snow, so not sure if you'd like that, and not sure how crunchy they are.
Best Wishes, Kelly

[Plady]

How about Madison WI? It sounds like it fits your criteria to a T. Or if that is too big, maybe one of the outlying areas? Although they get less crunchy the farther you go from the university I think.

[Justice2]

There are a great deal of those types of communities in the Mid Atlantic area. (DC, Virginia and North Carolina). Certainly have all of the four seasons and in Virginia and North Carolina there are vast differences in geography. Mountains to your west and ocean to your east. Very beautiful areas.

[joy_ful]

Well, I live in NC, and in my area you have very little spring and very little autumn. The longest season is definately summer...and it's HOT!

As you can tell, I'm not a native...and we're looking to relocate somewhere with 4 seasons as well...

[lab]

NC does have a HOT summer! WHEW!

But I have to say that the fall is really not short. It lasts until November! :D

[Justice2]

Where I live in SC (just outside of Charlotte) right now there is about 20 inches of snow on the ground. Spring ususally starts at the end of Mar, beginning of April and lasts until June or so. Then it does get hot (but isn't that what summer is about!) Our fall usually starts pretty late...around October and lasts until the middle to the end of December (I can remember wearing shorts on Christmas!) and then winter usually starts somewhere around January (sometimes getting snow that early).

Usually it doesn't snow this much during the winter, but it did this year!

But, the other posters are correct, our summers are hot and humid!

[Viola]

My husband is on a retirement quest and to that end has bought a number of books that talk about great places to live. I can look through the books and throw a few names out there, if you like.

[mingber]

We currently live in New Jersey and I HATE IT! So, we bought a new house in Providence, RI and we are moving in 2 weeks. We had lived there before and LOVED it. Now we get to move back - YEAH!!! :) It is the best, wonderful community, good private schools, alternative people, old New England attitude (without the WASPY attitude), slower pace lifestyle, and nice people. I can't wait.

Good luckl with your choice.

[Mother2Amaya]

We are considering NC or VA. It's such a hard decision. I've lived in Phoenix, Minneapolis, and now Philadelphia. Minneapolis is home, so is, of course, my favorite. However, I find the people in Utah to be sooooo friendly.

I've heard good things about Seattle and Oregon.

Now that I'm up here in Philly, I realize I'm not a Northeastern person. I just don't mesh well up here and need somewhere much, much more laid back and friendly.

[Mother2Amaya]

Oh! I have been to findyourspot.com a bunch of times... it's a good website that helps you plug in things you are looking for and gives you a list of places that may fit you.