If You Could Live Anywhere?

[windycissy]

Been spending a lot of time thinking about where would be the best place to live if I were ever to go 24/7, ruling out places that are stratospherically expensive, like I've dressed and gone out in London and San Francisco but couldn't afford to live there if I gave up my guy income...someplace with a nice climate, low cost of living and tolerant of alternative lifestyles, any ideas?

[Rogina B]

Pick any one of the three!! But two together is a lot of $$,and three is impossible!!! No such place!:2c:

[Carroll]

Ithaca, NY
Once voted America's most enlightened city. (http://www.utne.com/1997-05-01/1IthacaNewYork.aspx) Accepting of the LGBT community, two of the better known schools of higher learning; Cornell University and Ithaca College, All four seasons. We are anal about recycling, have lots of scenery. Chances of hurricanes; 1%, Earthquakes; >.1%, Blizzards; 20%, Volcano eruptions; 0%, Nuclear target >1%, lake effect snow; 100%, Temps lower than 0ºf; 50%, temps higher than 100ºf; 50%; jobless rate; 6%, chance of running into me at the mall, 90%:D.

[crossdrezzer1]

deff... Germany,, they are so open

[linnea]

I have been thinking a lot about this one lately too. I'm anticipating a RLE in the near future, and I'm trying to decide where I would do it. Montana is NOT a good choice, not anywhere, though the cost of living is pretty attractive and the climate is good.

I would be very comfortable living somewhere in Germany and I have found Ithaca, NY, to be an exceptional city in many ways, but I suggest a different direction: west.
Not SF but a city in Washington, sufficiently cosmopolitan, appealingly interesting in climate (though it can get a lot of snow in some winters and does have an air pollution problem), and moderately attuned in cost of living: Spokane.
Washington has strong policies that protect transgendered people, and Spokane has a pretty open and accepting spirit (so far as I know).
I think that it would be a good choice on the basis of culture--several colleges and a university: Whitworth, Gonzaga, Community College of Spokane; museums and galleries, a beautiful riverside park, and a pretty lively downtown.
That's my current city of choice.

[Starr]

My plan is Vegas, I love the weather and not that expense to live ther from what I have checked into. It seems to be a pretty open minded place but I am sure not all areas are excepting of Crossdressers but right now that is my plan.

Another place you might consider is Atlanta, GA Gay.com just listed Atlanta as the most Gay city. That and the SCC shows the city to be very open minded to lifestyles.

star

[Dutchess]

a GG here,, I want to go back to the EU for sure,, my husband is Dutch ( hence the misspelling of Dutchess)I am 8th gen Texan. I wish we could go back to the Netherlands,,, but cant for many reasons ..one, being he is terrified to even dress at home there and two ,an ex wife that just will not go away after 10 years

(she would if she knew about his CD-ing but I wont go there, she likes the money he makes over here and will still occasionally send naked pics of herself with her bank account number attached :straightface: )

I am campaigning hard for London, Stockholm or anywhere in Spain.. Even Toulouse , France... he has had job offers in all these places ... alot of our alternative expat friends are heading to Berlin,, they say it is fabulous to live there...most of these going to Berlin are leaving from Amsterdam.. The village in far southen Holland where my husband is from would never accept any of this.They don't even accept me ,,at all, what so ever, lol.

[vikki2020]

Chicago fit's the criteria, and except for the lousy winters, it's a great place , with lot's of resources for the tg community.But, you know that!

[Jilmac]

Anyplace away from this god forsaken tundra called the midwest. Someplace where when the word snow is mentioned people will ask, What's snow? :tongueout

[Sandy Banks]

It would have to be London......why are there so many crossdressers in the UK??????

[Cassandra]

I would like to move far away from anyone I know. I'm thinking of Pittsburgh, PA to move to.

[windycissy]

Thanks girls, for me it has to be in the USA, and I'm thinking Las Vegas might be the best alternative too...

[Frédérique]

...someplace with a nice climate, low cost of living and tolerant of alternative lifestyles, any ideas?

Well, I live in an affordable part of the country (one of the main reasons why I’m here), but the weather may be too dry or extreme for some people. Snow isn’t much of a problem, in terms of depth, but they don’t plow the roads! It can get extremely hot and extremely cold, and then there is the threat of tornados to consider. No humidity (to speak of), but the dryness can wrinkle skin and minds and parch lips, in between dust storms, that is…:eek:

It’s a nice place to live – people are friendly and seemingly somewhat tolerant, but I haven’t tested them to see just how tolerant they are. There is no “community” here in rural Kansas that would embrace alternate lifestyles, and I live in an artists’ oasis of sorts, with a college at the northern edge of town, a breeding ground you would think. In reality, family values are so entrenched that any attempt at free thinking or gender expression gets snuffed out at an early age. I’m not interested in ruffling anyone’s feathers, but there are a lot of churches in my town, and it’s only one mile square. You can’t go too far without bumping into group thinking that is conservative in nature (the not-so mythical Heartland). To each his (or her) own, but when I see bumper stickers on cars around town decrying the “sin” of same-sex marriage, I know my little slice of alternative heaven doesn’t have much of a chance to show itself. Girls are expected to be girls, boys are expected to be boys, and there will be no further discussion. I don’t think I will be invited to the weekly Kiwanis meeting anytime soon to discuss the blurring between genders, but that’s OK – I wouldn’t be able to get past the front door (or the opening prayer)…:sad:

So, Cissy – you could visit me, but we wouldn’t be able to stroll down the sidewalk in our finery and look in the cute shops that line Main Street. We would attract a crowd, to be sure, and maybe one of the two policemen, since we would be stepping on people’s expectations. Who knows, there may be a person hiding in a back room, waiting for us to appear, but I haven’t seen any signs of this hopeful eventuality in the years since I came to town, and I’ve been looking. Out of sight, out of mind, you know. Of course, back in Massachusetts, where I used to live, I would have been chased, but at least there was a supportive “community” for alternative lifestyles and free-thinking in that part of the country…

Sorry for the long post – I got carried away (and I should be)…:o

[Karren H]

I would like to move far away from anyone I know. I'm thinking of Pittsburgh, PA to move to.

I left MI 3 decades ago!! The Burgh is an awesome place to live!!!! In my humble opinion. Tg friendly enough.. As long as you love the Steelers, Penguins, (Pirates?). No one cares what you wear!! Lol. Very friendly.... VERY midwesternly economical... Nice 3 bedroom house for $150,000...... Or less!! Water, culture, sports....... Casinos.... Education... Top notch medical.... Voted most livable city a few years back... I'm staying put!!

It's a Burgh thing, Yinz!!

[mmandy31]

i would move to st maarteen hot and the beaches are wonderful

[tommi]

Karren the Pirates :brolleyes: actualy I'm a diehard I want to buy one of there
pink jerseys.

[Karren H]

Karren the Pirates :brolleyes: actualy I'm a diehard I want to buy one of there
pink jerseys.

I have a pink Steelers jersey... And a pink steelers cap and a pink terrible towel but nothing Pirate wise except an old ball cap.. Lol.

[kymmieLorain]

Well someplace where it is 70-80s during the day and 50-60s at night 365. I know there is no place so I will tough it out here. ( for now)

Kymmie

[Lorileah]

I am here. If I had the ability and income I might move closer to the center of the city (I am spoiled I want a NICE loft and not a plain apartment). But there isn't many places better than Colorado...all we need is an ocean and that will come :)

[SuzanneBender]

So many options and all of them seem great. For me it will come down to licensure once I complete my next PhD. In gender Psych and Marriage and Family Counseling. I love KC it has a wonderful TG night life, but is still really conservative. Lawrence, KS is awsome and very very very liberal, but that cost of living is astronomical.



Ithaca, NY
Once voted America's most enlightened city. (http://www.utne.com/1997-05-01/1IthacaNewYork.aspx) .... lake effect snow; 100%, Temps lower than 0ºf; ...6%, chance of running into me at the mall, 90%:D.

As long as the Mall is indoors I can take a rough winter.


My plan is Vegas...
Another place you might consider is Atlanta, GA Gay.com just listed Atlanta as the most Gay city. That and the SCC shows the city to be very open minded to lifestyles.
Atlanta is great. Who would have thought that it was so tolerant.


Chicago fit's the criteria, and except for the lousy winters, it's a great place , with lot's of resources for the tg community.But, you know that!Chicago is my kind of town. I love it there and nothing better than watching concerts and goofing off in Lincoln Park on a summer's day.



It’s a nice place to live – people are friendly and seemingly somewhat tolerant, but I haven’t tested them to see just how tolerant they are. There is no “community” here in rural Kansas that would embrace alternate lifestyles...and I live in an artists’ oasis of sorts, with a college at the northern edge of town, a breeding ground you would think. In reality, family values are so entrenched that any attempt at free thinking or gender expression gets snuffed out at an early age. I’m not interested in ruffling anyone’s feathers, but there are a lot of churches in my town, and it’s only one mile square. You can’t go too far without bumping into group thinking that is conservative in nature (the not-so mythical Heartland). To each his (or her) own, but when I see bumper stickers on cars around town decrying the “sin” of same-sex marriage, I know my little slice of alternative heaven doesn’t have much of a chance to show itself. Girls are expected to be girls, boys are expected to be boys, and there will be no further discussion. I don’t think I will be invited to the weekly Kiwanis meeting anytime soon to discuss the blurring between genders, but that’s OK – I wouldn’t be able to get past the front door (or the opening prayer)…:sad:

So, Cissy – you could visit me, but we wouldn’t be able to stroll down the sidewalk in our finery and look in the cute shops that line Main Street.

Fredi you are on to something here! Linsborg is one of the coolest little towns on the planet. I say we all move there and take it over. Heck Fredi we would make you the Mayor!


I have a pink Steelers jersey... And a pink steelers cap and a pink terrible towel but nothing Pirate wise except an old ball cap.. Lol.

They wouldn't let me in with my Chief's and Royals stuff. Darn.....


I am here. (I am spoiled I want a NICE loft and not a plain apartment). But there isn't many places better than Colorado...all we need is an ocean and that will come :) You are not spoied Lori you just have fantastic taste. I am in agreement. Colorado. Surprisingly the cost of living is not extravagant. I am an outdoorsy gal that spends a good part of the winter with sticks strapped to my feet. I love the mountains and they are really very tolerant. Besides Lori lives there! Yup Colorado ranks up there in my book.

[Staci G]

Considering I am in the south (redneck central) I live in a very open community Asheville is for the most part GLBT friendly although you will run across some haters. (my wife)

[Frédérique]

But there isn't many places better than Colorado...

When I first came to this town, somewhat tucked away off of the Interstate, I told one of the residents what an interesting, charming and “hidden” place it was, meaning people had yet to discover it. A couple of the locals said this to me: “Shhh! We don’t want to be like Colorado!” What do you suppose they meant by that -- we wish to remain insular, or something more…commercial (or political)? The people were smiling when they said it, too. BTW, don’t shoot the messenger – I’ve been through Colorado from Burlington to Parachute (and beyond), but I haven’t been there long enough to form an opinion of the place! Hey, curved roads -- COOL!!! :heehee:

I think they’ve circled the wagons here in Kansas, but I just can’t see any apple-carts worth upsetting, even though I remain “Blue” and censorious*…
*one of my favorite words!

[Lorileah]

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="2"]When I first came to this town, somewhat tucked away off of the Interstate, I told one of the residents what an interesting, charming and “hidden” place it was, meaning people had yet to discover it. A couple of the locals said this to me: “Shhh! We don’t want to be like Colorado!” What do you suppose they meant by that Yeah we say the same thing about Texans :)
Oh BTW it snows 100 inches every year here and we don't get above freezing until June (the previous was a prepaid announcement from the snooty Coloradans campaign :))

Hey, curved roads -- COOL!!! :heehee:


and trees, well at least in the west part. We can see Kansas from the here when the light is right :)

[kellycan27]

Las Vegas is nice........Once you get away from the strip. it's pretty TG friendly as far as the hotels,casinos and clubs are concerned. The job market sucks, and the economy is in the toilet rght now. I don't know what you do for a living, but it could be a major consideration. In the summer the average temp can range from 105-108 and sometimes hotter. Winter's are pretty mild, it does cold, but not what one would call extreme.
Housing is pretty afforable. The median price for a SFH/Condo is like $137k. and there are almost 24,000 listings as of 1/18/10 ( that should tell you hw crummy the job market is here.)

Kel

[tess graham]

Trinadad AZ (?). Home to Dr Marci Bower and a host of TG's and CD's.

[divamissz]

The two cities at the top of my list are Atlanta and New Orleans. Atlanta, because it's a metropolitan city with a Southern vibe. New Orleans because it was my home but also because it's got the most incredible energy and people.

[suchacutie]

The first thoughts in my head were Atlanta and the Big Easy...but the Vegas if you have a job, and the big cities in PA. Then there is always San Diego :)

tina

[victoriamwilliams1]

For me some place south of Michigan.

[Lorileah]

Trinadad AZ (?). Home to Dr Marci Bower and a host of TG's and CD's.

Colorado Hun :) Wouldn't want you to get a plane ticket to the wrong place would we? :)

[AllieSF]

Cissy,

How about Portland, Oregon? It is a progressive town, 4 seasons, half way between San Francisco and Seattle, modern, not too big nor too small. Just make sure you jouin the NRA and get a carrying permit to fit in perfectly!

[Laura_Stephens]

For me it would be Coronado Island.

[dilane]

Well someplace where it is 70-80s during the day and 50-60s at night 365. I know there is no place so I will tough it out here.

Oh yes there is, (or pretty darn close). 325 days of sunshine a year where I live. Best climate in the world, imo -- warm and dry, not too hot, not too cold. (actually there are I think 6 places in the world with similar climate, incuding South Africa and parts of Chile).

It's not cheap, but there are tons of places to go, and very few rude people.

Check out the average temperatures in Los Angeles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_Los_Angeles_Basin)

[Toni_Lynn]

Hmmmm -- the recent addition to my sig sums this one all up!
----------------------
CANADA!
We love thee
CANADA!
Proud and free
North! South! East! West!
There'll be happy times!
--lyrics to CANADA - a centennial song!
----------------------

My dream will be coming true very soon. That said, I had a fantasy of having a little A frame cabin somewhere in the area bounded by a triangle of Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins Ontario. The snow would be deep, but I'd have nice wood stove to stay warm, and my sweetie and I would live and love our lives as we wanted to.

Real life is different and while we'll end up in BC, and no doubt closer to civilisation, its still going to be a great life!

Huggles

Toni-Lynn

PS - Tonight on TV in my house -- Kids in The Hall on CBC!

[SweetCaroline]

Try North Hampton in Western Massachusetts. It's not a big city, but relatively large for being in a rural setting, with just about everything you could ask for. NOHO and the surrounding towns are full of colleges, so folks are well educated and I guarantee it's 100 percent GLBT friendly. Plus, they have excellent shopping, dinning and and a lively arts community. I wouldn't mind relocating there myself. Research it sometime if you're serious.

[VickysBFF]

How about Portland, Oregon? It is a progressive town, 4 seasons, half way between San Francisco and Seattle, modern, not too big nor too small.

NO, NO, NO! Portland is the worst place on the face of the planet. I'd slit my wrists before I'd ever go back there.
They are intolerant, unfriendly and out to destroy everyone who is not a liberal/socialist/communist/tree-hugging/Obamalover! Seriously, Portland sucks ass big time.


The first thoughts in my head were Atlanta and the Big Easy...but the Vegas if you have a job, and the big cities in PA. Then there is always San Diego

I am a native of NOLA and would recommend it highly. I live in SD now and all of SOCAL is much more friendly and tolerant than the Pacific Northwest.

[sherri52]

In a city full of tourists I would say Orlando. Tampa is also nice.

[AmandaM]

Well someplace where it is 70-80s during the day and 50-60s at night 365. I know there is no place so I will tough it out here. ( for now)

Kymmie

Oh u mean San Diego! :tongueout

[AmandaM]

LAGUNA!!!! (see my album pics)
Sadly, looks like I leave the OC tomorrow. It really is the best place in the US. Everyone always comments on how its nothing like what they expected. I know I expected tons of gangs and feeling in danger often. In 5 months, I never once felt that way.

Truly the city of Angles.

That's cause you're in the "OC". Move across the tracks to Santa Ana! :eek:

[Rebecca Jayne]

St. Maarten in the Caribbean, mahn

[Joanie_Shakti]

Oh u mean San Diego! :tongueout

I'm envious! I was just going to post San Diego as my answer before I saw your post. If I could live anywhere it would be north of there, around the Encinitas area. But I've always thought it would be cool to have a loft in the Gaslamp area for at least a few years. I've lived in small towns and Army posts all my life and the thought of walking from my place to such a variety of restaurants, entertainment, and shopping is attractive. :daydreaming:

What's unattractive though, are your freeways at rush hour. Gotta work on the financial independence before I make the move, so I don't have to commute.

I think most Arizonans are wanna be San Diegoans.

[jenna_woods]

I would go some place where is is warm all year so I could wear dresses and skirts all year.

[NoraTV]

About ten years ago, I packed my bags exclusively with my favorite things, and lived 24/7 in London for about 6 weeks. It was wonderful. I never had a single negative experience (although I did attract some stares from people who were too polite to say anything). Not being independently wealthy (and not having found a boyfriend to support me for the rest of my life) I had to return home.

[windycissy]

London, San Diego...fabulous! But I'm looking for a place where I can live comfortably as a lady of leisure...and I've no illusions about the cost of living there! Being a rich girl is wonderful, but once the income stops, a girl's gotta eat...I'm very frugal and I love to shop for bargains, and I think I could eke out a lovely life in Las Vegas, the occasional big splurge at the casinos of course, but otherwise just another single woman pinching her pennies, and the fact that Vegas is totally beat down economically makes it very affordable. The beastly summer weather is a minus, on the other hand I love to wear sundresses and tan my legs by the pool, and those warm summer nights are appealing, a girl can dream...

[baby beluga]

portland oregon or san diego :)



NO, NO, NO! Portland is the worst place on the face of the planet. I'd slit my wrists before I'd ever go back there.
They are intolerant, unfriendly and out to destroy everyone who is not a liberal/socialist/communist/tree-hugging/Obamalover! Seriously, Portland sucks ass big time.


ahahah what on earth happened that resulted in this conclusion?

[VickysBFF]

ahahah what on earth happened that resulted in this conclusion?[/QUOTE]

There is not enough time or space to cover it all but I lived in that area for almost 3 years and every part of it was sheer hell.
I was discriminated against for being a southerner, a conservative, transgender, etc.
They only like their own kind; they have no tolerance for anything that is not like themselves.
I hate their weather, their politics, their sports teams, their attitudes, their entire way of life.

[Stephanie-L]

I am going to surprise some people with this but I suggest the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The cost of living here is good, the area has not been hit nearly as hard as most other places by the recession. The folks are generally nice, many are conservative, but I feel conservatives tend to be more accepting, not less, than most liberals. There is a large gay/trans population that tends to be active, and I have seen few persecutions of them here. Look at the recent raid on the Rainbow lounge, in a truely "good ol boy" culture it wouldn't even have been on the news, it actually caused a change in the rules and some firings of the bigots involved, I consider the outcome a positive. I have shopped both in drab and en femme in many malls and never had a problem. I have found a good counseler, there are other trans medical services available. The weather is mostly good, a little snow in the winter and a month or two of nasty hot and humid in the summer. There is no state income tax, though the property taxes and sales tax tends to make up for that. We are only 90 minutes or two hours from an even more accepting town, Austin, though the cost of living there is a bit higher. There are several CD/Trans social groups here, which several of the girls from this forum support. While you may run into some "redneck" problems in the smaller cities and towns of Texas, I have really enjoyed living here, and I have lived in California (the OC), Arizona (Phoenix area), New Mexico (Albuquerque, really pretty, great weather, but a lot or reverse bias there), in many ways the best place I have lived..........Stephanie

[KateSpade83]

If I wouldn't inherit my Chicago house I'd move back to Houston. Awesome malls and thrift stores for shopping for women's clothes. Large fast food selection and cheap rents and gas. But high electricity and insurance rate and the area is Hurricane prone.

When I lived in Houston for 22 months I loved it there!

[Cassandra]

I left MI 3 decades ago!! The Burgh is an awesome place to live!!!! In my humble opinion. Tg friendly enough.. As long as you love the Steelers, Penguins, (Pirates?). No one cares what you wear!! Lol. Very friendly.... VERY midwesternly economical... Nice 3 bedroom house for $150,000...... Or less!! Water, culture, sports....... Casinos.... Education... Top notch medical.... Voted most livable city a few years back... I'm staying put!!

It's a Burgh thing, Yinz!!

I think I would like to live in Pittsburgh, if I had more money I would move to Boston.

[Karen__Starr]

I would consider Germany even thou I am pretty happy where I am right now since I made a very good living here which is important, at least now, later it may be different.

[Melanie R]

I would love to live in New Zealand particularly the South Island. I spent 2 weeks enfemme with my wife traveling and enjoying all of New Zealand. We found the people there very understanding and supportive. The TG community we met were wonderful.

[Leslie Langford]

Hmmmm -- the recent addition to my sig sums this one all up!
----------------------
CANADA!
We love thee
CANADA!
Proud and free
North! South! East! West!
There'll be happy times!
--lyrics to CANADA - a centennial song!
----------------------

My dream will be coming true very soon. That said, I had a fantasy of having a little A frame cabin somewhere in the area bounded by a triangle of Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins Ontario. The snow would be deep, but I'd have nice wood stove to stay warm, and my sweetie and I would live and love our lives as we wanted to.

Real life is different and while we'll end up in BC, and no doubt closer to civilisation, its still going to be a great life!

Huggles

Toni-Lynn

PS - Tonight on TV in my house -- Kids in The Hall on CBC!

I appreciate the enthusiasm, Toni, but if you really wanna become one of us, you're gonna have to dial it down a notch :D:doh:.

Remember, we have a reputation to uphold for being those nice, quiet, polite, modest, self-effacing, and middle-of-the road guys who see themselves as being the peace-keepers on the international scene. Hell, we don't even jostle, push or shove in a long and slow-moving line-up to get our daily Tim Hortons coffee and donuts "fix", and we don't usually jay-walk or cross the road against a red light either, even when no one is watching us. Hasn't Red Green taught you anything :eek::D.

All kidding aside - welcome aboard :hugs::love:

[Toni_Lynn]

I appreciate the enthusiasm, Toni, but if you really wanna become one of us, you're gonna have to dial it down a notch :D:doh:.

Ooohh---good advice. Sorry.

Hmm-- does the fact that I said sorry just now mean I'm learning my Canuckian lessons well?

Let see -- zed not zee, colour and honour with a u, chesterfield not couch, oh and rrrrrrrroll up the rim ....

Huggles

Toni-Lynn

[Leslie Langford]

...it only counts if you say you're sorry even when it's not your fault :heehee::D:eek::doh:.

[Persephone]

someplace with a nice climate, low cost of living and tolerant of alternative lifestyles, any ideas?

While our interests may or may not be totally compatible with the GL community, you may find this list interesting:

The Gayest Cities In America (http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124396)

[gennee]

Though it is expensive I still love New York City. I would consider San Diego, Washington, DC and New Orleans.

Gennee

:)

[eluuzion]

That's an easy question...

"Disneyland".
But you can only visit, they do not allow you to "live" there. :D

Well, I could live anyplace I want, and I live in Denver (sort of).

[StarrOfDelite]

I haven't lived in San Francisco or Miami or London, but it would be hard to imagine a more lifestyle friendly place than New York. I love it here. The hardest part was giving up my automobile, and the second hardest part was signing the apartment lease for $4400 per month. But, comparable wages are much higher, too, although the minimum wage here is the same as in the rest of the country, only $7.25 an hour. No one really cares if you're a TV prostitute, a woman with a hairy lip or an iron worker who likes to wear pink panties, there are a zillion artsy gay people, and the city literally never sleeps.