Welcome to Gaia! ::

In taking a break from my most hated Math homework recently, I began perusing the interwebs and found myself reading the personal blog of a good High School friend who has recently acquired his Bachelor's degree and mentioned that he's gotten job offers from companies that are not here in our native Baltimore, MD. He talked about how he was understandably hesitant in moving to an unfamiliar place, acquiring a new social network and so forth.

Though I read this entry a few days ago, I recalled it today when I happened across this article that states that only roughly half of the people in the United States are happy with the place that they live in and goes on to provide lists for both the 10 Most and Least desirable cities as viewed by many.

I myself have very little love for Baltimore (which is number eight on list of least desirable cities, strangely enough), for reasons I won't go into. If I was given the opportunity to live in another city I would probably do it, but I have to admit that I was surprised to read that half of the people surveyed would live somewhere else if they could as well. So I bring this you, 21+: Are you happy with the city/town you live in?

Discuss:
1.) Your birth city and your feelings towards it
2.) The place you currently live in (if different from your birth city) and your feelings towards it.
3.) Would you live somewhere else if given the opportunity? Where would you live?
4.) Your relief/lamentation that this isn't Headhunter's farewell thread.
5.) Math and its place on Headhunter's s*it list somewhere in between Debt and The Pittsburgh Steelers

I was also a military brat, been some countries and places. My birthplace (philippines), love my home country although had bad experience, but I grew up in a simple life and generally had the best of times in the countryside of P.I. I love the place I currently in, better than the country place (although I don't party as much or none at all like when I was young) I didn't like the country (Goldsboro NC) there was barely nothing to do there, in fact I was traumatize that such place exist here in the states; especially that I came from Oceanside Ca years before that. But before NC I was in Japan in another Island Okinawa which I was traumatize as well, because not so much that I'm in an island (my birthplace is an island), but I couldn't understand or read any signs and it took a while to get use to. Here in Al for a while or so; it's generally a great place, definitely a city but not as fast or crowded as Ca; there is a lot of things to do, it's a slowly booming city and in general a good place to race kids amazing neighborhood very welcoming and clean. Somewhere in my future would like to go to the Virgin Islands and maybe one day retire there but got to visit first before settling and see if I do like it. But hey if I have the opportunity to live in a different place in general honestly either I want my own Island and called something outrageous or live in Mars (but hey always been odd like that lol).

Merc- I didn't know you were living in MO!! What regionish (North, South, Mid, East, West, etc)

Aqua- Did I tell you that my Boyfriend's mom is originally from Manila (she moved to CA when she was a little girl ^_^ ) ?

1. Technically I think the hospital I was born in was closer to St. Louis limits... but my hometown is St. Charles (or St. Chuck) MO. I have a love hate relationship with it. With the exception of recent changes out in the main part of St. Charles, the town has traditionally been a sea of boring white people. It also used to be more of a blue collar town-- I loved that aspect--- now it's turning into white collar yuppie country- meh. I love that the town does have a personality of sorts, Mainstreet on St. Charles is great- lots of neat old buildings. I love the town for some things, but there isn't much to do. I like it enough, but I've known for a long time it's not my destiny.

2. Currently I live in Springfield MO. Mostly I hate it. I came down here for school, because tuition is cheaper and I liked Drury's program. The geek subculture here is AWESOME--- I like them a lot. The rest--- UGH. People don't know where the gas pedal is located in their cars, they think this is a BIG city, they seem to lack a love of the arts, the pay rate is a crime against humanity. I found only a few redeeming things here: 1. My apartment-- I have the best apartment on Earth. I get free cable, net, water, sewer, trash, a great landlady, a pool in the summer, and a lovely apartment. The building is well made so noise is never an issue. The other redeeming thing is 2. my boyfriend--- provided he steps away from his Magic the Gathering problem and sees me sometime soon. He's a great guy.

3. I have a few places in mind: Oregon- two of my brothers live up there, I miss them dearly. Oregon has the ocean, and in certain regions maintains a pleasant temperature year round! They have no sales tax, you don't pump your own gas, and they have a love of culture. There is the swank Pearl section of Portland, Tillamook Cheese, and liberals! Columbia MO-- Columbia is the super cool prize at the bottom of a very crappy cereal box. Missouri is Meh (though we do have pretty country out here)- but Columbia is heaven. Columbia is a small city with a metropolitan feel- the best of both worlds. People know each other, there is a community, but there is also a deep appreciation for the arts, cultural diversity, and that sense that the academic mind rules all. It has an energy, tons of coffee houses, and a shop literally called "Cool Stuff". However me moving will depend on if my boyfriend will still be addicted to magic the gathering in two years. I swear, if this turns into a WOW or EVERQUEST level addiction- this bird is flying with no regrets. Otherwise, my choice will largely depend on him- it's taken me 25 years and three towns to find him and I absolutely adore him. Darn you magic the gathering and your cruel siren's song!!!

4. Infinitely relieved. Headhunter is one of my favorite Guildies, and it's even cooler he's also a Mod and makes great discussion threads. If Headhunter left I'd be more than sad-- I'd go on a spree of unjustified Bannings--- ok so it probably would just be people who never posted... but still -glare- You cannot leave!!!!! grrrr.

Freaky weird O_O From age 5-12 I lived in Harvester (down 94) and then my family moved out to O'fallon.

being born and raised in good ole erie, pa (we tend to call it eerie or dreary) i can say that i love this town. it's not a huge city, but still one of pennsylvania's major cities. 3rd largest, i believe. we have many different museums, including a maritime museum, which has a map of all the shipwrecks on lake erie. crime isn't horrible here, meaning that shootings and stabbings still make front page news. we have 5 network stations and a variety of music channels. (except for a decent metal channel scream ) only thing i dislike about this town is the unpradictable weather. we actually have seen snowfall in mid-may!

i spent 6 months living in youngstown, ohio... during my infamous college daze. i've come to realize many things about erie while living there. our economy isn't horrible, rent is really cheap, (you can actually rent a 3 bedroom HOUSE with a yard and a garage for less than a grand a month, apartments vary between $280- $400 depending on what you're looking for) and homeless shelters here actually HELP you instead of give you a place to shower and sleep for a week.

if i had to move to a different city, though, i probably would move someplace with a more consistant climate... or perhaps ireland.

glad you ain't leavin' headhunter. i didn't want to have to steal a car and drive to baltimore to "persuade" you to come back to the guild. oh, and math is the bane of my existence.

I'm a NYC borough dweller...I was born in Brooklyn....raised in Queens and now I live in Long Island.

Where I live now is considered old rich man's land....it's green...safe...and quiet because the neighbor's are old rich men and their wives. I'm one of perhaps 6 families on the block with small children that play outside when the weather is suitable.

Everyone knows the great expense it is to live in NYC...so I'd definitely wouldn't be sad to leave that behind....if I could pack my bags and migrate elsewhere...I'd have to say where my bloodline descends from Italy...either Rome where my father was born or Sicily where my mother was born...it's a toss up.

Math is the universal language...once mastered by all of humanity...it shall bring upon us...world peace. blaugh

I was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia. I've said it many times - I think I have been very fortunate to have been born here, and then (1979) as my life has been 'as good as it gets' for a woman.
Perth is my second favourite city in Australia with Brisbane being my first. I moved to Brisbane just after university and lived there for three years. Unfortunately there isn't any work over there for me - and my family is all here, so here I stay...for now at least!
Feelings towards Perth....? Hmmm....I like it, but it's almost "too easy" to live here. It's quiet, nothing changes - I moved away and NOTHING changed. It's a great place to raise a family - and it's very much a city of couples. I struggle as a single person because when I go out, I'm almost always the only single.


I think I feel more attachment to houses (ie a place which I make my home) than I do to a particular city.


I work for an oil major, so have thought about this a lot. My list of places is short (as I've only considered moving with work, so I've limited to where we have offices). My choices would be San Francisco or Bankok. Or both! San Fran reminded me SO much of Perth, so it would be easy for me to live there. I love Thailand - the people, the climate and the food!


The title did worry me a little!


Maths was always a struggle for me - but I passed well enough...only to never have used it again! Hooray for redundant learning!