Pick a city - any city.

My husband and I play this game a lot: if we could live anywhere regardless of job or anything, where would it be? Obviously Europe is at the top of the list at least for a while, but that gets harder once you have family (soon) and four pets. So let's limit this to the United States. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why? Here is my top five:

1. Chicago. It's no secret that I love Chicago. I love the gritty city with charming neighborhoods, tons to do and miles upon miles of running trails.  It has a vibrant, walkable downtown; arts, culture, the lake. There are running races every weekend and regular city running tours. I have this fantasy of working in a big building in downtown Chicago, walking to our fab condo that's way too small and meeting our friends around the corner for dinner and drinks. I wouldn't have to drive anywhere. Ideal.

With my sister and niece in Chicago, May 2012
2. Denver.  My husband and I have both been to Denver but not together. We both, however, fell in love with it. Denver's downtown is charming and walkable with public transit. There are again lots of things to do - arts, culture, sports, you name it. There is also a vibrant running culture.
16th Street, Downtown Denver, July 2008
3. Tennessee. Pick a city in Tennessee, and I will probably love it. We went to Knoxville a few years ago and absolutely fell in love with its southern charm, quaint downtown and beautiful riverfront. Nashville is a vibrant city that attracts millions of visitors every year. People drink sweet iced tea, the summers are hot and the winters short. I love Tennessee, and we could definitely see ourselves living there somewhere.

Market Square, Downtown Knoxville, April 2011
4. Portland, Maine. Now officially my favorite city of all time, Portland is the most charming place I've ever been. Cobblestone streets connect block after block of local businesses - restaurants, shops, bars. It feels like a village in the downtown. It's extremely walkable and has waterfront real estate and amazing seafood. I was in Portland in July, so I fear I wouldn't withstand winters there, but for that city I'd be willing to give it a shot.

Downtown Portland, Maine, July 2012
5. Boston. It's a big city with a small town feel. Again - walkable, quaint, tons of things to do. The history and cultural opportunities in Boston are endless, and it's America's quintessential running town.  Boston's neighborhoods are rich and diverse, and there is literally something to attract everyone. I could also adopt a Boston accent which I am sure would thrill my husband to no end.

Boston, September 2011
Of course to make a move to one of these cities work there would have to be a lot of real world changes - jobs, selling our house in a down market, leaving our friends and family and adjusting to a new life. I was a gypsy before Michigan, and I'm always up for an adventure.  But mainly this is an exercise in dreaming - about places where the running trails are long and the neighborhoods are vibrant.


Comments

  1. TRJanuary 15, 2013 at 1:50 PM

    I love your choices - I want to go on a vacay to Chicago one day!

    I would LOVE to live in NYC for a bit..that place is simply amazing to me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SamanthaJanuary 15, 2013 at 1:51 PM

    Chicago is awesome - you should totally go! I agree about NYC - I love it there too. It would be in my top 10 if I did that many. :)

    ReplyDelete

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