Moving Cross Country

[tuneful87]

I've had the itch to move out of state for a while now. I live in Connecticut, USA, and with each passing year, I dislike it more and more.

So...I was hoping to get some advice from Arena members, as y'all live all over.

I'd like to live somewhere with warmer year-round temperatures but without the humidity. Austin is high on my list (I've heard great things about it), and while the West Coast is nice, it can be awfully expensive. I am more of a homebody to be honest, and if I move, I'll be working from home full time. That being said, I'd like a city with lots of vegetarian options and one that is lively, artsy, and on the liberal side of things. Also, I am gay and a large gay population would be ideal. Around here all the attractive men tend to leave for NYC so it's a bit of desert, figuratively speaking.

My other concern is how to move affordably. I would rather hire a company to move me (two bedroom apt here) but that can be terribly expensive. I think the best option is to rent a truck and do the move myself with my brother, but that is equally terrifying and A LOT of work on top of the stress of everything else when it comes to moving!

So...any advice on a suitable city as well as the move itself would be highly appreciated! I am starting to save money now to make it happen, so I don't expect to actually be able to do it until next summer or most likely the summer after. It would be more ideal to save up enough so I can buy instead of rent, but I'm not sure that is a realistic goal for the short term.

Anyhow, looking forward to any advice you might have to offer!

[TogoMimori]

Sounds like you would like Galveston island in Texas! It can get a little humid but it's artsy, beautiful, different houses, condos and apartments to choose from! I plan on moving there for college  edit: and there's tons of art and thrift stores and shops! The strand is wonderful. There's a used book store there and it's a one of a kind jem

[Cron Sacchariferous]

Ah man, you live in this depressing state too?! I originally moved up here 6 yrs ago to work at the casinos. When I quit my job, it went downhill from there... Doing what I can to move out of this #$%&%. GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!!! D:

[tuneful87]

Togo: I have never heard of that island. I will have to look it up.

Cron: Yes, I grew up but am no longer in contact with family who lives here so I am ready to move on. I'm quite nervous though as I have never lived out of state. Where are you originally from?

[kaoskat]

Sorry can't help. I've always lived in places with year round warm (sweltering hot really) but the humidity has always been psychotic. Good luck with your move though!

[tikibirds]

I've lived all over.
Alaska is too cold, florida and virginia are too humid. What about the southwest - year round heat without the humidity. Northern arizona was nice but it does get cold and snow.

[Prince_Sunbeam]

Colorado is pretty hip, warmer than New England and almost never humid. I live on Cape Cod so Im happy in MA myself, but I absolutely love a visit to Boulder CO, and I bet Denvers got a decent gay scene. (Boulder seems super accepting, but not very actively gay)
Pretty much everyone I know and love that's left New England went to Colorado.

[DazzleKitty]

I feel ya for wanting to get out of your state. I live in Missouri and my problem is the opposite......I am tired of the humid, sweltering summers and would like somewhere cooler. Me, my parents, and my brothers are all planning on moving to Colorado within the next couple of years. My brother is gay and he wouldn't move somewhere that was very conservative. Colorado Springs is where we'd go. He says they are accepting of gay people and Denver is just an hour away and I am sure there is probably a large gay community there. Most big cities have that.

Oh poor you for living in Connecticut! That's where my ex lives. I think anyone within a 200 mile radius of him would be feeling his waves of misery and want to get the heck away from him, LOL. LOL but JK, I actually kinda liked CT but maybe it was because I was in looooooove.

[melodys_angel]

I don't have anything to suggest, but I do want to wish you the best of luck <3

[tuneful87]

Oh Dazzle Kitty, you made me laugh! Waves of misery....ha

I have heard great things about Denver but the cold worries me. I have a condition called Raynaud's that impairs blood flow to my extremities in winter (and in intense A/C) which leads to my hands becoming icicles, sometimes even numb. So longterm I just have to get away from the cold altogether, as it ruins my quality of life in winter.

[shelvesofwhimsy]

I live in San Francisco and it is awesome. Although rent is pretty pricey in the city, the vibe is very gay friendly, vegetarian friendly, and just artsy and great overall. There is a lot to do. I would recommend the area to anyone I moved across country with only two suitcases and a lot of boxes via the USPS, but I also didn't have any furniture to move. If youre driving nonstop with a truck it would be the cheapest. But I know moving my bf across the country was at least $500 worth of hotel stays in 5 days, with 12 hours of driving a day 

[Cron Sacchariferous]

@tuneful

I'm originally from the north end of Boston. I miss it there, but I know I'd probably never live there again considering the extremely high population density now, then... lets say oh.. Idk, 10 yrs ago lol.. If your spirit is alive in the 90's, Portland, Oregon sounds seems pretty inviting. Missouri is also somewhere to consider, lots of cultural diversity and very scenic too.

[Princess Lala]

Do you mean Austin as in, Austin Texas!?? :-3


It does get pretty hot there but its a nice city!! Tons of great people, lots of free spirited people! Not to mention all the great resturaunts there (TONS of vegan resturaunts) and the giant bat migration tour they have there is pretty awesome!!!!

I live north of DFW pretty close to OKlahoma in the Allen, Frisco, Mckinney area!!! Its a BEAUTIFUL community with a LOT of fun places to go to!!! So many malls, parks, pet stores, water parks, japanese resturaunts, health food stores, anime and mlp conventions, concert venues, and its not too far from Dallas!!!! The lgb community is big here!!! Here in Dallas they even waived peoples marriage fees and the 72 hour wait so that gays can get married asap! There has been a LOT of rainbow flags here this weekend! It seldom gets 'hot' here except late late July/August when school starts but you have my word all the buildings are sooooo air conditioned you NEED a jacket! Scared of tornados? You are in luck!!! My area has had just over two hundredd recorded twisters since the 1800's when Mckinney first developed into a city and the worst was an EF2! Looking for a safe neighborhood!? Mckinney is voted one of the top cities to live in the United States and the crime rate in Allen, Frisco, and Mckinney is pretty low! We still get all four seasons here being a temperate climate, but most of the year its honestly fall or spring weather! It does snow here a couple of times a season but ice is a lot more common! Its been soooooooooo rainy here this year! :3 For apartments live here in Mckinney, for houses move up to Anna, TX! We are moving to Anna when we are ready to look at houses!

I hope this helps!! :-3

[NovelNerd]

Austin Texas? I've never lived there, but I have a few friends that do and have went visiting there on and off. It seems like a pretty busy place. I know like anywhere different areas are more accepting of the LGBT community. It's kinda weird when you go down south (I should know always lived in the south) because some areas are super accepting and then just ten miles away people are nuts.

Weather wise though it should keep you pretty warm! I never like visiting Texas except in the winter and fall when it's a bit cooler. I've never spent much time in the area to comment on all the different things it offers, but I know the area is pretty big and when I used to visit I always saw a lot of different stores and restaurants ect.

[tuneful87]

I live in San Francisco and it is awesome. Although rent is pretty pricey in the city, the vibe is very gay friendly, vegetarian friendly, and just artsy and great overall. There is a lot to do. I would recommend the area to anyone I moved across country with only two suitcases and a lot of boxes via the USPS, but I also didn't have any furniture to move. If youre driving nonstop with a truck it would be the cheapest. But I know moving my bf across the country was at least $500 worth of hotel stays in 5 days, with 12 hours of driving a day 

Yeah, I'd have to do the move myself. Hiring a company is crazy expensive for cross country. Just renting a truck myself will be $2000+ in addition to hotels and gas. I would much rather hire a company, but I just don't have that sort of money to spend on movers. My brother would help me, thankfully. I wish I didn't have so much stuff, but boy do I! All my furniture was purchased within the last year, so it would be silly to sell everything off and buy new stuff, as I am happy with what I have and most of it is brand new.

Lala and Maddie: Yes, Austin, TX. The tornados do worry me, though I'm more worried about my toys being sucked up in one than I am for my own life. LOL. Mostly spring/autumn year round weather is EXACTLY what I want and need! Autumn is my favorite season here.

Although now that Cron has mentioned Portland, I'd definitely be interested in hearing more about it from anyone that has lived there. After watching Portlandia, I got the feeling it might be too bizarre a place even for me. But I don't know...I'm open to hearing more! The benefit over Austin is that I'm not completely landlocked.