Intern Ty keeps a stern eye (and ready claw!) out to make sure I'm reading those requested fulls!
Today's question:
If you could live anywhere in the world, other than where you are now,
where would it be and why?
(If I couldn't live in NYC, I'd live in Paris. I sure hope LynnRodz has a spare room!)
56 comments:
Wyoming, because of its semi-arid climate and its low population.
In college, I used to say if things got too much for me, I'd run away to be a street musician in Key West. (note, I'm not actually a great musician. Serviceable enough with practice, probably not survivable just by busking). It's got things I need, which are heat and sun and the ocean (and a bunch of weird shit like the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum). I can envision having like, a shitty little bungalow that I've barely bothered to furnish, getting up when I feel like it to go swimming, laying about writing, probably having to have a job other than street musician (especially if the writer thing is at its current level).
Isle of Iona, Scotland. Because I did live (and work) there for 2 years and the Atlantic waters look like the Mediterranean and the gales amuse me when they stop my walk midstep. And the wild beauty of the heather, gorse, and the slant of midsummer's sunset on green, green hills tugs at my heart.
Lord love a duck, Janet, New York City or Paris! We are true opposites. I love to visit the bright lights but to move in among them? No thanks—not even Dublin, which is the fairest of all cities. If I had to leave my little farm I’d move to a very small village in Northern Ireland and buy a pub down the street from my youngest grandchild.
Scotland, probably Edinburgh- favorite place in the world. Close enough to make it to Anfield for an occassional Liverpool match. And I like the cold, the green, the whisky, and the rain.
Florence and walk every day in the footsteps of the masters of the Renaissance.
I love cities, warm weather, and beaches. I think I'd have to move anywhere else on the planet and then choose Sydney again. :)
Can't live in Canada? Better make it New Zealand, then. Very pretty place, and if I want to see even more fascinating landscapes and animals, I can just catch a boat to Australia. Also, I speak the language, more or less.
Considering as it's projected to be 115 degrees here today in Southern California and we already have two fires burning, I'd love to live in Northern California in a forest. I love the forest. Preferably redwoods and sequoias.
I've been to Germany, Italy and lived for a year in South Africa. In the US I moved 17 times by age 21 and have seen a lot of this wonderful nation. At age fifteen and again at sixteen I spent part of my summers in Wyoming and Montana. It was the Tetons in Wyoming which captured my heart. The mountain range is spectacular.
I cannot tell you how many times I have spoken to my children about how beautiful is out there and how someday we would all get to see it together. I am getting older, they are getting busier, so it looks as if I will never get to share for my love for one of the most beautiful places on earth with them.
I love where I live now but if I had to roam and eventually stay, it would be at the base of the Tetons with my wonderful family surrounding me.
Now I'm crying. Oh well pals, have a nice day. I'm going to go hug my grandkids right now and tell them about the Grand Teton mountain range.
Ha. I just googled Grand Teton and up popped a picture, which oddly enough, is the same photo I bought 15 years years ago as a cover for the first book (shelf novel) I wrote. I'm crying again.
I don't know how to link.
https://roycebair.smugmug.com/Landscapes-Scenics-Nature/Wyoming/Grand-Tetons-National-Park/i-LCxfTWr/XL
Life is strange (and of all the pictures out there, to see that one first) so is the internet.
I’ve lived in Montreal, Halifax (Nova Scotia), Woods Hole, Falmouth (Mass), Dublin, Kilquiggan (find that on a map!), and Stockholm (in the suburbs outside it).
There are things I loved about all of those places.
For many years I’ve lived in a fantastic spot above the Saco River with a 180 degree view of the White Mountains in a hand made house we built ourselves.
But I’ve always been torn between here and Cape Cod because I’ve got that 400 year family beachside, seagoing, cranberry farming, glass working thing in my heart. So we agreed that when maintaining this two house, dirt driveway, long wintery, frog pondy, fruit treey, snow shovely, fewer people, more mountains, homestead gets to be too much, we’ll sell up and move back to:
Cape Cod.
I feel like a salmon. I just have to make my way upstream to the pond I was spawned in. The Other Person says he will manage to be happy anywhere. If I could pick up my wonderful ten thousand dollar hippie house and plunk it down in Sandwich, I’d do it in a flash. But it won’t be that simple.
I wouldn’t mind trying Paris. I have a lovely young friend in France and she’d take me in in a heartbeat!
Tell Ty I am madly in love with him.
And Carolynn, I love the term "shelf novel" !.
I don't know where or what, but a low population density is a must. I love Key West as an island/sailing destination and lifestyle, but it's too dang crowded.
Too bad Gilligan has moved on 'cause I wouldn't mind living on his island.
I'm in Australia for the long-term and it is hard to beat - a beautiful land with fantastic animals, and it feels more relaxed than the UK. Its only problems are a habit of catching fire and being thousands of miles from anywhere else (and indeed parts of itself).
Part of me will always be in English countryside. I don't know if I'll ever live there again, but, for all its faults, it is where my roots are planted.
I also have a very great love of various historic European towns - places like Leiden in the Netherlands, or many of the small Italian cities. I would happily live in any of them for a while.
I travel full-time right now, so I kind of live everywhere, but 100% want to live in (and plan on living in) Europe. I lived in Switzerland for two years and we might go back there. The Swiss Alps are still one of my favorite places on earth. Another contender for me is Slovenia. It's basically Switzerland at half the price.
I don't know where I would want to live instead, cause I have moved around a lot, too.
After leaving Germany, I lived 3 years in Zurich, Switzerland, 1 in England, 4 in Paris, 1 in Montreal, 1 in Calgary, now I'm back in Europe and live in the UK.
For me it's now important to settle somehow, somewhere, finding good long-term friends and a dog (seems like a pet is necessary to actually count as a writer and Reider, right!? Everyone here has got one except for me ;) ).
London, hands down.
I feel like I'm not well-traveled enough to give this question justice.
Off the cuff I'd say Aruba. Beautiful weather, beautiful water, and close enough to the States to take advantage. I was there 7 years ago and didn't want to leave - I'm an island girl at heart...
I think I'd choose the Dordogne region of France, about 6 hours south of Paris. It's spectacular. There are lovely rivers, fantastic food, prehistoric caves, ancient castles, beautiful gardens. I could go on, but what I really wish is to go! And maybe Lynn Rodz could take the train down and we could meet up with French Sojourn for a drink, 'cause I think he's not far away.
I'm with Megan V. London. Of course, in this imaginary life, I would not have to work; I would spend my days discovering the tiny worlds-of-their-own that exist down every back lane. I would photograph seemingly blank brick walls that bear traces of what they used to look like, hundreds of years ago, and sometimes I would thereby meet charming policemen. I always have a great time in London.
This is one of the hardest questions so far!
In a perfect world, I would love to live lots of different places, but long enough in each to get a real sense of the culture. An Italian village with old stone buildings, a Greek isle with plenty of sun and water, a mountain cabin with a spectacular view, a small, quaint town with pie eating contests, the big open sky country of the west where the stars seem to paint the sky, a big bustling metropolis (but for a shorter period of time because crowds are just so crowded!)
As I have traveled anywhere, I do evaluate the place by 'could I live here?' And lots of times the answer is yes. Then there are those roads trips where you find houses scattered in the middle of the dreariest, God forsaken, barren places, and my question then is, 'who the hell lives here?' And is amazes me that those people don't pick up and move somewhere better. And then I start making up their backstory....
I'm content to follow Rosanna around. Lemme know when you're about to leave one piece of that perfect world and I'll get ready to settle in.
Even the who-the-hell-lives-here part. Because, backstory.
It would have to be somewhere there are people. I am not a survivalist, and do not want to live on a mountaintop or in a cave. I also would not want to be isolated in Kansas like the victims in Capote's novel IN COLD BLOOD.
Europe is going to revert to type sooner than I expected. The Swedes have brought back the draft and are distributing literature on what to do in case of war with Russia. The US is the Goldilocks of the western hemisphere. Canada is beautiful but too cold. Mexico is friendly but too hot. The US is just right.
California is a mess. Seattle is lovely, but mainly because it looks just like New York City. So my choice would be midtown Manhattan. If my forthcoming business book, INVEST IN COVERED WAGONS, THEY'RE MAKING A COMEBACK, becomes a runaway bestseller and makes me rich, I will move back, maybe take over Martha Stewart's old penthouse.
I envy people lucky enough and rich enough to live in Brooklyn. Cool people and a great view of the Manhattan skyline. Would that I could join them.
I don't know @Dena Pawling, I'm in Northern California and there's an 80,000 acre fire burning 20 miles away. It's only supposed to get up in the nineties today though, so at least we have that going for us.
But back to the question -- if I had to leave California I'd probably move to Canada. Maybe Vancouver. I'm not sure I'd qualify for citizenship, but we're not letting reality limit us here, right?
I don't know if I'd be able to choose, but it would be some place that's mostly warm. D.C. if I wanted big-city stuff. Somewhere in New Mexico for the stark desert beauty. Somewhere in Hawaii for the lush tropical beauty.
If the seas rise enough to chase me from Florida, that means all of the tropical places I would like would be underwater too.
That means the mountains. Around Asheville is already getting too crowded so maybe the Jura Mountains. That would end up being close to Clare, south of Paris.
It has rivers to kayak in but I would have to come to terms with cold. I don't understand it. I would also have to learn the nuance of trout fishing, but that could be fun.
I bet the Jura would be great, Craig. The Tour de France (my annual summer obsession) passed through there a few years ago and it looked breathtaking. I bet the cheese is awesome, too :-)
I agree with everyone who said they wouldn't have to work either! I think I'd go to Ireland and make sure I had some good allergy meds! Last time I went I was an itchy mess, but once I started taking allergy meds I felt fine. It's so beautiful and expansive in certain areas there.
My family and I move every three years so I've lived in a few REALLY COOL places here in the US. But, I'd love to try New Zealand for a spell. The landscape offers a variety of activities in a compact area.
I haven't travelled enough to be able to answer this question properly. But if I had to choose from places I've visited, and taking into account my husband's tastes (because he's coming, too), the list would include
Amsterdam
San Francisco
San Diego
Florence
Vancouver
I'm a city girl through and through. And I need to be near the water.
I've travelled a lot and lived in a lot of wonderful places already. Berlin is my favorite city (or it was 15 years ago. I believe it's changed a lot since then) and I'd happily go back. Same with New York. And Melbourne is also very liveable. But I sometimes long for the tropics, so maybe Samoa or Hawaii might be nice too..
I've been fortunate enough to live/work/travel all over the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Honestly, I love where we are (Florida). Would still like a beach house back home (south Alabama).
On the not-yet-visited (but would like to) list are my husband's clan's castle in Scotland and Australia.
I wouldn't mind going back to Spain, but Barcelona/Valencia this time (where my great-grandfather was from).
Have mercy, this question is like asking 'which of your children is your favorite."
It's hard to answer because there are so many beautiful places everywhere! AJ has shown me pics of where she walks Down Under. I've seen Hank's beautiful vineyards, and the areas he and his Cindy roam in France, (and lived vicariously through them) I've seen the hillsides of CO through another writer friend's posts, and the splendid CA seaside via yet another writer friend.
But I know me - I'm a southerner through and through. I would miss the South (and the sweet tea, y'all!) if I moved elsewhere, so as long as I could move to any other southern state than the one I'm in, count me happy.
And if my arm was twisted to give an answer, then put me in the Blue Ridge Mountains and I would be doubly happy.
Cornwall. The one in England, not the one in Ontario.
I loved it so much when I was there two years ago, and it has the right climate for me (Melbourne and Vancouver, though I loved them otherwise, had eternally grey winters that I can't deal with). It's also not as ridiculously expensive as most of the other places I've lived.
Northern California has always been my home. I am from a tiny town of 6,000 people in the heart of the Napa Valley. A sheltered upbringing, sure, but I still feel connected to a lot of people in my community, and that town is like a tattoo on my soul.
It is, however, like so much of California, too expensive to sustainably live. So if I ever had to leave Northern California, I might go up to Vancouver, like so many others. I also might take a chance with Montreux, Switzerland--I first went with my high school jazz choir when we toured Europe one summer. It is where Freddie Mercury spent his last days, and there is a statue of him there.
The American West, on a homestead, where I would somehow have time to grow a big garden, keep cows & chickens, etc., while still writing. And let's throw in a few sheep, why not?
(This IS a fantasy question, right?)
Not only is it wholesome and beautiful, but then I'd finally be as well prepared as my book characters were, for the apocalypse that all of us keep writing about in different iterations.
If I had to leave the States, I would move to Northern Ireland. That's where most of my family live, and my wife and kids would love to go. It's also beautiful over there. Lovely country, lovely people, and fond memories.
Part of the year in southwestern Virginia, part on or near the Chesapeake Bay, and part in Andalusia. Virginia is home, thus the mountains and the bay, and I fell in love with southern Spain in a vacation there 2 years ago.
I’d love to live in Hawaii. I’ve never been there, but the pictures are so beautiful. There or in space. Ha, if I wasn’t a writer, I think I’d love to be an astronaut.
On a beach somewhere near an airport that’s small but has plenty of flights north. Destin, Florida used to be my dream. Now I think I want to go more toward Punta Garda area. I’m flexible as long as I see blue/green water.
If this is a fantasy question then Cape Cod anytime from the late 50's to the mid 70's.
At the helm of a Catana 50 foot catamaran, circumnavigating this beautiful planet.
Tofino, Vancouver Islands.
It has all of what's good about Canada but without the snow.
My fantasy is to have a villa in Tuscany plus a houseboat in Santorini. Then I will shuttle between the two by hot air balloon.
In a climate-controlled fancy tree house in a deciduous forest with giant trees and lots of moss.
Oh and it's in Switzerland. It's winter only 1 month, summer 2 months, and spring and fall the rest of the year. And it rains every other day with violent thunderstorms that shake my tree house. I have a couple Swiss cows and a few wild birds and 2 mutts.
One room would be dedicated to a (Swiss) chocolate milk bar.
Jennifer Mugrage "This IS a fantasy question, right?" - I'm assuming so!
We're currently splitting time between Alaska and Arizona, and it's pretty near perfect, but if I had to choose one place, maybe Maui, mid-island, near the lavendar fields. Kitty, I spent six years in Casper, Wyoming. Love it mostly, but wind--constant wind.
I commented earlier... but it must've been consumed by blogger.
I'll just quickly say I'm drawn to mountains and rainy weather. I've always thought I was supposed to live in the Pacific Northwest. But if I could blink my eyes and move the entire sanctuary, all the animals who live here, I'd be Brendalynn's neighbor in Ireland. I've never been out of the USofA, but have traveled coast to coast. So much spectacular beauty.
Still, I dream of visiting Ireland.
In a cabin (with all modern amenities and electricity) in backwoods Maine by a lake.
Not sure - Maybe back to Texas -Hill Country - Fredericksburg-Luckenbach area or New Braunfels-San Marcos area
Maybe somewhere between Destin, Florida and Fairhope, Alabama.
I've heard Ecuador is nice, though I've never been there. I have a fascination with Brazil so maybe there but I'm not sure which part.
I didn't comment when I read this last night because I spent ten minutes starting to choose one then dithering and choosing something else. How could I pick just one place, etc. Come back today and what do I find? Everyone else just put their lists up happily! Sometimes I do worry too much.
Truth be told I'm living in the only place I want to live because of family and work reasons. If I was rich and not in need of a job (other than writing), and I could teleport my loved ones at will, for cities I'm extremely fond of Edinburgh, Dublin, Galway, Cork, Paris, Provence, Berlin... But for beautiful, smaller places, somewhere in Co. Antrim (Northern Ireland) or Donegal near Sliabh Liag, the Isle of Skye, a colourful house at the Cinque Terre, a remote beach on the southeast coast of Australia (the lighthouse on Montague Island?), somewhere in the Swiss alpine region (Lauterbrunnen perhaps?), an island in the Whitsundays... THIS IS WHY I ABORTED THIS ATTEMPT LAST NIGHT! Too many gorgeous places in the world.
I love where I live now: Whidbey Island. Great climate (I have even grown to like the rain in winter) nice people, but...if I could live anywhere, it would be kind of a toss up between one of the smaller cities in Holland, like Utrecht or Delft or southwestern England. Which are all really versions of where I live now. I guess I really like mild temperate weather, and enough trees and bunnies for the cat to climb and chase (trees=climbing, bunnies= chasing, in case you were confused.)
If I lived outside of Edinburgh Scotland, I could have some pandas too. As much as I loved visiting masses of pandas, I don't think I could live in China. There are way too many people there, as lovely as the ones I met on my trip last fall.
Then again I think we should all go live with Hank on his vineyard in France. Start building those cabins!
I'd like to live next door to me.
I have a big city at hand for shopping and theater via a ferry. I have ocean water that keep the temperature moderate with whales and strange creatures in it (that includes some people). The "real" ocean, the Pacific, is only an hour and a half's drive away. So is Canada.
I can see a couple of semi-dormant volcanoes to remind me that nothing is forever.
I can look at night skies dark enough to see the galaxy in andromeda if you know where to look despite having Seattle about 35 miles away (lots of trees and hills). In the the summer I can see the sun rise in the northeast over mountains and see it set over mountains to the northwest from my deck.
We have comprehensive library system vast enough to cover real books, old book and e-books.
I can watch the Aurora Borealis from my living room in my PJs.
I have a great part-time job teaching art to kids and adults at the Y. I can do my art and write anytime I want ... then take a long walk on a nearly empty beach (well, not during holidays of course).
My own studio is behind my 70 year old cottage that is entirely made of old cedar milled on site (the cut forest is now old and untouched).
I'm close to my kids and my grandkiddos.
I see bald eagles everyday, have a crow that visits regularly – he says his name is "CawCaw, two Maine Coon cats that understand about 20 words excluding "no" and "don't do that". And deer, bear, raccoons, squirrels, slugs and salamanders that are regular guests.
I have a husband of 40 years that is beating melanoma with a breakthrough new immunotherapy treatment in conjunction with University of Washington and Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle and a team of great docs on both sides of the puget sound.
And I have the internet.
So I guess I'm already where I'd want to live "if could live anywhere in the world, other than where I am are now."
Janet, sorry for the late reply. Mum doesn't always let me get to your blog in a timely fashion. You know you're more than welcome to come. Good wine and great food await you whenever you'd like.
Claire, Hank and I have talked about Janet coming for a visit. I'm sure something could be worked out.
I've been fortunate to travel to over 60 countries around the world and I've lived in eight, but I've always returned to Paris. It's been my one true love, it's home, it's where I belong. But, if I had to choose a second place, it would be the Sacred Valley in Peru.
No one will probably read this two days removed comment, but I simply must chime in.
Sunday morning, sun is up and the second day without the humidly of the past week has vanished. A glorious morning. Windows open, steaming cup of coffee I sit down to catch up on comments.
These comments have filled me with joy because this morning I got to travel the world and learn about all the beautiful places which capture reider's hearts.
What a great way to start another spectacular day.
Thanks for this great question.
Don't be so sure, 2Ns. I read it and couldn't agree more. Have a great day/afternoon/evening everyone.
Paris. I have a building 527 miles south of there, which was my intended place to land. But now things have changed, and not for the better. Or maybe London, since I speak the language reasonably well. In France I mostly smile, nod, and ask for wine.
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