If you could live anywhere.....

bigmat

Kids, family and work all conspire to make the UK the best option for me. There are many places I have visited that I think would make great places to live - the French Alps, Melbourne, Argentina, Thailand, the list could go on almost indefinitely. Hopefully I'll be sprightly enough once my dependants are independant to hit the road again - there's a lot of places I'd still love to see!

As far as UK is concerned, I just can't look past London area. Best work, most vibrant and multi-cultural lifestyle, and if you get that little bit out of the centre the countryside isn't really that far away. Most of the pretty bits fall into the "nice to visit, but I couldn't live there" category.

secretsam

Funnily enough, I'd love to live in Vancouver - the only city I've ever been to where I felt instantly at home - and for a job, as we're in fantasy mode, be a professional footballer (at 41!!!!).

mkirby

I have a mate lives in Emerald Melbourne. Looks well nice.

I have not travelled much other than school trips (im not copmfortable travelling on my own).

If i have to go of my currentl salary then i doubt i could afford to live anywhere else

St Helena or midway (though the fact its part of the usa puts me right off to be honest) would be nice though.

thecrofter

Must admit I've become a bit bored with Edinburgh....although the city still looked stunning on the telly yesterday for "da Holy Fadder's" visit.

Would seriously consider moving back to Rannoch where I'm from or Wester Ross (but not Ullapool, the only good thing there is the chippy!)

The Italian Lakes or the Bernese Alps in a dream world. Ho hum.

But then there's the problem of getting to Tynecastle, maybe if I learned to fly and had my own plane, it could work

Cafewanda

WGWarburton wrote:

When we decided we wanted to go backpacking we made a list of all the reasons why we couldn't go (jobs, flat, car loan, language, lack of gear etc) and then worked out how to solve them. When we ran out of reasons not to go, we left...

Excellent way of working it out. Must remember to use that with my younger friends.

Kiwi Kranker

WGWarburton wrote:

Kiwi Kranker wrote:

...What has surprised me is the number of people who have moved to NZ and been surprised they dont earn as much as they did in the UK and then go on to moan about it and rip into NZ saying its basically sh*t. I think that is a fault of the immigration advisors as we only have 4 million people and while as an average 'Joe' you can have a big house and have access to any sort of countryside you want.in most cases you wont be able to afford the latest gadgets, that regular flight back to the UK or the latest car etc. For most Kiwis a European car is an extreme sign of wealth, VW's are massively expensive in NZ for example.

Yup. It's a lifestyle thing- Space & access to the outdoors in spades. Latest gadgets, imported goods, cars etc a lot more expensive. If you want fancy Italian coffee makers, European cars, household fittings etc they'll be much more expensive there.

One thing to note is that NZ is less diverse and multicultural than the UK. It's a small country and quite isolated. In the UK we're used to having a constant exchange of ideas with lots of different countries; that happens on a much smaller scale in NZ. It's hard to quantify the effect of this, but I think it can be significant and it isn't obvious from outside the country.

Cheers,
W.

[edit] I havn't checked... but I bet a Campy-equipped Italian road frame costs a bomb in Wellington!

All true though NZ and OZ make the best coffees in the world period. I will go to my grave arguing that point

I shudder to think of what it will cost me to maintain the Wilier when I get back there, I may have to swap over to Shimano *goes foetal and rocks*

alan_sherman

In Granada in Spain with the South Austrian mountains in the background with a 15 minute tube connection to central London. That would do me. Not asking too much am I?

I like your thinking, everywhere is a compromise and it is such a shame that you can't pick and choose the 'right' bits!

I have a love / hate thing with London. I hate the crowds and rude people, but then it is the best place in the world for access to culture (museums, theatre, events), along with some great architecture, history and speaks the right language. Shame about the weather (a longer summer would be nice) and the bloody expense of living here. Cycling is actually pretty good all things considered, but it depends where in London you live.

interestingly a lot of retired people are downsizing by buying a flat in central London so they can access all the stuff easily (and on a free bus pass - they don't even need a car!)

wgwarburton

alan sherman wrote:

...I like your thinking, everywhere is a compromise and it is such a shame that you can't pick and choose the 'right' bits!

This is, of course, the fundamental point- If there was somewhere perfect, everyone would want to live there, and it would be horrible!

You need to identify your priorities and then be realistic about them. Coast? Mountains? Sun? Culture? Transport? Education?

For example...Scotland's west coast is full (probably the wrong word...) of people who can put up with midges and don't mind getting wet... London isn't ideal if you don't like crowds... Big Opera fan? Maybe Darwin isn't for you... etc.

Cheers,
W.

Wallace1492

WGWarburton wrote:

For example...Scotland's west coast is full (probably the wrong word...) of people who can put up with midges and don't mind getting wet.

I hate the midge's, and prefer not to be wet.....

However, they are the downside's to the Scottish west coast. I have been all over the world, really like San Fran, Sydney and Vancouver, but there is just something magical about the Scottish west coast. Never really been able to put my finger on it, but it just is so relaxing, inviting, and beautiful.

biondino

Kiwi Kranker wrote:

All true though NZ and OZ make the best coffees in the world period. I will go to my grave arguing that point

I agree with you which would not impress my paternal line! (also I hate Campag)

wizzlebanger

I think I'll keep relatively down to earth and say Anglesey. Had a holiday there a couple of years ago and it just seemed a lovely place.

Somewhere near rhosneiger or treaddur bay would be perfect. The beaches there are lovely and it's just quiet enough without feeling isolated.

Plus, with the A55 now I can be back in Manchester with friends in 2 hours.

lost_in_thought

I'm pretty damn happy with where I am now. I'd consider buying in Ealing, and this:

is lovely for the weekends.

All I'd change is to have one more day in Essex, and one less in Ealing per week.

NOTE: if I have kids, Ealing's out of the question.

ETA: I have an aussie passport as well as an english one, but I'd never move to oz.

cjcp

biondino wrote:

Kiwi Kranker wrote:

All true though NZ and OZ make the best coffees in the world period. I will go to my grave arguing that point

I agree with you which would not impress my paternal line! (also I hate Campag)

I drank a lot of coffee in Oz and NZ. Good times...

-spider-

This is the morning commute from last week -




Why be anywhere else?

itboffin

Here



Oh! you meant a place. :roll:

I may have stolen this image from another thread

cjcp

-spider-

itboffin wrote:

Here


Oh! you meant a place. :roll:

I may have stolen this image from another thread

Surely you can get that to come to you? Or you can com..., Or you ..., Or ... . HHhmmmm......

I'll be on the next train.

rubbercolin

url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/30625579@N03/5000059348/][/url]
ireland 2010 095 by Cork2Kerry_2008, on Flickr

SmellTheGlove

itboffin wrote:

Here



Oh! you meant a place. :roll:

I may have stolen this image from another thread

Are those arm warmers Castelli?

Peter88

SmellTheGlove wrote:

itboffin wrote:

Here



Oh! you meant a place. :roll:

I may have stolen this image from another thread

Are those arm warmers Castelli?

Arm warmers ??? what arm warmers ??

Back on topic i would like to move to Cyprus

Pep

anywhere in the european Alps with a decent pizzeria gelateria.

Clarion

If I could live anywhere, it would be in Upper Wharfedale. I would never tire of the riding.

Afford to do it? Nah. No work in my partner's line of business (and not much in mine) up there.

spasypaddy

Beunos Aires. Wouldnt even ride there. but wow what a city

asprilla

Most beautiful place I've ever been was Ilsaverde, Santa Cruz, Guatemala on the side of Lake Atitlan. The view each morning was magnificent and the beers were cold.

cjcp

Asprilla wrote:

Most beautiful place I've ever been was Ilsaverde, Santa Cruz, Guatemala on the side of Lake Atitlan. The view each morning was magnificent and the beers were cold.

Beers each morning? Fair play. :P

Headhuunter

I'm happy in London. Not that I don't like other places but London seems to cover most bases for me.

The weather is temperate and good for running and cycling my passions, I used to live in Japan and in the summer it's just way to hot and humid to make decent exercise possible. I like that I live about 6 and a bit miles from work and can cycle in without much trouble all year round, it's not too far and not too near and apart from a little rain and snow now and then it's all pretty straightforward. A little less pollution and traffic might be nice I suppose.

I love that London is so close to the rest of Europe. I can shoot off to Spain, Italy, France, Germany etc at the drop of a hat (just come back from a long weekend in Biarritz in fact). Melbourne and San Francisco are lovely places (I've visited both) but Melbourne in particular is so far flung from anything that you literally have to catch a mid length flight to get away anywhere. I also love London for the diversity of food, products, people, bars and life in general. The down side of this is that it's incredibly busy and public transport is a nightmare, but having discovered cycling I manage to avoid the worst excesses of the Tube and train system. The upside is that there is a wealth of people from all over and from all backgrounds to meet and talk to.

I also love that London is so big that even though I have lived here for 10 years, there are still areas I don't know and can whizz off to explore.

My life is set up more or less just how I like it - I can go to the gym easily, get my food at the local market, work is good, lots of friends, family not far away.... I sometimes think that it would be nice to b*gger off and live somewhere else in Europe but then I think if it ain't broke why fix it?

asprilla

cjcp wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Most beautiful place I've ever been was Ilsaverde, Santa Cruz, Guatemala on the side of Lake Atitlan. The view each morning was magnificent and the beers were cold.

Beers each morning? Fair play. :P

God yes. Great hotel / chalets run by a Welsh bloke and his Spanish wife. He was quite happy to leave you in the bar if it was late and trust you to note down what you had to drink and then lock the place up leaving the key under the mat.

With accommodation like that breakfast was late enough to include beer if you wanted.

cjcp

Asprilla wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Most beautiful place I've ever been was Ilsaverde, Santa Cruz, Guatemala on the side of Lake Atitlan. The view each morning was magnificent and the beers were cold.

Beers each morning? Fair play. :P

God yes. Great hotel / chalets run by a Welsh bloke and his Spanish wife. He was quite happy to leave you in the bar if it was late and trust you to note down what you had to drink and then lock the place up leaving the key under the mat.

With accommodation like that breakfast was late enough to include beer if you wanted.

Ah, run by a Welsh bloke. There we are then. 8)

I fully take on board what HH says, but I'm reading Asprilla's post, and then I'm reading HH's post and I'm thinking this place in Santa Cruz doesn't sound too bad.

Clarion

London is almost the last place I want to live. The drivers are shocking and the roads are crap.

And black snot.

Headhuunter

cjcp wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Most beautiful place I've ever been was Ilsaverde, Santa Cruz, Guatemala on the side of Lake Atitlan. The view each morning was magnificent and the beers were cold.

Beers each morning? Fair play. :P

God yes. Great hotel / chalets run by a Welsh bloke and his Spanish wife. He was quite happy to leave you in the bar if it was late and trust you to note down what you had to drink and then lock the place up leaving the key under the mat.

With accommodation like that breakfast was late enough to include beer if you wanted.

Ah, run by a Welsh bloke. There we are then. 8)

I fully take on board what HH says, but I'm reading Asprilla's post, and then I'm reading HH's post and I'm thinking this place in Santa Cruz doesn't sound too bad.

Fair enough but the original conditions at the start of the thread were that it had to be somewhere you could move to and keep a job, pay the bills and live with your family & kids if you have them.... Living by the side of a lake with cold beers in the morning sounds lovely but who's gonna pay the rent eh?

If we're opening this up to "I'm a multi billionaire and could live anywhere" then I would need to give it a LOT more thought... I'd probably just by a boat and keep sailin' round the world til something stuck and then sell the boat and buy a bloody great mansion and live there...