If you could live anywhere

[grrrr]

I would raise my kids in the san juan islands. That is all.

But after I retire, I'm heading for yurp.

[Art Shirk]

Seattle brother. Seattle. It has everything. Plus, you will receive your Anti-Bush bumper stickers for free as soon as you cross the Cascades.

[spindrift]

I think you need to revisit your goals. In your first post you noted things like schools/education, top notch medical care, cultural amenities, moderate climate and access to ski/mtb. But no place you've talked about is even close. Some meet just about zero of them - other than ski/mtb. I mean given those criteria, where'd someplace like Lee Vining/Bishop come from? If you are serious about top notch medical care, how do you get far from Seattle, Denver, SLC, Portland, etc.? Maybe a reevaluation of real priorities is in order?

A bunch of the original suggestions here struck me as hitting the few places that at least register on all those scales. Just mentally draw 50 or hundred mile circles around every place in the west that has anything resembling a moderate climate, excellent medical care, even a baby arts scene, skiing, mtb, etc. Or do it for real on a map using different colors for different categories. And see where they intersect. I think its a pretty small list in the end. If the result doesn't do it for you, think of which goals you really care about and don't fool around with the others.

One thing to consider is that kids are more resilient than most people think (I wish I'd understood this earlier). If your job situation allows, consider a seasonal rental or two. Spend a semester one place and the next semester someplace else. Just do it this upcoming school year. Then pick wherever seems to sing to you. A year of hopping around might seem like a big deal but it really won't be (assuming you have the kind of job flexibility that is sort of implicit in your posts). Like I said, I wish I'd scoped that sooner...

[spindrift]

Plus, you will receive your Anti-Bush bumper stickers for free as soon as you cross the Cascades.

I'm offering free installation too

[stayalert]

double check your FIL's interest/ability to thrive at altitude.

[gravitylover]

stayalert - We're actually planning a trip next month for a week or two to find out this very thing. If you notice in the beginning of the thread most of the places I mentioned were well under 5,000 feet but, then he spoke to his doctor and was told that he had no medical problems (at the moment) that would preclude him from living at slightly higher altitudes.

spindrift - Actually that's why I started the thread, to see what other peoples take on some of these spots is. I think that Tahoe, Aspen, Vail and Steamboat all have pretty good medical care. At least they have hospitals with some specialists on staff that really have a clue. Tahoe is a bit more of a project in that you need to head to Carson/Reno for the higher level services but the CO mtn towns do a pretty good job of taking care of themselves because that's where the doctors want to live their own lives (as evidenced by the article Benny linked to.) They certainly have decent schools as far as public schools go and I guess that culture is what you make of it. When I lived in the boat I never thought much of hopping in the car and heading for the front range for a show.

I have already pulled NM from my list after doing a quick bit of research, the comment about fair skinned kids not appreciating the scene in the schools there was the final kicker. Lee Vining and the east slope of the Sierra were more a joke/test than anything else but I know for sure I wouldn't want the suburban hell that is the front range or the I5 corridor so some concessions would have to be made. Resort areas tned to have a bit better educated populace and therefore the things that those folks want.

[Rontele]

stayalert - We're actually planning a trip next month for a week or two to find out this very thing. If you notice in the beginning of the thread most of the places I mentioned were well under 5,000 feet but, then he spoke to his doctor and was told that he had no medical problems (at the moment) that would preclude him from living at slightly higher altitudes.

spindrift - Actually that's why I started the thread, to see what other peoples take on some of these spots is. I think that Tahoe, Aspen, Vail and Steamboat all have pretty good medical care. At least they have hospitals with some specialists on staff that really have a clue. Tahoe is a bit more of a project in that you need to head to Carson/Reno for the higher level services but the CO mtn towns do a pretty good job of taking care of themselves because that's where the doctors want to live their own lives (as evidenced by the article Benny linked to.) They certainly have decent schools as far as public schools go and I guess that culture is what you make of it. When I lived in the boat I never thought much of hopping in the car and heading for the front range for a show.

I have already pulled NM from my list after doing a quick bit of research, the comment about fair skinned kids not appreciating the scene in the schools there was the final kicker. Lee Vining and the east slope of the Sierra were more a joke/test than anything else but I know for sure I wouldn't want the suburban hell that is the front range or the I5 corridor so some concessions would have to be made. Resort areas tned to have a bit better educated populace and therefore the things that those folks want.

I think Steamboat would be a good choice, but I wouldn't be so quick to cross off the Front Range as suburban hell. You can have a great lifestyle here without dealing with the problems of suburbia.

I can also speak to the high quality of municipal services in all of the Co mountain town and Reno because the law firm I am working for represents them all!

[Beaver]

I already live where I would live if I could live anywhere. (not in, but near Nelson)

[jimmy page]

I would put Hailey, ID on the list. For what you are looking for it fits the bill.

[OldLarry]

Just curious- what do you do for a living?

[Dam Skier]

Yeah the Aspen area is always on my radar but like you said, it's a bit pricey. The funny thing is that it's not much worse than Steamboat. Makes me want to beat myself for not being able to take advantage of the incredible deals that were there 20 years ago.

What does seem more affordable is the western end of the Vail Valley, Eagle and Gypsum. I haven't been there since 1990 and what I remember was well, not much. From google earth pics I can tell it's grown but what's it really like?

You don't want to live on I-70 in the Vail valley, do you? Steamboat has changed a lot in 20 years. 20 years ago would have been a great deal, but what is it going to cost in 20 years? My house is for sale. pm me if you want more on Steamboat.

[Woolph]

Gypsum is lacking a decent grocery store and anything resembling good food. A huge upscale 2nd home development is going in on the adam's rib property, where they'll have golf and fyfishing (on a converted irrigation ditch) for the club members. http://www.adamsribranch.com/home

Eagle has Eagle Ranch, a planned community, which will soon be bigger then the rest of Eagle. As mentioned, you'll be fighting the I-70 crowds for resort turns at the Beav and Vail.

If you've got the cash the mid valley of the Roaring Fork Valley would be a good fit. Much more community and soul than the I-70 Gypsum to Vail Corridor. Aspen has the culture aspect covered with the uber wealthy 2nd homeowners strongly supporting the arts. Skiing is "uncrowded by design" - SkiCo's slogan which is obnoxious but true. Look towards Basalt, Carbondale, and Missouri Heights area.

[fez]

if i could live anywhere it would be Grenoble FR or Vancouver BC.

anyone looking to hire a systems admin/dba in either of those places?

[gravitylover]

If you've got the cash the mid valley of the Roaring Fork Valley would be a good fit. Much more community and soul than the I-70 Gypsum to Vail Corridor. Aspen has the culture aspect covered with the uber wealthy 2nd homeowners strongly supporting the arts. Skiing is "uncrowded by design" - SkiCo's slogan which is obnoxious but true. Look towards Basalt, Carbondale, and Missouri Heights area.

So I've spent a bunch of time looking at what's listed there and there isn't really that much. You live there right? Know any agents that could tell me more than what I see on the interweb? What's the deal with Glenwood? I always considered it just another interstate town but it seems to have grown.

Larry - Me = 25 years ski/bike industry 8 of them owning my own shop and now managing a $3+ mil bike shop in NYC. Wife = paralegal

[gravitylover]

So it looks like we're going to come out to CO in a few weeks. Is there a relatively low altitude way of coming in other than through Laramie and then down through Steamboat? I don't want to run my FIL any higher than necessary. We're figuring on spending ten or twelve days between Steamboat and the Roaring Fork Valley. I know somebody is going to ask why are we driving so, we're bringing our dog and I can't imagine being out there without our bikes.

[CUBUCK]

So it looks like we're going to come out to CO in a few weeks. Is there a relatively low altitude way of coming in other than through Laramie and then down through Steamboat? I don't want to run my FIL any higher than necessary. We're figuring on spending ten or twelve days between Steamboat and the Roaring Fork Valley. I know somebody is going to ask why are we driving so, we're bringing our dog and I can't imagine being out there without our bikes.

From the east all driving routes are more or less the same. Your spreading 5280 feet out over 1800 miles. You should be fine

[Endlessseason]

Vancouver, British Columbia. About the most beautiful and amazing place I've ever been. I'd move there in a heartbeat if I could.

[2-czech]

if i could live anywhere it would be Grenoble FR or Vancouver BC.

anyone looking to hire a systems admin/dba in either of those places?

+1

my best friend spent one year in Grenoble while i was in Vancouver. we both loved it...i had MUCH better season though

anyways, already made up my mind to move to Vancouver...now just sort out the visa shit...