[I modified the thread title to better reflect that it's MY ideal, not anyone else's!]
I read on another thread recently (can't find it! holler if it was you!) that there are three things that make an impact on a job - people, work, money. You hope to always have two of the three be positive at any given job.
As I continue to dream of what our next stage might look like - probably in ten years, could be as few as five or six - I keep coming back to the fact that what I'm looking for and what I currently have are not in congruence.
I have:
Negative: High cost of living
Negative: Cold, messy, long winters
Positive: Strong, socially liberal community
I'd like:
Positive: Low cost of living
Positive: Mild(er) climate - shorter winters, longer summers
Positive: Socially liberal community
Some places do come to mind: Asheville and Charlotte NC; Nashville TN; Athens GA. Chapel Hill, where I grew up, is pretty HCOL compared to other spots in NC. Maybe there are hundreds of college towns where I'd find that, and I just don't know about them.
But I'd love to hear about other areas of the country where I might find that trifecta. It feels like the places that are more liberal tend to be HCOL and/or less desirable climate-wise.
I have another dream list that includes things like access to an int'l airport, good health care options, and a Costco, but it seems like looking at climate, cost of living, and overall community values structure would be a good place to start.