Dream FIRE Locale: Fresh Air? Times Square?

[Aelias]

A comment on another thread made me curious about where others hope to spend their FIRE years.  I’m currently living in an East Coast, urban, high COL area.  There are a lot of things to love about my city, but I’m well aware that I could probably FIRE tomorrow if I were willing to move some place cheaper.  Of course, the best of both worlds might be urban life in a lower COL city in the South or the Midwest. Still, for me, the balance tips in favor of staying put.  But I’m curious to see where others are on this.

Rural life pros
-low COL, and less constant bombardment with consumer culture
-bigger house / more land for less money
-more opportunities for free outdoor entertainment
-town nearby for necessities and social interaction
-grow more of your own food
-tight-knit community (hopefully)
-peace and quiet
-choose a better winter climate

Urban life pros
-walking access to groceries, pharmacy, libraries, restaurants etc.
-public transit access to almost limitless cultural / educational / entertainment opportunities
-easy access to the airport for travel
-hospitals and doctors nearby
-easier access to other people for social interaction and business opportunities

[BlueHouse]

Can't I have both?  I don't know and I'm not willing to commit all of my time to one or the other.

[Aelias]

Interesting idea.  Find some like minded buddies and house swap from time to time?  Or just spend time visiting each others homes.

[I'm a red panda]

You could not pay me enough to live in New York city, but I am also not going to live rural. I want to be in a city with city services. If there is no sewer, I'm not living there.

[BlueHouse]

I only want to live or visit dense cities and very rural (dirt road type) locales.  Just please no suburbs!

[ketchup]

We're suburban now, but the long-term plan is rural.

[dougules]

I just adore a penthouse view.

[seattlecyclone]

I generally like cities. Rural areas are nice to visit but I don't wish to live long-term in a place where I live miles and miles from many of the things I might need to visit on a regular basis. Most suburbs, in my opinion, are bad places to live and even worse places to visit.

I like Seattle. I've built a career and a network of friends here. I plan to raise my son and retire here. We'll certainly visit other places, perhaps for months at a time, but this is the home I've chosen for myself and I don't really ever intend to leave permanently.

[Carl500]

I live in the suburbs of a large metropolitan area, and I don't like it. I'd rather live closer to the core of this city or somewhere else maybe a town or smaller city.

[redbird]

Suburban. I love the internet. It's too useful to me. Even if I could probably cut down my wasting-time usage of it, it's very useful to me for learning things, looking up new recipes to try, etc. Rural typically is stuck with expensive and slow satellite internet. And I don't really care for cities beyond visiting them for a specific purpose. It's too crowded and I don't like apartment living.

[Venturing]

I think we have found the best of both worlds.

We live in a wee tight knit village only 6km outside of City pop 100,000. The city has all the services we need and there's a bike trail along a riverbank that connects our village to it. However, the land between us and the city is heavily protected prime horticultural land so we don't have to worry about the city sprawling out to swamp us.

Everything we need/want is easily accessible but when I look out my window all I see are rolling hills and sheep. I think that's a pretty cool combo.

[Jon_Snow]

During the night, from my location on my little slice of island heaven I can see the distant sky-glows of the great cities of Victoria (to the west), Vancouver (to the east), and Seattle (to the south). It is a reminder than despite the feeling of isolation that can exist with island living...there is quick and easy access to 3 world class cities if that is desired...though, I'm not really a "city person" so this city-need is a rare thing. :)

[Rubic]

Voted urban because I love the city.  My goal is to live somewhere where I will no longer own a car. However I've also lived in very rural areas and have no problem in the right setting.  Mainly I hate the mass of suburbia and interlocking ex-burbs.  It's the worse of both worlds: You need a car, but even short trips are agonizingly congested and walking is hazardous or non-existent.

[FernFree]

I prefer something like a small university town with some culture/activities, but close to nature.  Best of both worlds.  :)

[Ozlady]

Where my family is...

[soccerluvof4]

I prefer something like a small university town with some culture/activities, but close to nature.  Best of both worlds.  :)

This is my plan...hopefully in NC

[begood]

I prefer something like a small university town with some culture/activities, but close to nature.  Best of both worlds.  :)

This is my plan...hopefully in NC

Lots of NC towns fit that description, including (off the top of my head):

Asheville (UNC-A)
Black Mountain/Swannanoa (Montreat College/Warren Wilson College)
Boone (Appalachian State University, aka "Happy Appy")
Burlington (Elon University)
Chapel Hill (UNC)
Davidson (Davidson College)
Durham (Duke, NC Central University)
Greensboro (UNC-G, NC A&T,  Bennett College, Greensboro College, Guilford College)
Greenville (East Carolina University)
High Point (High Point University)
Wilmington (UNC-Wilmington)
Winston-Salem (Wake Forest University, Salem College)

Of those, Chapel Hill and Asheville have the highest COL, though nearby towns (Carrboro, which is attached to Chapel Hill at its west end) and Black Mountain and Swannanoa (8-10 miles from Asheville) have slightly lower COL with easy access to the amenities CH and Asheville offer.

Davidson is pretty close to Charlotte, and it's my current #1, with nearby Mooresville a less expensive alternative.

Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem, aka the Triad area, is low COL in comparison. It's about a three-hour drive to the mountains or five to the beach from the Triad.

[Northwestie]

Only problem is that they are all in NC - one of the ugliest political landscapes.   AND, it's hot and buggy and no mountains.  Well, those speed bumps y 'all refer to as mountain.  ;)