My Top 5 Places I'd Like to Move To

REVISED: 1/12/09
Now, I know that a lot of my future is out of my hands, but I can't help but think about the places I'd like to move to next. Sure, this may be a waste of time, but it doesn't hurt to wonder about a life that may never exist, right?

1. San Diego, CA
The only thing I like more than snow is the sun and the beach. From what I've seen San Diego offers both. I've read that San Diego has over 260 days of sunshine a year, but I'm sure it has its share of rainy weather, but it's probably not as bad as it is up here in Oregon.

Also, I have the feeling that San Diego has a more diverse population. I miss seeing minorities. Also, there are two schools that I've been keeping my eye on for a few years now, San Diego State and the University of San Diego. Two very different schools, but I have experience with both types of institutions, so I'm hoping that works in my favor.

2. Boulder, CO
The one thing I learned this Christmas season is I like the snow. Arctic Blast 08 covered Portland in snow, and shut down the city for a few days. For some reason, a lot of people hated being subjected to these conditions, but I couldn't help but love every minute of it. Sure, it sucked being stuck inside but all I had to do is look outside to watch the snowfall and I was happy again. Maybe it's because snow is so foreign to me.

From what I've read online, Boulder offers the best of both worlds. The city boasts that it has more than 300 sunny or mostly sunny days a year (a huge plus to someone who is tired of the dreary grayness of Portland), and mild winters with some substantial snowfall. You can't beat that. Plus, the University of Colorado is located in Boulder, so hopefully job opportunities will exist for me in the mountains.

3. Austin, TX
Spending time in Houston over the break convinced me that if I move back to Texas the only place for me is Austin, which is kind of funny since I used to hate Austin when I lived in San Antonio. The main reason Austin is appealing to me is because it's not as big as Houston or Dallas. Just being in a small part of Houston reminded me how big it was, and how I feel more at home in mid-sized cities. I also think I'd like the vibe of Austin since it's similar to that of Portland. Plus, Austin is still close enough to San Antonio and Houston so I can visit family when I feel like it.

The only drawback to Austin is the limited job prospects. Sure, there's UT, but my hatred for that school might be too deep. The only other real option is St. Edwards University, which could work out since it's a Holy Cross institution like the University of Portland.

4. Honolulu, HI
For the last couple of years now I've been feeling this force pulling me towards the Hawaiian islands, and I'm tempted to give in. This longing to move to Hawaii started a few years ago when we went for my grandmother's funeral. It was a sad time, but I remember feeling so at home there. It just felt like I belonged there. Probably because I've always felt like I fit in more with my mom's side of the family than my dad's.

Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii, so I would have the semi-big city atmosphere that I like, and it's home to the University of Hawaii, Chaminade University, and Hawaii Pacific University, so there's the potential for work there as well. The main negative about Honolulu is the fact that Hawaii is so far away from the mainland. I'm afraid I'd get island fever sooner than later.

5. Portland, OR
Contrary to what people might think, I like living in Portland...it's the weather that I can't stand. The city itself is great, vibrant, diverse in terms of lifestyles and viewpoints (not so much ethnically), and it's just a cool place to be. Plus, the summers are amazing. Also, I have some small roots here in Portland. Slowly this city started becoming home, albeit a gray, rainy home.

As for work, there are tons of schools in the Portland area to work for. The trickiest part is finding a school that is the right fit. The thing is, I like to be challenged and I like change, and sticking around Portland might not fulfill those needs.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order): Denver, CO; Buffalo, NY; Boston, MA; Salt Lake City, UT; Nashville, TN; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA

These are the five cities I'd like to live in if I had the opportunity, but in all honesty I'm willing to live anywhere just as long as I can find a good job. These would be ideal, but I'm not picky...well, not THAT picky.