New York City. Manhattan, specifically.
Part of me hates the place, but part of me loves it. It’s dirty and noisy, and its infrastructure is crumbling, but it was the big city near where I grew up, and I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of living there.
Long ago, I worked in NYC for six years, but I commuted from New Jersey, which is an entirely different (and not particularly appealing) experience.
If we could extend the border a wee bit (since we’re talking about the US) I might choose Vancouver or Victoria…
I’d add one more and that’s one of the San Juan Islands. Loved it up there.
Hawaii. Interestingly enough, this is one of our options in the relatively near future except we think it will take us about 18 months to fully explore the main islands the way we want to.
We’ve loved HI when we’ve visited, but we also suspect it would get “old” after we’ve been there too long and it’s so far away from anything else when we want to meander. This is actually why we don’t live there now. That and our other relatives being in the eastern half of the US.
Hawaii. DC. Cape Cod.
@Wellspring Duluth is mighty chilly in January :-). My dad grew up there and we used to go up there and further north for summer vacations… beautiful! I’ve only been in the winter once or twice. I decided to walk the 4 blocks from my grandma’s apartment to my aunt’s house when it was -24F… bad idea.
D20 and I might be going there in a couple of weeks. We have a free weekend in between visiting 3 colleges in the twin cities area and a drop-off for camp on Monday morning in St. Paul and I haven’t decided whether to stay in the twin cities or go up to Duluth. Have to see if any of my relatives will be around.
Small northeast coastal town - like a few I’ve read about in books but one winter would be plenty. Also San Juan islands. Also would love any water view with non hurricane potential
Winthrop, WA in the winter for the cross country skiing. Cape Cod for the rest of the year.
The coast of Oregon. Cool, quiet, not overrun with people (yet!), and wouldn’t have to stay up late to watch major sporting events.
I’ve been to Alaska three times. Absolutely beautiful. Any town there would be great.
I’m torn. I think my top choice would be Bend, Oregon. But it would get serious competition from NYC or somewhere in Colorado like Boulder although I’ve never been to Boulder but somewhere big enough for decent things to do and well located to go see all of the things in Colorado I haven’t seen.
New York City. Specifically Central Park West.
Tough question but I think I’ll say NYC. Would love exploring museums, restaurants and seeing plays. Not sure how I would feel about winter. I love where I live but wouldn’t mind a change for 6 months or a year if expenses weren’t a factor.
New York City. Some great apartment near great food, theaters, dance. God, that would be fun.
Vieques Puerto Rico
Great food, I love to speak Spanish, the phosphorescent bay, the ocean, ocean, ocean, and did I mention the ocean?
We have actually contemplated doing something like this for a year or two when we retire.
I’m going over the limit, but places we’ve talked about include
Santa Fe, NM
SF Bay Area (I lived there til 13) or San Diego (haven’t been since I was less than 10, but it sounds wonderful)
Maui (we love it there, but after a year may get tired of it
Maine, near Acadia NP (but only May - Oct)
I really liked Portland and the Oregon Coast, but my husband didn’t like it as much
ETA - Sedona, AZ
Coastal Maine.
I thought about it after I saw this thread. I would love to visit some of those places mentioned on this thread - HI, NE Coastal, Sedona, SFO…but not to live for a year. I really love living in NYC. I have a lot of anonymity in the City, but I also have a lot of familiarity where I want it.
I have always thought about living in Italy (Tuscany) for few months a year.
@oldfort, once we retire our plan is to get a place in Italy (we are all dual citizens) and spend a few months a year there, a few months semi-close to our oldest (and hopefully grandchildren) in NYC, and then the rest somewhere warm-ish in the US. We have researched living in Italy extensively and it can be quite affordable. We love it there and have been over a dozen times. Tuscany is famous for a reason!
If we’re going to add international destinations to the mix, I would love to spend a year in the Hebrides in Scotland.