What do you need to love where you live?

Yes! I must love where I live, or I go nuts.

Strip clubs.

Nature, with plenty of wildlife. Seasons. Access to 24 hr shopping (It’s easier for wheelchairs to go shopping when things aren’t crowded). A good community attitude.

Quietness,f resh air, friendly neighbors.

Too bad my place doesn’t meet the third requirement

Excellent public transport network, because I am unable to drive.

Good choice of places to eat out.

Evening entertainment (ideally, pubs with live music and real ale/craft beers).

Acceptance of LGBT people.

Pedestrianisation of city centre with access to Dixons.

Low crime rate, a couple of universities nearby for that college town feel, dark skies.

A medium-sized city in a blue state comfortably distanced from a non-natural disaster zone, four seasons and a moderate climate, minimal traffic, high-speed Internet access and cable, and a small house in the country far from the madding crowd but close enough to groceries, medical facilities, a movie theater that plays both new and old films, and good bagels.

Still looking for that place.

Good public transport
Fast Internet
Easy access to the countryside
Traffic free cycling routes
Nice cafes and restaurants
Some cultural activity
Not Gaza.

Quiet neighbors;
Cats;
Easy access to farms and farm markets;
Large kitchen and counter space;
Winter – ideally equal to or greater than summer;
High-speed internet and high-speed mobile service;
Washer & Dryer & Dishwasher;
Diverse population;
Good restaurants and markets;
Cultural venues nearby.
Conveniences and shops along the way of my commute;

We are in that place. We have a townhouse and the neighbors on both sides are quiet (because it’s Sunday morning, I was able to hear the golden retriever next door barking – but only barely). One of my kitties is keeping my feet warm. We have great farm markets in the are and we get the majority of our food directly from the farmers, many of whom are organic, organic transition, or at least GMO-free. There are people and restaurants from pretty much every country and culture within a half-hour’s drive. There’s a large park that runs along the canal for walking and biking, and some decent hiking trails in the area, as well. The train station is 4 miles away, and they’re building another even closer, (but unfortunately not waling distance, unless they put tunnels under the tracks). We are 5 miles away from one large college campus, and 20 miles away from another, plus NY and Philadelphia are 60–90 minutes away, so we have access to dining, theater, art, music, and sporting events.

@Pachy Look at Spencerport NY.

It has what you seek – except for (maybe) the climate.

@LuckyGuy, I’m on my way… :-)

@Pachy: For your country house, try the areas around Lenox, Great Barrington and Stockbridge, MA. and Austerlitz, Chatham, NY (my ‘hood.) There are some fantastic real estate deals, and you could buy your tickets from me at the box office of the local movie house that shows Indie films every other Sunday afternoon sponsered by the Chatham Film Club.

On the only main street, called Main St. is The Bagel Cafe, and the movie theater. Nearby are three choices of superb medical facilities.

There is DSL for the internet, which works pretty well if you don’t mind recycling the modem after rain and electrical storms.

You have to love winter. You have to have a car that can handle snow and ice.

Farmer’s markets, roadside stands for fresh produce, hiking and biking and skiing, train to NYC 16 miles away. Three miles to the Taconic parkway that gets you easily to NYC, Boston and Albany.

Two nearby college campuses for culture. Tanglewood (Boston Symphony Orchestra), Jacob’s Pillow for dance, Shakespeare and Co., for summer culture. Two large swimming ponds with lifeguards within biking distance, parades down Main st. on all holidays, street fairs and food on summer week-ends, orgies of garage and yard sales, and a deli that smokes its own corned beef.

The only trouble in paradise are the ticks, but common sense and vigilance usually takes care of that.

You have to be conversant with septic systems, volunteer fire and rescue services, sump pumps and size of driveway fill. There are not a lot of high-paying jobs unless you bring your profession with you.

@Pachy: It’s probably larger than what you’re looking for, but we know someone who’s trying to sell this home and has had to lower their asking price considerably over two years. Oil heat, well water, and septic are not good for us, as we are not the ‘handy’ types. Otherwise, it’s gorgeous.

Outdoors/ nature, old mentality mixed with modern ideas/tech. Independence & hard justice, privacy.

@Pachy We’ll leave the light on for you!

I must admit the area mentioned by @gailcalled is nice. But I will counter with a plug for this region. It has: University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology, the Little Theater 85 year old art theater, the Erie Canal and it’s running / walking / biking paths. Letchworth state park to the south, Braddock Bay and Lake Ontario to the south. more summer festivals than anyone can attend, Spencerport Fireman’s carnival, Park Avenue Craft Festival, Heritage Days, etc. Rochester Jazz Festival.

You will need to learn how to write check for an annual snow plowing contract.

Cats.

I need acres of trees and mountains. If I can’t have that I’ll take acres of desert and canyons. I still like to be at least a days drive from a major city. Rivers and/or lakes need to be nearby also.

My wife.
Quite neighbours .
Mountains.
a good job

Relaxating silence, privacy, fairness, consideration, being ones self, ..ect, ect

Plenty of choices of those to eat…

This place has it all, and anything missing is so close that it’s pointless fretting over it. Therefore it lacks the one thing essential to make the rest possible—affordability!