Why do you live where you live?

A smart@@s remark from a certain someone we all know and love (CBBN) in the San Fran thread got me thinking....why do you live where you live??

Since I left Ashland in 1983, I now live in a town that has been the longest I've lived anywhere since that year. It's only 7 years for me right now, but how did you end up where you are?

Some of you may recall my military retirement last year. I put resume's out all over the country. I got one bite....the job I'm in now. Right back on the base I retired from as a civilian federal employee. Had the another job come along I probably would have moved to it. Albeit, single again, but that's where my mind was.

Taxes out here are outrageous. Weather here is phenomonal. People are nice enough. Truly depends on where you are at any given time. Politics, yeah well, if you're of the liberal, socialist, transgender mindset, it's a perfect environment. (I'm not). Gangs are "around" but have not infiltrated my area/county to any great degree. They are more south of San Francisco and a little north. I think the local Hell's Angels keeps them at bay around here.

Real estate has bottomed. We are even considering buying within the next year if the right one pops up. However I wonder if it will drop more, as the economy tanks more in the coming months/years. I can purchase a decent sized house (1700-2300 sq ft) with a small yard in a decent neighborhood for about 500-600K. Yeah I know....but thats my reality right now.

My job as a GS is "locked in" on 25 March 2013. So the security is there, somewhat. The job is not hard, I enjoy it.

We are 50 minutes from downtown SF. Some of the best restaurants I've ever eaten in my life that are not exorbitant in price. Especially the little mom and pop italian places in North Beach! About 2.5 hours from Lake Tahoe, 1 hour from some amazing bass fishing lakes, and minutes from others. Broadway plays that come here from the east coast (Go see Jersey Boys if you get the chance). Great story and music from Franki Valli and the Four Seasons life together.

I'm away from friends and family I grew up with, I long for the hills of Eastern Kentucky at times, but I wonder how much of that longing is nostalgic vs. reality?

I can sit on my back patio now with a firepit, some nice adirondack chairs made from wine barrels, sip on really good wine or white lightning, depending on my mood. All in all, it's not a bad life out here. Could I have more bang for my buck in another area. You bet. Is it worth it? I really don't know. I'm a creature of habit, and as I said, I've never been in a place this long. It's a new thing for me. I'm trying to relax with it.

Thats my reasoning. How about yours?

Shoot, meant for this to be on the Front Porch. Can someone move it please?

I live in a small town in Montana, well it's Montana's fourth largest city but still only 40,000 people. Been here, off and on, but mostly on, since 1975.

It's a University town 90 miles from Yellowstone park. Many of the people here are from somewhere else, like me. So we aren't really "Montana". Talented people, people who could live anywhere, pick this area , so it's got a "bigger town than it is" feel.

We have a low crime rate, good schools, good hospital, great airport with direct flights to 11 cities and really low wages and salaries. We all "eat the mountains " meaning "pay a lot to live here".

I came here with nothing and nobody knew me. The people here helped me, hired me, accepted me. I've been elected Mayor three times. This is a town that isn't afraid of outsiders, respects innovation, intelligence and hard work. It's a town where the American dream still happens.

I'm from East Kentucky also. After college, I lived in Florida for a couple of years but I missed the change of seasons and the soft grass and the trees. I moved back to Lexington and lived there for 7 years until I met my future wife and we moved together to Louisville for better job prospects. Louisville's a lot like Lexington only about 3X the size. Instead of being surrounded by farm land it's surrounded by the communities that it has swallowed up over time. In addition to being 3X the size there are 3X as many things to do here. We've been here for 20 years now and it's home. Lexington will always be a special place to me (except for the in-laws :winking0011:), but I guess I needed a place that had a big city feel to it without being too awful big. Louisville's really easy to get around in and it's my son's hometown.

Been in MIss since 1979 and like most others came here for my ideal job, I was a sales rep for Bear Archery company which meant I got to bowhunt for a living. Now in retail, own our store.
Was planning on moving back to Ky when we retired, but then along came two beautiful granddaughters and there is no way I could blast my wife away from those two younguns, as if I would leave them.
Not particularly crazy about Miss, it is okay but I miss Ky a lot, miss the seasons change, the lakes and the countryside. Other than our daughter we have no family here but there are a lot of good folks here, it is laid back, good weather, good golf and good food and inexpensive to live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pus6XF_qh38

I live in Kentucky because I'm licensed to practice law here and didn't want to take another bar exam when I got out of the Navy way back when. I sure as heck don't want to take another one now.

If being licensed meant I could practice anywhere, I might live someplace warmer. But then again, I lived in the Caribbean for 3 years and missed the change of seasons here in Kentucky, so who knows?

We live in Louisville because I came here for a job in '95--figured I'd fill that spot on my resume and move on to someplace better. Well, I did move on to a different job but we stay in Louisville because we really love it here. It has the advantages of living in a city, but with really nice people (the thing that surprised us the most when we moved here). Louisville is like a collection of small neighborhoods. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

I currently live in the StL area because of my job. In 6 1/2 years I'll be living back in KY. I've lived in the Washington, DC area as well because of my job.

I moved to Florida about 2 years after I finished my last tour of duty in the Army. My last duty station was Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and I had a job lined up with a small Sheriff's Office before I was even out of the Army. Stayed there for a couple of years, then, after having gone to Ft. Stewart, GA for summer camp and a work-up ARTEP prior to Desert Shield/Desert Storm, which we finished ahead of schedule. Our 1SG(that's First Sergeant for all of you non-military folks)put us on pass, and a small group of us went to Jacksonville Beach for 4 days. During this time I had also stayed in touch with a buddy of mine from active duty who had retired and moved to Vero Beach, and he came up to visit while we were on pass. We had talked many times previously about me moving to Florida, as I had always wanted to live there since the first time I had visited as a child. Anyway, Rick visiting us and one more conversation was all it took to get me to make the move.
I went back to Kansas, cleaned up whatever cases I had going, and resigned. I stopped over in Louisville to visit my Mom during Thanksgiving 1990, and a couple of days afterwards I was in Vero Beach, FL staying with my buddy Rick.
And I've never looked back............. :trink39:

Raised within 30 miles of where I live. Briefly lived in TN and OH, but work brought me home. Family and friends are here, wife's family and friends are here and we love KY.

Moved to Lexvegas when I was 8. Went away to school, came back. Downtown is great here now, easily the match of many cool areas I've been to in bigger cities, so that's nice.

However, the reason I'm here is I'm too stupid to not have moved to the Keys and warm weather and too poor to not summer here and winter there. :)

Family moved a little when I was young; Dad worked for a company that moved him to fix sick agencies, til they were well, and moved him again. Went to college and law school, and thought I was headed back to Kentucky; took the Kentucky bar exam before any other state, but by the time I sat for the exam, I was dating a New Orleans girl and had a New Orleans job offer. Took both the girl and the offer (my wife) and stayed there for a few years before losing my mind and going back to school to get a tax law

Got out of school from Miami looking for a place, probably back in New Orleans--no tax law jobs available. Had my old job still available, but wasn't what I wanted to do, so I was recruited by a Savannah, Ga. firm, an Atlanta firm, and a Montgomery, Alabama firm. I chose the wrong one of the three (Montgomery), and I hated it for two years, as did my wife.

At that time, I was looking for a way out, and interviewed and was offered positions in Lexington and Louisville (I was still admitted in Kentucky and Louisiana), and was not looking to go back to New Orleans (we had a child by then, and were looking to start our family). Also had a job offer in Birmingham, which we did not think we would like. Visited the city, loved it. Had great feelings about the people we met at the firm and the area. Began reading about education, quality of living, and related items, and continued to be attracted to it. Was also 360 miles from New Orleans, and a 50 minute Southwest Airline ticket from there, and the same distance from Monroe, La., where my parents lived.

Every time I visit Lexington, I think back to what might have been. I thought that's where I was going when I was 25 (or Louisville, which was a strong possibility then, but not when I was 29); and I came very, very close to going to Lexington when I was 29. It won't happen now no matter what, and it's just one of those things. I love Birmingham and wouldn't trade it for anyplace, warts and all, but I do think wistfully about what might've been.

Grew up in Frankfort then moved with a job to Atlanta, Portland, OR, Houston and then Dallas. Got downsized but package included a relocation package. It took a little convincing for my wife after living in all of the sities with more culture, shopping, etc, but use the relo to move back to Frankfort, Her mother was sick and my parents getting older so that was a major reason. I had grown up here and knew that it was very convenient to LEX/LOU and even Cincy for sports, culture and shopping, but very much a small town 90% of the time. Schools are OK, not great, and investment in pubilc facilities (parks, etc) lag some of the other areas we lived in, but family is close and that's been important over the past ten years.

By the way, great thread. I am really enjoying the stories.

I was born about a mile from where I live now (Southeastern Ky), and moved to this place when I was 11. I graduated high school in 69 at the age of 15 and enrolled in Cumberland College. I attended Cumberland for two years, then dropped out and got married to my high school sweetheart. I started working as a heavy equipment operator on a surface coal mine shortly thereafter (my dream job, believe it or not) and worked at different mines for 26 years. I injured my back in 98, had surgery and went back to work 6 months later. I worked 4 months and re-injured my back and this time there was nothing they could do for it. I'm still disabled and have decent days and bad days, but I've learned to live with it.

I came to Bham kicking and screaming. I accepted a job in the ATL which was so good I couldn't justify not taking it, so I left my Old Ky Home for Tara. On the way to meet my realtor for my first tour of the housing market, my new boss called and said they had reworked the organization and the great opportunity was in the Ham. Six of us were affect by the change, all of us miserable about the news. Every Friday for a couple of years we would meet at a local pub for our weekly "GD, it's Birmingham party". As my kids grew I learned to love the schools and nearby attractions. Bham wasn't so bad after all. I have had 3 offers to leave Bham, all for more money, but couldn't pull the trigger. Birmingham has just too much to offer. I hope to retire in about 4 years and always said I would buy a beach house in Santa Rosa beach and a town house in Lex. I'm not so sure I want to do that any more. It's probably the number one thing I think about outside of family.

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Originally Posted by MickintheHam

I hope to retire in about 4 years and always said I would buy a beach house in Santa Rosa beach and a town house in Lex. I'm not so sure I want to do that any more. It's probably the number one thing I think about outside of family.

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Do it! I need a place to stay in both places.

Born in Louisville, graduated from Male High. Went to UK and graduated 70, off to fly in the Air Force, back to UK after war ended and graduated from law school in 77. KY Air Guard got same airplane I flew on active duty, RF-4C so got back in Guard and practiced law and flew and eventually retired from Guard in 96. Moved to Lake Cumberland area 1981, I am a Republican and always wanted to prosecute, but politically unfeasible in Louisville, this is Republican territory. Practiced private law and eventually got elected Commonwealth Attorney, which doesn't say much for the smarts of people down here. lol Retired from state and still practice a little law. House over looks lake so thus the name LakeCat. If you guys ever want a get together, be happy to host one at my place. About a 1hr 45 min from Lexington. I am a country boy now, and don't miss traffic one bit.

I was born in Springfield Mo. where my father was a Missouri State Trooper, I recall as a kid spending a lot of time on Table Rock Lake. As my father explained in later years a father of three on a state troopers salary wasn't cutting it so he begrudgingly left his dream job and went into sales with a large national company. As he moved through the ranks so did we. At the start of my third grade year we moved to Paducah where we stayed until midway through my 6th grade year at which point we moved to Lexington (life changing). I spent my formative years in Lexington and in 1976 the year I graduated from high school (Lexington Catholic) my father was offered a position in Louisville and they (my parents) gave my sisters and myself the option to stay or move. I had always been okay with the previous moves so I was ready for another adventure and moved with them to Louisville.

I burned up I-64 between Louisville and Lexington for a couple of years before I decided to move to south FL to go to school at F.I.T. in Jensen Beach where I studied underwater technology. I worked for a bit in the gulf but decided I must have been crazy to life that life style in the oil rig industry. Shuffled back and forth from La. and Fl. before moving back to Louisville where I lived for about 15 years before taking a job on the sunny side of Louisville, yep, New Albany In. where I am currently living and have been in management working in the MFG industry for the past 15 years. MS.boss is a native New Albany girl where we're surrounded by her family and my father who retired many years ago settled in Shelbyville half way between Lexington and Louisville.

I have always first and foremost bled blue, but was a bit of a Cane fan for a bit, and was on the LSU bandwagon while in La. and I've always pulled for the Mo. Tigers so I was torn a little bit when they came to the SEC. As far as living in Louisville and In. I have no love for either IU or UL.

anyway "what a long strange trip it's been"

It's where my house is....

But seriously, I came to Lexington to attend UK with no idea that I would never return to my small town home except to visit. I left briefly in the mid-80s when I accepted a job in Atlanta. Although it is among my favorite places in the country to visit, I quickly came to realize that I was not going to relish living there. Fifteen months later I was back in Lexington and have been here ever since.

I describe Lexington as the best of both worlds. It is, at heart, still a small town, but it also has a number of the amenities that one looks for in larger areas. I'm not sure any population outside of New York City enjoys eating out more that Lexingtonians. UK athletics offers the sports atmosphere (at least basketball) and the Opera House, Parks and Rec, and UK offer multiple stage/theater/ musical outlets. I'm lucky enough to have season basketball tickets, and that about seals the deal for me. Lacking other options, NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, and points all over the country are a few hours' flight away. As I said, the best of both worlds. It's also within a two-hour drive from my family, so we are close enough to be there for each other when we need to be.

I can't say that I would never leave again, but I can say without doubt that it would take a tremendous opportunity and lengthy consideration to make the move. I just love this place!

Dan, hate it about your back, I kinda know what you are going thru, had two surgeries on my neck and one on my low back and have two ruptured disc down there now and live on pain pills and others.
But the best part is you are still with us, so be thankful God decided He wasn't ready for you yet.

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Originally Posted by DanISSELisdaman

I was born about a mile from where I live now (Southeastern Ky), and moved to this place when I was 11. I graduated high school in 69 at the age of 15 and enrolled in Cumberland College. I attended Cumberland for two years, then dropped out and got married to my high school sweetheart. I started working as a heavy equipment operator on a surface coal mine shortly thereafter (my dream job, believe it or not) and worked at different mines for 26 years. I injured my back in 98, had surgery and went back to work 6 months later. I worked 4 months and re-injured my back and this time there was nothing they could do for it. I'm still disabled and have decent days and bad days, but I've learned to live with it.

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I came to Lexington in 2001 for college after growing up in Leslie Co, Kentucky. Fell in love with the city and have lived here ever since. I'll probably live the rest of my life, unless some amazing job opportunity comes along out of state.

My dad's ancestors came to Campbell County in the early 1840s (apparently from Pennsylvania - I'm at a deadend for more details) and have been here pretty much ever since, except for a couple years in Arizona right around 1960. Other members of my dad's side arrived in the area in the late 1800s. They were apparently from Switzerland, but came to region by riding a flat boat down the Ohio River from somewhere in West "By Gawd" Virginia.

My mom's family ended up in Breathitt County after leaving North Carolina in the 1820s and my grandparent's families both ended up in the area in the 1940s as they looked for better employment opportunities. (Apparently a lot of Eastern KY folk moved to the Cincinnati & even Indianapolis areas in the general timeframe.)

I was born here and have had no reason to move. I spent 4 years at UK but other than that have lived in Campbell County all my life (you know I'm from Kentucky since I identify myself by county :) ) I have moved a bit north and live just south of the Ohio River (my house is close enough I can hear fireworks from the Reds games), but I can't imagine any reason why I would ever leave the reason (though I admit I'm not a big fan of wintertime.)

There you go - not only the reason I live where I do, but my family history too. :) Not exactly Mr. Cosmopolitan, but I like it.

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Originally Posted by UKFlounder

(you know I'm from Kentucky since I identify myself by county :) )

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True dat. People I know who move to Lexington from out of state are completely confused by our custom. They ask where someone is from and when we say "so and so county" they have no idea why.

I do the same thing when people ask where I'm originally from. For some reason I give the county and not the town.

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Originally Posted by Catfan73

I do the same thing when people ask where I'm originally from. For some reason I give the county and not the town.

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I do county because I technically grew up at the head of a holler near Essie, KY. Sometimes I tell people I'm from Hyden, but 90% of people don't know where that is, either. Usually I get people to identify with where I'm from when I tell them I went to the same high school as Tim Couch.

Love all the stories! Look forward to reading more

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Originally Posted by jazyd

Dan, hate it about your back, I kinda know what you are going thru, had two surgeries on my neck and one on my low back and have two ruptured disc down there now and live on pain pills and others.
But the best part is you are still with us, so be thankful God decided He wasn't ready for you yet.

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Absolutely right jazy, there's too many Blessings in life for us to get down over the few bad things in life.

Pretty much in Lexington my whole life. Born in Knoxville, TN but moved here before I was old enough to know (Mom's from Lexington) and lived here through high school and into UK. Mom and Dad moved to Oldham County (Dad got a job in Louisville that didn't work out) so that was my 'permanent' residence for about 18 months, but I was really living in Lexington going to UK. They moved back to Lexington just a short distance down Tates Creek Rd. from where I grew up. For about a year before I got married and a year after I lived with my fiance / wife in rural Woodford County, about 7 miles northwest of Versailles, toward Frankfort. In 1995 I moved back to Lexington and have been here since.

Why? Because I've lived here most of my life. Because my kids are in school in Lexington, and I have a nice custody arrangement with my ex which is subject to review if I move too far. Because I've helped my Dad both in business and with chronic health issues. Because I owned a business for 16 years which kept me tied down here. Because I can't sell my house in the current market (for anything I'd want to get out of it, at least.)

I love Lexington; but I'd like to get out. Sooner than later my kids will be grown, the house will sell, Mom and Dad... well ... my sister will probably still be in town and they may end up extending Florida from Winter to year-round some day. Not sure where I'd go. Might depend on where my kids go to school, and whether I'm still single.

I was born and raised in Morehead, KY. Lived there until I met and married Ron. We lived in Lexington, Stanton, and finally ended up in Winchester. After he passed away - I stayed in Winchester until Aug 2011. I started travel nursing and ended up in Los Angeles, CA where I lived for 6 months - then moved to Fresno for 5 months. I remarried - and my husband wanted me to take a full time job somewhere - so we uprooted and moved to Kalispell, MT. We lived there for 7 months - and loved it - but I wanted to get back to high risk labor and delivery - so I took a job at the University of Washington Med Center in Seattle. The rest of the family will join me there in February. I love Montana - and would love to retire there someday -but for my sanity I had to work in an academic med center. I miss all my friends and family in KY but I know they are just a plane ride, amtrak ride, or car trip away.

Niki, medical professionals who work at our teaching hospitals in high risk labor and delivery and in the NICU's are truly angels walking this earth. You are among the very most special people. Thanks for all you do.

Thanks Mick. I do it because I love it - so it is more of a calling than a job. I don't consider myself special - but I appreciate your kind words :)

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Originally Posted by uklandrn

Thanks Mick. I do it because I love it - so it is more of a calling than a job. I don't consider myself special - but I appreciate your kind words :)

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Bozeman's hospital is constantly adding services and facilities...and we've got a better airport (direct flights to 11 cities) and university than anyplace in Montana. Come visit. The Deputy Mayor is awesome as well.

BigSky - I may do that! Right now I am kind of stuck in a contract in Seattle at Univ of Washington - but Bozeman sounds great. And I love the fact that the Deputy Mayor is so awesome and a UK fan!!