
I get restless. I enjoy the new, the novel. Consequently, I’ve moved a lot for work, often to cities where I knew no one. I learned a lot about myself with each move, but as I’ve grown older, moving has become less fun. Going into my 40s, I’m interested in finding a place where I can live contentedly for a good long while.
I’ll be honest: the prospect of settling down scares me. The longest I lived in a city was five years; the longest I’ve stayed in one home was three and half years. Can I be happy in a place for a decade or more? I’d like to find out.
I’m not in a rush, and I want to be intentional in choosing where I go next based on the life I want to lead, not on the job I may or may not have. With that goal in mind, I’ve started thinking about what lifestyle I want (how I want to live) and what kind of place would support that lifestyle (where I want to live). I also interviewed a potential new home. Let’s talk about it.
How I want to live
I want a beautiful, comfortable home with dedicated spaces for guests, hobbies, work, and homemaking. I want space to spread out: a laundry room tucked into a basement, a big freezer in the garage for batch-cooked meals, and a pantry large enough to hold my Costco purchases. I want to have a short walk to the grocery store, a coffee shop, or a restaurant. I want space for dinner parties and book club meetings with friends. I want the option to see a play or attend a lecture. I want a life like that.
Where I want to live
What kind of place would support that dream life? A few characteristics came to mind:
Progressive Politics: I’d like to live in a place where people share my values about equity, equality, and social good.
Moderate Weather: I grew up in the southern US, where it is hot and sticky for most of the year now. I’d like a place where summer temperatures rarely climb over 85F.
Lower Climate Risk: I’m worried about climate change. I want to settle in a place that’s more climate resistant, with access to fresh water and more tolerable temperatures as the average temperatures everywhere increase.
Strong Pedestrian Infrastructure: I lived without a car for three years in Seattle, and I could get to most places by walking or taking a bus. I’d like that again.
Vibrant Arts and Culture Scene: I like going to events centered on writers and thinkers as well as attending theatrical and arts performances.
Diverse Food Scene: I like going out to eat and experiencing different cuisines. I’m a slut for fine dining. I love coffee. I’d like the option to dine in or take out tasty meals from a variety of cultures.
Lower Cost of Living: I don’t want to have to work full-time or have a high-paying job to afford the lifestyle I want.
Ease of Travel: I enjoy frequent travel, so I’d like a larger airport with many direct flights to places around the world.
City Interview: Minneapolis
During the VP debates, Tim Walz shared a lot about Minnesota. He described a place with progressive politics and affordable cost of living. I was intrigued. Could Minnesota be my next home?
I decided to “interview” Minneapolis. What’s a city interview? A few days in the candidate city, looking for the characteristics I value and poking around the kinds of places I’d frequent if I lived there.
Minneapolis’s cost of living is 5% lower than my current city, and I saw a number of cute houses for sale and apartments for rent in my price range. It’s in a climate resilient part of the US, with proximity to fresh water and farmland. The weather is cool, with a long, snowy winter. I had several great meals during my visit (Owamni and Hai Hai were standouts). I also went to the Walker Art Center and Highpoint Center for Printmaking. I drove around the Lake of the Isles and saw the extensive bike and pedestrian infrastructure of the city. The Minneapolis airport is a Delta hub and very nice.
My main concern is the weather. I lived in Chicago for a year, and I did not like the snow. My friend who lives in Minneapolis assured me that the snowy conditions in Minneapolis are not as dramatic as the lake effect snow in Chicago. My circumstances are different now, so the snow might not plague me like it did in Chicago, when I parked on the street and went into the office every day.
The Search Continues
Minneapolis is a strong contender, but I’d like to interview a few more candidates. I loved living in Seattle, so I’m going to visit again and look at rental options. I’m also going to explore some options in the northeast, as I have two very good friends who live there. I’m also considering international locations, especially if I can find more affordable healthcare. Once I narrow down my options, I plan on spending about a month living in my potential new home(s) to see how being a “local” feels.
Share your Thoughts
What do you value in the place you live? How have you thought about choosing the place you call home?