Big Cities. Are they over-rated?

[SlammedZero]

So, I live in Boise, Idaho. I'm willing to bet it's a lot bigger than most people probably initially think. It's one of the fastest growing cities in the nation and you will find it on most the top 10 lists out today. The secret got out in the early 90s and since then the Californians have been coming up in droves. So, it's getting bigger but it's still a pretty medium sized metro. It's a great place to live. I love it but I have been here pretty much my entire life. I often find myself drawn to bigger cities, you know, something different. I just absolutely love them. They all have very different energies. I often think of moving if I could find work. The wife LOVES the Oregon Coast (as do I. If you have never been you should go) so I may have here talked into Portland as a stepping stone. Portland is a little rough around the edges but I don't mind it. Other places I love are Seattle but its too big and the traffic there is INSANE. I also love Salt Lake City and I really loved Phoenix (even though almost all of it looks the same. Suburban sprawl).

Anyways, I'm just curious big city dwellers, how do you like it? Do you get tired of traffic? Crime bad? Is it overrated or is it great? What can you advise for me?

One thing Boise has going for it is it has a lot of the big cities amenities but without the big city hassles. Still, something tells me I want the experience.

 

[MonsterD]

I advise looking at an area that is different but not culture shock different than Boise like Portland or Salt Lake City. Is Spokane not a better fit? Seems just as small though.

 

[waldoputty]

sf - crazy traffic, lots of construction messing up traffic though beautiful views. quite expensive recently. great weather. lots of choice for food.
la - crime concerns and even worse traffic. great weather though significantly warmer than sf. lots of choice for food.
boston - charm, some crime, major highways plug badly, nice seafood. cheaper than sf but still pretty pricey.
seattle - too much rain outside of summer months. traffic is not as bad though highways r plugged at obviously times. lots of cruises to alaska in summer. northwestern cousine is nice but not my cup of tea if eaten often.
dc - hot and humid, and traffic is horrendous in rush hours on highways. one part of town is really bad crime wise (SE).

 

[HowardC]

Yes. The traffic always sucks in big cities. Atlanta's traffic is ridiculous.

 

[Xelda]

I spent some time in Jacksonville and the Tampa Bay area. The people were super nice. If I lived that close to the beach, I'd probably be happy too. I've been to Dallas/Fort Worth quite a few times and have family that live there. It's different.

 

[MonsterD]

I spent some time in Jacksonville and the Tampa Bay area. The people were super nice. If I lived that close to the beach, I'd probably be happy too. I've been to Dallas/Fort Worth quite a few times and have family that live there. It's different.

I think Tampa Bay might be one of my favorite cities I have been to. Dallas is a real mix of everything.

 

[Tabascocat]

It depends on which big city. For example, I would rather sit in traffic in LA than Houston.

 

[DFWJC]

I live in Dallas—where total metroplex is now just massive (4th largest now)
But I rarely deal with heavy traffic because I dont live in the burbs.
I feel for commuters everywhere. Its just so miserable.

I enjoyed the Raleigh-Durham area. Pretty area of the country. But traffic is even getting bad there now.
I also lved in New Orleans fir several years. Good times and very unigue. But better for visiting than full time living. Too dirty and too much crime.

 

[Galian Beast]

sf - crazy traffic, lots of construction messing up traffic though beautiful views. quite expensive recently. great weather. lots of choice for food.
la - crime concerns and even worse traffic. great weather though significantly warmer than sf. lots of choice for food.
boston - charm, some crime, major highways plug badly, nice seafood. cheaper than sf but still pretty pricey.
seattle - too much rain outside of summer months. traffic is not as bad though highways r plugged at obviously times. lots of cruises to alaska in summer. northwestern cousine is nice but not my cup of tea if eaten often.
dc - hot and humid, and traffic is horrendous in rush hours on highways. one part of town is really bad crime wise (SE).

You've never been to Boston.

 

[lukin2006]

I am no fan of big cities myself. I currently live a small town that borders a medium size city (Canada). I grew up in a small town...it was enjoyable. Everyone was far more pleasant and far more relaxed. I never understood why people want to be stuck in traffic, going to jobs that they'd prefer not to go to...In a little over a month I moving to a town of 20 000 ... and am so looking forward to...

My sister lives in Canada's largest city and loves it...

 

[Longboysfan]

Big city - big traffic.

 

[YosemiteSam]

The city I live in has a population of around 90k, but I'm in the greater New York City area, so I get all the traffic love!

 

[Chrispierce]

It’s great when you’re young and ambitious and like to party and have lots of sex. Now I live in a safer upper middle class family suburb town,where everyone kind of recognizes everyone,but it’s going under mass development and getting vertical. Guess that’s why I’m always hangin in the new parking garage,it makes me feel urbanly comfortable. I like where I’m at though,and walking around not having to worry about someone breaking into my car and such.
But yeah,I did some really cool stuff,and glad I got street skills from being urban. I like the environment of visual stimulation,and lots of people from around the world,and all the things I was exposed too. I need that juice....but I also love nice open quiet places,or just driving along the central coast in the middle of the night with no one around me. I could do inner city urban living again,but only on the condition I’d be rich.

 

[YosemiteSam]

As soon as teleporters replace standard transportation and all horns and sirens are outlawed. Then, living in a concrete jungle will become acceptable.

Not really. I want my neighbors at LEAST an acre away from me.

 

[SlammedZero]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah it's definitely something I've been kicking around. It would be a few years out yet but we will see. I appreciate the opinions/advice

 

[Chrispierce]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah it's definitely something I've been kicking around. It would be a few years out yet but we will see. I appreciate the opinions/advice

Honestly? You’re better off in Boise than going to those other PNW cities. If you want something really different,try SF or NYC ect. But I got to warn you? You’ll lose whatever person you’re with guaranteed. She’ll fall in love with some French dude or something.and you’ll fall in love with some Croatian or Asian girl ect. Seen it a million times,and I’m no different. But fun? The romance of your life.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Honestly? You’re better off in Boise than going to those other PNW cities. If you want something really different,try SF or NYC ect. But I got to warn you? You’ll lose whatever person you’re with guaranteed. She’ll fall in love with some French dude or something.and you’ll fall in love with some Croatian or Asian girl ect. Seen it a million times,and I’m no different. But fun? The romance of your life.

Ouch dude. It sounds like you've been bitten. I moved from Texas to NY and that was not the case.

 

[CouchCoach]

So, I live in Boise, Idaho. I'm willing to bet it's a lot bigger than most people probably initially think. It's one of the fastest growing cities in the nation and you will find it on most the top 10 lists out today. The secret got out in the early 90s and since then the Californians have been coming up in droves. So, it's getting bigger but it's still a pretty medium sized metro. It's a great place to live. I love it but I have been here pretty much my entire life. I often find myself drawn to bigger cities, you know, something different. I just absolutely love them. They all have very different energies. I often think of moving if I could find work. The wife LOVES the Oregon Coast (as do I. If you have never been you should go) so I may have here talked into Portland as a stepping stone. Portland is a little rough around the edges but I don't mind it. Other places I love are Seattle but its too big and the traffic there is INSANE. I also love Salt Lake City and I really loved Phoenix (even though almost all of it looks the same. Suburban sprawl).

Anyways, I'm just curious big city dwellers, how do you like it? Do you get tired of traffic? Crime bad? Is it overrated or is it great? What can you advise for me?

One thing Boise has going for it is it has a lot of the big cities amenities but without the big city hassles. Still, something tells me I want the experience.

I lived in your city from 93-96 and it was my favorite place I have ever lived. It was just big enough and had the coolest downtown I had seen in years, people actually went there instead of fleeing it and since we had moved from Dallas, we didn't catch that heat reserved for the Californians. If I didn't have family in Texas, that's where I would have retired because of the topography and weather.

There is an energy to the big city but that turns a lot of people off, they feel that as negative energy, almost stifling. But most of what I've discovered about living in different regions is my attachment to a place was as much about circumstances as location. Did I really experience the place where I lived? I did that in Boise and Harrisburg and that's why they rank high with me and Dallas doesn't.

Where you live doesn't matter as much as where's your head at. What would Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake or Phoenix give you that you don't have now unless it's a better job opportunity? You'd be closer to the water with the first two, have pro sports teams and more restaurants and entertainment options and if that's important to your quality of life, maybe you should give it a shot to see if you like you there.

One thing I have discovered about the places I have lived is that it wasn't as much about me liking the place as much as me liking me there. I have realized I liked some places better after leaving them and missing me there. SZ, you really seem to like you right where you are.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I agree with Couch. I lived in the Dallas / Ft Worth area for about 32 years. Born and raised there, but I have zero intention in retiring there. I much prefer where I live now. Far less commercialized, it's not flat and ugly. I live in rolling hills full of tree canopies, yet big enough and populated enough to have a decent range of entertainment close by.

Not to mention I'm close enough to Manhattan that anything I want to do is a short commute away without the downside that comes with living in a place like Manhattan of the other burrows.

 

[CouchCoach]

Honestly? You’re better off in Boise than going to those other PNW cities. If you want something really different,try SF or NYC ect. But I got to warn you? You’ll lose whatever person you’re with guaranteed. She’ll fall in love with some French dude or something.and you’ll fall in love with some Croatian or Asian girl ect. Seen it a million times,and I’m no different. But fun? The romance of your life.

I agree about Boise because I know the place but I do not think SZ and his wife are only together because they don't live in a larger city.